Western beaches of Koh Phangan. Not the main beaches
The beach is isolated and with its own small infrastructure. The entire beach can be walked along the coast from edge to edge in about ten minutes, and on a scooter along the road, it will be possible to slip through the entire area even faster. The entire first line is occupied by bungalow resorts, and I must say that according to my observations, this area is a popular place among Russians, Russian speech is often heard here.
Haad Yao Beach is a secluded, beautiful, quiet place on Koh Phangan. If you decide to live here for a while, it is better to have transport at hand.
Although, if you think about it, this advice is relevant in general for all areas of Koh Phangan, provided that you are not going to sit on the beach all your free time all the time. But if you are going, then on Haad Yao it is in principle possible. Nice sandy beach, everything you need to eat and seal is here.
Entry into the water, depth and waves
To my delight, it turned out that Haad Yao is a white sand beach. No matter what enthusiastic vacationers tell, the beaches of Koh Phangan do not suffer from an excess of snow-white coral sand - the geography is not the same, unfortunately. But thank Buddha - there are separate beaches where the color is as close to white as possible.
In the pictures, my sand is wet, so its color gives off yellowness. As on the whole island, at high tide the sandy strip at Haad Yao becomes narrower; this is inconvenient when you walk along the beach, and coastal cafes put their tables right on the sand. Sometimes you have to bypass chewing people right on the sea, knee-deep in water.
A large role in the appearance of the beach is played by the ebbs and flows, and in bathability too. The bottom is flat, gently sloping, no surprises. When the water leaves, there will be wet sand with shells and walks under the sun. When the water comes in, there will be chest-deep depth five meters from the shore and full bathing. On the other hand, if you came to Koh Phangan with children, then such a beach would be perfect for them.
Sun beds and shade
As you understand, on the western coast of any island of the planet, the shadow is only until noon, until the sun reaches the zenith. Khaad Yao is no exception. There are more than enough shadows here: there are casuarinas and palm trees interspersed on the shore, although you will have to respect the invisible boundaries of the resorts.
Despite the fact that all the beaches belong to the royal family and the passage should be free anywhere in the kingdom, the Thais prefer not to remember this law and may ask you to leave or pay for the stay on the beach in front of their establishment. So it is preferable to throw your things under the trees in no man's land. If all the trump places are occupied, then you can sit down in a cafe.
I didn't notice sun loungers on Had Yao.
beach photo
Near Sea Through and Ibiza Bungalows
In the morning, the shadow reaches the water - very cool for a beach holiday.
Closer to Haad Yao Bayview Resort
And a fly in the ointment: the blue pipes are the drain from the bungalow. Usually the pipes are not visible under the sand.
Infrastructure
I would not say that this is a place with a developed infrastructure. There are massage parlors, several cafes, but in general - you skip the whole area on a bike without noticing, it is so small. Basically, people are content with the infrastructure of their resort or hotel, whose employees will feed you, give you a massage, offer a rental, and send you on an excursion.
Haad Yao has a 7-Eleven mini-market, the assortment of which is quite enough to meet the needs of this micro-district. It's very cool, by the way, for any beach to have its own 7-Eleven or FamilyMart. This immediately increases its attractiveness for tourists who plan to stop for a long time and do not want to spend money on renting a car or risking renting a scooter. Of the more or less well-known establishments - on the shore.
Local infrastructure, a mini market on such a small beach - it's very cool
Houses and hotels on the beach
Haad Yao, despite its relative diminutiveness, is full of housing of various categories, from guest houses to decent resorts with a good rating. For example:
I lived right on the border of the beaches of Haad Son and Haad Yao, at the Haad Son Resort but it is on the mountain.
Here, many beaches are in lowlands and are separated by passes with ascent and descent, and so my hotel was on such an ascent. Going to Haad Yao beach is fun, but it’s already hard to climb, although you can only go to the hotel beach. .
Be sure (and I insist) to check for discounts or special offers on an excellent service. It will quickly and easily show you discounts in all existing booking systems. In the same Asia, for example, there are a lot of offers on Agoda.com, which are much more interesting than exactly the same hotels on Booking.com.
On the island of Koh Phangan there is a wonderful beach called Haad Yao, although sometimes it is also called Logn Beach. His landscapes could decorate any postcard.
