BAN KHAI

BAN TAI

HAD RIN

Had Rin is home to the world famous FULL MOON PARTY and the island's party capital. The scenic bay has long been popular with travellers due to it's idyllic views and good all year round swimming conditions.

AO BAN KHAI

Ao Ban Khai starts where the Had Rin hills stop and is part of the long unbroken stretch of beach that runs all the way up to Thong Sala. The beach of Ban Khai bay is quite broad in places and countless coconut palms populate the lowland plains of the area.

AO BAN TAI

Ao Ban Tai is the middle section of the long sunset beach that runs the length of the south-east coast. The villageﾒs primary industry is fishing, thus there is a small marina in the centre of Ban Tai where you can commission boat and fishing trips.

AO HIN LOR

Ao Bangson and Ao Hin-Lor are continuations of Had Rin Nai and are situated below the Had Rin hills. The surrounding landscape is steep and is covered with volcanic boulders that are also dotted along the coast in the sea. The white sand beach is fairly narrow in places, and due to its great length, it is easy to find a private place to sunbathe. The coral reef that lies along the southern facing coast is about 60 metres from the beach, thus in low tidal season (April to November) swimming is not the best.

HAD LEELA

Had Seekantang, also known as Had Leela, is located on the western tip of the Had Rin peninsula, about 15 minutes walk from the town centre.

HAD RIN NAI

Had Rin Nai (west) is split into two halves by a small rocky foothill, thus the southern section is accessed from the pier side of Had Rin town and the northern section can be reached from the main road at the bottom of the Had Rin hills.

HAD RIN NOK

Had Rin Nok (east) is one of the most beautiful and idyllic beaches on Koh Pha Ngan, itﾒs broad shoreline gently curves to form a perfect cove flanked by smooth volcanic peninsulas with the sun rising right in the middle of the bay.

HAD THIAN (EAST)

Had Thian (east) is two kilometres south of Had Yow (east) and five kilometres from Had Rin on the mountain path. It is one of three small, white sand beaches that are grouped together on this stretch of the east coast, the others being Had Wai Nam and Had Yuan, about half a kilometre from each other.

HAD WAI NAM

Had Wai Nam is two kilometres south of Had Yow (east) and five kilometres from Had Rin on the mountain path. It is one of three small, white sand beaches that are grouped together on this stretch of the east coast, the others being Had Thian (east) and Had Yuan, about half a kilometre from each other.

HAD YAO (EAST)

Had Yao (east) is tucked behind the rocky headland that is Laem Nokrong. It forms a beautiful white sand cove and is home to just two small friendly bungalow operations.

HAD YUAN

Had Yuan is two kilometres south of Had Yow (east) and five kilometres from Had Rin on the mountain path. It is one of three small, white sand beaches that are grouped together on this stretch of the east coast, the others being Had Wai Nam and Had Thian (east), about half a kilometre from each other.

WAT KHAO TAM

Wat Khao Tam is not actually a true temple as there are only a couple of monks in residence, but rather serves as a Buddhist Meditation Center in the Theravadin tradition.

WAT PHO - HERBAL & SAUNA BATHS

Relax and enjoy the many great benefits of a traditional herbal steam sauna where natural herbs like lemongrass are heated by a log wood fire to create the steam that is filtered into the sauna.

Had Yao (east) has recently undergone a bit of development, thus there are a few new rooms on this secluded and beautiful sunrise beach. There are only two resorts and both have to generate their own power and bring their supplies in by boat. Haad Yaaw Cabana has six bungalows without bathroom for 100 Baht and Ploy Beach has ten bungalows with fan and bathroom for 250 to 300 Baht. Access only by boat or mountain footpath.

Had Wai Nam is a small rock fringed beach with idyllic white sand and beautiful clear green waters. There is one resort at present, Wai Nam Huts, with ten bungalows at 250 Baht with bathroom. They have to generate their own power here, thus there is only electric until the family go to bed. Inland a bit, just before Had Thian, is World Nature Resort with stunning sunrise views from deep in the rain forest, bungalows go for 100 Baht without a bathroom and 150 Baht with. Access only by boat or mountain footpath.

Had Thian (east) has been a favorite with the new age and travelling crowd ever since people started trying to escape from Had Rin. Had Tien Resort has 32 well-equipped bungalows with bathroom at 120 to 350 Baht. The Sanctuary is a healing centre with instruction in yoga, taijiquan, meditation and massage. It's built into the huge boulders on the hillside overlooking Had Thian and has 13 rooms at 60 Baht for no bathroom or fan, 300 Baht with a bathroom and 450 to 800 Baht with fan and bathroom. Horizon Huts is located on the head land between Had Thian and had Yuan, it has 11 bungalows for 150 Baht with bathroom. Access only by boat or mountain footpath.

Had Yuan is a chilled beach with the early-days Pha Ngan vibe running strong. Good Hope have ten bungalows for 200 Baht with bathroom and Bamboo Huts have ten rooms with bathroom for 250 Baht or 100 Baht without. Lazy Fish have six rooms for 100 Baht without a bathroom and Haad Yuan Beach have ten similar rooms at the same price. Access only by boat or mountain footpath.

In Had Rin the bungalow operations have started to move with the times, most of the old skool 80 to 100 Baht huts have already been replaced with 150 to 300 Baht fan rooms and newer 300 to 500 Baht fan rooms, and A/C rooms go from 650 to 1200 Baht depending on how flash they are. On Had Rin Nok, the sunrise side of the peninsula, Paradise Bungalows has a variety of rooms and all the facilities you need, it is also host to the excellent "Yellow Light Signal" Restaurant, great seafood on the beach. There are numerous other operations; some of the better ones include Bumble Bee - new rooms and great videos to veg out on; Phangan Orchid and Jonathan for classier joints; and long runners Tommy and Sunrise.

