Haad Rin Nai Beach: not ideal for swimming

Phangan has two Haad Rin beaches. The smaller one, Haad Rin Nok, is famous for hosting the monthly Full Moon Party, which I’ve written about here. The larger beach is Haad Rin Nai, which, unlike its party-filled counterpart, is much quieter and not always ideal for swimming.

Nearly half of Haad Rin Nai’s right side is backed by steep mountain slopes. The beach is often interrupted by rocky patches or split into small sections by cliffs. However, the central and left sides are more developed, with a pier and an artificially created harbor.

Beach Overview

Haad Rin Nai is approximately 1.5 kilometers (just under a mile) long. The beach seamlessly merges into Ao Hin Lor on the right side, and even the locals couldn’t pinpoint exactly where one ends and the other begins—so the division is quite vague. After that, Ao Hin Lor transitions into Ban Tai, but we’ll get to that later.

Haad Rin Nai faces southwest, offering stunning views of Koh Samui and breathtaking sunsets. In fact, the two Haad Rin beaches are often referred to as Haad Rin Sunset Beach (Haad Rin Nai) and Haad Rin Sunrise Beach (Haad Rin Nok).

The width and even the sand texture at Haad Rin Nai differ from Haad Rin Nok, due to their locations on opposite sides of the cape. Haad Rin Nai is so narrow that during high tide, the water nearly covers the entire beach in some spots.

Resort owners along the beach have had to reinforce the shoreline with low stone and cement walls to prevent erosion. These structures also help subtly separate the private resort areas from the public beach.

This beach is ideal for staying during the Full Moon Party—you’ll be close to the action, but prices here are generally lower. Even outside of party days, it seemed like prices are more affordable compared to Haad Rin Nok.

Swimming

The sand at Haad Rin Nai is a dark yellow and slightly coarse, with lots of coral fragments and rocks. The seabed is rocky along most of the beach, though some areas near resorts have been cleared.

The shoreline gently slopes into the water, making it a comfortable spot for wading or shallow swimming. It stays relatively shallow even during high tide, and you’ll reach shoulder-deep water about 10 meters (33 feet) from the shore. Waves typically only appear during strong winds.

Sunbeds and Shade

As I mentioned earlier, the narrowness of Haad Rin Nai makes it less ideal for a typical beach day. Sunbeds are all located within the resorts, and most of the shade is found there as well. Occasionally, you’ll find mangrove-like trees on the beach, some with hammocks hanging from them. I stayed in the central part of Haad Rin Nai and later moved to the left, closer to the pier and Haad Leela.

I decided not to explore the right side of the beach because it’s tough to navigate around the rocky headlands by the sea, and going overland isn’t much easier. However, from photos, you can see that the right side has a decent amount of greenery mixed with rocks, offering good natural shade.

Beach Photos

Across from the Sunset Beach Club Hotel

Haad Rin Nai Beach: not ideal for swimming

Across from the Charung Bungalow

Haad Rin Nai Beach: not ideal for swimming

Haad Rin Nai Beach: not ideal for swimming

Near the pier

Haad Rin Nai Beach: not ideal for swimming

Haad Rin Nai Beach: not ideal for swimming

Amenities

In this part of Phangan, there’s a relatively flat area between the mountains on the main part of the island and a lone hill at its southern tip. All the infrastructure of both Haad Rin beaches is concentrated on this flat section.

Haad Rin Nok is the lively party hub of Phangan, famous for its vibrant nightlife, and I’d say the area’s infrastructure is the third most developed on the island, after Thong Sala and Chaloklum. I won’t list all the facilities, but in general, you’ll find everything you need for a vacation or long stay, from massage parlors to shops, including a 7-Eleven.

Haad Rin Nai’s left side meets the flatland, starting from the center of the beach, where the pier is located. The right side is mostly home to resorts and standalone villas. As for attractions, Haad Rin Nai has a decent water park—Koh Phangan Water World.

Accommodation

For a beach of this size and geography, there’s quite a large selection of accommodations. The center and left side of the beach are lined with resorts, except for the area around the pier. The right half of the beach, after the water park, is a steep mountain slope, making construction difficult, but there are still a few noteworthy spots.

