Beaches · Koh Phangan · Thailand
The best beaches in and near Koh Phangan
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: joestump https://www.flickr.com/photos/joestump/, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Thong Nai Pan Noi (About 30–40 minutes from Thong Sala). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 6
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 30°C (86°F)
The beaches
About 30–40 minutes from Thong Sala · Families and couples
1.Thong Nai Pan Noi
A soft-sand horseshoe bay in the north-east with clear water and resorts behind it.
About 20 minutes from Thong Sala · Swimming and sunsets
2.Haad Yao
A long west-coast beach with clear water for swimming and sunset views.
About 15–20 minutes by boat from Chaloklum · Seclusion
3.Bottle Beach
A secluded northern cove ringed by jungle, reached by long-tail boat.
About 20–30 minutes from Thong Sala · Parties
4.Haad Rin Nok
The Full Moon Party beach, a wide sweep of sand that is pleasant by day outside party times.
About 25 minutes from Thong Sala · Snorkelling
5.Haad Salad
A small, sheltered cove with a reef offshore for snorkelling.
About 30 minutes from Thong Sala · Snorkelling
6.Mae Haad and Koh Ma
A beach linked by sandbar to a small island with one of the best reefs around Phangan.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| February | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| March | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| April | 29°C (84°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| June | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| July | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| August | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| October | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| November | 28°C (82°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 28°C (82°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for beach, couples and families
Haad Yao and Haad Salad
Haad Yao is a long, sandy bay on the west coast with clear water good for swimming year-round and a mix of resorts and bungalows. Haad Salad, just to the north, is a smaller, sheltered cove with a coral reef offshore and a relaxed, family-friendly feel.
- Good
- Some of the island's best swimming beaches; Calm and scenic; Sunset views
- Watch out
- About 20–30 minutes from Thong Sala; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Haad Son, Srithanu, Mae Haad
Getting to the beaches
- Scooter — Scooters are the most common way to get around, but the island's roads are very steep in places, especially to Haad Rin, Thong Nai Pan and Bottle Beach.
- Boat — Long-tail boats run from Chaloklum to Bottle Beach and can be chartered between beaches; boat taxis also operate from Haad Rin to the east-coast bays.
- Ferry — Ferries and catamarans connect Thong Sala with Koh Samui in about 30–60 minutes, Koh Tao in about 1–1.5 hours and the mainland at Donsak or Chumphon; the Haad Rin Queen links Haad Rin with Samui's Big Buddha pier.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in January–April. The busiest of those is February, so book early.
Beach safety
The main risks are scooter accidents on steep roads, alcohol- and drug-related incidents around party nights, theft of unattended belongings on the beach and rough seas in the rainy season. Thai drug laws are strict, and police checks are common around the Full Moon Party. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Koh Phangan have beaches?
Yes: Thong Nai Pan Noi, Haad Yao, Bottle Beach, Haad Rin Nok, Haad Salad and Mae Haad and Koh Ma.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Koh Phangan?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Koh Phangan?
Thong Nai Pan Noi: A soft-sand horseshoe bay in the north-east with clear water and resorts behind it.