Mae Haad Beach, sometimes spelled Mae Hat, is a well-known spot on the northwestern tip of Koh Phangan. Just 330 feet (100 meters) from the shore lies the small island of Koh Ma, which you can easily reach by walking across a sandy causeway.
This beach is often called the “postcard” of Phangan, instantly recognizable from photos of a stunning white sandbar stretching between two lush green shores, with people walking through the turquoise sea. A similar but much larger sandbar can be found on the nearby island of Koh Nang Yuan, close to Koh Tao.
Beach Overview
Mae Haad’s shape is often compared to the three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz. To help visualize it, imagine standing where all three parts of the beach meet—right at the start of the sandy causeway.
In front of you is a 660-foot (200-meter) stretch of sand, exposed only at low tide, perfect for walks and beach lounging. The sandbar runs from south to north, offering beautiful views in all directions except north, where the island of Koh Ma blocks the horizon.
One drawback of the sandbar is that it’s highly dependent on the tide and season—during storms, it gets heavily eroded by waves.
To your left and behind you is the longest stretch of Mae Haad’s beach—almost 2,000 feet (600 meters) of soft, yellowish sand with a wide shoreline. This part of the beach faces west, providing stunning views of the open sea, with scattered islands visible to the left.
In the middle of the beach, you’ll find the mouth of a seasonal river. After the monsoon ends, the river dries up, leaving a few greenish ponds and a trench. However, the Thai locals quickly restore the beach by filling in the eroded sand before the next rainy season.
To the right of Mae Haad’s center is a less attractive 660-foot (200-meter) section, where the shoreline has been reinforced with concrete rings to prevent erosion. The sea here is also shallower, but that doesn’t stop resort guests from enjoying their beach time.
This part of the beach faces north, with the horizon blocked by Koh Ma, so don’t expect to catch the sunset from your beachfront bungalow.
Swimming
The width of Mae Haad Beach varies from 16 to 82 feet (5 to 25 meters), and due to the classic shallow waters of Koh Phangan, the entire beach gets heavily flooded at high tide. For example, when I visited during high tide, the sandbar to Koh Ma was completely submerged.
At high tide, you won’t be casually strolling to Koh Ma—you’ll be wading through chest-deep water. Because of this, I didn’t make it to Koh Ma myself, but from what I’ve heard, there isn’t much to see—a small beach and a few bungalows.
Mae Haad is particularly stunning at low tide, but high tide swallows up most of the beach. Thanks to the sea’s depth, there are typically no big waves during the calm season, making it a great spot for families with children. The sand is light yellow and fine, but there are plenty of small stones and shells, along with some larger rocks scattered both on the shore and underwater.
The entry into the sea is gentle and comfortable, but you’ll need to wade about 65 feet (20 meters) out from the shore to float upright in the water—assuming it’s high tide.
Sunbeds and Shade
Mae Haad is an exceptionally beautiful beach with plenty of trees along the shore, providing shade. However, on the western side of the beach, shade is available only until midday. Near the sandy causeway, a dense grove of trees offers shade throughout the day, although much of this area is occupied by cafés and small restaurants.
On the northern (right) side of Mae Haad, there’s plenty of shade throughout the day, making this tucked-away spot a pleasant retreat.
Beach Photos
Access to the sea is on the left near Wang Sai Resort
The central area is around the island of Koh Ma
The right side is near Maehaad Bay Resort.
Amenities
Mae Haad Beach has two organized parking areas: one on the right side of the beach and the other on the left. The right parking lot is paved, with scooters lined up almost to the shore, while the left one is a sandy parking area. On the right side of Mae Haad, in the same bay, there’s a boat docking area and a couple of beachfront resorts if you’re considering staying there.
Just keep in mind that the view from this side includes rocks and boats—not the most picturesque. That’s why most people prefer to hang out near the sandy causeway and the western side of Mae Haad, where the beach is at its best.
The area overall is pleasant but small, with only a handful of hotels and small resorts near the beach. The infrastructure is limited and mostly revolves around tourist services like resort cafés and massage salas (Thai-style pavilions, if you’re unfamiliar). I didn’t see any shops—neither chain stores nor local ones—within 650 feet (200 meters) of the beach.
One major downside is the large construction project that started in 2017. I’m not sure when it will be completed, but for now, there’s a lot of noise and dust. Even without the construction, I’d think twice about staying in this relatively remote area.
For nearby attractions, there’s Wang Sai Waterfall and its surrounding park, as well as the 360 Bar. The waterfall and park are located inland, while the 360 Bar sits atop an abandoned hotel, rumored to be owned by local police. What used to be a haven for urban explorers has now been cleaned up and offers nearly 360-degree panoramic views.
Close to the 360 Bar, on the same hill, you’ll find the popular Utopia Resort. Despite its high rating, the interior and exterior are somewhat worn out. Still, the scenic restaurant continues to draw visitors. It could be an option for lodging, but keep in mind—it’s on a hill. If you stay there, you’ll either need to ride a scooter to the beach to avoid the steep climb back, or be ready for a tiring hike.
Accommodation
The resorts around Mae Haad vary widely—some feature large wooden houses, while others are much simpler. On top of that, there’s ongoing construction. This used to be a quiet, peaceful area, but now large-scale building projects have taken over.
In the future, it might become home to some fancy resorts, but for now, it’s all noise and dust. I definitely wouldn’t recommend staying here at the moment—those rumbling excavators make it far from relaxing. It’s better to visit for a day of sunbathing and then head back to a quieter spot.
If you’re planning a longer stay, say for a couple of weeks, I’d recommend these two resorts:
- Maehaad Bay Resort
- Mae Haad Beach View Resort
The first is on the left side of the beach, and the second on the right. Since the beaches are all within walking distance, there’s no need to get too caught up in the pros and cons of each—they’re both solid options.
How to Find the Beach
To reach Wang Sai Resort, it’s easy to find—just follow the signs with large letters pointing the way. You can pass through the resort by going through its café and across a small bridge. However, if you don’t want to head to Wang Sai, turn right a bit earlier and you’ll end up right near the sandy causeway.
That said, crossing the bridge is more fun, though the café manager often complains and insists you take off your shoes to avoid tracking sand inside.
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