Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan Island is to the northeast of Surat Thani, about 20 kilometers from Koh Samui. Its area of 170 square kilometers, or 106,250 rai, is surrounded by several minor islands such as Koh Tao, Koh Tae Nok, Koh Tae Nai, and Koh Ma. Vast plains stretch out on the west coast of the island, while steep cliffs drip to the sea in the east. It is encircled by charming beaches, beautiful bays, and clear waters, with an abundance of coral reefs and marine life

Koh Phangan is a district (Amphoe) of the Surat Thani Province in the Southern Region of Thailand. .

Koh Phangan enjoys a warm climate around the year. Best time for a visit is from December to March or June to September.

The island has 9.2 sq. km of coral reef, which is 100 to 1000 meters wide, with its widest part in the Wok Tum area. 50-70% of the reef is alive with 300-500 meters covered in seaweed. The most abundant fish is the Mackerel.

Koh Phangan is full of undeveloped bays and coves and some of the remote beaches are only accessible by trekking through jungle paths or by taking a boat. The Island attracts many popular activities one being snorkeling at many of the island beaches; one beach in particular is in the northeastern tip at Koh Maa. Other activities now include kite surfing, kayaking and trekking.

Phangan has now become synonymous with the full-moon parties on Haad Rin. These monster raves take place every month and have become world famous, attacting up to ten thousand revelers each time. However, it should be remembered that Haad Rin is just one small slice of island's shoreline.

About 15 years ago the most common way of getting from one side of the island to the other was by boat or foot, but these days now new roads have been built everywhere, making it much easier to access to allmost all parts of the island.

It is interesting how can tranquillity and party can blend so perfectly on Koh Phangan. On one side, there are the crowded parties drawing young people with all different kinds of music, dancing and party style.

No question, Ko Phangan has some of most postcard like beaches anywhere in the country.

At the moment, the island became a popular destination and people from every part of the planet visit it. Most people like to browse the Net in order to get information about Koh Phangan and recommended accommodation. A interesting site to book accommodation on the island, is www.PhanganIsland.com

If reading a good book, scuba diving is your type of holiday activity, Phangan Koh Phangan is the perfect location. If you are into meeting people from from all over the world and having fun exploring the island, Phangan is the place to be, as well.

There are roads to HadRin, but we have warned you that the roads are not in the best condition and unless you are a good motorcycle rider then don't try to get to Haad Rin, as most accidents involving scooters happen in this area. Our advice is to leave your motorcylce at the seven eleven at Ban Tai and pay approx 60 Baht for a pickup over the hills to Haad Rin.

The Full Moon Party took place for the first time with a not many people dancing on Haad Rin Nok in the late 80's. They raved in the brightly moonlight and more a more hippies turned up every month. Today there are about 8000-16000 participants who are having a good time and enjoying a party to techno, jungle, jungle, jungle, and other music styles.Experienced dj's playing the beats from the restaurants at the east side of Haad Rin and from the the town.

The name of the island is often written as 'ko pangan' or 'koh pha ngan' and also as 'panghan'. 'Koh' in thai language means island.

