Koh Ma Beach
4.5★ · 1,079 Google reviews
Koh Ma is the small, uninhabited island that sits just off the end of Mae Haad beach on Koh Phangan's northwest corner. What makes it special is the pale sandbar that links it to the mainland: when the tide drops you can simply walk across the seabed to the islet, the sea lapping on both sides of the path. At higher water the bar slips under and Koh Ma becomes a true island again, so timing your visit around the tide is half the fun.
The real draw is underwater. The reef wrapping the western and northwestern flanks of the islet is widely regarded as the best shore-entry snorkelling spot on the whole island — part of a protected marine zone, with live coral, anemones, clownfish and shoals of parrotfish in water shallow enough to reach without a boat. On a calm, sunny day you can drift over the coral for a couple of hours straight. Because Koh Ma faces west into the Gulf, the same spot doubles as a quiet sunset perch once you towel off.
- Walkable sandbar connects Mae Haad to the islet at low tide
- Best shore-entry snorkelling reef on Koh Phangan
- Protected marine zone with coral, clownfish and parrotfish
- West-facing, so sunsets over the Gulf after a swim
- Clearest water December to April in the dry season