Architecture
Haad Yao is an ideal place for football and volleyball championships. The length of the sandy shore is about one kilometer. Coconut palms grow around, under the shade of which more than one resort and hotel hid; bar with restaurant; a massage parlour, and a mini market facing west. Sea sunsets here are simply amazing. The beach is perfect due to its unforgettable sea views.
Neighborhood
Of the islands to the western coast of Koh Phangan, the closest, perhaps, will be a small island called Koh Ma. They were connected by an artificially created sand spit. And in Koh Phangan's only National Marine Park, turtles, reef sharks and a wide variety of tropical fish will attract your attention. The areas surrounding Khaat Yao Beach are mountainous, but numerous paths and paths allow for pedestrian crossings between neighboring beaches. Particular attention should be paid to the freshwater lake Lem Son and Wang Sai waterfall. The Chorenrit Muau Thai camp is considered the first sports institution in the area. His age is over 15 years old. It is equipped with a gym and a gym where boxers train. More than 1000 athletes have been trained in this camp. It is notable for the fact that it welcomes not only local residents, but also tourists. Thanks to special courses, people with different levels of training can be trained here. Tourists prefer to spend time in the fitness room. To attend classes, it is enough for them to acquire a subscription that gives the right to take a two-week course, although you can use a one-time entrance ticket. The camp is ready to accept its clients on any day throughout the year. And in the local sports shop there is sportswear and nutrition. Behind the picturesque hills you will find the Paeng waterfall. Climbing the path up, you can take a break and plunge into a wide pool of fresh water. A little higher there will be another level of the waterfall. After enjoying its view to the full, you can go to the Wat Phu Khao Noi temple - one of the oldest religious institutions in Koh Phangan. In translation, its name means the temple of a small mountain. Everything here breathes antiquity. In this functioning temple, you can see numerous relics of the Buddha. The atmosphere of this place is really special, not the same as in a young temple.
Note to the tourist
Haad Yao Beach is a great place for hiking. Diving enthusiasts strive to get to the island of Koh Phangan, because the opportunity to swim next to the coral reef is a chance to see the local marine fauna. On the territory of Haad Yao beach there is a light, relaxed atmosphere. Everything you may need, you will find within it or in the surrounding areas.
Updated: 2019-3-3
Oleg Lazhechnikov
19I continue my series of review articles on the beaches of the main resorts of Thailand. I already have beach reviews, and. Now take a look at the beaches of Koh Phangan.
All of them are divided into main and secondary, and are also listed from Thong Sala in the south (as from the main pier of the island) - and further clockwise. To better navigate where and what is on Koh Phangan, look at the beach map at the end of the post, where you can click on the beach marker and go to a detailed description with photos. Below I present a description of the main beaches of Koh Phangan, although there is still a small piece of work left, since there are a little more secondary beaches than I managed to visit.
If you are traveling for a long time, then I would start choosing a place to stay from the area. There is a good choice of housing, and many options by the sea. Developed infrastructure, and in general a good place for wintering. As an option for a long-stay, it’s great - one of the best beaches on the island and a developed area by the standards of Koh Phangan. And if you are not embarrassed by life away from the sea, then feel free to consider it, with its excellent infrastructure.
If you are going on vacation for a couple of weeks, then the choice of the best beach depends on your preferences. , smoothly flowing into Thong Sala, is not suitable for a beach holiday, but as a convenient location for active movement around the island, besides, there are quite a few budget hotels. Famous for its parties, Full Moon Party is suitable for party people on party days, and for sealing lovers the rest of the time, as Haad Rin itself is an excellent beach.
For a quiet and inexpensive beach holiday, beaches and are well suited. These are western, shallow beaches, but they look attractive and have some infrastructure. It makes sense for yogis and vegans to settle on, there are at least two yoga centers and a bunch of different healthy cafes. For those who are looking for an expensive beach holiday in a reasonable distance from civilization, I recommend beaches. Well, for those who want to see a lost paradise without people and in general almost without civilization - you are welcome.
Phangan is a small island that can be crossed from north to south in 15-20 minutes, no more. If you live in the western, more developed half of the island, then wherever you settle, everything will be "close". But the eastern side is still very little inhabited (with the exception of Haad Rin in the southeast), and personally I would not consider it for myself. But this is my opinion, and in fact it may not coincide with anyone else. Be sure to ask questions in the comments, I will try to advise something specific. And your advice is also welcome.
