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 own opinion about this beach and show you what it really looks like.

Haad Yao Beach Review

The beach is quite large. Some even consider it the longest on Phanagna. Coastline about 700 meters. During low tides, the beach becomes wide, and during the high tide season, on the right side the water can reach almost to the palm trees. The sand is light, almost white. It's nice to walk barefoot.

Hotels on 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 are facing the sea) there is a non-swimming place. There are boats there, even smaller and the bottom is more rocky. You should go to the left to swim.

Almost the entire coastline, except for a few sections, is built up with hotels. There are massage parlors in several places. Massage costs 300 baht. Several beach restaurants. Prices are reasonable. There is even one Indian costume store. But what we like most about Hat Yao are 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 are 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 we heard only one Russian-speaking company. By the way, large tattoos on the thigh or back are now in fashion for European girls. Literally every first Euro girl on Koh Phangan has these weird tattoos.

Sunbeds

There are no sun loungers on Had Yao. Only near hotels can there be sun loungers for guests of these hotels. On the beach itself you can only sleep on your own mat.

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've 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 after lunch 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 the coniferous trees.

Where to eat on Haad Yao

There are several beach cafes in the central part of the beach. There is also a 7 Eleven further in the area. All hotels have restaurants. Therefore, there will be no problem with nutrition.

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 not many people. So why such a question? In fact, it turned out that swimming on Haad Yao is problematic due to shallow sea and 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 clearings 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, or at best waist-deep. Therefore, swimming at Haad Yao is not swimming, but simply sitting at the bottom.

That’s what everyone does here, they went in and plopped into the water. It will not be possible to swim further, since the dark spots in the sea that are visible in the photo are stones, corals and algae. But people like it at Had Yao. We ourselves have already become accustomed to this feature. western beaches Phangana, we're enjoying ourselves in the shallow water. The main thing is that the water is clear and there are no waves.

Sunsets

Sunsets are visible every evening on Haad Yao. You can admire the sunsets from a restaurant while having dinner or just during an evening walk on the beach.

By the way, while we were watching the sunset, we noticed that a pig was running on the left side of the beach. We learned that she lives in one of the cafes, like a pet, and sometimes she is let out to run around to the joy and surprise of tourists. We also saw a large green parrot. Perhaps he also lives in a cafe and sometimes flies out for a walk.

There are also dogs on the beach in the evenings, as on all Koh Phangan beaches. Therefore, walking in the evening may not be very comfortable. Especially if you have warmed up food from 7-11 in your bag.

Haad Yao video

Watch an overview video of the beach from different angles.

Sometimes it is also sometimes called Long Beach. This beach, about a kilometer long, quite wide, with fine white sand, is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on Koh Phangan. Near the shore there are picturesque palm trees, coniferous and deciduous trees, which create a pleasant shade for relaxation.

Haad Yao Beach has very fine white sand and clear turquoise sea. But the low tides are noticeable in the sea, of course the low tides are not as bad as on the beaches in the southwest of the island, but still it’s not very comfortable to swim in the sea in the evening. Not far from the shore there is a reef where you can snorkel and look at the fish and corals.

On the shore on the beach Haad Yao(Haad Yao) there are no local settlements, but only hotels and bungalows for every taste and budget. We lived at the very beginning of Haad Yao beach (if you come from the Thong Sala port) in a hotel. There is a normal road from Thong Sala port to the hotel, travel time is 15-20 minutes.

The beach on this side of Haad Yao is wide and there is room for playing football or volleyball. But towards the end of the bay, near the cape, a lot of algae was noticed, which is why swimming in this place was not very comfortable.

On the opposite side of the beach, the beach strip is narrower and in the morning, at high tide, the water reaches almost to the hotel restaurants.

There are restaurants and bars on the beach that offer Thai and European dishes.

Very nice bar on the beach - Vaga Bar
Vaga Bar in the evening

In the evening, closer to sunset, many restaurants set up tables on the sand and people gather to first drink a cocktail and watch the sunset, and then try BBQ or other delicious dishes.