  • Blue Hill Beach Resort by LePalais Hotel
  • Phangan Pearl Villa
  • Sunset Beach Club Hotel
  • The Coast Resort Koh Phangan
  • Buri Beach Resort
  • Sea Breeze Resort
  • And the Angkor Wat-style Le Palais Hotel

I also visited the Sunset Beach Club Hotel, and I really liked it—visually appealing with a great rating.

Here’s a selection of solid guesthouses and mid-range resorts, perfect for Full Moon Party-goers looking for a place to crash for 1-3 nights:

For a beach of this size and geography, there’s quite a large selection of accommodations. The center and left side of the beach are lined with resorts, except for the area around the pier.

The right half of the beach, after the water park, is a steep mountain slope, making construction difficult, but there are still a few noteworthy spots.
I also visited the Sunset Beach Club Hotel, and I really liked it—visually appealing with a great rating.

Here’s a selection of solid guesthouses and mid-range resorts, perfect for Full Moon Party-goers looking for a place to crash for 1-3 nights:

  • Black & White Bungalows
  • Starlight Haadrin Resort
  • Coral Bungalows
  • Mr. Black Resort

Hotels on Haad Rin Nai →

How to Find the Beach

Finding Haad Rin Nai is just as easy as finding Haad Rin Nok. Drive along the main road until you reach the corner 7-Eleven, then turn right. Once you pass Le Palais, any right turn off the main road will lead you to the sea. You can park your bike near one of the resorts and walk down to the beach.

Haad Rin Nai Beach: not ideal for swimming

Google Reviews

Rin Nai Beach
4.3
Based on 62 reviews
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Tkmdjigv Kfgedeokmmaok
Tkmdjigv Kfgedeokmmaok
00:27 30 Aug 24
Chiara Bressan
Chiara Bressan
06:15 29 Aug 24
Beautiful beach, with an excellent view of the sunset, swings by the sea and very few people. Underrated, but highly recommended. Going from the left side, there are also some very nice seaside restaurants for a romantic dinner on the shore.
Rungrudee Audimphong
Rungrudee Audimphong
10:17 13 Jul 24
Tony A.J
Tony A.J
07:03 01 Jun 24
Dirty beach!!!!Lots of small stones and impossible to swim
Walter Basile
Walter Basile
15:56 28 Dec 23
Tremendous beach.Just a few minutes walk from Moon 6 neighbourhood you can visit this nice beach with trees that offer shadow. It is a beach that faces west so ideal for sunset 🌅 . You can also have some food there in the hotel restaurants. The sea is generally calm, but you should wear some underwater shoes as there are many sea urchins (sign that the water is clean). Showers are available. Definitely recommended 👌
Dyla Bow
Dyla Bow
08:56 19 May 23
Quiet and clean beach with amazing sunsets
Christina B.
Christina B.
08:14 22 Mar 23
I really in love with this beach. The beauties beach in this area.There is quite and clean, no waves. I like it. The sand is white. 😍Can spend all day here!
Polly Iroshnikova
Polly Iroshnikova
12:18 27 Jan 23
Sometimes it is dirty with lots of sea weed. But if you get lucky in good weather you can catch absolutely gorgeous beach
B. F. G.
B. F. G.
21:41 20 Apr 22
A smaller beach that took some hill crossing and trekking to get too.Shoulder to shoulder resorts (some being refurbed at the moment) makes this beach perhaps more exclusive than the other beaches around Koh Phangan.But.Jelly fish season from May to October perhaps makes this beach a bit riskier. Also with the jellyfish warning signs posted I paused for caution before wading into the shallows.One particular part of the beach looked a bit poorly maintained and of this was a resort meant to look like an abandoned shanty town or an actual shanty town for people.living in doldrums I am not to sure.. but it could add an undesired element to the beach depending on your tollerance or social responsibility.Good looking beach, a long floating jetty at the northern end, part of a resort being refurbed..and clear water makes this beach great for catching sun and watching sunsets.
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