Koh Phangan Island - hotels, beaches, recreation and activities. Phangan Island (Koh Phangan) in Thong Nai Pan Noi Thailand

Phangan Island in Thailand (Koh Phangan) located in the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea and is the fifth largest island in the country. Koh Phangan is connected to the mainland, the closest distance is 50 km, by regular ferry service. At the same time, less than ten kilometers separate Phangan and the famous island of Koh Samui, which is located to the south. It is Koh Samui that often becomes a permanent holiday destination, while Koh Phangan is seen as something of a nice addition and a place to go for just a few days or a day excursion. However, the island of Koh Phangan itself is quite interesting for a long-term vacation, where there are all the conditions for this.

THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE (you can click on the link for a quick transition)

Koh Phangan Island (Thailand) – general information

Like Koh Samui, Koh Phangan administratively belongs to the province of Surat Thani, and the island got its name from the Thai word “ngan”, which means “sand spit”, because during low tides you can see picturesque sand spits on some beaches of the island. Square Koh Phangan Islands is 167 square kilometers, which allows it to close the top five largest islands in Thailand. In terms of size, Phangan is not much inferior to the neighboring island of Koh Samui - only 1.5 times smaller. But compared to Phuket, Phangan is noticeably more compact: it is about 4 times smaller in area.

Almost 70% of Koh Phangan's territory is mountainous, covered with impenetrable tropical vegetation. The mountains themselves on Koh Phangan are not very high: the maximum height is 630 m (Mount Khao Ra). The remaining territory of the island is occupied by Koh Phangan's beaches and flat terrain suitable for traditional farming. A considerable part of the cultivated land is used as coconut palm plantations, which, combined with the unusually beautiful local beaches, give the island a truly paradise-like appearance.

Koh Phangan - weather and seasons

Despite the fact that Koh Phangan is a year-round resort, there are some peculiarities associated with the rainy season. Moreover, on Koh Phangan there are two periods of pronounced. The first begins in April and continues through June. At this time, not only does it rain often, but there is also a low water level in the sea, which is also slightly cloudy during this period. The second “wet” season can be caught by coming on holiday to Koh Phangan from September to November.

Accordingly, the optimal months for a holiday on the island are July-August and the period from December to March. This is if your priority is a beach holiday, you need bright sunny weather, minimal or no precipitation, clear sea water for snorkeling and diving, colorful photos from your holiday, etc. If the island of Koh Phangan (Thailand) interests you primarily as a venue for the famous Fool Moon Party, then you can come at any time of the year, and the music and cheerful companies will definitely not let you get bored.

Advantages and disadvantages of Koh Phangan

I warn you right away that the pros and cons of Koh Phangan listed below are somewhat arbitrary, because all people are individual and what I like may not be what you like at all. Therefore, I will try to describe the advantages and disadvantages of the island in the context of various types of recreation and the gender and age structure of tourists.

Of course, the natural beauty of the island is its most important advantage. The numerous beaches of Koh Phangan are so picturesque that they are often depicted in all kinds of tourist catalogs in the “Thailand” section, along with beaches, steep cliffs and islands sticking out of the water. Lush tropical vegetation, green mountains, snow-white beaches without umbrellas and sunbeds, turquoise sea water near the shore, beautiful waterfalls - all this makes you fall in love the first time and makes numerous tourists return to Koh Phangan again and again, at least for a few days.

Despite the large number of hotels that are now easy to find on almost every beach of Koh Phangan, the number of people vacationing on the island is still small even during the peak of the high dry season in Thailand. This gives a holiday on Koh Phangan some privacy and romance. For all couples and families who prefer to relax away from the noisy companies of compatriots and tourists from other countries, Koh Phangan is perfect. There are a number of beaches on the island where you can relax all day long in complete solitude.

You should forget about a relaxing holiday on Koh Phangan only on full moon days, when thousands of tourists from all over the world arrive on the island to take part in Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, which usually lasts three days. However, this event only affects Haad Rin beach and other beaches bordering it and the pier; the rest, even at this time, are quite calm and quiet. By the way, it is precisely the silence and orderliness of relaxation on Koh Phangan that for some is also a disadvantage: those who like noisy companies, streets with bars and discos, following the example of Volkin Street in Pattaya, will clearly be bored here, especially in the evenings.

Infrastructure Koh Phangan Islands It is developing rapidly, but is still far from perfect. There is only one large Tesco Lotus supermarket on the island (in the main island town of Thong Sala) with a fairly meager selection of things that cannot be found in the usual 7Eleven. Also, don’t count on good shopping in the big shopping centers on Koh Phangan, because there aren’t any there yet. But if you just need holiday essentials, groceries and fresh thailand fruits– all this is easy to find both in the village of Thong Sala and on the most populated other beaches of the island.

The own airport on the island of Koh Phangan is under construction, so you won’t be able to go directly to Koh Phangan: you’ll have to get to the island by ferry or boat for now. However, such a boat trip usually takes 20-30 minutes, so there’s nothing wrong with that. Especially if you know the schedule and piers on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui from which transport between the islands of various sea carriers departs. By the way, this useful information can be found in an article published earlier on the site.

Another problem is the roads of Koh Phangan: if you want to visit the fairly popular and well-maintained beaches of the island, there will be no problems: high-quality paved roads will probably be built to them. But if you want to visit truly wild and uninhabited beaches, you will have to travel along dirt roads in places of terrible quality, so those who have registered for the first time and specifically on Koh Phangan should not risk their life and health when driving on such roads.

