Koh Phangan Island - Thailand Beaches & Islands

About Koh Phangan Thailand

Ko Pha Ngan ( pronounced KOH pa-nGan) is an island off the eastern Gulf coast of Thailand, halfway between the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Tao. It is known as a land of coconut trees and, above all, the world famous full moon parties.

Koh PhaNgan is situated on the north of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. It is approximately 12 kilometers from the nearest border of Koh Samui and 100 kilometers from the northeast of Surat Thani province. There are six islands in Koh Pha Ngan group; Pha Ngan, Tao, Tae Nok, Tae Nai, Ma, and Nai Yuan.

Geography
2/3 of the Koh Pha Ngan is mountainous and covered with dense forest. The part of the east is covered with the series mountains with open seas until to the mountain of Luang in Surat Thani and Nakorn Sri Thammarat. The beautiful gulfs and beaches located on the west side. 70% of Koh Pha Ngan is mountainous and significant source of rivers. The important mountain peaks are Kao Rha, 627 meters, which is the highest peak in the north, Kao Mai Ngam, 535 meters, in the south, Kao Tah Luang, 478 meters in the northwest, and Kao Lad Mai Keaw, 378 meters in the east of Koh Pha Ngan.

Koh Phangan Beach - Popular destinations

How to get here

By plane
The closest airport is Ko Samui (USM) which has frequent flights from Bangkok and Phuket, daily flights from U-Tapao and Singapore, and several direct flights each week from Chiang Mai and Kuala Lumpur. Transportation to the ferry dock is easy to find at the airport. Ferries depart several times a day with the last one around dusk.

By boat and bus
Buses arrive in Surat Thani, capital of Surat Thani Province, from all over Thailand and you will find yourself inexorably swept up in the machine that will, several buses and at least one ferry later, spit you out on the rusty pier of Thong Sala.

Caution is to be exercised when stowing valuables on the bus: Keep all valuables with you in the main cabin of the bus, and not below. There have been reports of stolen goods, so be aware, and don't leave cameras, credit cards, or other such items in your bag- it could get sifted through by someone.

Better yet, take a Thai Government bus down to Surat Thani: this is widely regarded as a less hassle filled voyage than the Khao San Road (or other travel agent sold) tickets.

There are also ferries (at least 3 a day) from Ko Samui's "Big Buddha" pier directly to Haad Rin. Ferries also leave from Nathon and Maenam piers to Thong Sala multiple times a day. (check schedules before leaving.)

By train, boat and bus
Overnight train from Bangkok is an interesting option. Trains arrive in Surat Thani or Chumphon, and from there you can take the usual bus, boat combo to Ko Samui and on over to Pha Ngan. Purchase train-bus-boat tickets from any of the travel agents in Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok.

Getting around

By motorcycle
100-125cc motorbikes can be hired from around 150 baht/day; larger capacity models cost 300-1000 baht/day. Foreigners may be required to leave their passport as a deposit. Even though you don't need to present a drivers license - learning how to drive a motorbike in the hills of Haad Rin is not advisable.

Some rental shops overcharge for every scratch or dent. They don't fix, but rather replace the whole part - so note damages to the bike on the rental contract.

Avoid riding at sundown, when the bugs are out en masse, and result in brief periods of riding blind, while you desperately try to clear your corneas. Try not to go home with a 'KPN tattoo' - this can either result from your tender-skinned body sliding along a bitumen road at high speed with few clothes on, or from the inside of your leg touching too hot exhaust pipe of the moped. King Cobras on the road are extemely rare, appear as large branches across your path from afar, but may strike or coil themselves around the axle of your bike if you're not careful.

Care is needed if attempting to go over the notorious Haad Rin hills, the roads at the eastern side of the island, and north of Haad Yao. Especially the "Hill of Tears" (first steep ascend from Thong Sala towards Haad Rin) needs caution - use low gear only and rather have your passenger walk, than bruised up.

Drunk driving in the West is illegal - in Koh Pha Ngan it's suicidal. Better to sit in the back of a taxi than hitting one head on at night, or end up in hospital.

Wear a helmet, avoid riding in flip-flops and stay within your limits. The slower you drive, the less it's gonna hurt.

It is also possible to rent small Suzuki jeeps, however you will find that you can circuit the island in a day.

By songthaew
Songthaew pick-up truck taxis criss-cross the island for around 50 baht a ride, or 100 baht for the less accessible destination of Thong Nai Pan.

By boat
Boats cruise the bays with your snorkeling gear until somewhere takes your fancy. The round-the-island 6-hour boat trip is a great way to see some of the best beaches in the island, for around 500 baht/day.

What to see & do

See
Visit the beautiful waterfalls and lookouts in the interior of the island.

The herbal sauna at Wat Pho is a great relief after long party nights. It's near the 7/11 branch in Baan Thai, on the south-western side of the island. Don't forget to leave a donation, always wear a sarong (over your bikini) - remember that you are on temple-territory and locals find nudity offensive. This is not a European sauna, sitting naked will get you into trouble.

If you're into fire, you'll find spinners and twirlers on many of the beaches, teachers abund and poi are easy to find.

Do

Full Moon Party - if you're after party heaven you can't do better than Haad Rin, an expanded village of beach bars, cheap chicken burgers, and low cut figure-hugging outfits. It is most popular one night a month - the night of the Full Moon Party. Every bar is hopping, the beaches packed with trance, dance, buckets, and various other suspicious substances. However, if the sight of thousands of bottles and other trash repulses you, make sure you leave the beach area before the sun comes up, or grab a garbage bag and help tidy up a little. If you're not on Ko Pha Ngan during the full moon, don't worry: there are other parties to be had, including Half Moon (2 times a month), Black Moon, Jungle Parties, as well as the Shiva Moon party. There is always something to do in Ko Pha Ngan.

Archery can be attempted at the "First Bow and Arrow Archery" close to Chaloklum on the road to Thongsala. Four archers can have a go at the same time, people are very friendly (German spoken during high season) and helpful.

Hiking can be done all around the island. There is a trail that leads between Haad Rin and Haad Tien, which many enjoy however the route can become difficult to discern, and bringing enough water is necessary.

Muay Thai gyms such as "Jungle Gym" in Haad Rin and Thong Sala offering training and work out facilities, as well as camps such as "Horizon" located in Haad Tien (east) which is an intensive training camp. There are also frequent matches in Thong Sala and Haad Rin for spectators who don't want to learn the sport.

Tantra Yoga is offered at Baan Tai, and Shri Kali Ashram [1] offers casual classes and teacher's training in the traditional style of Shaivism.

Yoga is offered at multiple locations including Agama Yoga, which is located in the northwest of the island, and has month long intensive courses.

Eat & Drink

Eat

For an authentic experience (and cheaper than the well-decorated cafe/restaurants by Haad Rin beach), look at the more modest cafes where you might see some Thais eating.

The best area for authentic cheap eats is defintely Thong Sala, the main town on the island.

Me'n'u located 3 km outside of Thongsala on the road to Haad Yao at Hin Kong offers high end fine dining in a sublime tranquil location.

Drink
Sheesha in Chaloklam offers a classy take on the Thai bar, and is defintely worth a look.

Where to stay on Koh Phangan