Main beaches
Thong Sala is the main port town of Koh Phangan, which also has its own beach, although it is conventionally called a beach. It is difficult to relax on the coast, where the two largest piers on the island are located with fairly dense traffic. The piers take boats and ferries with thousands of tourists who fly by Thong Salu without stopping and dissolve into the jungle of Koh Phangan. There is really nothing to see in Thong Sala - this is the administrative and commercial center of the island, where a lot of commercial and government institutions are concentrated. People come here to buy food or clothes, change money or buy tickets for the ferry.
But few can boast that he spent his vacation on the beach of Thong Sala. Part of the coast here is sewn into concrete, and the rest does not look the most attractive way for a beach holiday. Oil stains of diesel fuel in the water, marine debris on the shore - all this does not look the most nightmarish, but not the most seductive way. Thong Sala is more of a technical beach, a place for contemplation, a snack, a couple of shots, or for waiting for your ferry to the mainland. All more or less decent beaches begin after the outskirts of the town of Thong Sala, and I strongly recommend moving there. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Sri Thanu Beach and Ao Niad Beach
In addition to Srithanu Beach, which is actually Si Tanu, there are also Zen Beach and Naked Beach, which, as it turns out, are not independent beaches, but simply local names for Sritanu sites. Difficult? In fact, not very much when you ride around the area and see with your own eyes the differences and features of all the beach locations. Be that as it may, Srithanu is good wherever you decide to go to the sea. I would call it a paradise for children and yogis, because there are many secluded places for solitude and introspection, and the sea is so shallow that even a cat cannot drown there.
Srithanu at the very beginning of the beach is a classic of the genre. Clean sand, resorts, restaurants, sun loungers with palm leaf umbrellas, cocktails, beautiful sea, completely busy first line. Zen Beach is a place to hang out, meet like-minded people, relax on the beach and get away from the world. In a word, Zen. But Naked Beach is already a savage, compared to the first two, and it is chosen when nothing helps. There are few people, resorts and bars on Naked Beach, but there is a lot of silence, waves and grass on the shore. In general, the beauty of Srithanu is that there is a place for every taste. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
If we talk about the beaches on the western part of Koh Phangan, then I would say that Chao Pao is a secret beach. Not because everyone who found out about Chao Pao is immediately thrown into the sea, but because you just can’t find him from a running start. The beach is hidden from casual glances behind a large palm grove, there are no large signs to the beach, and there are almost no particularly enthusiastic reviews about it on the Internet. And Chao Pao, for all that, deserves at least one day for visiting and sealing, which I did with pleasure in my time.
The first line of Chao Pao is occupied by resorts, whose clients are almost the only visitors to the beach. Drop dead beach, combined with tropical tranquility, shallow but beautiful sea and a pirate bar by the rocks create a very soulful atmosphere. Clean sand, palm trees, a smooth entrance to the sea, without stones, and all this is only yours. You can really get here either by mistakenly turning the wrong way, or after carefully studying the map - only then will you find out that in this part of Koh Phangan there is a beach that you did not even suspect. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
If you are allergic to compatriots, then I do not recommend Haad Yao as a place for a long stay on vacation. It doesn’t bother me at all, it’s just that according to my observations (and this is very subjective) on Haad Yao, I very often heard Russian speech. And this is not surprising - our people love to hang out on good beaches, and Haad Yao is just in this category. Long, without broken bends, clean, well-groomed, with good tourist infrastructure and a lot of services.
The sea, of course, is shallow in Pangana, but incredibly beautiful, especially in sunny weather. A beach holiday on Haad Yao is suitable for those who do not need serious infrastructure, although in general there is everything you need, from shade to cocktails. You can also come as a savage, with your own rug, the main thing is to carefully look under your feet, and if you come across a blue plastic pipe that leads from houses to the sea, then choose a place further away, and preferably upstream. Local features, you can't get anywhere. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Haad Salad is considered one of the average beaches on Koh Phangan. Average in the sense that in terms of its size, remoteness from the benefits of civilization, its infrastructure and external characteristics - Haad Salad is not something outstanding. It is located at the entrance to the very (well, or one of the most popular) beach on the island - on the far, northwestern edge of Koh Phangan and occupies no more than half a kilometer of the coastline. The infrastructure is mainly the one offered by several resorts adjacent to the beach, that is, there is even less civilization than on Haad Yao.
