Koh Phangan Beaches (2026): 18 Best + Nude Beach Guide

Updated October 2026: We’ve updated boat prices, access, park fees and the nude-beach section, including the 2025 public-nudity crackdown.

Koh Phangan has some of the best beaches in Thailand. The island holds so many beautiful beaches that you won’t want to stick to just one. Luckily, Phangan is also one of the best islands in the world to jump on a scooter and beach hop.

The island is also home to a community of expats and remote workers drawn by its incredible yoga and vegan scene. We used Koh Phangan as our base for many years.

Unlike neighboring Koh Samui, much of Phangan is still undeveloped, meaning there are lots of secret beaches hidden away from the crowds. It’s too hard to rank them, so the list is in no particular order (though Bottle Beach is my favorite – more on that below).

Looking for a beach to let it all hang out? Skip to the end of this article for Koh Phangan’s best nude beaches – but read the 2025 rule changes first, because things have changed.

Koh Phangan Beaches at a Glance

Beach	Coast	Best for	Getting there
Bottle Beach (Haad Khuad)	North	Seclusion	Boat from Chaloklum, hike or 4WD
Piggy Beach (Haad Khom)	North	Quiet swims	Scooter
Secret Beach (Haad Son)	West	Sunsets	Scooter, through Haad Son Resort
Zen Beach	West	Sunset drum circle	Scooter
Haad Salad	North-west	Clear water	Scooter, through a resort
Haad Yao	West	Swimming, morning yoga	Scooter
Chaloklum	North	Local feel, fishing village	Scooter
Koh Tae Nai	West (offshore)	Adventure	Kayak or longtail
Haad Rin	South-east	Full Moon Party	Scooter, taxi or ferry
Mae Haad & Koh Ma	North-west	Snorkeling, sandbar	Scooter
Haad Yuan	South-east	Escape, Eden party	Boat from Haad Rin or 4WD
Hin Kong	West	Sunsets	Scooter
Haad Than Sadet	East	Postcard views	Scooter (national park fee)
Thong Nai Pan	North-east	Slow, family vibe	Scooter (steep, paved road)

Beach-hopping tips for 2026:
– The west-coast road from Thong Sala up through Sri Thanu to Chaloklum is the easy ride. The mountain road east to Thong Nai Pan is paved but steep and winding – take it slow, and skip it in heavy rain or after dark.
– Some tracks (Bottle Beach, Haad Yuan) are 4WD only. Don’t take a rental scooter down them.
– Koh Phangan sits in the Gulf of Thailand, so the wettest months are roughly October to December, with November usually the worst. Longtail boats and even the big ferries can be delayed or cancelled when the sea gets rough, so leave a buffer day before any flight.
– Bring cash. Several of the remote beaches have no ATM.

1. Bottle Beach (Haad Khuad)

Location: Bottle Beach on Google Maps

This quiet beach is a hidden paradise. Its hard-to-access location has kept it from getting too crowded. But those who venture here will not be disappointed.

Bottle Beach is my favorite beach on Koh Phangan. It feels more secluded than the other beaches, and the water is pristine.

I almost always hiked there. Getting there on foot made it feel like a journey – and one that was worth the trek.

In fact, the beach can be quite difficult to find yourself by bike, so we wrote this How to get to Bottle Beach guide.

There are three options for getting to Bottle Beach.

Catch a boat from Chaloklum: Easiest option but costs money and is less exciting. Longtail taxi boats take around 15–30 minutes and cost about 150–200 Baht ($4–6 USD) per person each way. They often wait until enough passengers turn up. The last boat is usually around 5pm, so confirm the return time with your boatman when you land.
Hike from nearby Piggy Beach: Challenging, but adds a sense of accomplishment. Allow roughly 1–2 hours each way on a jungle trail, and bring water and proper shoes.
Motorbike from Baan Tai towards Thong Nai Pan: Make a left turn on the hill leading down to the town and follow the dirt road until it gets too steep. There’s a parking spot there and you’ll need to hike the rest of the way. 2026 update: the track down is still steep and badly rutted – it’s a job for a 4WD, not a rental scooter. Bottle Beach resorts run their own trucks over it, and a late-2025 report says non-guests could ride one for about 150 Baht ($4–5 USD) per person each way. Check with the resorts before you count on it.