The cost of living on Koh Phangan depends on your preferences for living conditions and the availability of additional amenities. There are both expensive high-category hotels and quite budget accommodations. In addition, you can always stay in a tent and eat in the restaurant of the nearest hotel at quite affordable prices. Using the hotel search form below at the best prices, you always have the opportunity to save money and plan your vacation budget in Thailand in advance. Just choose to zoom in on the Phangan beach you are interested in on the map and find out the cost of the hotels located there.

Things to do on Koh Phangan Island in Thailand

Despite the fact that the island is quite calm and is primarily conducive to a quiet and measured holiday, there is something to do on Koh Phangan besides lying on the beach closest to your hotel. By the way, there are several dozen beaches on the island, which can be easily verified using Koh Phangan island maps in high resolution. Below is a short list of things you can do on Koh Phangan to diversify your holiday on the island.

★ Participation in the Full Moon Party. The famous beach party is held, as its name suggests, every full moon of the month on Haad Rin Beach. Deafening music, fashionable DJs, buckets of alcohol and a crazy atmosphere will be remembered for a long time even by those who in ordinary life do not really like going to clubs and discos.

★ Participation in other parties. If you think that besides the full moon party there is nothing for young people to do on the island of Koh Phangan, you are deeply mistaken :). Twice a month there are Half Moon Parties, once a New Moon Party and several other parties, information about the dates and locations of which, the cost of participation, other features and rules of behavior at such parties can be found in a separate article “Parties on Koh Phangan: places, dates, cost”.

★ Diving on Koh Phangan is one of the best in the entire Gulf of Thailand. The island offers both excursion diving, i.e. diving in the company of experienced instructors and professional diving. You can find many places to rent scuba equipment, as well as undergo professional training at one of the local schools and receive an international certificate. There are also many snorkeling spots near the island, and in the Tonga Sala area there is a local branch of the country's largest kitesurfing school.

★ Visiting the picturesque beaches of Koh Phangan with light sand, where spending time is a pleasure. While vacationing on the island, it would be foolish not to visit at least 5-7 of its beaches, each of which may differ from its neighbors in its atmosphere, water color, coastline, etc. Some will be attracted by clean and well-maintained beaches Koh Phangan Islands close to expensive hotels, while others will simply be fascinated by the wild beaches, which no one cleans up from shells thrown out by the sea and tree trunks bleached by the sun and sea salt.

★ Visiting the natural and man-made attractions of Koh Phangan. This category of entertainment includes trips to the island’s numerous waterfalls, Phangan National Park, visits to a Buddhist and Chinese temple, a fishing village and an elephant village. You can read more about this in the article “Sights of Koh Phangan and excursions on the island”, which examines the most interesting objects of Koh Phangan and lists the cost of visiting those where it is charged.

That's it for the review Koh Phangan islands in Thailand completed, more detailed information about the island's beaches, transport on Koh Phangan, parties, excursions and attractions can be found in separate articles by clicking on the links above.

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Koh Phangan (Koh Phangan, Koh Pha-Ngan) is one of the five largest. It has one feature that makes it unique of its kind. We are, of course, talking about the Full Moon Party - a grandiose open-air party that gathers several thousand people in one place. None (famous for its nightlife) or anything like that. Only one of the Phi Phi beaches has something similar, but only on a much smaller scale.

The island of Koh Phangan is located in the southwest of the Gulf of Thailand, 100 km from the coast of Thailand (Surat Thani province) and 16 km north of Koh Samui. Its total area is 170 sq. km, perimeter about 50 km. The name comes from “Ngan”, which translates from Thai - “sand barrier”. This definition was not chosen by chance, since the coast of Koh Phangan is quite shallow and at low tides sand deposits are exposed around it, which form a network of small islands. There is a big advantage to such “barriers of sand” - in any weather, the coastal waters are calm and you can swim in them even with strong winds, since the sand dunes reduce the force of the waves.

The island's landscape is 65% mountainous, covered with forests and coconut palm plantations.

The local population numbers about 10,000 people, mostly immigrants from China who settled on this land more than 100 years ago. The vast majority of local residents profess Buddhism and only 6% are Muslims.

Phangan is the favorite island of the kings of Thailand; they visited it much more often than other resorts.

Koh Phangan island on the map of Thailand

Story

Archaeological excavations indicate that the first settlements on Phangan were at the beginning of the 1st century BC. According to historical data, these were “sea gypsies” - pirates from the south. Their descendants still live here, but are now engaged in fishing. In the century before last, the Chinese began to move to Phangan from the island of Hainan, who made coconut oil and sent it by ship to the capital of Thailand - Bangkok.

The modern history of Phangan dates back to the early 80s of the last century, when the first tourists appeared here. Over time, local beauty began to attract more and more people and the island began to expand, hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and banks appeared.

At the moment, Koh Phangan combines the beauty of untouched nature and all the benefits of civilization (with the exception of some “wild” beaches).

There are spa salons, massage parlors, night discos, high-speed Internet and much more, which a modern person cannot do without.

How to get to Koh Phangan

There is no airport on Koh Phangan. The easiest and fastest way to get there is to fly to the neighboring island of Koh Samui, and from there take a boat ride.

Cheap flights to Bangkok

You can buy air tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible using special search engines that collect data from all airlines.

If you would like to save on a rather expensive flight to Koh Samui, then it is better to use alternative airports in Chumphon, Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat. From there you can get there by minivans and buses, and then by ferry.

You can also get there from any corner of Thailand by buses, minivans, trains and, at the end of the route, ferries. Tickets are sold at travel agencies and bus stations. If you don't want to bother with this, you can.

Transport

Transport and roads of Koh Phangan are a separate issue. There is no circular paved road encircling the entire island. The paved highway that runs close to the coast runs only from Haad Rin to Chaloklum village and Haad Khom beach in the north. The entire east and northeast turned out to be in “flight” - it seems like you start driving on asphalt, but after a few kilometers it stops and the gravel-sand extreme begins. The road winds up and down, right and left, so riding a moped on it can be dangerous.

