🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Mae Haad sits on the northwest corner of Koh Phangan — a quiet bay with clear water and white sand. The real draw here is the sandbar, over 350m long, that runs from the end of the beach out to Koh Ma. As the tide drops, the sandbar slowly surfaces into a walkway through the middle of the sea, clear water on both sides. That image is what put Mae Haad on the map. Koh Ma itself is a small rocky island covered in trees, with no one living on it — people come for the coral around its edges.
Why Koh Ma is the best snorkeling spot on Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan has plenty of pretty beaches, but at most of them the coral sits far offshore or has faded over the years. Koh Ma is different: the reef starts close to shore, just a short walk in from the beach. The water is shallow and calm, which is why it gets talked about more than anywhere else on the island for snorkeling straight off the sand. Beginners do fine here — no boat to catch, no long swim out.
- Staghorn coral — branching into bushy clumps, home to clouds of little fish
- Brain coral — round, grooved boulders that look like a brain, scattered all along the reef
- Anemones and clownfish — dotted around in spots; kids love finding them
- Schools of colorful fish — parrotfish, sergeant majors, and tight schools of small fish drifting past
- On a lucky day you might spot a blue-spotted ray resting on the sandy bottom
Depths around the island run from ankle-deep at the sandbar out to roughly 10–12m on the far side. Most people see plenty just floating around the shallow stretches — no need to head out far. One thing to know first: before you reach the reef there's a shallow sandy patch with some seagrass and sea cucumbers mixed in. You walk through that section before the real coral starts.
Want more out of Koh Phangan? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
The sandbar and the tides — what to understand before you go
The thing that trips people up most often: high tide and low tide give you completely different days here, and you have to decide what you came for.
- Want to walk the sandbar over to Koh Ma → come at low tide, when the sandbar surfaces. At high tide parts of it go underwater or disappear entirely.
- Want the best snorkeling → come at high tide, when there's enough water to float comfortably and you won't kick the coral. At very low tide you have to wade a long way through the shallows before you reach the reef.
Always check the tide table first
The tide schedule changes every day. Before you go, search for a tide chart for Koh Phangan or ask your accommodation. The sweet spot is when the water is dropping toward its lowest in the late afternoon — you get both the sandbar walk and the soft evening light for photos.
How to get to Mae Haad Beach
Mae Haad is on the north side of the island. From Thong Sala pier, you head north past Chaloklum and then curve back to the west — about a 20–30 minute drive. The last stretch hugs the hillside, with a couple of steep drops on the way down to the beach.
- Rented motorbike — the easiest option, around 200–300 THB/day. Fill the tank, because gas stations out here are thin on the ground.
- Songthaew / island taxi — roughly 250–400 THB and up for a round trip. Agree on the fare before you get in, every time.
- There's parking at the top of the path down to the beach; from there it's a short walk to the sand.
The road down to the beach is genuinely steep
The route into Mae Haad and Chaloklum has steep descents and curves. If you're not comfortable on a motorbike, don't push it — go slow, brake front and rear together, and wear a helmet every time. The road gets slick in the rain, so skip it if you can. This is a spot where tourists come off their bikes often.
Before you get in the water + renting gear
You can snorkel Koh Ma straight off the beach — no boat needed. If you don't have your own gear, there are shops near Mae Haad that rent masks and fins; it's easy, and you can settle the price with the shop on the spot. Some beachfront places have gear to borrow too, so ask first.
- Water shoes — really important; the bottom has rocks and coral and bare feet cut easily
- Mask, snorkel and fins — rentable on the beach, or bring your own to be sure about hygiene
- Reef-safe sunscreen — skip anything with chemicals that harm coral; it helps keep the reef alive longer
- Drinking water and a hat, since there's limited shade on the beach
Don't step on or touch the coral
Coral is a living thing — one kick or one stance on it can kill growth that took years. When you're floating, keep your legs up, don't let your fins drop to the bottom, and don't take coral or shells home. Leave it so the people after you get to see what you saw.
Places to eat and rest near Mae Haad
Mae Haad is a quiet beach — nothing like the strip of places over at Haad Rin — but there are still a few beachfront spots to sit down, grab a meal, have a drink and rest up after the water. It's a laid-back scene, all about the view out to the sea and Koh Ma.
Mae Haad Treehouse Bar
A chilled beachfront bar where you can sit looking out at the sandbar and Koh Ma — good for waiting out the tide or watching the sunset.
The Mandala Restaurant
A restaurant near Mae Haad serving both Thai and Western food — a solid lunch stop before or after snorkeling.
There are also small family-run Thai spots dotted around, cheaper than the places in town. Give a local one a try — you eat well and support the community at the same time.
When is the water clearest?
Underwater visibility at Koh Ma depends a lot on the wind and waves. On a sunny day with a calm sea, the water turns clear enough to see the coral sharply and you can float around for hours. But on a day with big swell or a storm, it goes murky fast.
- December–March — the clearest stretch, calm sea, the best snorkeling of the year
- April–May — still good; hot weather, with clear water on the calm days
- Late in the year (around October–November) — monsoon season sets in, with strong wind and waves and frequently murky water. Check the forecast before you go.
Pair it with nearby beaches in one day
Once you're up in the west–north corner of the island, there are more snorkeling beaches close by to tack on. On some of them the reef actually runs all the way toward Koh Ma.
- Haad Salad — the coral starts around 80–100m offshore, with colorful fish and a calm beach
- Haad Chao Pao — the reef starts around 100m out and runs toward Koh Ma; good for confident snorkelers who can swim
- Chaloklum — a fishing village to the north with fresh seafood spots; a handy lunch stop on the way
Plan a full Koh Phangan trip — every beach, every bite
See the Koh Phangan guide →