Evening gatherings on the beach with a cocktail
My favorite Thai cocktail is Mai Tai :)

In the evening, all bars are beautifully illuminated and many host fakir shows.

Haad Yao is located in the west of Koh Phangan and offers stunning sunsets.

On Haad Yao beach there are many salons with Thai massage for 300 baht (I can’t say anything about the quality of the massage - they didn’t do massage there, as there was always no time) and, for some reason, many shops for tailoring suits!!! We haven’t seen this on the beach for a long time 😎

There is a rocking chair on Haad Yao Beach that is so nice to ride on 😎

A little further, on the road parallel to the beach, there is a 7 eleven store, which opened in 2011. You can buy water, coffee, nuts, chocolate, wine and other small items there. Prices at this 7 eleven are cheaper than on the beach, but more expensive than at . And what surprised me was that there were queues at 7 eleven! This is the first time I've seen this!

Near 7 eleven in the evening they bake and sell delicious Thai pancakes. And here is the fruit market on the beach Haad Yao was not noticed. But we didn’t really look, because we specifically went to the market in Thong Sala and to Tesco Lotus for fruit and water.

There are many houses for rent in the Haad Yao Beach area. long term(House for rent). As we understand, many winterers from Russia also live in this place 😎

Here are some offers for houses for rent on the island of Koh Phangan - there are phone numbers in the photo, you can call and find out the rental conditions and book your house:

Contingent on the beach Haad Yao different from the contingent on Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach. If a more respectable public relaxes on Tong Nai Pan Yai beach, then on Haad Yao beach there are more young people and more informal people, and there are a lot of families with children and many Russians. We haven't heard so much Russian speech since...

If we compare the two beaches where we lived on the island of Koh Phangan, I liked the beach more than Haad Yai beach. Firstly, because of the contingent living on the beach, and secondly, because Haad Yai is somehow less well maintained, the beach is less well cleaned, and the cafes are not so nice 😎 . And there are much more people on Haad Yao beach.

Although for those who need at least a minimal party and the ability to easily get to the very big town on Koh Phangan - Thong Sala, Tesco Lotus, market, other attractions and beaches of Koh Phangan, I recommend the beach for accommodation Haad Yao.

Updated: 2019-3-3

Oleg Lazhechnikov

19

I continue my series of review articles on the beaches of the main resorts in Thailand. I already have reviews of beaches, and. Now take a look at the beaches of Koh Phangan.

All of them are divided into major and minor, and are also listed from Tong Sala in the south (as from the main pier of the island) - and then clockwise. To better navigate where and what is on Koh Phangan, look at the map of beaches at the end of the post, there you can click on the beach marker and go to detailed description with photographs. Below I present a description of the main beaches of Koh Phangan, although there is still a small piece of work left there, 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 in the area. There is a good selection of accommodation here, with many options by the sea. Developed infrastructure, and in general a good place for wintering. As an option for a long stay, it’s perfect - one of the best beaches on the island and a developed area by Koh Phangan standards. And if you don’t mind living far 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 choosing the best beach depends on your preferences. , which smoothly flows into Tong Sala, is not suitable for beach holiday, and as a convenient location for active travel around the island, and there are quite a few budget hotels there. Famous for its parties, Full Moon Party is suitable for partygoers on party days, and for sealing enthusiasts at other times, as Had Rin itself is an excellent beach.

For a relaxing and inexpensive beach holiday, the beaches and. These are western, shallow beaches, but they look attractive and have some infrastructure. It makes sense for yogis and vegans to settle in, 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 the beaches. Well, for those who want to see a lost paradise without people and almost without civilization at all - 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 on the western, more developed half of the island, then wherever you live, everything will be “nearby”. But east side it 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’s. Be sure to ask questions in the comments, I’ll try to recommend 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 called a beach conventionally. It is difficult to relax on the shore, where the two largest piers on the island are located with fairly dense traffic traffic. The piers receive boats and ferries with thousands of tourists who fly through Thong Sal without stopping and disappear into the jungle of Koh Phangan. There is really nothing to see in Tong Sala - it is administrative and shopping mall islands where a lot of commercial and government institutions are concentrated. People come here to buy food or clothes, change money or buy ferry tickets.

