Koh Raham, Koh Phangan

Koh Raham is a cliffside restaurant and beach bar on a rocky peninsula between Haad Yao and Haad Son (Secret Beach) on Koh Phangan, not an island, despite the name. It’s known for sunset, swings strung through the jungle, and rock platforms with steps down into a fish-filled sea. Access is free; you walk through Haad Son Resort to reach it.

A Sunset Bar Built Into the Rocks

The restaurant runs out along the cliffs facing west, so it fills as the afternoon turns. This is, for many people, the whole reason to come. Hammocks, rope swings and coloured lights hang through the trees, and bean-bag terraces step down toward the water. It tips toward the playful rather than the polished: part beach bar, part jungle adventure-course, best caught with a drink in hand as the sun drops over the sea.

Swimming and Snorkelling Off the Rocks

A walkway links the main deck to a platform built on the rocks jutting into the sea, with steps down where you can climb in. The water around it holds thousands of small fish, and the snorkelling near the cliffs (by the diving-spot sign) is the best around Secret Beach, with corals and fish right off the rocks. This is rock-and-platform swimming rather than a sandy shore, so bring reef shoes and mind the steps when the sea is up.

Combine Koh Raham with Secret Beach

Secret Beach (Haad Son) lies just beyond, reached through the Haad Son Resort grounds. The beach itself is small, with calm, clear water that’s good for an easy swim, and it stays quieter than Koh Phangan’s east-coast strands. Many visitors pair the two: a swim at Secret Beach, then back up to Koh Raham for the sunset.

Visiting Koh Raham

It sits on the quieter west coast of the island. A scooter is the usual way in, but the access track is steep and loose in patches, so ride it carefully, or take a taxi or songthaew, particularly for the trip home after sunset drinks. There’s no charge to walk through to the restaurant or the beach. Check local sea conditions before swimming from the rocks. Rough water can make the steps and platforms unsafe.

Insider Tip: Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset to claim a cliff-edge or platform seat. The west-facing spots go first, and the rough access road is far easier to ride in daylight than on the way back in the dark.

Watch out: The road in is steep and loose, and inexperienced scooter riders come off on this stretch regularly. If you’re not confident on two wheels, take a taxi or songthaew, especially for the ride back after a few sunset drinks.