Mae Haad Beach

Mae Haad sits at the quiet northwest corner of Koh Phangan, where a long curve of pale yellow sand meets unusually shallow, clear water. Its signature feature is the sandbar that rises out of the sea as the tide drops, forming a walkable spit of sand all the way out to the little island of Koh Ma. Time it right and you can stroll across with the water lapping at your ankles on both sides; arrive at high tide and the same route is a chest-deep wade, so the beach effectively changes shape through the day.

Because the bay shelves so gently, you wade a fair way out before it gets deep, which makes Mae Haad forgiving for kids and nervous swimmers but means low tide leaves rocks and pebbles exposed underfoot. The reef around Koh Ma is the draw for snorkellers, and the whole place is mellow rather than party-loud — a few low-key resorts and beach restaurants, sunset over the sea, and not much else. It pairs naturally with neighbouring Haad Salad just down the coast.

• Low-tide sandbar lets you walk out to the Koh Ma islet on a strip of sand
• Koh Ma's offshore reef is widely rated the best snorkelling on Koh Phangan
• Very shallow, gently shelving bay — easy, gradual entry for swimming
• West-facing northwest coast means sunsets directly over the sea
• Quiet, low-key scene with a handful of resorts and beach eateries