Tourists rarely use the Thai name Haad Khuad, opting for the more familiar Bottle Beach. Interestingly, the Thai word “khuad” and the English “bottle” mean the same thing. Bottle Beach is tucked away in a secluded bay at the northernmost tip of Koh Phangan, framed by steep, rocky cliffs on both sides.
Getting to Bottle Beach isn’t the easiest task, which is why it’s often less crowded. But those who make the journey are rewarded with one of Koh Phangan’s most beautiful and tranquil beaches.
Beach Overview
Bottle Beach offers a consistently flat and even shoreline, though during monsoons, the sand may erode, creating small drop-offs. In the calm season, the beach slopes steeply into the water, making it ideal for swimming. At low tide, a strip of clean sand is revealed, with a smooth, stone-free bottom. Just 10 meters from the shore, the water is deep enough for comfortable swimming.
Swimming
The shoreline at Bottle Beach is flat and even throughout, unless the monsoon waves have partially eroded the sand, creating small drop-offs. During the calm season, the sea gently spreads sand across the beach, filling the river channel and behaving quite well, though waves can still occur.
The beach slopes steeply into the water. At low tide, a two-meter strip of clean sand is revealed, with a smooth, stone-free bottom. The depth here is one of the best on Koh Phangan—just 10 meters from the shore, you can already stand and swim comfortably upright.
Sunbeds and Shade
There are no sunbed rentals at Bottle Beach, so the loungers you see belong to nearby resorts and guesthouses. These are mostly separated from the rest of the beach by low stone walls. While some resort managers have planted palm trees, they’re still too small to provide much shade, so the best shade is usually near the resorts.
Beach Photos
Amenities
As with most remote beaches, Haad Khuad’s infrastructure revolves around its few resorts, which offer restaurants, cafés, massage huts, and bars. Equipment rentals and currency exchange services are available at resort receptions.
The resorts are about 100 meters from the shoreline, beyond which lies wild jungle and a rough dirt road. There are no shops or tourist attractions here—the closest store is 8 km away at Thong Nai Pan Beach, accessible via challenging dirt roads. For many, Bottle Beach itself is the main attraction.
Accommodation
I usually prefer to stay and test accommodations myself or, at the very least, check traveler reviews on major booking platforms to find the best value for money. However, at Haad Khuad, your options are limited due to the beach’s small size, which naturally means fewer places to stay.
Here are all the available resorts on Bottle Beach (for detailed descriptions, check the links):
- Smile Bungalows
- Bottle Beach 1 Resort
- Haad Khuad Resort
- Bottle Beach 2 Bungalows
How to Find the Beach
Bottle Beach has its own marker on Google Maps, and you’ll also find it on my map at the end of this post. There are three ways to get there:
- By scooter directly to the beach
- By scooter to the trail, followed by a hike over the rocks
- By boat
If you’re riding a scooter, it’s an easy trip along a wide road until you reach an unremarkable turn onto a dirt path. The turn is marked on my map, as is the last flat section of the road before things get tricky. I strongly advise against trying this in a regular car—front-wheel drive won’t cut it.
Only a 4×4 will make it through the tough terrain. For scooter riders, be cautious of the loose gravel, deep ruts, steep slopes, and sharp turns. It’s especially risky if you’re riding with a passenger or, worse, with kids.
For inexperienced scooter riders and drivers, it’s better to take the trail marked with signs for Bottle Beach, which is helpfully littered with plastic bottles as makeshift markers. Though it’s actually trash, it can guide you along the way.
The trek is fairly easy, but if you’re not used to hiking in the heat, dehydration can be a real risk—so bring plenty of water (and don’t litter along the path!). The trail leads directly to Bottle Beach.
The easiest, though most expensive, way to get there is by taxi boat. The fare increases depending on how far you are from the beach. A good option is to combine land and sea transport: head to a nearby beach with a proper road, like Haad Thong Nai Pan Noi.
From there, park your vehicle and hop on a taxi boat for 150–200 baht, which will get you to Bottle Beach hassle-free. Just note that they won’t take just one person for that price—you’ll need a group. Alternatively, you can also catch a boat from Chaloklam.
Google Reviews