The beach itself has a standard Phangan set of characteristics: relatively shallow water, fine light sand, a small number of palm trees on the shore, a clean entrance to the sea in the center of the beach, a rocky bottom along the edges and crowded. The beach is quite famous and is not located in the wilds, so people come here both for permanent residence and passing from other beaches. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
A fairy tale beach, a joy beach and just a beautiful place for a beach holiday. One of the most famous, revered and visited beaches of Koh Phangan, which is always popular with tourists with and without cameras. Its main feature is the coastal profile and the neighboring island, with which Mae Haad is connected by an underwater sand spit. At low tide, the spit is exposed and guests of the island can see a stunning landscape like in a movie - a path in the middle of the sea. In general, people really like it and Mae Haad remains the same photo model for most who have visited Koh Phangan. After .
The infrastructure around Mae Haad does not particularly correspond to its popularity; here, just like on Haad Yao and Haad Salad, there were no large entertainment and shopping establishments. There are hotels, a couple of shops, cafes. There are two big attractions near the beach: the Wang Sai waterfall with the adjacent natural park and. Mae Haad is a rather crowded place during the day and in season, while the prices for everything, in principle, are average for the hospital. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Malibu Beach and Chaloklam Bay
One of the most famous and favorite beaches of Koh Phangan. I'm talking about Malibu, which is part of the large Chaloklam beach on the northern edge of the island. You can drive here in a straight line from Thong Sala and thousands of tourists use it. The beach is really crowded, promoted, chosen. It has already been photographed from all sides and described by bloggers of all stripes. But Malibu is worth it, this is a really cool tourist beach with excellent sea, clean coast, excellent infrastructure and service.
Malibu is located in the left half of Chaloklam, slightly apart, in its own, separate corner of the coast. It is strikingly different in appearance from Phangan beaches: a large expanse of white sand, a beautiful garden with casuarina balls, shallow water with an exciting color of the sea - this is a real bounty on an island that is not the most famous in the world. That's why they called him Malibu - he's gorgeous. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
The northernmost and most inaccessible beach on this part of the island. With all this, it is one of the most famous and popular among admirers of exotic and real island holidays. Bottle Beach is located at the end of a difficult dirt road, which is crossed twice by rivers (and you have to wade through them knee-deep). Only drivers of SUVs or scooters will be able to get here by personal transport, and in some places the passenger will have to be dropped off. Well, or you can take a taxi-boat and get to the beach by sea, this is already a way for cheaters.
A very beautiful, long beach, with fine and light sand, several resorts on the coast, the service and services of which make up the infrastructure of the beach. Several bars and massage pavilions, kayak rentals and sun loungers all over the beach - there is everything for non-slip and deep sealing. Passing tourists rarely get here, so the beach remains sparsely populated even during the high season. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
The pearl of the east coast of Koh Phangan. In principle, the entire east of the island can be considered a pearl already because it is difficult to get here. There are more untouched lands here and you can still feel the atmosphere of a wild island. Uninhabited, not dug up by construction equipment, with terrible roads through the jungle, this region hides such pretty beaches like the Tong Nai Pan brothers. True, recently the road to these two beaches has been significantly improved and this has led to an increase in the influx of independent tourists.
With all that said, Thong Nai Pan Noi remains a charming place with classic baby beach infrastructure, although there are little more than a couple of bars and a massage parlour. There is a chain mini market, there are a number of pharmacies and Thai shops, many offers for tourists, from rentals to tours to other regions of the kingdom. And the beach is a shady paradise. White sand, dense vegetation, sun loungers, shallow water, infrequent waves, and the absolute absence of any kind of coast protection. The beach retains its natural beauty and is remembered forever. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
And this beach is a neighbor of Thong Nai Pan Noi. They are approximately equal in size, but each has its own infrastructure and Nai Pan Noi has a slightly deeper sea, which can be a criterion for someone when choosing a beach on Koh Phangan. In principle, if you look in a straight line, they are within walking distance from each other, but separated by a fairly high hill. So moving between beaches on foot is too tiring. Even despite the presence of relatively good roads between them.
Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach is wide, with a clean entrance, good light sand and under the constant supervision of the staff of adjacent resorts. The place attracts with its authenticity and the absence of tall buildings or various kinds of fortifications of the coast, which landowners so often and willingly abuse in an attempt to save the monstrously expensive land on the coast from erosion. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
The same beach. Yes, yes, this is the same Haad Rin where the original Full Moon Party takes place. I especially emphasize the “original” ones, because the entertainment format has become very popular, parties gather crowds of thousands, and the full moon only happens once a month. Therefore, throughout Koh Phangan, you can already count three or four clones created with the same goals - to collect money from drunken youth to entertain the mass tourist. Haad Rin Nok among them was and remains the first, main and most famous. All these buckets of alcohol, a specific musical format and non-stop dancing until dawn - this is Haad Rin Nok.
In the morning, the beach is licked clean after drunken battles, and Haad Rin Nok turns into a huge space, flat as a football field. Trees remained in isolated cases, the entire first line is built up with bars and restaurants, there is no shade at all. The shallow water is such that at low tide the water runs away for 50-60 meters, leaving you with a dense wet bottom on which you can walk on stilettos (I have not tried it, but I guess). Swimming here is really only at high tide. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Not everyone likes Leela Beach from the first hit, so it is highly recommended to come here only in good weather. The peculiarity of Haad Seekantang (this is the original toponym of the beach) is that mangrove trees grow here along the entire coastline, between which you can hide from people and the sun or lie in a hammock, and at high tide the beach is almost completely hidden under water. Bathable, beautiful, wild, with a couple of built-up wastelands and a rather popular techno bar.
Most of the coast is built up with very simple bungalows, which were literally blinded on the knee from what the sea threw ashore. On the one hand, it looks unattractive, but on the other hand, the beach does not remain uninhabited, hippie savages and people simply tired of hot water constantly come here. There are a couple of capital resorts, a beautiful bridge on the rocks and a sunset horizon overlooking the island of Koh Samui. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
One of the two beaches of Had Rin, which are located on the southern tip of Koh Phangan. Haad Rin Nai is a long beach facing west and does NOT host the famous Full Moon Party. But there is a well-developed infrastructure with services for tourists and chain stores, a huge selection of housing of different levels, good roads, a pier and rental offices. Haad Rin Nai is more of a resort and technical beach than a party one. Koh Phangan is considered an island of youth and fun, but only all this refers to another Haad Rin.
The beach itself is a rather narrow strip of sand, which is flooded with high water, in some places completely blocking the pedestrian passage along the sea. Local resorts are forced to somehow protect their property from blurring, and here sections of the beach that are mutilated by stone or concrete superstructures often catch the eye. This, of course, helps, saves the coast, but fundamentally harms the attractiveness of Haad Rin Nai. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
The best option for those who are going to see a lot, sunbathe a little and live independently, and not in a hotel. Ban Tai is one of the longest beaches in Koh Phangan with good infrastructure, which even includes hypermarkets and a world-class hospital. There are a lot of inexpensive housing here, a very convenient location relative to key locations: piers, tourist infrastructure, road junctions. The beach has average characteristics, in my opinion. It is pleasant to look at him, but not everyone will want to swim.
Ban Tai has severe shallow water, not the cleanest bottom, muddy water, many wastelands, many unkempt areas where deposits of marine debris lie. Again, this is one of the most eroded coasts. In general, Ban Tai is not considered the best beach in Koh Phangan in terms of a beach holiday, there are many more attractive and photogenic places on the island. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Not the main beaches
Across the river from the town of Thong Sala (we are now moving from south to west, do you remember, right?) There is a small paddling pool of Ao Nai Wok. I call it a paddling pool not because it is overgrown with algae or has a marshy shore, but because of its shallow water and artificial lagoon, which evoke a strong association with a kind of beach, safe paddock for children. The lagoon was formed after the mouth of the river was widened, adapting it for use by small sea vessels, and spoil heaps were piled right there, near the coast. The result is an L-shaped sandbar with an island at the end.
