CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsAnchorage· Koh Phangan· Thailand
Haad Yao (Phangan) Anchorage
9° 46.6′ N · 99° 57.8′ E · approximate
A kilometre-long sweep of wide white sand on the northwest coast, often called the best beach on the west side, with a live reef about 400 m off the beach and sunsets straight out to sea.
Practical
Position approximate: the Wikidata/OpenStreetMap coordinate for the bay (Ao Hat Yao), not a surveyed anchorage. The SE Asia Pilot does not describe an anchorage here; sound in before anchoring and stay outside the reef that runs along the bay about 400 m out (Wikivoyage), dropping on sand only. West-facing: a NE-monsoon (Nov–Apr) stop, exposed to the SW monsoon and to afternoon sea breezes. Beware fast jet-skis and day-trip boats that run over the reef close to swimmers. Ashore (Wikivoyage, OpenStreetMap): a 7-Eleven, ATMs, restaurants, two dive centres (Haad Yao Divers, Reefers); a taxi to Thong Sala takes about 10 minutes.
Best for
West-coast sunset anchorage with reef snorkelling
Season
NE monsoon (Nov–Apr); exposed to W and SW
Nearby
- Haad Yao Bars (Eagle Bar, Jungle Roots, Rasta Home)0.3 NM away
- Haad Yao Restaurants (Absolute Island, Haad Yao Villa, Pura Vida)0.3 NM away
- Haad Son (Secret Beach)0.4 NM away
- Sri Thanu and Secret Beach Cafés (Orion Cafe, Secret Beach)0.4 NM away
- Haad Salad Anchorage0.6 NM away
- Mae Haad, Haad Salad and Haad Yao Reefs0.7 NM away
- Haad Chao Phao Anchorage0.8 NM away
- Haad Chao Phao Restaurants and Bars (Phangan Cabana, Heaven Beach Bar)0.8 NM away