Haad Yuan is one of three neighbouring beaches located in a still-wild corner of Koh Phangan. Mass development and road services haven’t yet reached this half of the island, so there are few buildings here and it’s very difficult to get to by land.
However, those who weren’t afraid to bounce along on potholes and those clever enough to hire a taxi boat receive a bonus upon arrival in the form of a “wild island” with uncrowded beaches, minimal infrastructure and charming bays with views of the sunrise sky. This beach’s main advantage is being cut off from the main Koh Phangan scene, but life doesn’t stop after sunset.
Beach Overview
Haad Yuan is chosen by people who have nothing planned for their holiday except meditation, beach relaxation and lounging about with a cocktail on the table. Getting here by sea is rather pricey (about 300 baht one way) if you do it daily, and by land it’s dangerous. So having come to Haad Yuan once, you’re better off staying here until your flight.
Unless, of course, it’s a one-day trip. For example, house parties are held at Eden bar on this beach, and some come for just one day to party and swim.
This secluded bay on the eastern coast hides about 1,000 feet (300 metres) of sand deep between the rocky headlands of Ta To and Khlong. Beach width varies from 33 feet (10 metres) on the right half to 200 feet (60 metres) on the left.
The sand is medium-grained – when it dries it becomes almost white, though during rainy season you can find lots of rubbish on the shore each morning. Near the foot of Cape Khlong there’s the bed of a seasonal smelly stream which eats away a decent chunk of beach during downpours.
Swimming
The shore at Haad Yuan is very gentle, so almost along its entire length, opposite the resort territories, the beach is reinforced with concrete fencing with cladding. Entry to the water is calm, without sharp drops or stone fragments. The sand doesn’t give way underfoot – it’s quite firm and slightly colours the water in the surf zone.
Depth comes gradually – shallow water continues to 260 feet (80 metres) from shore, so tides are decisive here. At high tide 16-33 feet (5-10 metres) of beach remains, depending on which flank you find yourself on – Haad Yuan’s width is uneven, triangular.
Sunbeds and Shade
There are loads of sunbeds here. The beach gets no through traffic, so you won’t encounter rental agencies – all deck chairs belong to resorts and are installed there too. Staff monitor the changing tides, so sunbeds stand not only behind fences on private territory but are also set out on the public beach.
Bars where you can order a cocktail-permission to use a deck chair are nearby. Shade is mainly from trees, and the trees grow on private plots – before noon they’re useless as the sun won’t allow it. But after noon the shadows lengthen, and by 2-3pm they cover the entire beach.
Beach Photos
Amenities
Haad Yuan’s infrastructure is slightly better than neighbouring beaches Haad Thian and Wai Nam, but equally sparse.
All three beaches are located in a depression at the foot of a ridge of hills that cuts this location off from civilisation. People don’t come here for shopping and water parks but purposefully escape from the rest of humanity.
Or, as I mentioned, they come to party for one day at Eden bar and neighbouring Guy’s Bar. Parties follow one after another – the particularly hardy come for 2-3 days.
All infrastructure, if you can call it that, is reduced to services provided by resorts and individual establishments on the shore – restaurants, bars, yoga centre and cafés. The most famous restaurant at Haad Yuan is Bamboo Hut, located on the rocks. There are no large shops or even chain mini-markets here – rentals are at resorts, tours at resorts, massages there too.
Accommodation
The convenient flat (more expensive) part of the shore is occupied by quite serious hotels that have a full range of services for guests on their territory. However, for people who need to control their budget more strictly, Haad Yuan also has plenty of bungalows – they’re built along the sea, right on the rocks.
They have access to loads of bungalows of different quality and price categories that have nested at the edges of the beach. You can reach them via wooden walkways that encircle both headlands at Haad Yuan.
If you’re planning to come here for a long stay, start viewing accommodation at Barcelona Resort Haad Yuan.
How to Get to the Beach
If you’re starting from Thong Sala overland under your own steam, you should drive by GPS on an SUV or scooter – a car won’t get through there. I don’t see the point in explaining the route step by step and strongly recommend studying Google Maps online properly – don’t rely on free tourist maps printed for advertising.
Head along Koh Phangan’s southern shore towards Haad Rin, turn onto a secondary road on the left (marker placed on the map below, use + or – to zoom) and good luck to you.
But my advice to you is don’t go overland – that’s a path for the desperate and brave. I’ve been, I know. Won’t go again. And I don’t want to waste 1.5-2 hours at all. Whereas by boat from Haad Rin you’ll get there in comfort in just 15 minutes, paying 300 baht.
