bottle beach, northshore, seclusion
Bottle beach in the North East of Koh Phangan is also commonly known as Hat Khuat Beach to the locals, the shape of the quarter mile beach on a map looks like a bottle, hence the name given. The place is of outstanding beauty, with white sands colored by a tropical jungle behind. The sea is good for swimming with calm water and the restaurants on this secluded beach sell everything from seafood pizzas to Thai red curry.
If heading out from the villa on a holiday day trip to Bottle Beach on the Northern side of Koh Phangan, start by driving away north from the villas to Chaloklum fishing villages. Once at Chaloklum park the car at the pier, it would not be wise to leave any valuables in the car even though Koh Phangan is a safe place, better to leave them back in the villa or take them with you on the rest of the trip. If no one is around offering a taxi boat service inquire about a taxi boat in the nearby shops. The boat will be the standard for Koh Phangan, which is a wooden flat base long boat with a adapted diesel car engine, the boats are designed for shallow waters. As Bottle Beach is one of the few beaches that does not have a road going to it the only way to get there is to catch a local taxi boat to the bay, in fact many food supplies are brought in by boat. Normal proceedings include wading out through clear waters to a wooden long tail and then it will take around fifteen to twenty five minutes to go around the headland to Bottle Beach
As there is no roads here it would not be advisable to attempt to drive to the area by car as there is a narrow dirt track that links the northern points of Koh Phangan. It is possible to hike from Haad Khom but care should be taken and water also, be sure to set of early from the villa to do the trek.
Bottle beach is a favorite place for people who like to swim off season as the waters drop off deeper in the bay than in Haad Salad the local beach to the villas. This is because Bottle beach is in the North East and like Thong Nai Pan the waters are also deeper. One issue to consider is the lack of coral formations at Bottle Beach to the extent that can be seen in Haad Salad, Maehaad and the rest of the west coast.
The beach is often closed from the first of November to the middle of December as the sea can get too rough for boats to travel around. So be sure to check first before you leave, if your villa holiday stay is during November. Most of the time there is only a hundred or so holiday makers staying on the beach, the atmosphere is relaxed. In many months of the year the sunset and the sunrise are not possible to see from the bay as there are steep mountains at either side. Be cautious when the weather is not good as a storm in the afternoon can leave a day trip stranded overnight in the bay. Recommended trips from the villas to Bottle Beach are between January to August.
For people who like to run on their holidays a trip to bottle beach present an excellent trail run. From the beach head back through Smile Bungalow and then along the old track which goes up into the jungle, when the track forks go right and continue to the main road before turning back. If your not sure see if Nin, Jo, Samor Yo are in Smile resort and ask them for running directions to the main road. The sea views along the way are grand as the trail climbs up the mountains.
If you haven't made a packed lunch at the villa to take along there are a few options with the restaurants adjoining the beach bungalows that offer hut accommodation along in the bay. Bottle Beach 1 is recommended for a bite to eat and is a long established resort with friendly staff. Bottle Beach 1 also have a swimming pool that you will be able to use if you eat lunch at the resort. The taxi boats will normally drop you off outside this resort, Bottle Beach 2 is located further down the beach where its quieter and the beach becomes a bit more rocky. Although most services are available you'll be hard pushed to find an ATM in the bay.
If you would like to visit bottle beach as part of a wider boat trip then the Safari company are one of many who offer a one day boat trip that stops at bottle beach.
There are only four resorts on the beach that mostly contain wooden huts although a few concrete bungalows have now been built, there are certainly no luxury hotels there. The four resorts are Bottle Beach 1, 2 and 3 and Smile Bungalows, with only Smile not being directly on the beach. There are no shops or ATM's like on other beach on Koh Phangan, Bottle Beach really is one of the most secluded less developed parts of the Island.
The beach is a quite relaxed place at night but during the daytime in high season when the sea is calm many day trip boat tours will descend into the bay. As such the beach is often busy and noisy during the day and the secluded feel may get lost from time to time in the banging of long tail engines and energetic day trippers playing volleyball.