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HAAD SALAD
Haad Salad or Salad Beach is about half a kilometer long and is located in the northwest of Koh Phangan. This beach is an ideal beach to visit if you want to have a relaxing stay at Koh Phangan. Haad Salad is a fine beach for peace seekers and families with (young) children. The beach and the tiny village offer you enough comfort to stay a few days, so please come along.
Pirates on Koh Phangan?!
Salad means pirate in the local language of Koh Phangan. The bay of Haad Salad was widely used by pirates back in the days. After a lost sea battle, the pirates came here to lick their wounds and repair their ships. From this beach, the pirates were lurking to see if an interesting ship passed by, and then to start the chase. That rarely turned out to be a fun day out! It is also rumoured that treasures are hidden on Haad Salad. Probably a nice marketing story but maybe next time bring a metal detector along? Ahoy Matey Arrrrr!
Travel to Haad Salad
From Haad Rin (in the far south of Koh Phangan) you can get there by car in about three quarters of an hour. From Thong Sala you can get there by car in half an hour. If you go by scooter add half an hour! Take it easy and enjoy the surroundings during the ride. Once arrived at Haad Salad you can go via the various resorts to the beach.
Taxi rates from Haad Salad
- To Haad Yao = 50 baht per person
- To Mae Haad = 100 baht per person
- To Thong Sala (Pier and capital of Koh Phangan) = 150 baht per person
- To Haad Rin (Full Moon Party beach) = 300 baht per person
Renting a scooter at Haad Salad
You can rent a scooter at Haad Salad for around 250 baht per day. Useful tips about renting a scooter can be found further on in this article.
Route from Haad Rin or Thong Sala to Haad Salad
Below are the routes you can take to drive from Haad Rin or Thong Sala to Haad Rin:
The beach of Haad Salad
Haad Salad has a clean and beautiful white sandy beach. The beach lies in a bay surrounded by green wilderness. The beach has shady places on the beach because of the various trees that grow here. On the beach there are several restaurants and bars that serve you fine meals for reasonable prices. Children will also have a great time looking for shells, especially during low tide there are many beautiful shells to pick up. And if you want to relax a bit more a massage at the beach offers the necessary extra relaxation. If you linger long enough you will get a beautiful sunset as a bonus!
The sea at Haad Salad
The sea at Haad Salad is okay! This because there are no strong currents, the bathing seawater is ideal for young and old. Keep in mind that during low tide you first have to walk quite a bit through the shallow water to be able to swim properly. This shallow water is of course ideal for young children. After about 100 meters is a reef where you can snorkel. Besides snorkeling you can also kayak and supping. You can rent equipment for this at the restaurants located on the beach. There are also many diving trips organized to the reef located off the coast of Salad Beach.
TIP!
In the sea of Salad Beach there are numerous stones, sharp corals and sea urchins scattered on the bottom. Water shoes are no luxury here…
PLEASE NOTE!
Do not snorkel in the months September, October and November when there is a lot of strong wind. The wind can create high and dangerous waves in the bay.
The village of Haad Salad
Well, village, we better call it a few streets… In these streets you’ll find plenty of resorts, many of which are next to the beach. The same goes for the restaurants, many of them belong to the resorts. But also in the streets behind the beach you’ll find enough restaurants for a quick or extensive bite. And when you run out of money, you can withdraw money at the ATM’s that can be found here. In addition to the restaurants, there are also some supermarkets, dive shops, travel agencies, massage parlours and a pharmacy. Of course there are also a number of tourist shops that sell (beach) clothes, beach items and souvenirs. It is also possible to rent a scooter to explore the rest of the island. If you like you can even have a new suit fitted here. How long will it take to open the first 7-Eleven here…
TIP!
When renting a scooter don’t leave your passport behind but pay a deposit. If this doesn’t work, try another rental company first. Also make a good video of the scooter with your phone, so you can not be held liable for damage that was already there. If you want to go to Haad Rin (Full Moon beach) you need a powerful scooter because of the steep hills, ask for this when you rent the scooter. Also make sure you have an international driver’s license, drive carefully!
Sleeping in Haad Salad – which hotel?
If you want to explore the north of Koh Phangan or if you just want a few days of complete tranquility then a stay in Haad Salad is the right choice. Even with (small) children this location is ideal. Keep in mind that it may be busier than usual here during the Full Moon Parties. Also the prices in this period will be higher than normal. We therefore advise you to check the dates of the Full Moon Parties in our article.
Villa Cha-Cha Salad Beach
Villa Cha Cha is the most expensive and luxurious resort in Salad Beach. But with a little planning and booking in time you can pay this luxury for a good price. The resort is located on the beach in the northwestern tip of the bay. Ideal to relax for a few days on Salad Beach. Wake up with a breakfast on the beach and then take a splash in the beautiful pool. The rooms have spacious bathrooms and the rooms are nice and large. In each modern and clean room you will find a TV, minibar, air conditioning, wifi, safe and a spacious bed. Of course there is no lack of a balcony. At the end of the afternoon tables are placed on the beach so you can eat by the sea. We understand the name Cha-Cha because we would do a dance of joy if we would sleep here!
Cookie Salad Hotel
All the way to the southwest, in the bowl of the bay is the Cookie Salad Hotel. The resort has a small swimming pool overlooking the beach and sea. A booking is in all cases including breakfast and if you want to have lunch and/or dinner here this is possible. The rooms are neat and spacious all rooms have a balcony, wifi, air conditioning and minibar.
Green Papaya Resort
A more expensive resort with swimming pool and close to the beach. The rooms are very spacious, clean and fully equipped. Each room has an outdoor area, air conditioning, shower and bath, minibar, kettle, wifi and TV. There is a choice of different room options, from deluxe double rooms to a villa with private pool. All including breakfast.