If you have never ridden a motorbike, then under no circumstances go along the broken roads to the east and northeast of Koh Phangan. True, they are being built in this area, but very slowly. A smooth highway without serious ups and downs is available only in the area from Baan Kai to approximately the center of the western part of the island. There is also a good road through the center of Koh Phangan from Thongsala to Chaloklum. When approaching Haad Rin, very steep ascents and descents begin (albeit paved). You should be especially careful on them after sunset, when the headlights of oncoming cars can blind you.

On the roads of Koh Phangan you can travel by tuk-tuks (cost 100-250 baht depending on the distance), motorcycle taxis, rented motorbikes or cars.

Beaches

Koh Phangan is the most versatile tourist resort in terms of beaches, where people with completely different tastes and ideas about an ideal holiday can be happy. Their number has exceeded two dozen, each with its own characteristics and differences.

Some places on the island are very party, they will be ideal for young people and entertainment lovers. This is primarily the eastern Haad Rin Nok, where every month on the full moon the world-famous Full Moon Party takes place. In the open air, on the seashore, a grandiose disco is held, where several thousand people have a blast. In fact, there are parties on Koh Phangan every day, they are just on a smaller scale than during the Full Moon Party.

The Black Moon and Half Moon Party are also very popular. The latter is carried out in the jungle, where there is no housing within a radius of one or two kilometers. In general, the theme of parties on Koh Phangan is very developed and if your vacation does not include a Full Moon Party, then don’t worry - there are various parties held almost every other day: Shiva Party, Parties by the pool, at the waterfall, etc. If you want, you definitely won’t leave without vivid impressions!

But there is another Koh Phangan, where even in the midst of the Full Moon Party it is quiet and calm, and on the coast in any season you will not meet many people. These beaches are located west of the town of Thongsala and 10-15 km from Had Rin.

There are also completely “wild” places on the island, which can only be reached by motor boat, or along a narrow path passing through the mountains. True, they cannot be called completely wild, since there are several hotels and a couple of restaurants there. This is where the infrastructure ends; you won’t find any bars or discos there. Such inaccessible corners are located in the east and northeast of the island.

Koh Phangan Island is also suitable for couples with children, since everything is provided for the little ones - there are pharmacies, shops, and a hospital.

In this regard, the best area is Thongsala, where the main pier of Koh Phangan is located, where boats from the mainland arrive. This is the most developed place on the island, the largest selection of housing, eateries, all major bank branches are also located here. On the other hand, this is largely a Thai area, so you won’t find nightclubs and discos within the town; it’s quiet and peaceful here at night (there is activity only next to the night market and further along the road to Ban Tai and Ban Kai). The only downside to Thongsala is that the beach is full of boats, so it's not particularly suitable for swimming. But there is also good news. Just a 15-minute walk to the west and you will find yourself on the excellent and secluded Nai Wok beach. You can live here, and if you need pharmacies or shops, then walk to Tongsala.

What to do on Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan is good for diving and snorkeling. There are equipment rental offices, and experienced instructors will help you take your first steps to scuba dive.

If you like active recreation, you like everything unusual and new, then you can enjoy elephant riding, kayaking, safaris, mini golf, water skiing and motorcycles (not on all beaches) and much more. If you have never tried this, then experienced instructors will teach you everything.

Koh Phangan is not as rich in attractions as neighboring Samui. However, you can go to waterfalls, observation decks or look at temples (there are both Thai and Chinese). To travel to some waterfalls and viewing platforms, it is better to hire a taxi than to get there on a rented motorbike, since the path will not be easy, and on some sections of the road even dangerous.

For gourmets who know a lot about food, there are many different restaurants on the island of Koh Phangan, where there is a wide selection of dishes of national and European cuisine.

If you are not planning a trip only to Koh Phangan, then we offer you.

Important information

• When renting a motorbike, be extremely careful. Drunk or high oncoming drivers can pose a danger, especially on party days, in addition to poor quality roads.
• When going to a party, do not take extra money or valuables with you - there are cases of theft.

Climate and weather on Koh Phangan

Phangan's climate is similar to the neighboring islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Throughout the year, the average temperature varies slightly from a maximum of 29-32 during the day, to a minimum of 24-26 degrees Celsius at night.

Phangan, also known as Phangan (Kho Phangan) is an island located in the Gulf of Thailand with an area of ​​125 square km. The name of the island has the following origin. Particle "Ko" means "island" and the second part - "Ngan" translated as "sand spit".

The attractions of Koh Phangan are plentiful and worthy of admiration. The island is located at a distance of 56 km from the mainland, the distance from neighboring islands is as follows. Koh Phangan is 16 km away from Koh Samui and 35 km from Koh Tao.

Just as the sun is destined to rise in the sky, just as spring is destined to come after winter, so Koh Phangan, due to its incredible beauty, was destined to satisfy tourists who want to relax and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a beautiful oasis.

Koh Phangan Island and tourism

What is noteworthy is that the tourism business on the island began to function not so long ago, less than thirty years ago. However, at the moment, the island of Koh Phangan has become the epicenter of popularity among young Europeans. And all thanks to the opportunity to take part in entertaining events and vibrant parties in the southern part of the island.

This resort is universal. Because in addition to lovers of noise, music and vivid impressions, the souls of people who want to indulge in a quiet, blissful holiday in the lap of peaceful and beautiful nature can also find shelter there. The second category of tourists can find everything they want in the west and north of the country, full of harmony and exoticism.

