'''Haad Yao''' is one of the most beautiful beaches on Koh Phangan. The sandy beach stretches over one kilometer from Haad Son through to the headland that shelters the bay.

The beach is also very wide allowing a wide variety of sports and activities.

Get in

From Thongsala and the ferry terminal the taxi ride is just ten minutes. The fare per person should be BHT 100. The cab drivers will produce a booklet that claims BHT 150 is the standard fare. It is not. BARGAIN!

Get around

Walking, renting motorbikes or sharing taxis to Thongsala - the main port. Twenty five minutes to Haad Rin and the full moon party.

See

Do

Sunbathing, swimming, diving, snorkeling and eating.

There is a life reef that stretches, a short swim (about 400m), along the bay and beyond. Well worth snorkeling along.

During high-season there are several boat trips offered starting from the beach e.g. Black Coral Tours. These tours start from the beach and the boats anchor on the shore, they drive their out-board motors through the shallow water damaging the coral and have been known to cut it close with swimmers, not to mention the noise and the film of diesel on the water that they leave behind. Sign up for tours that are based at a pier, otherwise the beauty of the reef and beach will soon be damaged beyond repair.

Diving

Buy

Shopping is available at Thongsala some ten minutes away by Taxi. Locally there are shops, mini malls and restaurants.

Eat

Thai and European food. There are many restaurants on the beach and behind on the road to Thongsala.

'''Haad Yao Villa''', located in the middle of the beach, has the best Thai-food on the beach while being in the same price range as most of the other restaurants. Thai dishes from BHT 60 up. Staff is very friendly and has been known to give free stuff to repeat costumers.

'''Absolute Island''', up on the cliff at the beginning of the beach, does a very good package breakfast for BHT 100. The view from the restaurant is well worth the climb. Cocktails start at BHT 100.

'''Silver Beach View''' in the middle of the beach has a rather beautiful balcony overlooking the sea. The prices are average but the food is mediocre at best. Get a drink and enjoy the view.

Drink

There are many bars on the beach set within the hotels and bungalows that are located here. If you want a real (non-instant) coffee, head to the resort restaurant at the end of the beach.

Sleep

'''Absolute Island''' has a limited number of bungalows on the cliff at the beginning of Haad Yao. Clean, but a bit of a climb. No view. Fan BHT 300, Aircon BHT 500. Grounds are used as a drive through for the jet-ski.

'''Bounty Island''' is a resort next to Absolute Island with beautifully kept grounds and bungalows. Some of the bungalows have a beautiful view of the ocean/beach. Fan from BHT 350 to aircon from BHT 700.

  • Haad Yao Bay view. aad Yao Beach. ttp://www.haadyao-bayviewresort.com/. 1.00. 0.00. ,750 -2,750 Baht. Haad Yao Bay View Resort offers thiry beach front rooms on one of the most popular beach destinations on Koh Phangan in Thailand. </sleep>
  • Haad Yao See Through Resort. aad Yao Beach. ttp://www.phangan.info/haadyaoseethrough/. 7.30 - 04.00. ,750 - 1,750 Baht. Haad Yao See Through Resort is a new hotel on the beachfront at Haad Yao. The pool stretches the entire length of the hotel and guests can enter the water from their balconies. There are fire juggling shows at night on the sea front.

    Get out

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