The boats depend on the sea, so in rough weather you may not get back the way you came. Stay the night and you’ll have the beach almost to yourself once the day boats leave.

If you’re looking for the Bottle Beach Viewpoint, which overlooks the beach, the directions are different. Follow this guide to find out how.

2. Piggy Beach (Haad Khom)

Location: Haad Khom on Google Maps

If you’re looking to escape crowds and chill in one of the most gorgeous aqua waters you’ve ever seen, this one’s for you. This beach sits near Chaloklum in the north but has far fewer visitors.

There are known to be monkeys in this area, so keep your belongings covered while you’re swimming. The bungalows here still mention them, so don’t leave food lying around.

Oh, and don’t forget to say hello to the humongous pig on the way in. He lives at a small restaurant and is usually found snoring nearby – and yes, he’s still around.

Haad Khom is also where the hiking trail to Bottle Beach starts, so it’s a good place to cool off before (or after) the walk.

3. Secret Beach (Haad Son)

Location: Haad Son (Secret Beach) on Google Maps

Not a secret, but nonetheless stunning and a must-visit beach in Koh Phangan.

This beach is another that is good for sunsets and can be a good option if you’re not in the mood for the more flashy Zen Beach.

Koh Raham is right next door to Secret Beach and is one of the most interesting restaurants in Koh Phangan. Even if you don’t intend to eat or drink there, it’s definitely worth a walkthrough. It’s still open in 2026, perched on the rocks between Haad Son and Haad Yao. You reach it through Haad Son Resort, and it’s free to walk in – just expect to order something if you settle in.

Heads up: Secret Beach is one of the two beaches where police put up “no public nudity” signs in 2025 (more on that below).

Vegan food nearby: Secret Beach is a short ride from Haad Yao, home to Pura Vida Café and Taste From Heaven.

4. Zen Beach

Location: Zen Beach on Google Maps

Zen Beach is the heartbeat of the north.

This is where the expat community comes together to dance through each sunset to the sound of drums. You’ll see fire-twirling and witness one of the best sunsets on the entire island.

The beach, in Srithanu, isn’t well advertised, and for good reason. This place is more than a beach, it’s the soul of Phangan.

2026 update: The sunset drum circle is still going, and it’s still free. Nobody runs it, so there’s no set start time – just turn up on a clear evening, ideally a little before sunset if you want a good spot on the sand. It’s at its biggest in high season. The water is shallow and rocky at low tide, so come for the sunset, not the swim.

Zen Beach is also where the 2025 nudity crackdown started, and there are now signs on the beach. Keep your swimsuit on here.

Vegan food nearby: You’re in Sri Thanu, the vegan heart of the island. Check out Eat.Co, Orion, Kia Ora and the rest of our Sri Thanu picks for dinner after sunset.

5. Haad Salad

Location: Haad Salad on Google Maps

Yet another stunning beach in the north with crystal clear water and soft sand – this beach is simply perfection on its day.

Like Haad Yao, Salad Beach also has a lot of high-end development on its shores, which takes away from its beauty, especially as you need to walk through a resort to enter the beach. Beaches in Thailand are public, though, and there’s no fee to use the sand.

With all that said, Haad Salad is still one of the most beautiful beaches in Koh Phangan.

6. Haad Yao

Location: Haad Yao on Google Maps

Around the corner from Secret Beach is Haad Yao. This is a popular beach for high-end resorts, which does take away from its beauty.

However, the water is usually pristine and can be the most stunning beach on the island some days. It’s one of the better swimming beaches on the west coast, though it still gets shallow at low tide, so aim for mid to high tide.