Full Moon Party

The island of Koh Phangan in Thailand may differ from other resorts with a unique celebration called Full Moon Party - a delightful celebration held directly in the lap of nature, hundreds of participants take part in it at one time.

Events take place monthly in the middle of the night. Any such event is attended by thousands of lovers of a good holiday from different parts of the globe. Local residents claim that at the chosen point the full moon is most beautiful and attractive. The event takes place over 3 nights. The main trends in the musical accompaniment are modern styles, which young audiences love to party to.

The tradition started in 1985. Today, a pass to the celebration costs 100 baht. These rates are valid for visitors using boats to moor near the venue on the day of the celebration. People arrive from . For all other visitors, admission to the celebration is free.

Haad Rin Nok Beach

The holiday is held inside the territory Haad Rin Nok beach . At your disposal are nightclubs, cozy bars, dance areas, shops where you can buy something to eat or quench your thirst. Especially popular among young people is the plastic cocktail bucket, where fancy combinations of cocktails can be created.

Haad Rin Beach is full of hotels. But, despite their great number, on party days they are completely occupied by numerous people who want to become part of a wonderful celebration.

We can give you some practical advice: when going on a trip, you need to book a hotel room a month, or even two, in advance, so as not to really spend your entire vacation on the sand. In this area there is a transport called Songthaew - these are cars with a canopy, inside of which there are benches on which passengers sit. During festive events, a large number of these pickup trucks are busy transporting tourists. You can ride this pickup truck for 300-600 baht per passenger for one direct flight.

Having gotten a taste for it, and not wanting to stop purely within the Full Moon Party, local residents introduced a number of other events:

• Half Moon Party,
• Black Moon Party,
• Jungle Experience, these parties are also in demand.

What makes them different from Full Moon Party is that they take place in the middle of an island jungle and have a special specificity and goals. The timing of the events is not the same, so every tourist has the right to attend several parties at the same time. For example, the Jungle Experience takes place on the same day as the Full Moon Party.

If you are a sports fan, you will definitely like it here. Since this resort has many chances and options to relax actively and get thrills using water sports and entertainment. If you have arrived on the island in order to give peace to your soul and delight your eyes with beauty, you have at your disposal the wild beauty of pristine nature, deserted beaches that look like a piece of paradise, and a calm, quiet life.

Koh Phangan - prices

• Transportation by road from Thongsala to many parts of the island costs 140-200 baht per person.
• A scooter ride can cost from 200 baht per day.
• Residential rental costs from 300 baht per day.
• Food costs from 110 baht per tourist for one meal in a wonderful restaurant or cozy cafe.

How to get to Koh Phangan

There are the following options for the path to a resting point, where now not only your thoughts and dreams, but also you yourself can rush:

• You have the opportunity to travel to the island by air from. Koh Phangan is deprived of an airport.
• The points from which you can continue your journey after your flight are Surat Thani and.

Flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui cannot be called cheap, but they can certainly be called the fastest and most comfortable. You can get to the pier from the airport by car. Then take a ferry for a fabulous voyage to Koh Phangan.

The cost of ferry transportation is 200-300 baht one way. To avoid worries regarding the organization of the transport chain and the timing of flights, at the point of departure by air on Samui, it is recommended to take advantage of the opportunity to buy a combined ticket, which includes transportation by bus and a ferry trip.

Method 1

Let's consider the following option. You can fly to a nearby airport in Surat Thani . Our advice is to use the services of local airline companies, as their prices look much more tempting and attractive. The most profitable option is to engage the services of the following companies that have managed to establish themselves as a responsible and attentive transport service provider to the wishes of clients:

• Thai Smile,
• Lion Air,
• Nok Air,
• AirAsia.

Air carriers Air Asia and Nok Air provide the opportunity to purchase combined ticket (Joint ticket) , which includes plane + ferry + bus, is a very convenient option for people who want to pay more attention to their vacation rather than its organization.

Ticket prices from Bangkok to Surat Thani fluctuates around the level 1300 baht, for flights operating in the evening after 17.00 you can often get discounts, so you have the opportunity to get tickets for 600 baht (there are no return flights from Surat Thani).

Method 2

The next way to get to the resort is transportation by bus . Buses operate to a stop in the city of Surat Thani. Here you have the opportunity to purchase a comprehensive ticket. This will give you the opportunity to travel by bus to Donsak pier and take a ferry to Koh Phangan. If you like this method, take it into account in your budget, leaving for this trip 300 baht. In addition, there are flights departing directly to the Donsak pier. From here there is the possibility of departure by ferry.

The Bangkok-Surat Thani flight operates from the Bus Terminal in the south of Bangkok (Sai ​​Tai Mai or Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal). Flight price approx. 500 baht, it is possible to choose a bus class.

With the help of vehicles, you can easily get to Surat Thani from anywhere in the southern part of the country: Krabi, Hat Yai and other resorts.

Koh Phangan island what to see

There is no better creation of art than what is created by nature. The beaches of the island are the most attractive and entertaining part of it. As well as beautiful waterfalls and exotic nature. For natural energy and freshness, head to Than Sadet Park. You can get there at any convenient time without any entrance fee.

Admire the multi-tiered Peang waterfall, Lake Laem Son surrounded by coconut palms. Great places to relax. Must visit Wat Thong Sala temple .

It's great to visit Koh Phangan with children. Here they will find not only a lot of interesting entertainment. But in general, such a trip is an unforgettable experience for a lifetime. Something that your child will remember at a conscious age as a children's fairy tale, a wonderful kingdom of beauty and nature... Where you will definitely want to return and bring your children.

