Pattaya Hotel Advice - Koh Phangan Hotel and Travel Guide - Pattaya Hotels Guide Thailand

Koh Phangan Hotel and Travel Guide


Although best known for its full moon parties, which attract thousands of travellers from all over the globe, there is a lot more to stunning Koh Phangan than getting trashed and passing out in the powder-soft white sand.

Koh Phangan has swathes of beautiful beaches, great walks, adventurous boat and fishing trips, fabulous diving and even kite-boarding. Equally compelling for many is just spending a few weeks in a hammock, watching the sun rise and fall.

Koh Phangan is the second largest island after Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, and is around 100km from the mainland. Stretching over an area of 168 sq km, 70% of its topography is mountainous with the remainder beaches and coconut groves.

Over 10,000 people permanently live on the island, with the majority concentrated around Thong Sala. A huge number of migrants also call the island home, so the guy taking your dinner order is as likely to be from Roi Et as Thong Sala. As in the rest of Thailand, most people are Buddhist, but some Muslims live in the village of Baan Tai. The first inhabitants of the island are believed to have been Muslims from Pattani or Malayans from Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

The best time to visit Koh Phangan is during the hot season from January to April. May to December sees the monsoon set in, with poor weather and a quick deterioration in road quality. The crowds thin out then, however, making the island appealing to some travellers. kohphangan("now");




Activities

FULLMOON PARTY
The Full Moon is far more than a party; it is Had Rin's dance music festival, with everything from drum and bass to full-on psy-trance.

This wide, sandy beach in the south of Koh Phangan island is one of the most beautiful ones. Had Rin is actually comprised of two popular beaches, Rin Nai beach on the west side of the peninsula and Rin Nok on the east side. From Rin Nai beach you can see Koh Samui very clearly. This is also a great place to catch the sunset. On the beach of Rin Nok is Bang Rak pier where the ferryboats from Koh south Samui arrive and leave daily. Rin Nok beach is well known among Thai as well as the foreigner tourist for its “Full Moon Party”. This spot is ranked as the third most beautiful spot in the world to view the full moon. For this reason on every full moon night a great number of tourists from all over the world flock here to take part in the famous celebration. The two beaches of Had Rin Nai and Had rin Nok have the most resorts, bungalows, stores and restaurants available on the island. Had Rin is located on the southeastern tip of the island, 12 kilometers south from the district Office in Ban Thong Sala or take a ferry directly from Koh Samui to get there.


DIVING AND SNORKELING
Koh Phangan also has lovely sites around the island which are perfect for both beginners and trained divers.

From easy dives off the beach to longer dive trips by boat, you can experience the world of tropical diving. This year, we have already seen some big fish such as groupers, schools of adult barracuda and some small harmless sharks.

Local dive operators can offer introductory (experience) dives, beginners courses (usually 4 days) and further training through advanced up to professional level. Many of Koh Phangan's sites are well suited to training purposes with colorful fish and also smooth, sandy bottoms for painless and environmentally friendly learning.

For the trained diver, the west coast of Koh Phangan offers the best diving with some fine hard coral reefs at depth up to 20 metres. There are also some islets which offer small walls, soft and filtered coral, and large schools of fishes.

Dive trips are also available to further sites such as Koh Wao Yai (in the north of Ang Thong National Marine Park) where the water is so clear that you can see as far as 20 metres away or the famous Hin Bai (Sail Rock). Here the dives are deeper with a great range of marine life, spectacular underwater scenery and chance to meet bigger fish -even whales or sharks can be encountered.

For snorkeling sites, you can find almost everywhere in Koh Phangan (except the east coast). The shoreline of Koh Phangan is rocky with some sandy beaches and a wide variety of coral and tropical fish. The water is warm and pleasant all year long, make you snorkel for hours.

One of the best sites is in Mae Haad Bay, where living coral can be found just below the surface a few meters out. Make your own choice and enjoy nature as you like. But please take care of our treasure, nature lovers respect the beauty of the earth.


MOUNTAINBIKING
Koh Phangan has good facilities for people who love mountain biking. The island is in perfect size and has a large flat area on the south and west with variety of sights, within a 20 km ride. Also, the dirt paths of Koh Phangan are so much fun for the riding. There are mountains to trek, sloped trails to run, rocky paths to jump and scenery to enjoy.

Mountain bikes are for rent at many bike shops in Thongsala Town, Haad Rin and Chaloklum Village. kohphangan("now");




Beaches


Ban Tai Beach
Ban Tai, the longest beach, lies along the east coast of Koh Pha Ngan. The oldest villagers here was started by the Muslims who came from Nakorn Sri Thammarat and Pattani province and earn their living fishing. There is a pier for gathering to sell or buy fresh seafood at a reasonable price in the morning. Ban Tai beach is located in the southwest of the island, about 2 kilometers from the Thong Sala pier.


