The 10 Best Beaches in Koh Phangan: Dreamy Thailand Beaches

The beaches in Koh Phangan are some of the absolute best in Thailand. Imagine soft white sand, clear blue water, incredible snorkelling locations, and palm-lined beaches. Sounds like paradise right?

I spent about a week in Koh Phangan and had so much fun exploring the beautiful beaches and finding new ‘secret’ locations. And, now, I think it’s only fair to share my discoveries with the rest of the world.

Be sure to go through the entire guide to avoid missing some of the incredible locations. Truly, these beaches are like stepping foot into paradise and you wouldn’t want to miss out on any of them!

Besides, you are absolutely spoilt for choice. There is a tonne of gorgeous beaches on this island just waiting for you to discover!

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Is Koh Phangan Worth Visiting?

Koh Phangan is one of those places that you might not expect to be worth it but absolutely is. The island offers the perfect mix of party life, social activities, relaxation and of course, stunning beaches.

There are heaps to enjoy on this magnificent island and it’s become a favourite among many tourists. If you are considering stopping by the island, I totally recommend that you do so!

Where is Koh Phangan?

Koh Phangan is a beautiful island off the South East coast of Thailand. Moreover, it makes up a significant part of the Chumphon Archipelago and is situated in the Gulf of Thailand.

Better known for its monthly full moon party, the island is a massive hit amongst tourists and brings in anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 visitors monthly. And, that number is on a rapid incline considering the popularity of the festival event.

Finally, Koh Phangan is in the middle of its siblings, the larger Koh Samui and the smaller Koh Tao. It’s an excellent location to island hop and explore while enjoying the islands of Thailand.

The 10 Best Beaches in Koh Phangan You Need to Visit

OXA Beach

Okay, so this isn’t technically just a beach… it’s actually a nightclub. Or, I guess you could say, party on the beach. And in all honesty, I think that this is one of the ultimate places to hang out for an afternoon before the night turns wild.

This area of the beach is an absolute dream. Think beautiful beach huts, gorgeous sunset views, hammocks for relaxing and strings of decorations hanging from trees. It’s honestly like stepping foot in paradise and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this location.

So enjoy the sunset on the beach, and sip on a few beers as the space comes to life!

Secret Beach

It may not be so secret anymore, but in all honesty, that’s for good reason. Secret Beach has to be one of the most beautiful locations on the island and a wonderful spot to enjoy for a handful of hours.

There are a few restaurants lining the beach and you can enjoy a delicious meal while soaking up the sun; It truly feels like an absolute dream!

Not to mention, the food along the beach is incredible and I highly recommend grabbing a bite while you’re up this way!

Zen Beach

They don’t call it Zen Beach for no reason! Zen Beach is a little bit tucked away, but opens up to a large area of soft sand and stunning views. Moreover, there’s plenty of room to perch up and enjoy some time in the sun.

Keep in mind, this spot becomes ultra busy just before sunset, so arrive early to save yourself a spot on the sand!

Koh Ma Beach

Koh Ma is a fascinating location on the very northwest of the island. It’s one of the most northern points and is a beautiful spot to enjoy for a couple of hours. Imagine a large sand bank running in between the water and connecting a small island.

Unfortunately, loads of plastic debris tend to wash up on this part of the island, so if you can do your bit to help and clear some trash up, you will be doing the world of a difference!

Finally, while you’re in the area, feel free to wander on down to Mae Haad Beach for an added bonus. Moreover, this spot is just as beautiful and is another great location to relax for the afternoon. Besides, two in one is an absolute win!

Salad Beach

When I tell you that Salad Beach is a dream, you best believe it! Salad Beach has some of the whitest sand on the island and is a gorgeous long stretch of beach with plenty of space to sprawl out.

Not to mention, it’s become one of the most popular beaches on the island and is an absolute must-visit while in Koh Phangan!

However, take note, if you are heading to this location and not staying at one of the resorts, it can be a little tricky to reach. Therefore, I recommend heading down by Ben’s Ice cream or Coral Beach shop to reach the beach!

Srithanu Beach

Get two beaches in one trip by parking in the Zen Beach parking lot, visit Zen Beach and then head on down to Srithanu Beach. Besides, this beach is a little tricky to access as there are a number of resorts lining the shore making access a little difficult.

Additionally, this beach is still a little under the radar as a lot of tourists find it tricky to reach. So, enjoy it while you can before the crows flock to the location!