But few people can boast that they spent their holidays on Thong Sala beach. Part of the shore here is covered in concrete, and the rest does not look the most attractive for a beach holiday. Diesel oil stains in the water, marine debris on the shore - all this does not look the most terrible, but not the most seductive way. Thong Sala is more of a technical beach, a place for contemplation, a snack, a couple of photos or to wait 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 photographs.

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 of Sritanu sites. Difficult? In fact, it’s not very good when you drive around and see with your own eyes the differences and features of all the beach locations. Be that as it may, Sritanu 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 self-contemplation, 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, sunbeds with umbrellas from palm leaves, cocktails, beautiful sea, completely busy first line. Zen Beach is a place for parties, meetings with like-minded people, beach holidays and escapism 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 else helps. There are few people, resorts and bars on Naked Beach, but there is a lot of silence, waves and grass on the shore. Overall, the beauty of Srithanu is that there is a place for every taste. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

If we talk about the beaches on the western part of Koh Phangan, then I would say that Chao Pao is secret beach. Not because everyone who finds out about Chao Pao is immediately thrown into the sea, but because you can’t just find it right away. 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, with all this, 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. The stunning sparseness of the beach, combined with tropical tranquility, small, 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 it’s all yours. You can actually get here either by mistake 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 didn’t even know about. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

If you are allergic to your fellow countrymen, then I do not recommend Haad Yao as a long-term holiday destination. This doesn’t bother me at all, just from my observations (and this is very subjective) I heard Russian speech very often on Haad Yao. 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 Phangan style, but incredibly beautiful, especially in sunny weather. A beach holiday on Haad Yao is suitable for those who do not require serious infrastructure, although in general there is everything you need, from shade to cocktails. You can come as a savage, with your own rug, the main thing is to carefully look at your feet, and if you come across a blue plastic pipe that leads from the houses to the sea, then choose a place further away, and preferably upstream. Local peculiarities cannot be avoided. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Haad Salad is considered one of the average beaches on Koh Phangan. Average in the sense that in its size, in its distance from the benefits of civilization, in its infrastructure and external characteristics - Haad Salad is not something outstanding. It is located at the entrance to the most (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 coastline. The infrastructure is mainly that offered by several resorts adjacent to the beach, that is, there is even less civilization here 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 clear 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 when passing through from other beaches. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

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 among 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 are treated to 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 a constant photo model for most who have visited Koh Phangan. After .

The infrastructure around Mae Haad does not really correspond to its popularity; here, just like in Haad Yao and Haad Salad, there are no large entertainment and shopping establishments. There are hotels, a couple of shops, cafes. There are two big attractions near the beach: Wang Sai Waterfall with its adjacent nature park and. Mae Haad is a fairly crowded place during the day and during the high season, but the prices for everything are, in principle, average for the hospital. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Malibu Beach and Chaloklam Bay

One of the most famous and beloved beaches of Koh Phangan. I'm talking about Malibu, which is part of big beach Chaloklam on the northern edge of the island. You can get here in a straight line from Tong Sala and this is used by thousands of tourists. The beach is really crowded, popular and popular. It has already been photographed from all sides and described by bloggers of all stripes. But Malibu is worth it, it’s a really cool tourist beach with excellent sea, clean shores, excellent infrastructure and service.