When we were just getting ready for a month-long trip to Phangan, we only knew that there were many beautiful beaches, mountainous roads with sharp turns, and most of the contingent were Rastafarians, yogis and raw foodists. And in general, Phangan is like a second Goa. If you are interested in how Koh Phangan turned out, then keep reading.

Distinctive features of Phangan, its features and its life

Phangan reviews

We spent a whole month on Koh Phangan. We drove around the entire island and stayed at all the best beaches. What about prices, housing and beaches, what kind of population lives there, what kind of roads are there? During this month we lived in 7 hotels, saw more than 15 beaches, took taxis, boats, walked and traveled by car with friends. Based on this experience, we can tell you what the situation is really like on Koh Phangan.

Hotels on Koh Phangan

• Little Paradise
• Palita Lodge
• Thongtapan Resort
• Santhiya Resort and Spa
• Utopia Resort
• Salad Beach Resort
• See Through Resort

All hotels on Koh Phangan

The inflated myth about yogis, vegans and Rastafarians, about the second Goa on Phangan

Phangan is not only yogis, enlightened people, vegans and drinking youth. Already in the second week on the island it became clear that this was the same myth as the one. Someone once wrote this and everyone else picked it up without even bothering to take a closer look around them.

Not to say that everyone around is stoned and drunk. People are like people. Relax, have fun, enjoy island life

During a month of actively moving around Koh Phangan and living in its main areas, we saw, well, maybe 3-4 people in “strange clothes,” like Phangan hippies. I think these people have some kind of their own party, and it’s almost impossible to just see a raw-food yogi in rags on the street.

Judging by the fact that residents and vacationers actively use shops and cafes, it is also impossible to say that the island is clearly vegetarian. We have never seen people sitting on the beach and eating only fruits or vegetables. And even more so, no one will look askance at you when you are eating kebabs with beer.

Of course, people live here who practice abstinence from meat, fish, alcohol, communication, sex, etc. But where there are none, they also live in Phuket and Samui and even in Pattaya.

Informal individuals, in such numbers as can be seen every day on, seeing on Koh Phangan is an impossible task. They certainly exist here, but there are ten times fewer of them and the atmosphere does not resemble Goan.

On the beaches there are no freaks meditating, no people playing the pipe, no snake charmers, no guys with unwashed hair in stretched and dirty clothes, drugged by something, beggars, bauble sellers who earn their living from this alone. We haven’t seen anything like this in any of the areas of Koh Phangan for a month. Even on Sritan.

Here on many beaches every evening they set up tables on the beach and play music. Somewhere calm and melodic. Somewhere on the contrary, energetic and fiery.

I would also like to note that there are no Chinese on Koh Phangan, no package tourists or guides. There are not even any merchants except for two beaches, and even then they are kind of sluggish there. The island lives an unobtrusive but rhythmic life and you can feel it.

In general, as far as the public is concerned, nothing out of the ordinary, with the exception of a few days of the Full Moon Party.

Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan: should you be afraid of it?

This party is held every month on the night of the full moon on the beach. About 3-4 days before the party and 2-3 days after it, it is better not to come to Had Rin. There will be crowds, dirt, noise and housing prices inflated by 5 times. On other beaches the party has no effect. We came to Haad Rin for the second time 3 days after the party and the beach was absolutely clean, the hotels were at normal prices and the whole party crowd had already left.

Therefore, if you are afraid to go to Koh Phangan because of the party, then look at the official Fuul Moon party website for the party schedule and avoid visiting Haad Rin on these days. We waited for the Full Moon party for Sritan. Our readers were at Tong Nai Pan. If they didn’t know that there was a party going on today, they would never have guessed it. That is, Fulmunpati is not reflected in any way on other beaches.

Contingent of tourists: young people, few older people, few Russian speakers

What really stands out is the sheer number of European youth. On the contrary, there are very few Russian tourists, although there are contradictory reviews on the Internet. We rarely met Russian-speaking tourists. At least in the summer. For the most part, Russians simply live on Koh Phangan or fly in for the winter with their children.

You can often see very young boys and girls aged 18-20 who are not here for Full Moon, but just on a trip. Some even come with their parents or family. Young people may have just finished school and came to Phangan to have fun before adulthood.

Since our average graduate, unfortunately, cannot afford to save money and rush off to travel around Asia for a couple of months, we can say that European youth have completely occupied Phangan.

Cleanliness on the island. The cleanest island in Thailand

Koh Phangan in Thailand is a very clean island. This is perhaps the cleanest island we have been to in Thailand. Despite the fact that there are always problems with garbage disposal on the islands, the people living here apparently somehow care about cleanliness. There is no trash lying around in the bushes or on the roadsides; you won’t see any bottles, bags or other waste. Even Haad Rin beach after a party is cleaned to almost perfect condition on the second day. Well done Pangans!

The party was the day before yesterday, and today the beach is unrecognizable. Everything shines and breathes purity

Burmese live on Koh Phangan, not Thais

It was a real shock that Phangan, like the neighboring island of Koh Tao, was completely given over to the Burmese. Burmese are everywhere. The Thais even get lost against their background. Meeting a Thai on Koh Phangan is rare. Here you shouldn’t show off your knowledge of Thai and tell everyone “sawadi kap”

The Burmese are very easy to distinguish by their thanaka-smeared cheeks and long colorful skirts.

And if their cheeks are clean, then just look at their mouth when talking. They often have bad teeth. We didn’t really like this proximity to the Burmese. For some reason you are always on guard with them. Also in Phuket, where there are also a lot of Burmese, we noted that they are an unfriendly people. Not all of them, of course, but many of them.

So the cleanliness of Phangan, despite the fact that mostly Burmese live here, is even more amazing. After all, the Phuket Burmese litter everything around them within a kilometer radius, but here there is perfect cleanliness.

