The Best beaches Koh Phangan for snorkelling and more!
Table of Contents
As any fellow traveller would know, Koh Phangan is populated with some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. When in Koh Phangan, you will find yourself in awe at the bright turquoise waters, sprawling palm trees and scenic views. so below I’ve outlined the best beaches in Koh Phangan for you to see.
You need to check out my guide on how to get the train to Koh Phangan from Surat Thani!
But, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of beaches to visit, which ones do you head to first? My goal is to make your life as easy as possible. By the time you finish reading, you will be equipped with the knowledge to explore the most epic beaches in Thailand! Also, if you enjoy this post you will love the best beaches in Koh Tao and the best beaches in Koh Samui posts.
Let’s look what’s included in this post;
- The best beaches in Koh Phangan
- Haad Rin beach
- Haad Salad beach
- Malibu beach
- Bottle beach
- Mae Haad beach
- Than Sadet beach
- Leela beach
- Haad Yao beach
- Haad Tien
Top Beaches In Koh Phangan
Let’s check out some of the most awesome beaches on Koh Phangan such is the stunning bottle beach;
#1 Haad Rin
The Haad Rin Beach is home to the famous Full Moon party. If you’re unfamiliar with the Full Moon Party, all you need to know is that it is one of the most unforgettable nights you will experience in Thailand. If you are a party goer and you are in Koh Phangan, visiting Haad Rin Beach for the Full Moon Party is an absolute must.
Not everyone is into partying though, so if you prefer a quieter and more peaceful experience then Haad Rin Beach can still accommodate for you. The Full Moon Party takes place once a month so you have a good chunk of time where you can explore the beautiful beaches and surroundings bays without party-goers in sight! Whichever option you take, the Haad Rin Beach will surely put a smile on your face.
Check out the Google map below for the exact location;
#2 Haad Salad Beach
The Haad Salad Beach can be located in the west of Koh Phangan and is home to tropical waters and towering palm trees. In other words, it’s Instagram worthy! The awesome Haad Salad is set in its own bay and has bright sands that span up to 540 metres – perfect to stroll along in the morning! And, Haad salad beach is much quieter compared to haad rin beach, so if you are looking for somewhere to chill out, look no further!
Haad Salad is known for its sandy beaches and shallow waters, making it ideal for walks along the shore. What more could you want from a beach! In terms of accommodation, Haad Salad is comprised mostly of mid-range bungalows and hotels in the two to three-star range.
Have you seen the awesome silver beach on Koh Samui or Lamai beach on your travels?
Where is the Haad Salad beach? Check out the map below:
#3 Malibu Beach
For some, Malibu beach is one of the best beaches Koh Phangan. Malibu Beach is relatively quiet which makes it a very calming place to visit. Like many other beaches in Thailand, you can find amazing palm trees, white soft sands and still waters that make swimming even more of an incredible experience.
Navigating to the beach is very stress-free too as it is located on a large road with little traffic. Renting a boat on the Malibu beach is an amazing experience. Whilst on a boat, you can venture to other surrounding beaches and explore the beautiful scenery. If you choose to go to Malibu Beach, I would definitely recommend renting a boat or using one of the taxi boats! You will also find a range of cheap restaurants and accommodation surrounding the beach.
Let’s check out the map below for the location of Malibu beach:
#4 Bottle beach
Bottle beach is often touted as ‘the most beautiful beach in Thailand’ and I would have to agree 100%! The beach can be found in the north of Koh Phangan and offers stunning views in every direction. Bottle beach is somewhat isolated making it great to escape to if you’d like to find a peaceful place to relax. Along with Malibu beach, Bottle beach, in my opinion, is one of the best beaches in Koh Phangan.
You can get to Bottle beach via Malibu beach on one of the boat taxi’s – why visit one epic beach when you can visit two! Around the beach, you will find a scattering of bungalow’s, so if you are looking to stay in this area, make sure to book in advance!
Bottle beach location is on the map below:
#5 Mae Haad Beach
The first thing you will notice about Haad Mae Beach is just how big it is! As you stroll along the beach, you will find massage booths, beach swings, hammocks and much more. From my experience, swings and beaches are a great combination!
If you are into your snorkelling, Haad Mae Beach is the perfect destination with its crystal clear waters. Compared to other beaches, Haad Mae is slightly busier, however, the atmosphere there makes it all worth it. If the tide is low, you will also be able to walk over to Koh ma and explore the awesome Island!
Love secret beaches? Check out the best secret beach on Koh Samui
Where is the Mae Haad beach? Check out the map again :):
#6 Than sadet beach
If there was a beach that was going to rival Bottle Beach for ‘most beautiful in Thailand’, it would definitely be Than Sadet beach. The beach is located to the east side of the island and will amaze you with its beauty and tropical scenery. Bungalows and beach huts are littered throughout the beach, making it a perfect place for couples to go and relax together.
You will find that the waters are very deep but be aware that the beach contains many stones and rocks. The beach huts also sell some really delicious food, so when you’ve had enough swimming, pop out of the water and get a bite to eat. Although the beach has lots of things going for it, many would class it as a travellers beach rather than a tourist beach. Whether this is positive or not, is up to you.
One of the most stunning beaches in the world is Maya Bay near Phuket!
The location is on the Google map:
#7 Leela Beach
If you have just visited Haad Rin, you should definitely head over to Leela Beach for some more epic views. The walk is around 10 minutes, making it hard not to head over! The word beautiful has been used a few times throughout this blog, so I’m just going to say when you see the Leela Beach in person, you are going to be amazed.
The bright turquoise water contrast really nicely against the white sandy beach. And of course, there are some fun beach swings to get some postcard-worthy pictures on. One great thing about the Leela Beach is how quiet it is. I personally love it when I can sit on a back on just listen to the sounds of the sea – Leela Beach is the perfect beach to do just that!
Leela beach location:
#8 Haad Yao Beach
Located on the west coast of Koh Phangan, Haad Yao beach is an idyllic experience, to say the least. The serene atmosphere, jaw-dropping sunsets and bright blue waters will leave you feeling in awe. “Haad Yao” actually translates to ‘Long Beach’, however, the beach is only 100 metres long, making it a relatively short walk round.
The beach is very wide though, which makes it easy to strike up a game of football. You will find that in the daytime the beach is very serene, whereas, at night, the atmosphere really makes it come alive. There are various restaurants and bars in the surrounding areas, so grabbing some food or drink is no trouble.
Where is this top beach on Koh Phangan? It’s easy to get via scooter. Check the location on the map:
#9 Haad Tien
If you’re looking for quite beaches on Koh Phangan, then you should visit the Haad Tien beach. Also, this is one of the top swimming and snorkelling beaches for you on Koh Phangan. You will also find some cool resorts to stay at, near this awesome spot on Koh Phangan!
This epic beach is located near the Haad Yuan Beach so you can visit them both together on your scooter adventure 🙂
Where is Haad Tien beach?
You can find it on the Google map below;
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it, the best beaches in Koh Phangan. I hope this provides you with a great insight into the beaches of Koh Phangan. There is such diversity in the beaches and each of them has their own distinct personality for you to explore. If you’d like more information on Thailand, you can read my other guides here. Happy Travelling!
If you’re staying on Koh Phangan you will want see the full moon party!
Where to next?
Here is some of my favourite and useful posts for things to do near Koh Phangan;