28th June - 3rd July
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Mae Haad Beach & Koh Ma.
On the third day we rented a scooter and explored other beaches around Haad Salad. The first stop on our beach-hopping trip was Mae Haad beach which is located to the north of Haad Salad still on the west coast of Phangan. There are a few beach resorts and budget bungalows available if you plan to stay in Mae Haad. Like Haad Salad, the water in Mae Haad is shallow and quite safe for children. The beach sands are soft and slightly orangish in colour.
Koh Ma is a small island next to Mae Haad beach. During low tide you can walk to Koh Ma via a connected sandbank. Koh Ma is also a top location for off-beach snorkeling. Koh Ma used to accommodate one beach resort but is no longer in operation, and now has been overrun by nature. The beach in Koh Ma was also littered with rubbish and washed-up debris. It's a shame to see it in that state otherwise it would have looked amazing. To see what the abandoned resort looked like during its prime time you can visit this link: Koh Ma Resort
At the entrance to Mae Haad beach. If you're taking a scooter to Mae Haad, there is a designated parking area for motorised vehicles not far from the beach.
Wang Sai Resort's bungalows, Mae Haad.
The sandbank connecting Mae Haad to Koh Ma. This is what it looks like during low tide. During high tide the sandbank is submerged in the sea, but depending on how deep the water is you can still walk to Koh Ma if the water isn't too deep. You can hike up the hill of Koh Ma and get a scenic view of the surrounding area. But make sure you are well equipped with the right footwear and attire.
There used to be a beach resort here but had since been abandoned. That might explain why the beach wasn't looked after. In this photo you can see the roof of some of the abandoned beach bungalows. On the left side of this photo next to the rock edges is a snorkeling site where you can find coral reefs and plenty of fish. You can get to the snorkeling spot either by swimming from the beach or walk via the rock trails.
Beachfront bungalows in Mae Haad facing Koh Ma.
At the sandbank with Mae Haad on the background.
There are plenty of these tree swings all over Phangan's beaches.
[VIDEO] Faree'ah being Faree'ah.
[VIDEO] Snorkeling in Koh Ma. The coral formations here are different than in Haad Salad. Water was murky due to strong waves and current. Plenty of fish to be found at the coral reefs.
Chaloklum Bay.
Next on our journey was Chaloklum Beach, but we didn't stay long. Chaloklum is a fishing village on the north of Phangan where you'll find fishermen long-tail boats along the bay. There are quite a few cosy beachside resorts but most looked unoccupied when we were there.
During low tide at Chaloklum Bay. View of the east end of the bay.
View of the west end of Chaloklum Bay.
At the background, a fisherman was fixing his fishing net.
After we left Chaloklum, we stopped by a roadside coffee bar in Srithanu to get iced coffee before continuing our journey to Ao Chao Phao.
A photo with the lady barista. One for the memories.
Ao Chao Phao
Located in the west coast of Phangan, this is another pretty beach with a snorkeling spot 100 metres from the beach. We arrived here late in the afternoon. By that time we were already exhausted to go for another round of snorkeling. We spent our time dipping in the sea and sightseeing along the beach from end to end. Beachfront accommodations are available here. The water here is not as shallow as other beaches on the west coast of Phangan, a suitable spot for a swim without having to go too far from the beach. This is a peaceful place to hang out, not crowded and very quiet. Ao Chao Phao is also one of the best beach to catch the sunset. This was our last beach for the day as it was getting dark before we returned back to Haad Salad.
The path heading to the beach. There's a sense of calmness and cosiness in Ao Chao Phao.
Very laid-back atmosphere in Ao Chao Phao
The white gold sandy beach of Ao Chao Phao.
Garden at Samma Karuna.
Haad Son (Secret Beach)
The next morning we continued our beach-hopping journey to Haad Son which is located to the north of Ao Chao Phao. It is also called Secret Beach because back then this beach was off the beaten path from the usual tourist attractions. But it is no more a secret. Nowadays it is in most travellers must-go list. This beautiful beach is smaller in size compared to other neighbouring beaches. There is a pristine feel to Haad Son because it is less developed than the other beaches in Phangan. There are only two accommodations to choose from: Haad Son Resort and Secret Beach bungalows. The beach is fringed by coconut trees and shrubs. The water in Haad Son is clean and crystal clear. The famous Koh Raham restaurant is located at the north end of this beach. It adds to the already charming and romantic vibe that defines Haad Son.
View of Haad Son from Koh Raham restaurant.
Secret Beach bungalows.
Big tree swing in front of Koh Raham's entrance.
Koh Raham provides a stunning sea view.
This hut is an extension of the restaurant, built on a natural rock platform. This is a favourite spot for guests to jump into the sea from the rock platform. There are also coral reefs surrounding this rock platform where you can snorkel.
We came here early in the morning and this section of the restaurant wasn't open yet. It usually opens from 9:00AM onwards.
Koh Raham al fresco dining area.
We didn't eat here so couldn't comment on the food, but the ambience and the view was amazing.
Beautiful clean beach with clear water.
[VIDEO] Round view of Haad Son from Koh Raham
Ao Srithanu
After leaving Haad Son, we went for breakfast at a nearby cafe. By the time we finished our breakfast it was already 9:00AM and we have to return the scooter by 10:00AM. So, we have only one more beach to go on our beach-hopping trip. The last stop was Ao Srithanu beach. Located to the south of Haad Son, this is a stunning and beautiful beach with its soft white sands and blue water. There's quite a selection of beachfront accommodations to choose from. Like most of the beaches in west Phangan, during low tide the sea is very shallow. There were not many people when we were in Ao Srithanu. We kind of had the beach to ourselves. After Ao Srithanu we returned back to Haad Salad and spent the next couple of nights there until it was time to leave Phangan.
The path to Ao Srithanu beach.
Clean white soft sand beach. The beach is well looked after.
Beautiful weather, beautiful view.
Stunning beach, we wish we had more time here.
All the beaches in Phangan that we went to were stunning and laid-back.
A nearby islet.
[VIDEO] View of Ao Srithanu beach.
Going Home
On the sixth day it was time to head back home. Since the journey will take about 12-13 hours, we left Haad Salad early in the morning. We had arranged for our transfer to the airport through the resort we were staying. The arrangement for transportation was from Haad Salad-pier-Surat Thani airport. The songthaew picked us up at 6:00AM and sent us to the ferry office in Thong Sala pier for the boat transfer. But due to a miscommunication with the person who had arranged our return trip, instead of booking a boat & bus transfer to Surat Thani airport he had arranged a transfer to Koh Samui airport.
Waiting for the songthaew to drop us off at the jetty.
After an hour and a half we got off the catamaran and then boarded the bus to the airport.
Fortunately we managed to sort out the matter and arrived back home safely 12 hours later, alhamdulillah. Surat Thani & Koh Phangan in particular was quite a unique experience for us. Overall we had a wonderful time there and we will come back to Phangan one day, insha Allah. And that sums up our Phangan adventure.