Chalok Lam Beach

Chalok Lam Beach is much further away from the main strip of Koh Phangan but is absolutely worth a visit. Moreover, the northern beach is the best location for a few hours in the stunning Thai sun. However, there are a lot of long-tail fishing boats hanging around, so keep an eye out for them as they approach the shorelines.

Nonetheless, the sand is extremely soft and perfectly white, and the beach sits inside a bit of a cove. Therefore, you get gorgeous views of the mountains lining the beach.

Thong Nai Pan Beach

Now, this is what stepping foot in paradise feels like. It’s named for being one of the best beaches in Koh Phangan, and it’s pretty clear to see why.

Thong Nai Pan Yai is one of those ultra-idyllic locations that look like it’s out of a movie, except, it’s real! The water is crystal clear, the sand is perfectly soft and white and the palms lining the beach look absolutely fantastic.

Besides, this is the perfect location to hang out if you want to escape craziness and enjoy some peace. So, be sure to add this one to your list! It’s not one to miss! This was one of my favourite hang out locations on the island.

Haad Yuan Beach

This is one of the beaches on the island that requires a little more effort to reach. But, that’s what makes it so worth it! There are only two ways to reach this hidden paradise.

Firstly, you can hike from Haad Rin Beach which is about a 3.5km journey. However, there is some steep jungle hiking required.

Secondly, you can take a taxi boat which will set you back around 300 THB per person. Personally, I recommend hiking to the location and then taking a boat ride back. That way you get the full experience and get to enjoy an adventure to a secret beach location.

Finally, the beach is absolutely stunning and a beautiful spot to relax for a few hours. Nonetheless, be sure to take plenty of cash (Thai Baht) so that you can order some food and pay for a taxi to get back to the main part of the island.

Haad Rin Beach

Did you really think that I could write this entire post and not put up the most popular beach on the island? Absolutely not, I couldn’t resist! Besides, Haad Rin Beach is one of the main reasons for Koh Phangan’s incredible tourism.

Haad Rin Beach is where the world-renowned Full Moon Party takes place every month. So, that means that this location is set up for some pretty great times all year round.

Besides, even if you don’t want to get involved in the Full Moon fun, it’s nice to experience the beach that hosts tens of thousands of partygoers monthly.

Nonetheless, Haad Rin is a very pretty beach, and there are some great sites around the beach that make up this quirky little area. There are many wild nights that have taken place on this beach and it’s absolutely worth a visit.

Additional Activities in Koh Phangan

Find it hard to sit still? That’s okay, there are still numerous ways that you can enjoy these gorgeous beaches, but just with a little more adventure.

Feel free to check out some of the activities and methods of transport below.

Doing Your Bit

If there’s one thing I’d like you to take from this post, it’s the fact that you can make a difference. While spending time along these idyllic beaches, you’ll unfortunately notice loads of plastic and waste floating in the water and sitting along the shoreline.

I would recommend taking the time to pick up even just a few pieces of rubbish/trash and taking them with you to dispose of thoughtfully. At the end of the day, a little goes a long way.

Additionally, ways that we can reduce the issue is by limiting our plastic consumption. Therefore, try doing your best to reduce how much plastic you pick up from stores and when receiving takeaway. There are many ways we can stop the issue, but it begins with us!

Finally, educating the locals is another great way to get to the bottom of the issue. Some of them don’t really understand the issue, but if we can kindly educate them, this is another great way to start!

Furthermore, offer alternatives and find new ways to say no to plastic.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, these are just some of the best beaches in Koh Phangan, but some of the prettiest places I saw while spending time on the island. Besides, half the fun of travelling is stumbling upon a hidden gem that no one knows about.

I absolutely recommend trying to visit at least five of these locations while spending time on the island. They are truly beautiful, and the most perfect spots to unwind for a bit.

Nonetheless, these are just some of the most stunning beaches in Koh Phangan, and better yet, Thailand in general! There are tonnes of places that you can enjoy, but this island sure packs an absolute punch!

If you weren’t sure whether this island was worth a visit, let it be known that it will knock your socks off! It’s truly an unskippable location for any and all travellers.

Finally, if you would like to discover more about Thailand, please check out this section of my blog where I add plenty of fresh content regularly. Moreover, there are loads of travel guides and other travel advice that you may find useful for your time in the land of Thai. Happy reading!