While beach-hopping around Phangan, I visited Haad Salad right after Haad Yao. Compared to the more popular Haad Yao, Haad Salad is much smaller and feels like a well-kept secret. Tucked away near the end of Phangan’s coastal road—the one that runs from the Thong Sala pier along the shore rather than cutting through the island’s center—this beach is perfect for those looking for tranquility.
Haad Salad is far from the busier parts of the island, making it ideal if you’re seeking peace and seclusion. The vibe here is calm, with few people and minimal development. You won’t find much in terms of infrastructure, but that’s part of its charm. You can leisurely stroll the entire length of the beach in about 5-10 minutes, taking in the peaceful surroundings as you go.
Beach Overview
Haad Salad is smaller than Haad Yao, stretching only about 500 meters (1,640 feet). If you’re standing in the center of the beach, looking out to the sea, you’ll notice that the left side is quieter, as the main entrance is on the right, toward the northern end. The beach is so shallow and narrow that much of the shoreline is reinforced with cement, stones, or retaining walls to prevent erosion.
During high tide, the sea comes right up to the grass, completely covering the sandy beach. While there’s something romantic about swinging above the water, that charm fades when high tide hits in the middle of the day, leaving just a narrow strip of sand—sometimes as little as a couple of meters (6-7 feet)—for you to relax on.
The sand itself is soft, fine, and light yellow. When wet, it darkens, but once it dries under the sun, it turns almost white, giving the beach a photogenic quality, especially on sunny days. I barely noticed any shells or rocks scattered across the sand, which adds to the beach’s clean, inviting look.
The central part of this U-shaped beach is swimmable, though, like most of Phangan, the waters are shallow, so you’ll need to keep that in mind.
If I were looking for a peaceful, lazy retreat far from the crowds, this would be the perfect spot. It feels secluded but is still easy to reach via a good road. And if you ever want a change of scenery, a quick 20-30 minute scooter ride will get you to the other side of the island.
Swimming
I visited Haad Yao and Haad Salad around the same time, and it seemed to me that Haad Salad is a bit deeper than Haad Yao. If you wade into the sea during high tide, the water reaches neck level after just 10-13 feet (3-4 meters) from the shore. However, at low tide, you’ll need to walk around 33-50 feet (10-15 meters) to get shoulder-deep.
The center of the beach is free of rocks, while both ends of Haad Salad are bordered by rocky formations. Waves are generally rare, only appearing during strong winds or in monsoon season, when daily storms and heavy rains are common. During the high season, the shallow waters keep the beach calm, with little to no wave activity.
Sunbeds and Shade
There are trees here, mostly growing on private property, but there’s still enough free space that you won’t be competing with others for a spot in the shade. As is typical for narrow beaches like this, the shoreline is subtly divided between resorts and restaurants, with invisible boundaries managed by the owners and staff.
Often, the already narrow stretch of beach left by the tide is filled with dining tables or sun loungers in front of the resorts and restaurants. However, if you’re in the mood for a drink, you can easily pop into one of the beach cafés, grab a cocktail, and make use of their furniture and shade.
Beach Photos
Amenities
The infrastructure around Haad Salad is fairly simple—just a few resorts, a small street with a couple of mini-marts, and a bike rental shop. There’s a bit of everything, but on a very small scale. That said, I wouldn’t call it isolated. There are people around, but everything in this area feels compact and laid-back.
The beach itself is quite secluded and doesn’t rank among the most popular on the island. As a result, the infrastructure is limited to the services offered by the hotels and resorts, along with a handful of small local cafés.
In terms of attractions, there’s nothing major in the immediate area. No temples or waterfalls are within walking distance—you’ll need a bike or scooter to reach those, but they’re not too far away.
Accommodation
When it comes to resorts and accommodations, Haad Salad is quite fortunate. The beach is divided into long sections, with about a dozen resorts scattered along the shore. If you’re looking for recommendations, here are three worth checking out:
- Salad Hut
- Benjai White House
- Salad Villa
Renting a private beachfront house isn’t an option here, but if being right by the water isn’t a priority, there are several decent long-term stay options across the road. These are nestled in palm groves and lower-lying areas, so don’t expect breathtaking sea views—if there’s a view of the ocean at all.
How to Find the Beach
If you look at Haad Salad on a map, you’ll notice that the area between the main road and the beach is filled with resorts. The easiest way to access the beach is by driving to a T-junction (marked on maps) near a purple shop. Take a left at this junction (if you turn right, you’ll end up at Chaloklum Bay).
After turning, just follow the road straight to the end. It’s a proper road with shops, not the narrow, confusing alleyways you might expect. As you approach the beach, the road ends at Salad Beach 3 (which, by the way, is a decent place with good rates).
There’s a parking area right before the entrance. Park your scooter here and walk through the resort grounds to reach the beach. Honestly, I didn’t bother looking for other entry points because this seemed like the easiest and most straightforward way to access Haad Salad.
Google Reviews