The spit closes a decent section of the beach from the rest of the sea, forming a very calm and shallow backwater where you can walk the kids. The coastline of Ao Nai Wok is a bastion of fortifications, pretty disfiguring the appearance of the beach. On the one hand, the Thais reliably protected the shore from erosion with concrete and stones, but on the other hand, I personally did not find it attractive. In general, the beach is more practical than entertaining. It is close to the infrastructure of Thong Sala, there are beautiful sunsets and a few simple resorts on the first line. But here the bathability and attractiveness let us down. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
I recommend going to Plai Lam to those who are looking for truly secret, not hyped and beautiful beaches of Koh Phangan. He, of course, is not without remarks, but still worthy of attention for his location and features. And Plai Lam is located at the foot of the mountain, below the main road of the island and therefore it is not visible from it, which is why it constantly remains out of sight of tourists. And thanks to the same foot, the beach is a broken line in which huge rocks, large rocks, small rocks, mangroves and patches of soft sand, hidden from prying eyes, alternate.
The advantages of Plai Lam include convenient proximity to the infrastructure of Thong Sala, low population and comfort. It is not crowded here because people do not know about this beach, and for those who do, very little housing has been built on the shore. Because of the mountain, on the slope of which it is quite expensive and not so easy to build. So, only the most inquisitive seekers of separation from civilization get light sand and azure overflows. In good weather, it is incredibly beautiful here, thanks to the light sand, which reflects the sun's rays underwater and illuminates the sea from below. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
As in the case of Thong Sala, calling Ao Hin Kong a beach can only be done with a bunch of reservations. It is located on the shore of a fairly large bay, which was chosen by fishermen, and where these comrades are based, as a rule, it does not happen cleanly. Partly due to the peculiarities of the profession, and to a greater extent - to their mentality, the fishing villages in Thailand "please" the eye with deposits of worthless gear, household garbage and marine organics that have not gone on sale. Together with the fishermen, small carrier companies have settled here, which use the left edge of the beach with a pier for their own purposes.
The right side of Ao Hin Kong is more livable, so there are places near the beach that can surprise you. Not everywhere it is clean and well-groomed, not all areas are suitable for swimming and often the water is muddy. And it is also small and does not boast of infrastructure, in general, I would call it the extreme option on Koh Phangan, like Wok Tum, which adjoins Hin Kong on the left. Wok Tum is a shortened and more winding version of Hin Kong, where part of the patchy beaches are used by tourists, and more or less spacious backwaters went to the same fishermen. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Haad Son Beach, which still has the local name Secret Beach, which needs no translation, is living proof that a good secret place can become a good popular place. I envy those tourists-discoverers who were the first to come to the coast of Haad Son and kept it a secret. Being the only living soul in such a beautiful place is an emotion for a lifetime. But globalization and tourism are doing their dirty work, and you get to visit the crowded, noisy, very young and cheerful Haad Son, as it has become now.
Finding it is no longer difficult (there are only two slopes to the beach), either by the name of the hotel, or by a large number of bikes parked on the road. The bay is hidden by the jungle and uneven terrain, and the Haad Son beach itself is very short and is now built up with bungalows along the first line. Nearby there is a cult place - Ko Raham, with a bar and rocks from which lovers of jumping into the sea like to jump into the sea - it's safe. Well, right there, under the rocks, you can often meet people with diving masks, I haven’t seen it myself, but people who are keen on snorkeling say that there is something to see there. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Haad Kruad Beach refers to small beaches, if I may say so - private, although the privacy of a beach in Thailand is an ambiguous thing and is often dictated not by legislation and law, but by the fact of building a resort that slightly less than completely blocks the passage to the sea. In the case of Haad Kruat, we have a loyal administration of the only resort on the beach, which also represents its only infrastructure. This part of Koh Phangan is still sparsely populated, and even the entrance to the beach runs through open and empty spaces, with roads, but no houses.
The beach itself is very short and relatively cozy. It is kept in order, there are few people and it is mainly used by guests of the adjacent resort. The infrastructure is only one resort and its services. The sand, bottom and sea are not the most attractive on Koh Phangan, although I have met scarier beaches. The main advantage of Haad Kruat so far remains its seclusion, isolation, and it will fit perfectly for a couple of weeks away from civilization, with a rented bike to get out somewhere, if anything. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
A very conditional beach, rather, a place where there could be a beautiful beach, if instead of slippery boulders there was at least some sand and a couple of seedy palm trees. But in essence, there is only a convenient descent to the sea - a concrete staircase with a railing. And you won’t climb into the sea itself here - it’s dangerous. At high tide, you can still try to snorkel over the rocks and snorkel in the beach area, but at low tide there is nothing to do but contemplate, meditate or relax on the way from point A to point B. A more detailed description of the beach with photos.