Koh = island
Pha = meet or find
Ngan = sandy beach which can be seen at low tide

>> Detail Map Ban Tai About 4 km. from Thongsala is a fishing village called Ban Tai. On the opposite side of the beach, mountains of coconuts are prepared for processing. You can see how people from the village peel and dry the coconuts for export. Bottle Beach This place is still remained wild because of the distance from the main roads and piers. You can access Hat Khuat by walking a steep path or by taxi boat (around 50 Baht) from Chaloklum. You can take a motorbike on the path if you are an experienced driver. Chaloklam Situated in the north of the island, it is a very quiet fishermen village where you will find a very genuine atmosphere. There are several family-run groceries, restaurants, a couple of diving schools and even a '7-Eleven' (or 'seven' in thai) 24hr. supermarket. Haad Khom This is the best diving spot on the north coast, it’s a tiny cove dramatically tucked in under the headland to the east, with a secluded strip of white sand and some very interesting coral reefs. Haad Rin South-east of the island. A narrow peninsular of land that juts out to sea with beaches on both sides of the cape (east and west had rin). Haad Salad Southwards coming from Ao Mae Hat (but located at the north-west of the island). The road here is actually a path and it is in a bad state at some places, even for the experienced drivers. Haad Tien Swimming here is only available in the high tidal season of Nov to Apr. This isolated beach is courser with a reef which is in swimming distance. Haad Yao Located on the west coast, one of the nicest beaches of Koh Phangan. Haad Yuan Had Yuan situated on the south-east of Koh Phangan, is about a ten-minute longtail boat ride away from Had Rin. Koh Maa Located on the NE tip of the island lies a tiny island of Koh Ma, just across from the beach at Mae Haad. In low tide a sand bar connects the both. The months between Dec and Mar are the best times to visit as the rest of the year the tides are to low for swimming. Mae Haad provides a long stretch of beach with views of sunsets over Koh Ma. Mae Haad Mae Haad situated in the north-west of Koh Phangan, is a nice fishermen village at Mae Hat and has an isolated cove at Ao Hat Thong Lang. Srithanu Srithanu is located in the north-west side of Koh Phangan. A fishermen village with a few supermarkets, restaurants, internet shops and a pharmarcy. Nearby is Leam Son Lake, the island's only sweet water lake. Thansadet Located in the east of Koh Phangan. About halfway up the road from Ban Tai Village to Thong Nai Pan Beach there's turn-off heading east at Thong Nang Village. This trail follows a river along which you'll see a series of waterfalls collectively known as Than Sadet Waterfall. Thong Nai Pan A beautiful bay in the north-east of the island. As beautiful this places is as dangerous are the roads that lead to it, untarred, sandy and steep. So a taxi or boat taxi is a good idea for people not so familiar to off road driving. In the raining season it's sometimes next to impossible to get there with a motorbike. Thongsala Koh Pha-Ngan's main town, situated on the west coast. Thongsala has a new build big pier where all the ferries from mainland and Samui arrive. You will find here many restaurants, travel agencies, clothes shops and two fresh markets.

People and Culture

There are approximately 14,000 people living in Koh Phangan, the majority of which are Chinese descent. There are also many Thai's from all over Thailand, who moved here to start a tourism related business.
Most inhabitants live in Thong Sala, the main gateway into the island from Samui.

The most important produce of Koh Phangan is coconuts. Each month Koh Samui and Koh Phangan produce more than 1 million coconut exports to Bangkok. Others prominent island produce is fishing and of course there is the growing tourism business.

Around 95 per cent of the island’s population are Buddhists and it plays as very significant role in their daily life.

Buddhism inevitable involves almost every occasion such as birthdays, marriages, moving to a new house, funerals, opening business offices and buying new vehicles etc.

Climate and Topography

Positioned harmoniously in the east coast on the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Phangan is the third largest island in Thailand and most of the island’s area of 168 square km is made up of mountains and tropical forest. The lowlands are abounding with coconut fields and sandy white beaches. Koh Phangan stretches 19 kilometres from north to south and 12 kilometres from west to east.

Due to its proximity to the equator, Koh Phangan`s temperature remains fairly constant all year round and the conditions are tropical. Sunshine can be found even during the monsoon season.

Weather forecast can be quite difficult, Phangan appear to have a weather of it's own. Someday it rains in the island's north, but it stays dry in the south.

How to come to Phangan

There are a numerous ways to get to Koh Phangan:

• plane
• train
• bus

by plane

The most direct way is to fly from Bangkok to Koh Samui.

From there you can take a taxi to Maenaam Beach pier and finally join the Lomphraya High Speed Boat to Thong Sala Koh Phangan. The boat leaves 2 times daily at 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. (times are subject to change !)
Another option is to take a taxi to Nathon pier and join the Songserm Express Boat to Thong Sala Koh Phangan. The boat leaves 3 times daily at 10.30 a.m., 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m.(times are subject to change !)

by train

Take a train from Bangkok Central Station to Surat Thani. You can buy a joint ticket (inc. transfer to the boat in Donsak und the fare for the boat) directly to Koh Phangan.The trains all have funny names like 'sprinter' or 'express' ... but I would have named them something like 'snail'. Try to get one where you can sleep over night, don't take air con, it sometimes really cold, and you have to keep the windows closed.

by bus

Buy a bus ticket from one of the travel agents around Kao San road in Bangkok to Koh Phangan, they offer also joint tickets together with the boat fare.

by boat

(Schedules and fares mentioned here are subject to change without notice. Please contact boat companies or TAT offices in Surat Thani and Ko Samui for current information.)

