KOH PHANGAN GUIDE

Ko Pha Ngan (เกาะพะง้น, 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.

Destinations

Thong Sala - the island's "capital" and main ferry port.

Chalok Lam - picturesque beach at the northern tip of the island.

Haad Chao Phao - beautiful beach fringed by a vibrant coral reef, on the western part of the island.

Haad Mae Haad - wide sandy beach joined to Koh Ma by a sand spit, which is a National Marine Park with some of the best diving and snorkeling on Pha Ngan; there is also a small village and a variety of resorts, restaurants and bars.

Haad Salad - an idyllic cove with several high-end resorts on the north-western part of the island.

Thonglang Bay - Located between Chalok Lam and Mae Haed this almost undiscovered bay offers a delightful and peaceful escape from the crowds.

Haad Rin (Hat Rin) - site of the famous Full Moon Party.

Haad Yao - long white sandy beach just north of Haad Chao Phao, slightly more developed with more beach bars and restaurants.

Haad Son - a beautiful bay with beach next to Haad Yao.

Sri Thanu - A volcanic peninsula to the south of Haad Son and Haad Yao with bays and beaches.

Ban Tai - the longest stretch of uninterrupted beach on the entire island facing Koh Samui.

Ban Kai - From Ban Tai through to Haad Rin this beach offers an idylic setting - just minutes from the full moon party.

Thong Nai Pan - scenic area on the north-eastern part of the island that includes the neighboring beach resorts of Ao Thong Nai Pan Yai and Ao Thong Nai Pan Noi.

Get in

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.

The next nearest airport is Surat Thani (URT) on the mainland.

By boat

From Ko Samui: There are at least 3 ferries a day from Ko Samui's "Big Buddha" pier directly to Haad Rin. Ferries also leave from Nathon and Mae Nam piers to Thong Sala several times a day.

Watch out for scammers at Koh Samui airport who try to sell you a bus/boat combo for an exorbitant price. Make sure to walk towards the exit of the airport where there is an Information counter and taxi stands.

By bus and boat

The best way in by bus is by Governmnent Bus to the Na Dan ferry piers: these are the most direct, quickest, reliable, safest, and hassle-free services. Tickets for these services can be bought at Government Bus Terminals.

Buses also arrive in Surat Thani, capital of Surat Thani Province, from where passengers are 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.

Buses originating from Khao San Road (or others with travel agent sold tickets) are notorious for thefts from passenger luggage and should be avoided at all costs. Under no circumstances should passengers on Khao San Road buses leave valuables in bags that will go in the luggage stowage areas, even if the bags can be locked; consider it inevitable that every bag will be opened while the bus is in motion.

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 transfer by bus and then boat. Chumphon is the option if you're planning to stop by at Ko Tao but if you're heading straight to Ko Phan Ngan consider Surat Thani. Both stations are on the south-bounding Hay Yai line but arrival times in Chumphon (when using night trains) are annoyingly early in the morning. For example, the (recommended) express train number #85 arrives around 4am after which you'll have to wait about 3 hours for the ferry. On the other hand, if you continue down to Surat Thani you can sleep an extra 3-4 hours plus you will arrive in daylight. Considering the waiting time in Chumphon and the longer ferry trip you will eventually get to Ko Pha Ngan at about the same time.

Combined train-bus-boat tickets can be bought direct from the official Advance Booking Counter at Hualamphong station in Bangkok, although sometimes train get late, and your boat is already gone and you have to pay extra for the next boat. Thus joint ticket is not the best choice.

In theory, train tickets may be reserved up to 60 days in advance and paid for by email. In reality, the Thai authorities are lax in returning emails and/or will give the runaround, or flat-out refuse to reserve seats for non-Thais during peak travel periods (December - January and Songkran holiday in April). If your heart is set on going by train, start early, be persistent, and have a backup plan to go by bus or plane.

Get around

By motorcycle

100-125cc motorbikes can be hired from around 200 baht/day; larger capacity models cost 300-700 baht/day. Foreigners are without exceptions required to leave their passport as a deposit.

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. Be aware that your passport may be held against you until you pay the exorbitant repair cost. This practice is, justified or not, very common all over the region. However, it's quite rare (though not unheard of) that you would actually have to pay for the damage you haven't done. In most cases, it's the combination of inexperienced and intoxicated driving when accidents happen. If you don't know what you're doing stay on the safe side and stick with Songthaew.

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.

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 Ko 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 100 baht a ride, or 150 baht for the less accessible destination of Thong Nai Pan, if you share taxi car with other people.

It is important to note that ALL taxi service on Koh Phangan is provided by songthaew. Should you choose to go with a freelancer on a motorbike or in a pickup, make arrangements quickly, quietly and pay surrepitiously.

By boat

Boats cruise the bays with your snorkeling gear until somewhere takes your fancy. The round-the-island, all day boat trip is a great way to see some of the best beaches in the island.

See

Than Sadet-Ko Pha-Ngan National Park The park is named after the river Than Sadet (lit. Royal River). The river forms the largest waterfall on the island, which was visited by several Thai kings. Especially Rama V liked the placed and visited 14 times.

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.

Visit Ko Ma off the north-west coast of Ko Pha Ngan.It offeres one of the best snorkeling places on the island.

On the road between Thongsala and Chaloklum is beautiful Chinese Temple with overlooking on Chaloklum Bay.

There is a Elephant Camp on the way from Baan Tai to Thong Nai Pan, take a photo or try trekking through the jungle.

Do

Explore the beauty of Phangan Island, through exciting day, evening and adventure tours. Experience, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, speed boat excursions to Ang Thong National Marine Park, Muay Thai, fishing trips, cultural tours, elephant riding, enjoy the beauty of nature that the Koh Maa area has to offer and have a relaxing boat trip. With so many things to see and do your time in Koh Phangan will be truly memorable.

Scuba Diving Koh Pha-Ngan has lovely sites around the island which are perfect for both beginners and trained divers. From easy dives off the beach to longer trips by boat you can experience the world of tropical diving. The waters around Koh Pha-Ngan are much nicer than most people know: fine hard corals with a good range of reefs and tropical/pelagic fish. Sailrock, undoubtedly the most famous dive site in the Gulf of Thailand. Located between Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao all the wonders of this exciting site can be explored by all levels of divers. This spectacular rock rises out of the water creating the best wall dive with a maximum depth of 40 metres. Providing a great range of marine life, spectacular underwater scenery, rock formations. There are several PADI dive-schools on the island, amongst others, Reefers Dive Resort located in Haad Yao beach, Sail Rock Divers, Lotus Dive Resort, both located in Chalok Lam, and Phangang Divers, located in Haad Rin. You will, however, find many more dive schools through out the island.

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 Muay Thai 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.

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

Trip Around The Island One day in Paradise, see everything interesting in one day trip Safari Boat. Daily Tour. Visit Chinese Temple, Elephant Camp, Bottle Beach, Thong Nai Pan, Thansadet Waterfalls, see monkey show, wonderful snorkeling.. have a fun with your friends.