Shallow and rocky bottom on Koh Phangan beaches

The beaches on Koh Phangan, there are no words, how beautiful, memorable and different. Most with crystal clear water.

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But the beaches have problems with depth and bottom. Even during the high tide season, all western beaches will be shallow. And at low tides, popular beaches such as Had Yao, Salad and Mae Haad will be knee-deep in depth. But it would be fine if it was just shallow, since most of the beaches are often unsuitable for swimming due to the rocky bottom.

Beach . Swimming is only possible during the high tide season and not too far from the shore

Everything seems to be great, but as you get closer to the beach, you see a bunch of stones. And it would be nice if they were only in one part of the beach, but there are very few stones right in the water and clean clearings where a person can swim without looking back.

Haad Salad beach has very few places for swimming, only a couple of clearings on the right side

Video Haad Salad beach

The views from the observation decks are different, since bars and restaurants are located in different parts of the island. The next photo is from the observation deck at the Panviman hotel on the beach.

There is even a bar with an infinity pool, which offers another gorgeous view. And there are plenty of such places on the island.

Video from Bar 360 viewpoint

Roads on Koh Phangan

This indisputable fact is not easy to believe, but the roads of Koh Phangan are of very good quality, but there can also be those curves and roller coasters. Sharp turns and narrow passages. In winter, during the rainy season, roads are often washed out when the mountain has moved onto the roadway or vice versa. You won’t find many of these same roads on Koh Phangan. First up, and then sharply down, and so often. Apart from the hills, there are good roads almost everywhere. Sometimes they are even so convenient for the owner of a car or bike that you can’t believe that you are still on the island.

But there are some roads that are scary to look at, let alone drive along them and get stuck for half a day. For example, the road to , which, according to locals, the authorities will not make asphalt. Or this is what the road to Haad Yuan Beach looks like:

The mountainous terrain and winding roads make it difficult to drive fast, unless you want to gamble with fate. We will not advise you to rent a bike on Koh Phangan. There are a lot of stories on the Internet about how people crash here and break their arms and legs. And when you come to the island, every day you see young Europeans with bandaged body parts. Even experienced drivers can’t handle driving on Koh Phangan. Be careful and don't waste money on taxis or moving between beaches using a boat. Life is more valuable!

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article.

Public transport on Koh Phangan and taxi prices

There are songthaews (tuk-tuks), but they work like taxis. Travel is usually paid per person. Prices at first glance seem overpriced. But then you realize that with such steep roads, the journey is worth the money. Approximate prices:

• From Thongsala Pier to Haad Rin Beach 150 baht per person. If there are 3 people or more, then you can get there for 100 baht per person.
• From the pier to Haad Yao, Salad, Maead from 100 to 150 baht per person.
• To the distant beaches of Thong Nai Pan Noi and Yai from 300 baht per person.

Is it expensive to drive 30 minutes from Thongsala Pier to Had Rin Beach for 300 baht? It seems expensive, but on the other hand, 300 baht is only $9. And if you remember other Thai resorts, in Pattaya we took a taxi for the same money for 10 minutes from the condo to the bus station. So, I think it's quite tolerable.

Good and inexpensive hotels on the beaches of Koh Phangan

We were lucky with all the hotels on Koh Phangan, without exception. In total, we stayed in 7 different hotels on all the main beaches. All hotels except Utopia cost less than 1000 baht per night. Also, all the hotels were clean and new, there was air conditioning and internet everywhere, all the hotels were on the first line.

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Your own observation deck on the hotel balcony

Hotel deposits

A special feature of Phangan hotels is deposits. Usually you give a deposit when renting an apartment, but here, out of 7 hotels, 6 require a deposit. Only in one Utopia were they not asked to leave money as collateral. They return deposits without tricks, sometimes without even checking the number.

Good internet on Koh Phangan

There were fears that the Internet on the island would not be very good. Nowadays, on all developed islands everything is fine with the Internet, but there are exceptions to the rules that directly depend on the hotel owner. It’s not uncommon to check into a normal hotel, which is far from the cheapest, but the wi-fi in it is barely adequate. A lottery, in a word.

On Koh Phangan we did not experience any difficulties with the Internet. Only one hotel on Salad Beach was completely devoid of connection in the room, and working on the balcony with constantly interrupted Wi-Fi was not our option. In other hotels, even those that were much cheaper, the Internet was good.

Shops, markets, fruits on Koh Phangan

7-Eleven is available at the following beaches: Had Rin, Thong Nai Pan Yai, Chaloklam, Had Yao, Srithanu. There are also 7/11 in Thongsala and on non-swimable western beaches, such as Bantay. Prices are slightly higher than mainland prices, about 10%.

There are also medium-sized supermarkets: Tesco Lotus, Big C and even Makro. Located in Tongsala near the pier. Everything is marked on Google Maps.

There are two main markets on the island. Both are in the Thongsala area, where backpackers usually stay, who believe that this way they save on housing or who come to Koh Phangan to hang out. The market is in the area of ​​the Big C supermarket and seems to be open only three times a week. In Big C, even with your own transport, you often won’t run into people. You shouldn’t rely too much on the search markets on Koh Phangan.

The same can be applied to makashnitsa, which are very rare. In my memory, we saw makashnitsa only in the Chaloklam area, Sri Thanu and Thongsal. Surely they exist somewhere else, in areas like Baan Tai and Baan Khai, but I can’t guarantee.

There is also tension with fruits. We saw fruit stalls, where the choice is only bananas, pineapples and a maximum of papaya, in Sri Tana, in Chaloklam and Haad Rin. So, being a fruit-eating vegan on Koh Phangan is not easy. And you say island of yogis. Here, as long as you find the nearest fruit stand, let alone a vegetable stand, you will become a meat eater from hunger

Lots of hammocks and swings

Another of the associations that we now have with Koh Phangan is hammocks!

