Koh Phangan

Malibu Beach

Malibu Beach is a beautiful beach! The powdery white sand combined with the crystal-clear water and palm trees in the background create the perfect picture.

Malibu Beach is quite a deep beach, which means there is plenty of space to relax. A large part of it is sheltered by (palm) trees, offering many shaded spots. Just be careful not to lie directly under the palm tree, as coconuts often fall 😉

There aren’t many food or drink options on Malibu Beach, but there is a 7-Eleven nearby. If you want, you can walk from Malibu to Chaloklum Beach.

Mae Haad is one of the most tranquil places in the north. It borders the jungle and has a fairly wide beach. There are no loud beach bars here; it’s mostly just peaceful. The village consists of one street with a few restaurants and a local supermarket.

At the beginning of the beach, you can rent sunbeds with umbrellas. If you walk further to the left, you’ll find a quieter area where you can find shade under the trees. There’s also a small restaurant here.

Mae Haad is known for the island of Koh Mae, which lies just offshore and reveals a sandbank during low tide. You can walk to the island then. Make sure to wear water shoes, as there’s quite a bit of dead coral.

The island itself is uninhabited. There used to be a resort, but the jungle has completely overtaken the bungalows. Unfortunately, there’s also a lot of litter.

Mae Haad is the place for snorkeling in Koh Phangan, so don’t forget your snorkel!

Haad Salad is another picture-perfect beach on Koh Phangan. It’s a peaceful beach, but you certainly won’t be bored. This 600-meter wide beach has a few beach bars and restaurants.

You’ll also find a few massage salons on this beach, and we can tell you from experience that getting a massage here is a must-do! It’s wonderful to hear the sea in the background and see the blue water when you open your eyes.

Haad Salad is also a great spot for snorkeling, so make sure to bring your snorkel gear. It’s also fun to rent a kayak and paddle through the crystal-clear water.

Feeling like beach hopping? Haad Yao is just a 1.5 km walk from Haad Salad.

By the way, if you haven’t figured it out yet, “haad” means “beach” in Thai. And Koh Phangan has plenty of them! We’ll take you to more beautiful beaches and other fun activities you can do when visiting Koh Phangan.

Haad Yao is undoubtedly our favorite beach. It’s peaceful here, but not too quiet.

You can relax on your towel, swim in the crystal-clear water, enjoy delicious cocktails at a trendy beach bar, or indulge in a soothing massage.

There aren’t too many people, but during sunset, it does get pleasantly busy. Everyone grabs a cocktail and a mat to watch the sunset with some background music. Exactly how we like it on a tropical island!

Not only on the beach, but you’ll also find more restaurants and bars in the street behind the beach. There’s a 7-Eleven, various restaurants, coffee shops, and little clothing stores.

Haad Rin is the Full Moon Party beach. Every month, tens of thousands of people gather here to celebrate the full moon. We decided to skip this massive party and choose a time when there wasn’t a big event happening.

It turned out to be a great choice. Haad Rin is a lively beach outside of the FMP. You can enjoy swimming or jumping over the waves – the sea here is a bit wilder than in the north. Beach volleyball lovers can also find spots to play.

In the evening, you can have a drink at one of the many cocktail bars. Choose the music you like, sink into a bean bag, and watch the daily fire show.

Stroll down the ‘Walking Street’ and enjoy delicious food or browse through the souvenir shops.

The best part of this area? You don’t need a scooter here. You can easily walk or take a boat to various beaches. There’s a wide range of restaurants, bars, and shops. Several viewpoints are worth climbing, and you’re close to some great parties.

Want to see more of the island? You can easily catch a taxi (songthaew) to take you there.

And although we talk about the ‘vibrant south,’ it wasn’t busy at all when we were there, in the middle of the high season. Everything here is built for tens of thousands of people, but they only show up for the FMP!

This hike isn’t very well-marked, which adds to the adventure. It’s a good idea to download the app Maps.me with the Koh Phangan map. The trail is clearly marked there.

Once you reach the top, you’ll find a massive rock where you can enjoy a stunning view of the coastline. You’ll look out over the jungle, the beautiful Haad Yuan beach, and the famous ‘Eden Bar’. Take a seat and soak in the view for a while.

Afterwards, you have two options: retrace your steps back down, or continue on to Haad Yuan. Both options take about an hour. I recommend walking on to Haad Yuan!

Looking to escape the lively Haad Rin for a bit? Take a walk to Leela Beach (Haad Seekantang), just 700 meters from Haad Rin. Here, you’ll find complete tranquility—and a beautiful sunset.

Enjoy the view from one of the swings as the sun sets, stroll along the wooden path to the lighthouse, or sip drinks at the rooftop bar of The Cabin Beach Resort.

By the way, if you’re looking for a peaceful, luxurious stay in the south of Koh Phangan, The Cabin Beach Resort is a great place to consider. They even have bungalows with private pools!

Check out the hotel via this link on Booking.com.