Haad Khom Beach is also called Coconut Beach and it refers to small beaches, though with one small clarification - to small and good beaches. It is located on the edge of geography, in fact, at the end of the main island road, which runs along the entire western coast of Koh Phangan and ends in the hills in the north. The beach is hidden at the bottom of a rather steep slope, behind the territory of a small bungalow resort. This resort makes up the entire infrastructure of Coconut Beach, with the exception of one bar, which is located a three-minute drive north.
Haad Khom is cozy, green, with palm trees and swings, with good sand, not the most convenient entrance to the water and rocks along the edges. The minus of Haad Khom can be called its facing to the north, so here you will not meet either sunset or dawn, but there is always a shadow. Haad Khom is chosen only by knowledgeable people who either have already come here before, or on a tip from those who are well acquainted with the island. The place is wonderful, secluded and not crowded. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Wainam Beach is located in a small secluded bay, and is a hundred-meter strip of sand. The place is very cozy, secluded, which, however, can be said about any beach on the east coast of Koh Phangan. Probably, in terms of beauty, I liked it almost the most. Weinam differs from the rest of his colleagues in his small size, small population and lack of popularity on the Internet. This is used by tourists who are not indifferent to the silence and tropical peace. Here sometimes local hangouts of strange people gather, who communicate, play and listen to music. Mostly these hangouts flow from neighboring Haad Tian and Haad Yuan during parties in Guys bar and Eden bar. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Haad Tien is the middle beach in the trinity of hermits on this side of Koh Phangan: Wai Nam, Thian and Yuan. Haad Tien is known for its Guy's Bar, which is considered a cult place and one of the most interesting viewpoints in the east. Only the strongest will be able to come here on their own, and only the most generous by sea, so Haad Tien scares away the average tourist, allowing true connoisseurs of the wild lifestyle to feel at home here. The beach is not very beautiful, but calm and not crowded. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
If I can say about Haad Yuan in three words, then I would choose: rocks, sand and sea. Yes, that's exactly what he is. Small in size, beautiful, in its personal bay between huge rocks, on which people settled, built bungalows and cafes, and built bamboo bridges along the coast. It is difficult to come here by car, it is expensive to sail by boat, so either the most desperate or the most curious come here. The rest of the population of the beach are connoisseurs of a secluded holiday format. A bonus to the sea and authenticity are techno parties in Eden and Gaize. More detailed description of the beach with photos.
Ban Kai Beach
Ban Kai is one of the "melting" beaches in the southwest of Koh Phangan. By melting, I mean the excessive destruction of the coast due to sea waves. Such beaches look beautiful in sunny weather, but for them every storm is a washed-out centimeters of coast, which landowners are struggling with hard. Therefore, Ban Kai is thoroughly studded with concrete rings. This beach is usually chosen by people who came not to seal, but to ride and explore the area. Approximately with the same goals that choose Ban Tai, which is a continuation of Ban Kai, or vice versa, as it is convenient for anyone to count.
It is conveniently close to the hypermarkets of Ban Tai and Thong Sala, as well as to the party center of Koh Phangan - Haad Rin. Nearby are the main roads towards the northern and eastern shores of the island. Yes, and houses on Ban Kai are cheaper, although the infrastructure is so-so, well, the beach also leaves much to be desired. Here you have both shallow and rocky bottom, just that there are no problems with the shadow at all, and the sunsets from Ban Kai open up really beautiful. For a more detailed description of the beach with photos, see here
Map of Koh Phangan beaches, south
P.S. Likes and reposts are welcome :)
P.P.S. I will also be very glad to express your opinions regarding the various beaches on Koh Phangan, where you rested. What and what did you like.
Life hack 1 - how to buy good insurance
It is unrealistically difficult to choose insurance now, therefore, to help all travelers, I am compiling a rating. To do this, I constantly monitor forums, study insurance contracts and use insurance myself.