Don Sak - Koh Phangan

Racha Ferry operates ferry services from Don Sak pier (67 kilometres from Surat Thani town) to Koh Phangan daily at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. It takes 2.30 hours for the journey. A one-way fare is 180 baht. There is a Bus service from Surat Thani town or Surat Thani Railway Station to Don Sak .

Surat Thani-Koh Phangan

Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd operates an express boat services. The boats depart from Lamphun pier (10 kilometres from Surat Thani) to Ko Phangan daily at 8 a.m. It takes 3 hours for the journey. One-way fare is 205 baht. Bus services to the pier are available.

A nighttime boat departs from Surat Thani’s Ban Don pier to Koh Phangan daily at 11 p.m. It takes 6 hours for the journey. One-way fares are 150 baht and 200 baht.

Ko Samui - Koh Phangan

Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd’s express boats depart from Ko Samui’s Nathon pier 3 times daily at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. It takes 45 minutes for the journey. One-way fare is 115 baht.

A catamaran leaves Ko Samui’s Mae Nam pier at 8 a.m. and arrives at Koh Phangan at 8.40 a.m. One-way fare is 250 baht.

Ordinary boats leave Ko Samui’s Phra Yai pier at 10.30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and proceed to Koh Phangan’s Rin Nai beach. It takes 50 minutes for the journey. One-way fare is 100 baht

Another ordinary boat leaves Ko Samui at Mae Nam pier at 9.30 a.m. and arrives at Ko Pha-ngan at 10.30 a.m. One-way fare is 115 baht.

required visa for Thailand

You get a one month visa on arrival once you enter the kingdom. If you plan to stay longer, you can obtain a "Double Non Immigrant B Visa" at the thai embassy in your home country. That gives you 2 visas with each 2 month (extendible for another one) and in between you have to cross once the border to a neighbor country. For more information about visa extension, read "on the Visa Run"

Where to stay on Phangan?

On Koh Phangan it's quite easy to find an accommodation, except for the time around "Full Moon Party" Dates and in the high season between december and february. For these dates it can be useful to book a house or bungalow in advance, to avoid spending the first days in a search for better accommodation.

www.PhanganBungalows.com - Online Reservation and Booking for Bungalow Resorts

Where to eat on Phangan?

If you like to eat then Koh Phangan offers you a variety of restaurants, bars and cafe’s offering you Thai and International dishes, something to suit everyone. And of course a large selection of fresh seafood which is locally caught.

... visit our Koh Phangan Restaurants and Bar Guide

Getting around the island

Taxi
An easy way to get around the island is by taxi, or "songthaew". Prices are negotiable and vary depending on the amount of people in the car. But on especial occasions like all the "Moon" Partys (Full, Half, Black ...) prices for the fare tend to go up. Negotiate the price before you get into the taxi.

Motorbike
The most common way to explore Koh Phangan is by motorbike. You can hire motorbikes all over the island. Although there are still many dirt roads, most of the island's roads are quite good. But be careful in curves, because there is a lot of sand on the streets. Don't forget to check the condition of tires, bakes and lights before you rent.
(Note: PhanganIsland.com has 18 Motorbikes for rent, with discounts to our accommodation customers)

Jeep
4WD jeeps are also an excellent way to get around most parts of the island. Most of the hired jeeps are not insured, so shop around if you want insurance. Hiring a jeep is a great way to make a daytrip to the more remote parts and attractions of Koh Phangan like the Than Sadet waterfall, Thong Nai Pan or Haad Rin.

Activities

Snorkeling
There are really nice snorkel and dive spots on Koh Phangan, with the northwest coast as premium spot, there you can find one of the best places for diving around the little island of Koh Ma, opposite of Mae Haad beach at the Northwestern tip of Koh Phangan.