Rin Beach
This wide, sandy beach in the south of Pha Ngan island is one of the most beautiful ones. Had Rin is actually comprised of two popular beaches, Rin Nai beach on the west side of the peninsula and Rin Nok on the east side. From Rin Nai beach you can see Koh Samui very clearly. This is also a great place to catch the sunset. On the beach of Rin Nok is Bang Rak pier where the ferryboats from Koh south Samui arrive and leave daily. Rin Nok beach is well known among Thai as well as the foreigner tourist for its “Full Moon Party”. This spot is ranked as the third most beautiful spot in the world to view the full moon. For this reason on every full moon night a great number of tourists from all over the world flock here to take part in the famous celebration. The two beaches of Had Rin Nai and Had rin Nok have the most resorts, bungalows, stores and restaurants available on the island. Had Rin is located on the southeastern tip of the island, 12 kilometers south from the district Office in Ban Thong Sala or take a ferry directly from Koh Samui to get there.


Chaloklum Bay
Because the water is so deep around the wharf here, it’s a good place for the fisherman to bring their boats to. It’s also a good place to tie up to when the winds get too strong. This deep seaport serves as a stopover for the fisherman who are responsible for transferring fresh water to the neighboring islands. It’s the site most populated by the largest number of fisherman on the island. Besides fresh seafood the villagers sell their most famous product, dried squid. This a very good place to come to and witness the live -style and scenes presented by the local fishermen. There are various bungalow style accommodations to choose from. There are many places that offer snorkeling equipment for rent and snorkeling or fishing for squid during the night is very popular with the tourists who visit here. Of cause just sightseeing around the island is also a very popular pastime. The beach at Chaloklum Bay is located in the northern part of Koh Pha Ngan about 15 kilometers from the port Tong Sala. Local buses are available for transportation daily.


Thansadej Beach
The beach here is not very long but it is very beautiful and a tranquil sport. The water isn’t too deep here and very clear .A great place for swimming. The beach here is very close to the Thansadej Protection Unit where the Thansadej waterfall is located. This waterfall is considered one of the most important sites to visit on Pha Ngan island. Most of the hotels, bungalows, shops, and restaurants are situated along the beach here. The beach is on the east coast of the island about 13 kilometers from the port of Thong Sala. You can catch a local bus from the port. From Koh Samui you can take a rapid speed boat or a long-tail boat to get there and back.


Mae Had Beach
This northwestern beach still maintains its sense of tranquility. During period of low tide the water is shallow enough to walk across to the island named Ma, which is another very beautiful beach here on Koh Pha Ngan. Bungalows, resorts, sops, restaurants and travel agencies also line the beach here. The beach is situated on the northwest side of the island near Salad beach which is about 15 kilometers from the town of Thong Sala. Local transportation is available from the town of Thong Sala.


Thongnaipan Bay
This beach with its fine white sand, peaceful and natural atmosphere still is unspoiled because it is situated so far from any city. There is also another beautiful and peaceful beach just north of here named Tongnaipannoi. It is worthwhile to pay a visit here for those who love to snorkel in shallow waters. There are many pleasant bungalows, resorts, shops, restaurants, and travel agencies here to choose from. These two beaches are located on the west coast of the island approximately 25 kilometers from the Thong Sala port. Traveling by land to get there is not recommended, especially during the rainy season, as some parts of route are very difficult to pass though. The best way to access these beaches is by water transport.


Sri Thanu Beach
This tranquil beach is located on the west side of the island. This is another great spot for those who like peace and quiet and to just relax surrounded by nature. It’s one of the many idyllic beaches of Koh Pha Ngan. The water here is clean, limpid, and not to deep. A great place for swimming; however, be careful during the monsoon season as that can change. When it’s stormy, there can be strong waves accompanied by strong winds. There is great sightseeing around the island here as well as good snorkeling. There are many hotels and bungalows at your service shops and restaurants abound along the beach area. Sri Thanu Beach is 12 kilometers from the port of Thong Sala on the west side of the island. Transportation there is by way of local bus.


Tae Nai Island
This small island is just 400 meters away from Thong Sala Bay. You can hire a boat to take you around the island. There is a beautiful sandy beach there called Chan siaw as well as other places of interest such as the caves of Phra and Talu. Around the area of Taykho cliff, on the back side of the island, is a great place to take in the sunset at the end of the day. Koh Tae Nai is just a short 10 minutes’ boat ride west of the port of Ban Thong Sala.




Boat Services to Koh Phangan

(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 (40 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. One-way fare is 180 baht. Bus services from Surat Thani town or Surat Thani Railway Station to Don Sak are available.

Surat Thani-Koh Phangan

Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd operates express boat services. The boats depart from Lamphun pier (10 kilometres from Surat Thani) to Ko Pha-ngan 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.

Visitors can obtain more information from the following offices of Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd: Bangkok office Tel: 0-2280-7897, Surat Thani Office Tel: 0-7728-5124-6, Ko Samui office Tel: 0 -7742-1316-9, 0-7742-0163, Koh Phangan office Tel: 0-7737 -7096.

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 Na Thon 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’s 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.