Malibu is located on the left half of Chaloklam, slightly isolated, in its own separate corner of the coast. It is strikingly different in appearance from the Phangan beaches: a large expanse of white sand, beautiful garden with casuarina balls, shallow waters with the exciting color of the sea - this is a real bounty on not the most famous island in the world. That's why they call it Malibu - it's great. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

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 holiday. Bottle Beach is at the end of a challenging dirt road that is crossed twice by streams (and you have to wade through them up to your knees). Get here on personal transport Only drivers of SUVs or scooters will be able to do so, and passengers will have to be unseated in some places. 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 shore, the services of which make up the beach infrastructure. Several bars and massage pavilions, kayak rentals and sun loungers along the entire beach - there is everything for non-stop and worry-free sealing. Visiting tourists rarely come here, so the beach remains sparsely populated even during the high season. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Pearl east coast Pangana. In principle, the entire east of the island can be considered a pearl simply because it is difficult to get here. There are more untouched lands here and you can still feel the atmosphere of the wild island. Uninhabited, not dug up by construction equipment, with terrible roads through the jungle, this region hides such nice beaches as the Tong Nai Pan brothers. True, in lately The road to these two beaches has been significantly improved and this has led to an increase in the influx of independent tourists.

All that said, Thong Nai Pan Noi remains a charming place with the classic beach-baby infrastructure, although there is little more than a couple of bars and a massage parlour. There is a chain mini-market, a number of pharmacies and Thai shops, and 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 shore protection. The beach retains its natural beauty and is remembered forever. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

And this beach is the neighbor of Thong Nai Pan Noi. They are approximately equal in size, but each has its own infrastructure and Nai Pan Noi is slightly different greater depth sea, which may become 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 of 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 the adjacent resorts. The place attracts with its authenticity and the absence of tall buildings or various kinds of coastal fortifications, which are so often and willingly abused by landowners in attempts to preserve monstrously expensive land on the coast from erosion. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

The same beach. Yes, yes, this is the same Haad Rin where the original Full Moon Parties take place. I especially emphasize “original” because the entertainment format has become very popular, parties attract 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 for the same purposes - to collect money from drunken youth to entertain mass tourists. Haad Rin Nok was and remains the first, main and most famous among them. 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 remain 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 50-60 meters, leaving you with a dense wet bottom on which you can walk in heels (I haven’t tried it, but I’m guessing). You can only swim here at high tide. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Not everyone likes Lila Beach at first sight, so it is strongly 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 along the entire coastline, between which you can hide from people and the sun or lie in a hammock, and during high tide the beach is almost completely hidden under water. Swimming, beautiful, wild, with a couple of vacant lots under development and a fairly popular techno bar.

Most of the coast is built up with very simple bungalows, which were literally put together on the knee from what the sea washed 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 Koh Samui. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

One of two Haad Rin beaches, which are located on the southern tip of Koh Phangan. Had Rin Nai is a long beach facing west and is NOT home to the famous Full Moon Parties. But there is a well-developed infrastructure with services for tourists and chain stores, a huge selection of housing different levels, good roads, pier and rental offices. Haad Rin Nai is more of a resort-technical beach than a party beach. Koh Phangan is considered an island of youth and fun, but all this refers to another Haad Rin.

The beach itself is a rather narrow strip of sand, which is flooded when high water, in some places completely blocking the pedestrian passage along the sea. Local resorts are forced to somehow protect their property from erosion, and here they often come across sections of the beach that are disfigured by stone or concrete superstructures. This, of course, helps, preserves the shore, but fundamentally harms the attractiveness of Haad Rin Naya. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

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 of Koh Phangan with good infrastructure, which even includes hypermarkets and a world-class hospital. There is 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’s nice to look at, but not everyone wants to swim.

Ban Tai has harsh shallow waters, not the cleanest bottom, muddy water, a lot of wastelands, and many unkempt areas where there are deposits of marine debris. Again, this is one of the most eroded shores. In general, Ban Tai does not count best beach Phangan in terms of beach holidays, there are a lot of more attractive and photogenic places on the island. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Not the main beaches

Across the river from the town of Tong Sala (we are now moving from south to west, you remember, right?) there is a small splash pool beach called Ao Nai Wok. I call it a paddling pool not because it is overgrown with algae or has a swampy 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 by sea vessels, and the dumps of soil were piled right there, near the shore. The result was an L-shaped sand spit 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 your children. The coastline of Ao Nai Woka is a bastion of fortifications, which greatly disfigures 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 several simple resorts on the first line. But the swimability and attractiveness let us down. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

