Koh Phangan is a more authentic island, in comparison to Koh Samui. Obviously, it is a very touristy one, there is no doubt about it, but at the same time, it manages to maintain its simplicity and virginity, on a certain level. There are no American chains of fast food or huge shopping malls.

The first place we arrived in Koh Phangan was Haad Yuan.

Haad Yuan Beach

Haad Yuan is a short, quiet and beautiful beach. It is one of Koh Phangan’s East coast most beautiful beaches (and maybe of the entire island). The water is clear and calm and the sand is white and soft.

How to get to Haad Yuan

Reaching Haad Yuan is possible only by sea and there is no access by land (or it quite difficult). The nearest beach from which you can take a taxi boat is the famous Haad Rin, the sunrise side (also called Full Moon Beach). The boat takes about 10 minutes and costs about 500 baht (summer 2018). 

Because we decided not to stay in Koh Samui, we arrived in Haad Yuan to spend two days until our apartment in Zen Beach was available (the only place we booked in advance besides the first two nights). Haad Yuan was one of the top destinations on our list and we thought it might be nice to check out the place and decide if we’d like to come back after a week in Zen Beach. 

We loved the place very much and decided that we should come back again but we could never make a decision later in the trip to return. At first, there were other places we wanted to visit and then, by the end of the trip, we just did not feel like moving anymore. But Haad Yuan is definitely a place to spend more than the two days we were in, to rest and enjoy the beautiful beach and it definitely deserves a post of its own.

Its proximity to the nearby beaches also makes it convenient location to go on day trips. 

Where to go from Haad Yuan

The Sanctuary Resort: It is located north from Haad Yuan on the next beach. You can walk there along the path on the hill (along the beach) or get there by a Taxi boat. It is a nice place to go for an excellent breakfast, relaxation and yoga. From time to time the place holds few day festivals and pleasant parties that are suitable even for children. We didn’t get a chance to be there, but that’s what everyone who visited is telling.

Wai Nam Beach: People say it is the most beautiful beach in Koh Phangan. We did not reach it either, we planned to visit there when we are back. Wai Nam is located norther to Sanctuary. To reach it you can either continue walking further north beyond Sanctuary or again, by Taxi boat.

And of course, Haad Rin, the beach of the full-moon, half-moon, dark-moon, you-name-it-moon parties, shops and a great variety of restaurants and massages.

Where to sleep

Pariya Haad Yuan: This is the nicest hotel on the beach. It is not of a very high standard and it is a pity because it has a lot of potential. Various lounging spaces are scattered in different areas of the hotel. Sheds with mattresses by the pool, lounging podiums in the restaurant area with comfortable mattresses to rest, big cushions on the beach and of course sunbeds by the pool. 

The hotel’s big problem is that the hotel grounds are not well maintained. There seems to be too few staff members to keep everything at a high level. It may be because it wasn’t the high season but it should be noted that the hotel was almost fully occupied.

The rooms are made of floor-to-ceiling concrete, which makes it easier to maintain, I suppose, but reduces the aesthetics of the room, to my taste. The problem is that both the shower and the bathtub, are made of the same concrete, which makes the whole thing dungeon-y and unpleasant to use. Another problem with the shower is that it is actually open to the outdoors – the part between the walls and the roof is not completely sealed, inviting all the creeping jungle creatures to come and stay in the room. On our last day, a wasp decided to build its nest on one of the lamps in the shower. Not very pleasant. You have to make sure to close the doors of the bathroom all the time which is a bit stressful.

The hotel features a pool in front of the sea, and it is the only pool in Haad Yuan. A pool is a necessary facility, especially if you travel with children. Also because of the many poisonous jellyfish that are reaching Thailand shores lately, so the use of the pool becomes inevitable. But some problems with the pool: it is too deep to stand in for an average person in all its parts and surely for children. There is a 60 cm deep children’s pool, but this one is neglected and there is no option to use it.

Breakfast included in the room price is rich and it is personal. You can choose your preferred combination every time anew.

The hotel’s restaurant is nice and serves a variety of dishes throughout the day.

Where to eat

Bamboo Huts: Best food plus a beautiful view can be found at the hotel-restaurant Bamboo Huts. The hotel and restaurant are located on the cliff at the end of the beach (towards the Sanctuary) and overlooks the whole bay. The restaurant serves Thai and Western food, and they have the best Pad-Thai on the beach.

Big Blue Bungalow: It is a restaurant with nice food and varied dishes with some nice gimmicks like Twix Shake. There is a pool table and it’s the only restaurant playing movies in the evening, as is customary in Haad Rin. 

* Sidenote: We couldn’t find a restaurant that screened movies on any other beach. When I was young, I visited mainly in Haad Rin. We used to choose a restaurant for dinner according to the films they screened and for some reason, I thought it was the same on all the beaches.

So yes, definitely visit Haad Yuan if you are in Koh Phangan.

Check my other posts about our Thailand trip here.

Don’t forget to share the post on Facebook and pin it on Pinterest in your Next Trip board 🙂

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on pinterest
Share on tumblr