On the quieter sunset side on Had Rin Nai, the Rin Beach Resort is very well run, in a good location and has a good variety of huts. Phangan Buri Resort which has excellent Air-Con accommodation and a well equipped Health Spa, comes similarly recommended. The fantastic Neptune's Villa has modern Air-Con bungalows starting at 750 Baht per night, and also a good selection of family/group accommodation at 1,200 Baht. available Further round the peninsula where the beaches are nicer, there are a few new resorts, and some old skool bargains with Blue Hill coming out on top and Leela Beach going about a bit of a revival.

Good bars and restaurants include The Frog for superb Mexican food and cool tunes; the Outback for great European tucker and to escape from mayhem; Om Ganesh for real Indian food; The Old Lamp for good value chilled out dining and Mama Schnitzel, opposite Chicken corner for a sobering sarnie - Had Rin's answer to the Kebab.

In the high season (December to March), you should get there a week early if you want to stay over Full Moon, other times of the year you may find a bungalow as close as three days before the moony. All the bungalow operations on the island have taxi services to the Full Moon, and Koh Pha Ngan's a small island so journey times are fairly short, thus if Had Rin is full there you can still stay elsewhere and make it to the party.

[authors note: the Had Rin section will be updated when the relevant information has been collated, for now it is just a brief description as the area is too big to rush through].

In Ao Bangson just after the start of the Had Rin hills, Viewpoint Bungalows has eight rooms on the hillside with fan and no bathroom for 50 to 100 Baht, and with both for 150 to 300 Baht. Bang Son Villa have 19 bungalows, 80 Baht without bathroom and 150 Baht with.

In Ao Hin-Lor, Silvery Moon has ten rooms for 80 Baht for one without bathroom and 200 Baht with. Boom's Cafe is located on the last hill before the road flattens out on its way to Thong Sala, they have 17 rooms, at 80 Baht without fan or bathroom and 400 Baht with both. Harmony Beach Resort is at the bottom of the hill and has 20 rooms with fan and bathroom for 350 to 900 Baht suitable for families and groups; they also have a selection of Air-Con rooms, beach bar and private swimming pool. Thong Yang Resort has bungalows with fan and bathroom for 150 to 250 Baht and rooms with no fan or bathroom for 80 Baht.

At the southern end of Ao Ban Khai, King Bungalows has 20 nice rooms for 150 Baht without bathroom and 200 to 500 Baht with bathroom and fan. Beer Bungalows has 12 rooms for 50 Baht without bathroom and 150 to 250 Baht with fan and bathroom. Sun Sea Resort has 20 rooms, all with fan, at 70 Baht without a bathroom and 100 to 150 Baht for a bungalow with both. Golden Beach Resort has 20 decent rooms at a range of prices, 80 Baht for no bathroom, 200 to 300 Baht with fan and bathroom and 800 to 1500 Baht for air-conditioning. Green Peace is an old time favourite with 11 fan rooms, 60 to 80 Baht without bathroom and 150 to 200 Baht with. Phangan Rainbow has 14 rooms at similar prices to Green Peace.

A little further into Ao Ban Khai, Copa has 18 bungalows, 80 Baht without bathroom and 100 to 500 Baht for fan and bathroom. Papillion is a cool place with a chilled restaurant right on the beach; they have 11 bungalows with fan, 100 Baht without bathroom and 200 to 300 Baht with both. Munchies has 20 bungalows, 80 Baht without bathroom and 200 to 400 Baht with fan and bathroom. Lee Garden has 20 rooms at 80 Baht without bathroom and 150 with fan and bathroom. Bay Hut has 12 bungalows for 50 to 80 Baht without bathroom and 150 to 300 Baht with fan and bathroom.

Clubland Resort is home to the infamous Black Moon Party, the resort is cleaned up impeccably after every party and they have a cool chillout bar/club called The Place on the road at the rear of the resort. Fan bungalows go for 50 to 120 Baht. Mac's Bay Resort has good quality room set in mature gardens on a broad stretch of beach. They have 30 bungalows, many with beach frontage, at 80 to 100 Baht without bathroom and 150 to 400 Baht with fan and bathroom. Liberty has seven bungalows with fan and bathroom for 150 to 400 Baht.

On the southern part of Ao Ban Tai, Triangle lodge has twelve bungalows for 100 Baht without bathroom and 150 Baht with fan and bathroom. Pink's Bungalows has 20 nice rooms in green gardens with fan and bathroom for 200 Baht.

In Ban Tai, but set back from the road on a side road is S.P. Resort and Hunsa Resort. S.P. has 20 rooms at 60 Baht without bathroom and 70 Baht with fan but no bathroom, bungalows with fan and bathroom go for 150 to 500 Baht. Hunsa Resort is a fairly new operation with a commitment to quality. The well-designed rooms come with a variety of facilities and the beachside restaurant serves brilliant Thai and European dishes. Bungalows start at 300 Baht with fan and bathroom, up to 1500 Baht for an A/C superpad with hot water, bath, TV and minibar right on the beach!

A little further up into from Ban Tai, Dew Shore is a mature resort that has remained popular due to their friendly service and well-maintained bungalows and gardens, they have 19 rooms at 150 Baht without bathroom, 350 to 500 Baht with fan and bathroom and A/C villas for 800 to 1500 Baht. Field Paradise Village has ten bungalows with fan and bathroom for 200 to 350 Baht and First Bay Resort has nine rooms with fan and bathroom for 200 to 350 Baht.