It’s also not a bad beach to do some morning yoga.

Vegan food nearby: Pura Vida Café and Taste From Heaven are both in Haad Yao.

7. Chaloklum Beach

Location: Chaloklum Beach on Google Maps

In the far north is the little town of Chaloklum. It has much more of a Thai feel here that other parts of the island have lost. There are a couple of cool cafes and vegan restaurants here to chill – including the fully vegan Foods & Roots right on the beachfront. The beach is usually quiet but can get busy around full moon times.

However, the beach is long and you can always find a perfect spot to relax and chill. There have been a couple of rope swings here too, but swings like these come and go, so don’t plan your Insta shoot around them.

You can’t go wrong with Chaloklum. But if you’re looking for somewhere even more peaceful, jump on a boat there and escape to Bottle Beach.

8. Koh Tae Nai

Location: Koh Tae Nai on Google Maps

This island isn’t technically a beach on Koh Phangan. But for those who are up for a little bit of adventure, this place is paradise.

Koh Tae Nai is the island you can see off the coast of Thong Sala and Hin Kong. It looks close, but too far to swim. That part of the island also gets a lot of jellyfish so I wouldn’t advise swimming there.

Instead, you can rent a kayak for a reasonable hourly price from Becks Resort just outside of Thong Sala. Ask at the resort for the current rate. Depending on the conditions getting to the island shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. You can also hire a longtail boat to drop you off and pick you up.

Once there you’ll likely have the entire place to yourself. Enjoy paradise!

Only paddle out in calm conditions, and wear a life jacket.

9. Haad Rin (Full Moon Beach)

Location: Haad Rin on Google Maps

If you’ve heard of any beach in Koh Phangan, it’s probably this one. Made extremely popular with the monthly full moon parties, Haad Rin is synonymous with drinking and partying well into the night.

Even outside of full moon times, a lot of the bars are blasting music and tourists are dancing.

Whether this sounds good to you or not, there’s no denying that Haad Rin is a gorgeous beach. And while it doesn’t beat the northern or eastern beaches on Phangan, it’s definitely one that won’t disappoint when it comes to beauty.

2026 update: The Full Moon Party still runs once a month on Haad Rin Sunrise Beach. Entry is 200 Baht ($6 USD), paid in cash at the beach – sites selling “tickets” online are a scam. Dates shift when the full moon lands on a Buddhist holiday (alcohol sales are banned on those days), so double-check before you book boats.

If you’re going, wear shoes (there’s broken glass on the sand), and don’t ride a scooter home. Also note that since June 2025, cannabis flower in Thailand is prescription-only again, and the government is pushing for tougher penalties. Don’t buy it on the beach.

10. Mae Haad Beach & Ko Ma Island

Location: Mae Haad Beach on Google Maps

In the far north is the iconic Ko Ma, which is an island connected to Mae Haad Beach by a snaking sand bar. The tide determines how wide or thin this sand bar gets, but most of the time it provides a golden pathway to Ko Ma, which is a relaxing place to laze around and has some incredible snorkeling.

The reef around Ko Ma is in a protected marine zone, so don’t touch the coral or feed the fish. Check the tide times before you go – the sandbar is easiest to cross at low tide.

While an excellent beach, don’t miss an opportunity to see this one from above. A steep drive up to 360 Bar will give you a sweeping panoramic view of Phangan’s north, including Ko Ma. 2026 update: 360 Bar is now called the 420 Club, but it’s the same hilltop and the same view. Opening hours vary between listings, so check before you ride up for sunset.

To stop people just stopping by for photos, you’re expected to buy something to enjoy the view. And while beers are (relatively) expensive here, it’s still worth it for the views.

Want more spots like this? See our secret viewpoint bars in Koh Phangan guide.

11. Haad Yuan Beach

Location: Haad Yuan on Google Maps

This hidden beach is mostly associated with Eden’s Garden parties, however, it’s a secret stunner in the day too.

