Haad Salad is located on the north west coast of Koh Phangan just above the popular beach of Haad Yao and well connected to the infrastructure of the island. It is just 20 minutes in a taxi from the ferryport of Thong Sala, but it still retains it's remote charm.
Haad Salad Beach translates as "Pirate Beach" from a history of smuggling where the pirates used to hide. It is a pretty beach 600 metres long and quite narrow in parts, curving gently between two rocky headlands. The fine white sand is mixed with dead coral and care must be taken when swimming at low tide in certain sections of the beach, but you can paddle in the seas here all year round with the best swimming between November and April.
Haad Salad is a picturesque small sandy bay book-ended with headlands covered with green tropical forests located just above the longer beach of Haad Yao
The beach is lined with mixed budget resorts some of which rent out kayaks and snorkeling equipment to use onteh coral reef and beyond. Due to the shallow waters the best months to swim would be November - April when the tides are higher but other times paddllng and cooling off sitting with water up to your shoulders is still possible.
The ring road skirting the Haad Salad beach is a drive through village withthe usual amenities such as convenience stores, ATMs and a few restaurants.
The area is well connected to the infrastructure of the island being just 20 minutes in a taxi from the ferryport of Thong Sala but still retains it's remote charm.
Haad Salad makes a convenient base on the island from which to explore the interesting places in the west such as Wangsai Waterfall, Laem Som Lake, the Chinese Temple and Chaloklum village.
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Exploring the area
Haad Salad makes a convenient base on the island from which to explore the interesting places in the west such as Wangsai Waterfall, Laem Som Lake, the Chinese Temple and Chaloklum village
Diving and Snorkeling
There is also a coral reef just 80 meters off the coast of Haad Salad offering some of the best diving and snorkelling opportunities in Koh Phangan, with a mixture of hard and soft corals to see. Typical marine life in the area includes anglefish, butterfly fish and damsel fish.
There are several diving operations to choose from at Haad Salad as well as in the nearby villages of Chaloklum and Haad Yao, they visit the great dive sites of Sail Rock and the Angthong Marine Park.
Boat Trips
Due to the coral reef there is no pier at Haad Salad beach, so if you go on a boat trip to the neighbouring islands it is likely to be from Chaloklum or Haad Yao .
Nearly all the resorts have attached restaurants where you can try delicious Thai food as well the usual selection of Western food items such as burgers, fries, sandwiches etc.
Several restaurants also offer BBQ food and fresh seafood. Popular eateries include My Way, Jang's Kitchen and Salad Hut. As well as the usual suspects on the menus in Haad Salad you can also find chicken satay, pizza, Thai food cooked with unusual ingredients and Indian vegetarian food.
Haad Salad has a few good drinking options. The music is more reggae than trance and techno. It is a more laid back beach than a party beach. However, there are nearby parties in Haad Yao, Haad Chao Phao as well as big parties virtually every week in Haad Rin and Ban Tai.
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