Haad Rin remains one of the best-known beaches in Thailand - with a long, wide swath of squeaky white sand and sea deep enough for good swimming even during lower tides, there's many reasons to come here apart from the party.

In season, Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach) is packed much of time by jet skis and hundreds of sunbathers, volleyballers and various other fun-seekers and sun-worshippers. Haad Rin Nai (Sunset Beach) is more peaceful and the resorts more reasonably priced, but the beach is not anywhere near as pretty. The much longer and narrower strip of sand is generally rougher, and the water is much shallower - really too shallow to swim in the lower tidal seasons (May to July).

Don't expect an authentic Thai experience here, but rather hordes of young western backpackers crowding the streets, watching movies and sitcoms in the restaurants by day and partying till they drop come the evening.