You probably won’t see such a number of hammocks everywhere else in Thailand. Almost every hotel, every beach, most restaurants and bars have hammocks. And not some simple and tattered ones, but high-quality and wide ones.

Hammocks are like a certain charm of the island, which further decorates it. We hung in hammocks whenever possible and even got used to them. At Bottle Beach, the two of us loved to hang out on one hammock, looking at the stars and feeding mosquitoes.

And there are more than enough swings too. There will definitely be an alternative to hammocks. Every beach has a swing.

Lots of pools

Many hotels have swimming pools. This makes me happy. Especially when the price per day is not exorbitant money at all, but very reasonable. It turns out that even a backpacker with a budget of 400 baht per day for housing can easily rent a bed in a hostel, but will still be able to swim in the pool.

Dogs on Koh Phangan

There are dogs, like everywhere else in Thailand. There are no more and no less of them here than on other Thai islands. They still lazily lie on the beach during the day and come to life after 5 pm.

In Pattaya, for example, there are many more dogs than in Koh Phangan. And unlike Pattaya, we didn’t see them gathering in large flocks here, making it scary to walk around.

The only thing we felt uncomfortable with was their excessive attention to the food in our bags. As soon as we left the 7-11 with warmed sandwiches, it happened that some dog would run up to us. And some impudent faces unceremoniously stuck their heads straight into the bag. We usually feed our dogs everywhere, but we prefer to do it after we have eaten ourselves. Therefore, we had to tie the bags in a knot, lift them at chest level or throw them behind our backs so that the smell was not so obvious.

Season on Koh Phangan. When is it better to go, and when is it raining and waves?

• Ko Phangan in autumn and winter: many tourists, inflated hotel prices, bad weather, waves, the sea throws garbage and algae onto the sand, low tides at night. High season…
• Ko Phangan in spring and summer: few tourists, 50-70% discounts in hotels, sunny weather, no waves, clear water, clean beaches, low tides during the day. Low season...

The high season on Koh Phangan lasts from November to February. It is called high not because during these months there is clear sunny weather and good sea, but because in winter a large influx of tourists comes to the Thai islands to bask. And of course, the peak season is December, New Year. And in January there are New Year holidays.

In principle, the situation is similar with Nha Trang. When it’s full... And people flock there in droves, buying trips three times more expensive than the regular price. And when there is no rain in the summer and the sea is clear, everyone assumes that it is the rainy season, since they are accustomed to thinking that one should fly to Asia only in winter.

On Phangan, fortunately, there is no such trash as in Nha Trang, with the exception of several floods and floods, when the power lines are cut, people cannot even get out of their hotels and there is no talk of a beach holiday. The rainiest months are October and November. And in winter the weather on Koh Phangan is rather tolerable, there are many sunny days, but there are also a lot of rainy and cloudy days. Probably, if you choose the winter months, then it is better to go in February-March. But in winter there is a high tide season on Koh Phangan.

In spring and summer from April to September, Koh Phangan has ideally calm seas. There are no even minimal waves, no debris washes up on the shore. The sea is clean and transparent. There are few people. Even in the summer, hotel prices drop sharply. This is like an additional motivator to book a room and live for your pleasure in a really good hotel on the first line for mere pennies.

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It rains in summer, but not as often as in winter. It may rain for 3 days, but in fits and starts, not all day, and then the whole week it is sunny and there is not a cloud. The temperatures are comfortable, there is no unbearable heat. During the day it feels like +29 +31C.

Our opinion about Koh Phangan

What else should I add? Phangan impressed us in a good sense of the word. Left behind a pleasant aftertaste. We want to come back here and live on our favorite beaches. They are all different here and almost all are memorable, even if they are not very suitable for swimming.

Beach . Just a fishing village

And even the recently visited island, which we liked so much, is, of course, significantly inferior to Koh Phangan in all respects. Is it just that the depth on Samet is what you need?

Come here too. Getting to Koh Phangan is no more difficult than getting to Koh Samui. Even ferries depart from the same Donsak pier. You can come to the island with your own bike and even your own car.

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Our monthly expenses on Koh Phangan

We calculated how much money we needed to travel around the island for a month. We did not sit on one beach all this time, but stayed in a hotel for several days on one beach, then moved to another. The exploration began in Haad Rin, then moved north counterclockwise, eventually returning to Haad Rin. All transfers were by taxi, we did not take a bike.

• Travel 2,800 baht (not counting the way to the island)
• Meals, groceries and cafes 14,000 baht
• Alcohol 2,400 baht
• Housing 23,300 baht
• Clothes 200 baht
• Household 900 baht

Total: 43,600 baht or $1,300 for two

We have seen from our own experience that it is quite possible to travel on Koh Phangan without a bike. If we had settled somewhere in Tongsal for a month at once, then without our own transport, of course, there would have been nothing to do there. And so, due to traveling by taxi only in one direction, we were able to spend even a little less on travel than if we had taken a bike (3000 + gasoline).

Where to go in summer in Thailand - all on Koh Phangan

If Phuket is the best island in Thailand for a winter holiday and for permanent living, then Phanganchik is an ideal place for the summer, when it is rainy in Phuket and the rest of Thailand. We wouldn’t be able to live here for a long time, since there are no condominiums with apartments, but we would be happy to come for 2 weeks or a month.

See Through Resort

All Koh Phangan hotels

Map of Koh Phangan with beaches

The sights of Koh Phangan are its beaches. There are no interesting temples or palaces here. There are also observation platforms, I will add them to this map a little later.