Practically inaccessible, you can get here two ways. Hire a local with a jeep or a boat from Haad Rin to get you here. While connected to Phangan’s mainland, it has a secluded island feel to it.

2026 update: There’s still no proper road. Taxi boats from Haad Rin take 10–15 minutes and cost around 300–500 Baht ($9–15 USD) per person – they leave when they’re full, and prices go up late at night and in high season. 4WD taxi trucks also run over the jungle track from the 7-Eleven in Ban Tai for a similar price. Don’t drive the track yourself. You can also hike over from Haad Rin – allow up to two hours one way, and start early.

Eden Garden parties are still on Saturday nights, and the music carries across the bay. If you want the beach at its most peaceful, come midweek.

While close to busy Haad Rin, this beach is a nearby escape you won’t regret making.

12. Hin Kong

Location: Hin Kong on Google Maps

While this long stretch of beach isn’t much of a swimming beach due to the low tide and coral, it does happen to provide absolutely stunning sunsets night after night with the sky reflecting off the still water.

After a long day of exploring the island, there’s really no better place to put a beach blanket down, crack open a Chang and watch the most colorful sky open up before you.

At low tide, a huge sandbank opens up and you can walk way out towards the sunset.

Vegan food nearby: Hin Kong has Chana Masala, Pure Vegan Heaven and Lick. Chana Masala works for dinner after sunset, but Lick (vegan soft serve) is a daytime spot, so swing by before the sun goes down.

13. Haad Than Sadet Beach

Location: Haad Than Sadet on Google Maps

This quiet enclave is a perfect combination of white sand, blue water and instagramable rope swings.

Walking onto the beach, you’ll feel like you’re stepping into a postcard.

There’s a nearby viewpoint that can be accessed from the beach by walking across a sketchy bridge.

Haad Sadet is part of Than Sadet National Park, which means there is a fee for entering this area. It’s 100 Baht ($3 USD) for foreign adults and 50 Baht for kids, paid in cash. The park is also home to the Than Sadet waterfall, though it can be almost dry in high season.

14. Thong Nai Pan Beach

Location: Thong Nai Pan on Google Maps

There’s a different feel on Koh Phangan’s east coast.

Thong Nai Pan is the perfect escape, but with all the necessities you’ll need. The beach is gorgeous, the resorts classy and the general vibe is slow.

The small town has a family vibe to it, unlike the young-single vibe in Haad Rin or the hippy vibe around Srithanu.

The road over is paved these days, but it’s steep with lots of switchbacks. Take it slow, and don’t ride it in the rain or after dark.

Make sure to slow down here at least once on your visit.

Nude Beaches in Koh Phangan (Read This First)

If you’re looking for something a bit more private to tan your, uh, privates, here are some of Koh Phangan’s unofficial nude beaches.

But first, the important bit.

Is Nudity Legal in Thailand?

No. Public nudity is illegal in Thailand. Under Section 388 of the Thai Criminal Code, being naked or exposing your body in public view can get you a fine of up to 5,000 Baht (about $150 USD). There are no official nude beaches anywhere in the country.

On Koh Phangan, this isn’t just on paper anymore. In April 2025, after complaints from locals, police and immigration officers inspected Zen Beach and found groups of tourists sunbathing and swimming naked. They issued warnings. A few days later, officials put up “no public nudity” signs at Zen Beach and Secret Beach and handed out leaflets to visitors and nearby businesses. Police also said offenders could have their visas revoked. That same week, a foreign couple was arrested for being naked on a road in Ban Tai – one of them was fined 5,000 Baht, and police asked immigration to revoke both their visas.

A fine is one thing. Losing your visa is another.

Nude Beach Etiquette on Koh Phangan

If you do go somewhere quiet, here’s how to stay respectful:
– Go somewhere genuinely secluded. The law is about being seen in public. If locals, families or other beachgoers are around, keep your swimsuit on.
– Respect Thai culture. Thailand is a conservative country when it comes to dress, and many locals find nudity disrespectful. Even topless sunbathing isn’t the norm here.
– Never photograph other people. This one should go without saying.
– Cover up as soon as someone arrives and before you walk anywhere off the sand, including beach bars and roads.
– Obey the signs. If a beach has a “no nudity” sign, that’s your answer.