Life hack 2 - how to find a hotel for 20% cheaper
First, choose a hotel on Booking. They have a good base of offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel can often be found 20% cheaper in other systems.
Haad Yao Beach is located in the western part of Koh Phangan. Haad Yao beach is considered one of the most popular beaches in Koh Phangan according to guidebooks. We stopped at Had Yao for a few days to form our opinion about this beach and show you what it really looks like.
Overview of Haad Yao Beach
The beach is quite big. Some even consider it the longest on Phanagna. The coastline is about 700 meters. During low tides, the beach becomes wide, and in the high tide season, on the right side, the water can reach almost to the palms. The sand is light, almost white. Walking barefoot is nice.
Hotels near Haad Yao beach
- See Through Resort
- Sun Moon Star Resort
- Haad Yao Bayview Resort
- High Life Bungalow
- Longbay Resort Koh Phangan
All hotels on Koh Phangan
On the right side (if you stand facing the sea) there is an inaccessible place. There are boats, even smaller and the bottom is more rocky. Swimming should go to the left side.
Almost the entire coastline, except for a few sections, is built up with hotels. In several places massage "parlors" are equipped. Massage costs 300 baht. Several beach restaurants. The prices are adequate. There is even one Indian costume shop. But what we like most about Hat Yao is the tall palm trees!
Few tourists
There are few vacationers on Had Yao Beach. Even on the eve of the Full Moon Party, there were no crowds here. And on ordinary days, the beach can be almost deserted.
The contingent of vacationers on Had Yao is European youth, especially during the Full Moon period, and middle-aged people. There are tourists with small children. There are few Russians, in 6 days only one Russian-speaking company was heard. By the way, European girls are now in fashion with large tattoos on the floor of the thigh or back. Literally every first Euro-girl in Koh Phangan with these weird tattoos.
Sunbeds
There are no sun loungers on Had Yao. Only near the hotels for the guests of these hotels can be sunbeds. On the beach itself, you can only stay on your own bedding.
Where can I order a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - Kiwi Taxi
Ordered a taxi online, paid by card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You have already talked about your experience In this article.
Shadow
There is very little natural shade. If there is shade in the morning until 12-13 o'clock, then in the afternoon there is almost no shade left. This is due to the fact that the beach is western. In the afternoon, the sun shines from the sea and there is almost nowhere to hide from it. A little shade can be found in the central part under coniferous trees.
Where to eat on Haad Yao
There are several beach cafes in the central part of the beach. Also in the depths of the area there are 7 Eleven. All hotels have restaurants. Therefore, there will be no problem with food.
Where to swim on Haad Yao
It seems that everything should be fine, the beach is large and beautiful, the water is blue, there are few people. So why such a question? In fact, it turned out that swimming on Haad Yao is problematic due to the shallow sea and the rocky bottom in most of the beach. All tourists swim on the left side of the beach near the Haad Yao Resort hotel and the IBIZZA cafe. For swimming in the sea, choose these bright glades with a sandy bottom.
There is no depth, but you can swim even at low tide. The water does not go away completely, it remains somewhere knee-deep, at best waist-deep. Therefore, swimming at Haad Yao is not swimming, but just sitting at the bottom.
Everyone here does it, they went in and flopped into the water. You won’t be able to swim further, since the dark spots in the sea, which can be seen in the photo, are stones, corals and algae. But people like on Had Yao. We ourselves have also become accustomed to this feature of the western beaches of Koh Phangan, we wallow in shallow water with pleasure. The main thing is that the water is transparent and there are no waves.
sunsets
Sunsets are visible every evening on Haad Yao. You can admire the sunsets from a restaurant at dinner or just during an evening stroll along the beach.
By the way, while watching the sunset, we noticed that a pig was running around on the left side of the beach. We learned that she lives in one of the cafes as a pet and sometimes she is let out to run around to the delight and surprise of tourists. We also saw a big green parrot. Perhaps he also lives in a cafe and sometimes flies out for a walk.
Also, dogs come out on the beach in the evenings, like on all the beaches of Koh Phangan. Therefore, walking in the evening may not be very comfortable. Especially if you have reheated food from 7-11 with you in the package.
Haad Yao videos
Watch an overview video of the beach from different angles.