I recommend going to Play Lam for those who are looking for truly secret, unpromoted and beautiful beaches of Koh Phangan. It is, of course, not without its comments, but it is still worthy of attention for its location and features. And Play Lam is located at the foot of the mountain, below the main road of the island and therefore cannot be seen 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 Play Lam include convenient proximity to the infrastructure of Thong Sala, sparsely populated areas and coziness. It’s not crowded here because people don’t know about this beach, and for those who know, 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 the light sand and azure tints are available only to the most inquisitive seekers of a break from civilization. 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 photographs.

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 is not clean. Partly due to the peculiarities of the profession, and to a greater extent due to their mentality, fishing settlements in Thailand “delight” the eye with deposits of unusable gear, household garbage and marine organics that were not sold. Together with the fishermen, small transport companies have settled here and use the left edge of the beach with the pier for their own purposes.

The right side of Ao Hin Kong is more suitable for living, 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 the water is often cloudy. It is also small and does not boast of infrastructure, in general, I would call it the last option on Koh Phangan, like Wok Tum, which adjoins Hin Kong on the left. Wok Tum is a shorter and more winding version of Hin Kong, where some of the small beaches are used by tourists, and the more or less spacious backwaters are given to the same fishermen. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Haad Son Beach, which still has the local name Secret Beach, which does not need translation, is living proof that good secret place could be good popular place. I envy those pioneer tourists who were the first to set foot on the shores of Haad Son and kept it a secret. To be the only living soul in such beautiful place- these are emotions for life. 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 descents to the beach), either by the name of the hotel or by a large number bikes parked on the road. The bay is hidden by the jungle and uneven terrain, and 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 those who like to jump into the sea love 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 them myself, but people who are keen on snorkeling say that there is something to see there. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Haad Kruad Beach is a small beach, so to speak - 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 the construction of a resort, which slightly less than completely blocks the passage to the sea. In the case of Haad Kruat, we have the 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 access 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 represents only the resort and its services. The sand, bottom and sea are not the most attractive on Koh Phangan, although I have seen worse beaches. The main advantage of Haad Kruat so far remains its solitude, isolation, and it is perfect for a couple of weeks away from civilization, if you have a rented bike to get out somewhere, if necessary. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

A very conventional beach, rather a place where it could be beautiful beach, if instead of slippery boulders there was at least some sand and a couple of shabby palm trees. But essentially there is only a convenient descent to the sea - a concrete staircase with railings. But you can’t climb into the sea itself - it’s dangerous. During 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 here except contemplate, meditate or relax on the way from point A to point B. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Haad Khom Beach is also called Coconut Beach and it belongs to small beaches, although with one small clarification - to small and good beaches. It is located at 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 fairly 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 three minutes 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 downside of Haad Khom is that it faces north, so you won’t see either sunset or sunrise here, but there is always shade. Choose Haad Khom only knowledgeable people, who either had already come here before, or on a tip from someone well familiar with the island. The place is wonderful, secluded and uncrowded. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Vainam Beach is located in a small secluded bay and is a hundred-meter strip of sand. The place is very cozy and secluded, which, however, can be said about any beach on the eastern shore of Koh Phangan. Probably because of its beauty, I liked it almost more than anyone else. Vainam differs from its other colleagues in its small size, small population and lack of popularity on the Internet. This is used by tourists who care about silence and tropical tranquility. Local hangouts of strange people sometimes gather here to chat, play and listen to music. Mostly these parties spill over from neighboring Haad Tian and Haad Yuan during parties at Guyz Bar and Eden Bar. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Haad Tien is average beach in the trinity of hermits on this edge of Koh Phangan: Vai Nam, Tian and Yuan. Haad Tien is famous for its Guy’s Bar, which is considered a cult place and one of the most interesting viewpoints in the east. Only the strongest can 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 particularly beautiful, but calm and uncrowded. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

If I were to describe Haad Yuan in three words, I would choose: rocks, sand and sea. Yes, that's exactly what he is. Small in size, beautiful, in its own private cove between the huge rocks on which people settled, they built bungalows and cafes, and built bamboo bridges along the shore. It’s difficult to come here by car, and coming here by boat is a bit expensive, so either the most desperate or the most curious come here. The rest of the beach population are connoisseurs of secluded recreation. A bonus to the sea and authenticity are techno parties in Eden and Gaiza. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.