With that said, here’s where people have traditionally gone to get their tan lines sorted.

1. Secret Nude Beach – Near Thong Sala

Location: the secret beach on Google Maps

On the coastal road between Thong Sala and Hin Kong right around Bluerama is a little opening in the bushes and a short hike down to a small secret beach. This beach isn’t named as far as I know, but it’s stunning and is popular with some people going completely naked.

The spot is the Ao Plai Laem coves, just below Bluerama.

It’s still the most secluded option on this list, but it’s best for sunsets rather than swimming, as it’s rocky at low tide.

2. Leela Beach

Location: Leela Beach on Google Maps

Just a stone’s throw away from Haad Rin’s full moon beach is Leela Beach, where it’s a lot quieter and popular with nudists. It’s about a 5–10 minute walk from Haad Rin, and you may need to cut through a resort to reach the sand.

Visitors still report some nude sunbathing at the quieter end of the beach, but it’s a public beach with resorts on it – so be discreet, and cover up when people are around.

3. Zen Beach (We’d Now Skip It)

Location: Zen Beach on Google Maps

You’ll find this easily by walking further down from Zen Beach, which turns into a nudist beach.

2026 update: This is the one we’d now skip. Zen Beach was the focus of the 2025 police inspections and is now signposted “no public nudity”, so we can’t recommend getting naked here anymore. Enjoy the sunset drum circle instead – with your clothes on.

4. Mae Haad South

Location: Mae Haad South on Google Maps

A little tucked-away section up on the southern end of Mae Haad (further away from Koh Ma). It’s still a quiet spot, but it’s a public beach – so be discreet, and cover up when people are around.

Koh Phangan Beach FAQs

What is the best beach in Koh Phangan?

It depends on what you’re after. For seclusion, it’s Bottle Beach – which is also my favorite. For snorkeling, Mae Haad and Koh Ma. For sunsets, Zen Beach, Secret Beach or Hin Kong. For a reliable swim, Haad Yao or Haad Salad.

Are there nude beaches in Koh Phangan?

There are no official nude beaches in Koh Phangan, or anywhere in Thailand. Public nudity is illegal and can get you a fine of up to 5,000 Baht. Since 2025, Zen Beach and Secret Beach have “no public nudity” signs. Some people still sunbathe nude at secluded spots like the coves near Thong Sala or the quiet end of Leela Beach, but you do so at your own risk.

Which Koh Phangan beaches are best for sunset?

The west coast. Zen Beach, Secret Beach (Haad Son), Haad Yao and Hin Kong all face the sunset. East-coast beaches like Haad Yuan and Thong Nai Pan are sunrise beaches.

How do you get to Bottle Beach?

The easiest way is a longtail taxi boat from Chaloklum, which takes around 15–30 minutes. You can also hike in from Haad Khom (about 1–2 hours) or take a 4WD truck down the steep track. Don’t ride a scooter down it. Our How to get to Bottle Beach guide has the details.

Do you need a scooter to beach hop in Koh Phangan?

It’s the easiest way, and the main west-coast road is in good shape. If you’re not confident on a bike, taxis and songthaews run between the main beaches, and boats reach the remote ones like Bottle Beach and Haad Yuan.

Where can I find vegan food near the beaches?

Almost everywhere. Sri Thanu (near Zen Beach) is the vegan heart of the island, and there are great options in Haad Yao, Hin Kong, Thong Sala and Chaloklum. Our Koh Phangan vegan guide lists our favorite vegan restaurants by area.

Which Koh Phangan Beach Is Your Favorite?

Did we miss your go-to beach? Let us know in the comments!

18 Best Beaches in Koh Phangan (2026): A Beach Hopper’s Guide + Nude Beaches