Diving
Ever tried scuba diving? If not, why not get your scuba diving certificate here at Koh Phangan. Central Cottage Resort arranges diving for beginners as well as advanced divers. We have daily diving trips to reefs and other interesting dive sites around Koh Phangan. The professional instructors will make sure you'll have a fun and safe experience. ... more about diving on Koh Phangan

Boat trips / kayaking
Boat trips around the island or to other islands can be arranged at most resorts and travel agencies. Kayaks can be rented at most resorts and at beaches.

Paintball
Just outside main town Thong Sala there is a Paintball Shooting Area, the place is called 'Paintball Warefare Phangan'.

Thai boxing
Although Lumphini Stadium in Bangkok is the place to be for the real Muay Thai match, Koh Phangan also has some small Muay Thai 'stadiums' in Thong Sala and Haad Rin. But the tickets for the fights are overpriced and the fighters are not really special.You can learn the art of Muay Thai yourself at the Jungle Gym in Haad Rin and Thong Sala.

Elephant Trekking
Just outside Chaloklum you can enjoy an elephant ride through Koh Phangan's jungle.

Volleyball
For those of you getting restless of just lying on the beach drinking milkshakes and frying in the sun. Why not join up for for a game of beach volleyball? Bring your partner and team up with the others around the volleyball court. It's a good way to meet new friends and keep your body in shape during your vacation. See you on the beach.

Parties on Koh Phangan

Fullmoon Party

The one thing you have to remember was that in the good old days of ’89 there was no mains electricity, no telephones, no concrete bungalows with Air-Con and UBC, and no internet. Just good old fashion bamboo bungalows with palm leaf roofs and a breeze through the door and the window to keep you cool (a rarity on Koh Phangan today). The sound system back then was a ghetto blaster borrowed from the kitchen and when the batteries ran out they started up the generator. Then around fifty people danced around the fire on the beach to old 80’s pop and rock music until dawn and the sun began to rise.

Every body enjoyed it so much that they decided to repeat it at the night of the next full moon. And so the full moon parties began growing in numbers every month, with the parties now drawing crowds of up to 10,000 in the low season and with over 30,000 in the high season. The Full Moon Party has achieved world wide recognition with back packers and DJ’s coming from all over the globe and from all walks of life to dance, chill and have a great time. If you keep your eyes open you might even see the odd celebrity, as Jamiroquai the other famous artists have been seen trip the light fantastic every now and again.

Now the Full Moon Party has moved on from that ghetto blaster around the fire, to over ten large dance floors, with large sound systems blasting out of various bars most of the way down Haad Rin beach. They play everything from Reggae to RnB, Drum & Bass and Psy-Trance and most of them come with excellent lighting systems to match giving loads of different effects.

Most of the bars also have beach mats with tables on them on the beach, so if you’re worn out from dancing you can just sit, chill, have a drink and wait for the sun to rise. Some bars like the Drop In Club also offer entertainment on the beach with fire sticks and fire poi.

Haad Rin and the surrounding area now has over 5000 rooms available for the backpacker with a range of different budgets available, so booked in advance as towards the full moon period it all goes mental and every room is booked solid. If you arrive too late don’t worry as you can now leave you backpack at the police station in a secure room for safety. The police station is located next to the taxi drop off point in Haad Rin.

Halfmoon Party

The Half Moon Party is held in the jungle at Ban Tai, half way between Thongsala and Haad Rin. The easiest way to find the party is to take a taxi, with taxis to the party from all over the island and most of your bungalow resorts as well. And if your mad and want to take your motor bike or jeep, no problem, just take the road that goes from the 7/11 at Ban Tai, to Thong Nai Pan for about 2 km, and then just follow the music coming from your ears and the crowds heading into the jungle to the party.

... read more about Halfmoon Party

Blackmoon Party

The Black Moon Party is held in the same area as the Half Moon Party, Ban Tai, but rather than being in the jungle, it’s held on Ban Tai beach at the Mac Bay Resort. As you walk around the dance area and the resort you will instantly they have installed loads of florescent paint and florescent decorations  hanging from everywhere with black lights hanging as well, giving a great glowing effect all over the place. The Black Moon Party is perfect for this type of effect as it is held on the darkest night of the month.

... read more about Blackmoon Party

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Accommodation & Property Guide
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