Discover the untouched coastal gems of Ko Phayam, from hidden coves to peaceful shores far away from the crowds.
You already know the secret, even before you went to Ko Phayam: it’s what Thailand was like thirty years ago. There are no cars, no 7-Elevens, and the air is like a slow-moving hammock. It’s the perfect place to get away.
The pristine strips of Ao Yai and Ao Kao Kwai (Buffalo Bay), even on such a sleepy island, may seem a little undiscovered in season. When you need complete seclusion, footprints in the sand you can count on one hand, and the only sound is the Andaman Sea, you have to venture a little further.
Take your scooter (and a helmet, perhaps), and we are off-road. These are the 7 secret beaches on the island of Ko Phayam that most travelers overlook.
Ao Kwang Peeb (Monkey Bay)
Ao Kwang Peeb often gets gossiped about but is seldom visited, and it’s the jewel of the hidden places in Ko Phayam. At the extreme north of the island, this small cove can be approached by a rough journey through the jungle.
The Vibe: Jungle-meets-ocean. The trees grow low to the sand, providing natural shade, and the water is purer here than nearly anywhere else on the island.
Why it is a secret: This road is unpaved and steep in places. Scores of tourists abort the trip, leaving it to the daring few.
Watch Out: A resident troop of monkeys regularly visits the neighborhood, as the name suggests. Keep your snacks sealed!
Ao Mook (Pearl Bay)
Ao Mook is a shapeshifter found on the southeast coast. During high tide, it is a strip of sand, and during low tide, it becomes a vast deserted playground where you can practically walk to the next little isle of Ko Kham.
The Vibe: Raw and authentic. There are no gilt beach bars around, only local fishermen and vast horizons.
Best: Use it for a solitude session at sunrise. It has an eastern orientation, which means it is one of the few places on the island where you can watch the sun rise in complete silence.
Accessibility: The main road near the pier village must be turned off. Look for small hand-painted signs, or ask a local to guide you to Ao Mook.
Ao Ko Kyu
Go here if you want to snorkel. Ao Ko Kyu is a rocky, rugged bay on the south end of the island which falls in deeper water more rapidly than the long flat beaches of Ao Yai.
The Secret Draw: Ao Kyu still has pockets of marine life in it, whereas much of the Andaman has been damaged by coral bleaching. It is also a good place to observe the grand Hornbills flying around.
Accessibility: Challenging. You may need to leave your scooter parked at the top of a hill and walk down a steep slope.
Ao Chi
Ao Chi is ideally placed but often ignored, and it lies just south of the main pier. Most travelers jump off the ferry and rush to the west coast, totally neglecting this serene coastal region.
Why go: It’s the luxury of peace without having to leave.
Blue Sky Resort, a luxurious resort often referred to as the Maldives of Thailand because of its overwater villas, is right there, though a couple hundred meters further down the beach is wild and empty.
Best Time: High tide. At low tide, the water recedes far enough to expose the mudflats.
The “Hidden Coves” of Hin Talu
Everyone visits Buffalo Bay, where Hin Talu, the well-known rock formation shaped like a stone archway, is located. But very few visit the little coves concealed behind the rocks.
The Secret: Don’t just take pictures in front of the arch and walk away; climb up and down the rocks at low tide (or paddle around). You will find little pocket beaches you can hardly see from the main resort area.
Best for: A romantic picnic or reading a book in the shade of the cliffs.
Ao Yai’s “River Mouth” (South End)
The most famous beach on the island is Ao Yai (Long Beach), which is too large in size (3km long) and, therefore, conceals the secrets right in front of people. Most of them are clustered around the middle bars.
The Hidden Place: Use your scooter until you get to the very end of the beach where the road ends. In this case, a freshwater river meets the ocean.
The Experience: The End of the World. The sand is shinier, the waves are good for body surfing, and you are most likely to be the sole rider.
Mangrove Beach (Western Buffalo Bay).
At the far west end of Ao Kao Kwai, the white sand gives way to a lush, thick, magical mangrove forest. It is not a swimming beach, but it is heaven for nature lovers.
Why it is special: The area is one of the few places where you can walk to a white-sand beach and right into the tangled rhizomes of a mangrove ecosystem.
What to Do: Hire a kayak in a local bungalow and row through the mangroves on high tide. It is still, cool, and crowded with birds and crabs.
Some Real World Advice on locating these spots.
Rent a Rugged Scooter: Part of the roads leading to these beaches (particularly Ao Kwang Peeb) are gravelly roads. Test the tires, and then you are on your way.
See the Tides: Ko Phayam is dramatic. Beaches like Ao Mook and Ao Chi are best visited at high tide for swimming, while the rocks at Hin Talu can only be reached at low tide.
Ko Phayam is rapidly fading away, not in physical form, but the concept of it being the last secret to Thailand is no more. But you can still get that Robinson Crusoe feeling if you are ready to take a dirt road or get up early enough in the morning to see the sunrise. Choose one of these 7 secret beaches, grab a bottle of water, and become lost.