On the island Phangan (Koh Phangan, Koh Phangan) in Thailand Summer can be experienced all year round. Thanks to the beach parties that began to be held on the island in the 1990s, it gained popularity and competed with the Spanish island of Ibiza. The sand spits that give the island its name block the monsoons, so Koh Phangan almost always enjoys good weather.

How to get to Koh Phangan

The shores of the island are washed by the Gulf of Thailand. From mainland Thailand it separated by 55 km of water. Koh Phangan is easily accessible by ferry, speedboat or boat from the coastal city of Surat Thani or Koh Samui.

Local airlines from Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Chiag Maya make landing on Koh Samui. Planes from Bangkok land in Surat Thani.

From Samui boat takes passengers to Koh Phangan in half an hour. A ferry runs between the islands, and you can rent a private boat. The ferry or boat route from Surat Thani will take a little longer. You can get to Surratani by train; it’s cheaper to take the bus.

Time on the island

There is a three hour difference between Moscow time and Koh Phangan time. Acclimatization usually proceeds without problems.

Weather for a week

All year round the air temperature remains almost constant at 26 degrees. It rains in November and December. The driest month is February. September on Koh Phangan is the most suitable month for a holiday.

Beaches on Koh Phangan

The island is almost entirely covered with tropical forests and mountains. The coast of the island is indented with coves and lagoons with narrow strips of beach. The clearest water and fine white sand make these places ideal for swimming.

When planning a trip to Koh Phangan, be careful when choosing a beach. It should fit your lifestyle.

The largest beach, Haad Rin, located in the southwest of the island. It stretches along the sea for 5 kilometers. During the full moon it becomes very noisy and parties are held there. To visit small, secluded beaches, you can use a “sea taxi”.

The most attractive beaches in the east of Koh Phangan are located in the coves of Thong-Nai-Pan Bay.

In the north, tourists eagerly visit the sandy beach of Chalok Lam, located near a fishing village. Its length is more than two kilometers and it is characterized by fairly strong ebbs and flows, so it is comfortable to swim there only during the period of high water, from December to the end of February. The nearby bays of Had Khom and Had Thong Lang offer swimming all year round.

The west coast is decorated with the magnificent Mae Haad beach, from which you can walk along a sandy spit to the island of Ko Ma. The vegetation near the beach comes close to the water, so you can hide in the shade from the sun. Right off the coast it is quite deep, about one and a half meters.

The most beautiful sunsets can be seen in the south of the island, but the places there are not very suitable for swimming.

Hotels

Over the past 25 years, the tourism business on the island has been actively developing and new hotels are being built. You can rent a room with WiFi and air conditioning for a very reasonable price, or stay in a bamboo bungalow with virtually no amenities.

The price of housing increases significantly during the period of parties. The further the hotel is from Haad Rin beach, the cheaper the rooms.

The most expensive comfortable Hotel Panviman Resort located on a rock in the middle of Thong-Nai-Pan Bay. You can rent a cheap bungalow on literally every beach.

It is advisable to book a room before your trip, especially during the period when parties are planned on the island.

Shopping

Shops with a variety of souvenirs can be easily found in any part of the island. Bright party dresses and handmade hammocks are especially appreciated.

Entertainment

Every month during the full moon, many young people from Europe come to the island to take part in the “Fool Moon Party” beach parties. Parties take place on Haad Rin Beach.

In addition to the noisy parties, which last only a few days, you will be offered an elephant ride. Traveling through the jungle, tourists visit. Before your trip, you can watch how elephants are bathed and hand-feed baby elephants. Children love the hilarious monkey show.

Wat Pho Temple

An active Buddhist temple is open to the public in the southwestern part of the island. Here, those who wish can use the herbal sauna; it is especially effective after stormy parties.

Than-Sadet Park

Here is Mount Khao Ra, the highest point on the island. Its height is only 630 m, but the climb to the top follows a very difficult route and is impossible when it rains.

As you move towards the top, you can admire the Paeng Waterfall. Another large waterfall, Than-Sadet, is located on the Royal River, its waters are considered sacred.

In the east of the park is beautiful Laem Son lake shaded by coconut palms. Visiting the park is free.

Ang Thong Park

On Koh Phangan you can book a tour to Ang Thong, a marine national park. Forty-one uninhabited islands are included in its territory. The nearby islands are home to only small animals, but deep in the rainforest you can find pythons and cobras.

Large limestone islands are indented with numerous caves. In beautiful lagoons you can explore the underwater world by snorkeling.

From the observation deck on Wua Talab Island you can see the entire Ang Thong archipelago. In the middle of the island of Ko Mae Ko there is an amazing salt lake. Coral reefs near the many beaches on the islands are attractive for diving enthusiasts.

Diving and snorkeling

Koh Phangan is recognized as one of the most interesting diving sites in Thailand. This place also attracts snorkelers. The island has excellent conditions for exploring the underwater world; there are several diving schools.

From the piers Chalok Lam Beach usually boats with divers go on a dive. Test dives are held at Mae Haad Beach. The beach is surrounded by coral reefs that shelter marine life in their crevices. It is very pleasant to snorkel here.

Reviews about Phangan

Tourists who are tired of the crowded, overly civilized beaches of Thailand come to Koh Phangan. Those who prefer privacy and a relaxing holiday should consider holiday options in the northeast of the island. Wild partygoers prefer to occupy the southwest of Koh Phangan.

1. Before visiting the island, carefully study the lunar calendar. You might not want to get up close and personal with the Rastafarians who roam the island during the full moon.
2. Choose a beach based on your lifestyle.
3. Don’t take a lot of things with you; you can buy everything you need on the island.

A selection of photos from Koh Phangan island in Thailand