To say the beaches on this island are some of the very best in Thailand would be no exaggeration. The reason visitors made the effort in the first place was because Phangan, the biggest in the group in Ang Thang Marine National Park, had that idyllic paradise island feel to it. To some extent it still does have the atmosphere of a far away place, spectacularly beautiful. With development, amenities have improved and hotel developers have seen the value in a place where the tourist is willing to make the extra effort to get there.

Koh Samui is no slouch when it comes to terrific beaches, but Phangan is that extra bit special, and also appeals greatly to the diving community with some of the very best dive sites in South East Asia.

It would be difficult to suggest a true ‘best beach’ because they are all equally good. The following are some of the finest

Haad Salad Beach is one of the quietest beaches on the island, with a long stretch of fine sand fringed with coconut palms. There are some good hotels here, but swimming, relaxing and maybe some walking in the nearby hills is about as active as it gets.

Around the headland there is Chaloklum Bay which is cove set in a circle of hills. New developments have been in the shape of some very high quality hotels. There is a pier, a dive organisation and good swimming even in the low season.

On the eastern side of the island the Thong Nai Beach is host to some of the finest hotels on Phangan, with the Santhiya Resort and Spa potentially topping the list. If it’s an expensive, unique place to stay then this could be for you, with the added attraction of a private beach. Travelling south there are a number of small sandy coves to explore, such as Haad Yang and Haad Yao East

At the southern tip of the island is the highest concentration of hotels and entertainment, including the venue for the famous Full Moon Party on Haad Rin. Here you will find dive shops, a variety of food outlets and two very good stretches of sand on either side of the headland. On one side, the east, is Sunrise beach and the other , on the western side (Yes, you’ve guessed it!) is Sunset Beach . Between the two there are shops, convenience stores, restaurants and a Siam Commercial Bank. No one would ever have imagined that 10 years ago.

This is also the area where the less expensive hotels, guest houses and beach huts are congregated. Along the west coast Baan Kai and then on to the main town to Thong Sala is the ferry pier, and plenty of dive shops where courses and dive trips can be arranged. Further north by a couple of kilometers then Ao Chao Phao Beach, and all along this short stretch of coastline there are small coves and a wealth of places to stay.