Phang Kha Beach looks more like a massive pit or fire reservoir, just with a tropical backdrop. Phang Kha is located next to Tong Krut and Tong Tanot beaches, on the southwestern part of Samui. The beach stretches for 2000 feet (600 meters) from south to east and is hidden in the island’s interior between Laem Hin Khom cape and the most inaccessible part of Taling Ngam beach.
Beach Overview
Looking at Phang Kha from above, you can see it’s almost square-shaped with an artificial channel for boats in the southern part. Like most southern beaches on the island, Phang Kha is very shallow, quiet and unkempt. The sand on Phang Kha beach comes in two varieties:
- light brown and very coarse – closer to the shore;
- lighter and finer – closer to the water.
Cleanliness isn’t maintained anywhere except in the areas directly adjacent to one of the three resorts, which are separated by large empty spaces. The beach remains in its natural state, gets polluted by both people and waves, and is only cleaned by the sea.
The large number of sea vessels, fishing gear and support equipment doesn’t add any charm to the beach. There are enough sunbathers on the beach itself, but you couldn’t call Phang Kha crowded or noisy.
2 miles (3 kilometres) to the south are the so-called “Coral Islands”, a group of small islets popular with tourists who enjoy snorkelling and unspoiled beach getaways. These include Koh Taen, Koh Mat Sum, Koh Wang Nai, Koh Rhab and several unnamed patches of land.
In case anyone’s interested in reading about other locations, I have a brief overview of all Samui beaches to help you choose the right beach.
Swimming
The shallow water at Phang Kha reaches 2300 feet (700 meters) in length. When the sea retreats towards the horizon, a huge area of sandy seabed is left to dry out, which could rival the shallows of Nahai beach opposite the Aqua Zoo Park. Getting into the water at Phang Kha could be described as the longest trek on Samui island.
To reach water that’s at least deeper than 3 feet (1 m), you’ll need to walk across the former seabed under the scorching sun to the boundary of the shallow water. Not exactly a walk in the park. And you’ll need special footwear too. The sea at Phang Kha isn’t swimmable in either good or bad weather.
There’s no point holidaying here with children either – you’ll get tired of running to the water. Due to the catastrophically flat seabed, there are never any waves at Phang Kha.
Sunbeds and Shade
It’s nice that the three resorts on the beach haven’t forgotten about attracting customers. At Phang Kha there are sunbeds, umbrellas and even beanbag chairs that you can use after making arrangements with the staff.
Phang Ka Beach – a dry lagoon.
For those who prefer a more rustic experience with their own beach mat, there are plenty of sources of natural shade. But they’re far from the water. At Phang Kha, everything is very far from the water until the tide comes in.
Beach Photos
Amenities
Phang Kha Beach isn’t in the most popular part of the island, but its proximity to a large hotel that doesn’t have its own beach has had a positive effect on its recreational infrastructure. The beach offers all types of sea transport for hire, from kayaks to speedboats and catamarans.
Jet skis, longtail boats, tours to the neighbouring Coral Islands and sea excursions, diving and snorkelling – they offer everything here. On the shore there’s the Anandamaya yoga centre, a large car park, and a prepared area for launching boats into the water.
There’s not much joy when it comes to large shops at Phang Kha, and the situation with mini-markets is exactly the same. There are a few Thai shops selling beer, crisps and instant noodles, but local long-stayers do their main grocery shopping at the nearest Lotus’s in Lamai.
There are no standalone restaurants on the shore, but there are hotel restaurants. Not far from Phang Kha are attractions worth seeing:
- Laem Sor Pagoda;
- Kee Ree Mat Temple (War Kee Ree Mat);
- Abandoned concrete pier near the temple;
- Mangrove thickets with a pedestrian bridge;
Accommodation
On the rocks of Laem Hin Khom cape, which is on the south of Phang Kha beach, sits the huge and expensive Conrad Koh Samui Residences 5. Despite its price category, Conrad doesn’t have its own beach. Right on Phang Kha beach there are only three hotels, and several resorts and houses offering rental accommodation are scattered between the beach and road 4170.
Hotels directly on the beach with good reviews are:
- Solymar Villa
- Phangka Paradise Resort
The northern edge of the beach backs onto a mountain where there’s nothing except bare patches in the jungle – preparations for future housing construction. If you want to book a hotel here in advance or look for accommodation on other beaches, I have a selection of hotels in Samui with good ratings and reviews.
How to Find the Beach
To get to the beach, there’s no need to go through private property as there’s plenty of space for free access to the water. Drive along the Ring Road until you reach either of the two exits to road 4170.
When you get to the large intersection where 4170 turns 90° and you see beautiful Buddhist gates with a sign to Kirimat Temple (Wat Kirimat) – drive through the gates. Follow the signs to Elements Boutique, and the road will end at a wheelchair user who sells sea tours and soft drinks.
