Rin Nai Beach, also called Haad Rin Nai or Sunset Beach, is the calm side of Haad Rin on Koh Phangan. It sits on the west side of the southern tip, a few hundred metres from the party beach, with calmer water, fewer people and better daytime swimming.
This guide explains how Rin Nai Beach differs from Sunrise Beach, what the swimming is like, how to get there and where to stay. It draws on Thai Holiday Guide's Haad Rin page, read on 6 November 2026, and on our own Haad Rin Beach guide.
- Also called
- Haad Rin Nai, Sunset Beach
- Where
- West side of Haad Rin
- From party beach
- About five minutes on foot
- Swimming
- Calmer, better by day
- Calmest months
- June to September
- Warning
- No swimming after dark
What is Rin Nai Beach?
Rin Nai Beach is the western beach at Haad Rin, known as Sunset Beach. Thai Holiday Guide describes it as quieter than Sunrise Beach, with calmer water, fewer people and better daytime swimming, about five minutes on foot from the party strip. Sound still carries on party nights.
Rin Nai Beach at a Glance
| Rin Nai Beach (Sunset) | Sunrise Beach (Haad Rin Nok) | |
|---|---|---|
| Side | West | East |
| Mood | Quieter, fewer people | One kilometre of bars, home of the Full Moon Party |
| Swimming | Calmer water, better by day | Gets hot by mid-morning |
| Afternoon | Calmer and shadier | Bars and sound systems along the beach |
| On party nights | Not silent, sound carries | Sound systems along the beach |
The two beaches are a short walk apart, so you can swim at Rin Nai Beach by day and go to the party strip at night. Our Full Moon Party guide explains the party side.
Rin Nai Beach vs Sunrise Beach
Thai Holiday Guide describes Sunrise Beach, or Haad Rin Nok, as a one-kilometre beach with bars along its length that hosts the Full Moon Party, and Rin Nai Beach on the west side as the calmer one for swimming, with much less foot traffic outside party nights. It adds that Rin Nai is about five minutes' walk from the party strip, and that bars operate on both sides, so it is “not silent” on party nights. If you want to sleep through the night of a party, a hotel further from the strip is a safer bet.
Swimming at Rin Nai Beach
Thai Holiday Guide says the sea at Rin Nai Beach is calmer than on the east side, and that it is calmer and shadier in the afternoons. From June to September it becomes genuinely peaceful, with a calmer sea. From October to December the northeast monsoon brings rougher water, and November has heavy rain. Do not swim after dark, because currents can be strong, and wear footwear because broken glass on the sand is a consistent problem.
How to Get to Rin Nai Beach
From Koh Samui, Thai Holiday Guide says a speedboat from Big Buddha Pier takes 30 to 45 minutes, with more departures around Full Moon week. From Surat Thani, a Lomprayah catamaran to Thong Sala pier takes about 2 hours 45 minutes, and a songthaew from there to Haad Rin takes 30 to 40 minutes. Our Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferry guide and Thong Sala pier to Haad Rin guide cover the routes in detail.
Where to Stay Near Rin Nai Beach
Thai Holiday Guide lists two stays at Haad Rin, with rates at the time we checked. Prices rise sharply around parties, so check your dates.
Little Paradise Haad Rin
3-starWalking distance to the beach
Listed by Thai Holiday Guide at 8.6 rating and from about $31 a night, within walking distance of the beach.
Cocohut Beach Resort & Spa
4-starHaad Rin
Listed by Thai Holiday Guide at 8.9 rating and from about $90 a night.
Thai Holiday Guide says prices double around the January and February party and, in an insider tip, can triple in December and January, so book early. Our where to stay in Koh Phangan guide compares Haad Rin with other areas.
Best Time to Visit Rin Nai Beach
| Months | Conditions | Per Thai Holiday Guide |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Driest, cool calm seas | Party crowds at Sunrise Beach |
| June to September | Calmer sea | Rin Nai Beach is genuinely peaceful |
| October to December | Rainy season | Rougher water, heavy rain in November |
Month-by-month detail is in our Haad Rin weather guide.
Rin Nai Beach Safety Tips
- Do not swim after dark, because currents can be strong.
- Wear footwear, because broken glass is a consistent problem on the sand.
- Expect noise on party nights, even on the quieter side.
- Keep valuables in your room and carry only what you need.
Rin Nai Beach FAQ
Where is Rin Nai Beach?
On the west side of Haad Rin, at the southern tip of Koh Phangan, a few hundred metres from Sunrise Beach.
Is Rin Nai Beach good for swimming?
Thai Holiday Guide says it has calmer water and better daytime swimming than Sunrise Beach, especially from June to September.
Is Rin Nai Beach quiet on party nights?
Quieter, but not silent. Sound carries from the party strip and bars operate on both sides, per Thai Holiday Guide.
How far is Rin Nai Beach from the Full Moon Party?
About five minutes on foot from the party strip, according to Thai Holiday Guide.
Is Rin Nai Beach the same as Sunset Beach?
Yes. Haad Rin Nai is the Thai name, and Sunset Beach is the English name.
How do I get to Rin Nai Beach from Koh Samui?
A speedboat from Big Buddha Pier takes 30 to 45 minutes, then you walk or ride to the beach.
Looking for a stay near Rin Nai Beach?
Compare Haad Rin hotels for your dates on Agoda, and check how far each is from the party strip.
Photo credits: Haad Rin sunset by (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Haad Rin sunset by (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Haad Rin Sunrise Beach by Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); The Haadrin Queen ferry at the Haad Rin West pier by Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons). Tour photos: GetYourGuide.
Disclosure: InsideSamui may earn a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Hotel links lead to Agoda, ferry links to 12Go Asia and tour links to GetYourGuide. This guide is compiled from published information from operators, parks and travelers, checked on 6 November 2026. We have not run these trips ourselves for this page. Prices, schedules, fees and rules around Koh Phangan change often, so confirm them with the provider before you travel. Tour bookings are handled by GetYourGuide, hotel searches by Agoda and ferry searches by 12Go Asia.