Ban Kai Beach (Ao Baan Kai)

Ban Kai is one of the “melting” beaches in the southwest of Koh Phangan. By melting I mean excessive erosion of the coast due to sea ​​waves. Such beaches look beautiful in sunny weather, but every storm for them means washed away centimeters of the coast, which landowners are strenuously struggling with. Therefore, Ban Kai is thoroughly covered with concrete rings. This beach is usually chosen by people who came not to seal, but to ride and explore the area. For approximately the same purposes that they choose Ban Tai, which is a continuation of Ban Kai, or vice versa, as it suits you.

It is conveniently close to the Ban Tai and Thong Sala hypermarkets, as well as to the party center of Koh Phangan - Haad Rin. Nearby are the main roads towards the northern and eastern shores islands. And houses on Ban Kai are cheaper, although the infrastructure is so-so, and the beach also leaves much to be desired. Here you have a shallow and rocky bottom, but there are no problems with shadow at all, and the sunsets from Ban Kai are truly beautiful. For a more detailed description of the beach with photographs, see here

Map of Koh Phangan beaches, south

P.S. Likes and shares are welcome :)

P.P.S. I will also be very glad to express your opinions regarding the various beaches on Koh Phangan where you vacationed. Which ones did you like and why?

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On the island of Koh Phangan there is a wonderful beach called Haad Yao, although it is sometimes called Logn Beach. His landscapes could decorate any postcard.

Architecture

Haad Yao – perfect place for holding football and volleyball championships. The length of the sandy coast is about one kilometer. Coconut palm trees grow around, under the shadow of which more than one resort and hotel are hidden; bar with restaurant; massage parlor and minimarket, facing west. The sea sunsets here are simply amazing. The beach is perfect thanks to its unforgettable marine species.

Neighborhood

From the islands to west coast Phangan is closest, perhaps, to a small island called Koh Ma. They were connected by an artificially created sand spit. And in the only national Marine Park Koh Phangan will attract your attention with turtles, reef sharks and a wide variety of tropical fish. The areas surrounding Haat Yao Beach are mountainous, but numerous paths and paths allow for pedestrian crossings between nearby beaches. Special attention You should pay attention to the freshwater Laem Son Lake and Vang Sai Waterfall. The Chorenrit Muau Thai camp is considered the first sports institution in this area. His age is over 15 years. It is equipped with a gym and sports hall where boxers train. More than 1000 athletes have been trained at this camp. It is notable for the fact that it allows in not only local residents, but also tourists. Thanks to special courses, people with different levels of training can study here. Tourists prefer to spend time in the fitness room. To attend classes, they only need to acquire a subscription that gives them the right to take a two-week course, although they can use a one-time subscription entrance ticket. The camp is ready to receive its clients any day throughout the year. And in the local sports store you will find sportswear and food. Behind the picturesque hills you will find Paeng Waterfall. Climbing up the path, 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. Having thoroughly enjoyed its view, you can go to the Wat Phu Khao Noi temple - one of the oldest religious institutions in Phangan. Translated, its name means temple of a small mountain. Everything here breathes antiquity. Numerous relics of Buddha can be seen in this active temple. The atmosphere of this place is really special, not the same as in a young temple.

Note to tourists

Haad Yao Beach – wonderful place for walking. Diving enthusiasts are keen to get to the island of Koh Phangan, because the opportunity to swim next to coral reef this is a chance to spot the local marine fauna. Haad Yao Beach has a light, relaxed atmosphere. Everything you may need can be found within its borders or in nearby areas.