Getting around the islandTaxiAn 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.
MotorbikeThe most common way to explore
Koh Phangan is by motorbike. You can
hire motorbikes in every village. Although there are still many dirt roads, it is possible to visit a rather big part of the island. The Southwest and Northwest area have good cemented roads.
Getting Around Please note that having a "
Koh Phangan Tattoo" is a very well known expression on the island so remember to drive very carefully. For the
less experienced drivers it is advised to use the rear brake instead of the front brake as much as possible.
JeepAs there are still a lot of (steep) dirt roads, 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 for making daytrips to the more remote parts and attractions of
Koh Phangan like the
Than Sadet waterfall,
Thong Nai Pan or Haad Rin.
PartiesThe parties on
Koh Phangan follow the cycle of the moon:
full moon,
half moon,
black moon,
half moon and back again.
Image Full Moon PartyEach month
during full moon the beach of
Haad Rin is transformed into a
huge party zone. Blacklights, fluorescent colours and thousands of people dance and party under the light of the
full moon. Big sound systems on the beach play everything from psy-trance to house and techno and from RnB to drum 'n bass.
Paradise Bungalows, the home of the original
Full Moon Party is still the biggest and best venue with resident dj's A, Boy and Harmonizer playing house and progressive house. Starting 15 years ago the
Full Moon Party made
Koh Phangan famous. Because it is one of the most famous dance events in the world, you should definitely experience it. Click here for
Full Moon Party dates.
Half Moon PartyThe ever so popular
Half Moon Party takes place twice a month, a week before and a week after the
Full Moon Party and is held on a beautiful location in the
Ban Thai jungle. There is a big dancing arena, two bars, UV decorations and some food stalls. Expect very good progressive and trance music and a perfect sound system.
Black Moon PartyHeld once a month on the beach of
Ban Tai. You can expect a nice beach party which is much smaller than the
full moon party but therefore has a more intimate atmosphere. Mainly progressive and trance music.
National parks & waterfallsKoh Phangan has two protected
National Parks with waterfalls and nice jungle trekking routes: Phaeng Waterfall National Park in the centre of the island and
Than Sadet Waterfall National Park on the east side of the island. Best time to visit the waterfalls is during or after the wet season or right after rain, otherwise you will only be staring at rocks.
National ParkPhaeng Waterfall National ParkPhaeng Waterfall National Park is located in the village of
Madua Wan. The Park has a nice waterfall close to the entrance and some trekking routes to mountaintop viewpoints, including a long winding foot trail leading up to Koh Phangan's highest mountain peak Khao Ra (630m). The trail can be steep and difficult to follow at times, so it is recommended to hire a guide at the entrance of the park. After all the exercise you can treat yourself on a delicious home-made ice cream on the way to
Thong Sala opposite the school.
Than Sadet Waterfall Than Sadet Waterfall National ParkThan Sadet waterfall or "
Royal Stream" is the largest waterfall on the island, a 3km run of rock pools and streams with a royal emblem, since it was visited by several Kings of Thailand, including the reigning monarch, H.M. King Bhumibol (Rama IX). There are inscriptions on boulders near the river bed made by each of the Kings. The park has several nice jungle trekking paths as well.
HealthMassage & MeditationAt most towns, resorts and beaches you can get a traditional Thai or oil massage.
Koh Phangan also has a few retreat centers offering various courses in Thai massage, meditation, cleansing programs, Reiki and reflexology.
ImageWat Pho Herbal SaunaThis traditional herbal steam sauna is run by monks at the
Wat Pho temple in Ban Thai (on the road to
Thong Nai Pan). The sauna uses traditional methods by heating natural herbs such as lemongrass and tamarind leaves on a big log fire. The herbs have many health and skin benefits. It is run on donations, so please don't forget to make a donation after using the sauna. ImageIt should be remembered that ladies have to wear a sarong outside the sauna and men their shorts.
Chinese TempleOn the road between
Thong Sala and
Chaloklum the
Chinese Temple is located. The temple is the result of the dream a woman had in 1990 in which the (Chinese)
Buddha spoke to her and asked her to build a firelight for the people.
ActivitiesSnorkeling & divingThere are many
great snorkel and
dive spots on the island, especially on the Northwest coast. One of the best spots is around the little island of
Koh Ma ('
Horse Island'), off
Mae Haad beach at the Northwestern tip of
Koh Phangan. There are several diving schools offering PADI courses around the island.
Image Boat trips / kayakingBoat 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.
WakeboardingWakeboarding is offered by
Phangan Adventure in
Chaloklum. They also offer many other activities like kayaking-, sailing- and
big game fishing trips,
sunset boat trips and
mountain bike trekking.
KiteboardingKiteboarding or
kitesurfing is offered by
Cuttlebone Kiteboarding Center near
Ban Thai (at
Golden Light Resort).
PaintballJust outside main town
Thong Sala there is a nice place to play paintball with a group of friends. The neighbouring restaurant
Big Mango serves good food and occasionally organises a party.
Thai boxingAlthough 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. You can learn the art of
Muay Thai yourself at the
Jungle Gym in
Haad Rin and
Thong Sala.
Elephant TrekkingJust outside
Chaloklum you can enjoy an elephant ride through
Koh Phangan's jungle.
DaytripsImageAng Thong National Marine ParkAng Thong ('Golden Basin') is an archipelago made up of around 40 small, mostly uninhabited islands with limestone cliffs, caves, beautiful beaches, a giant emerald saltwater lake (also known from the movie The Beach) and dense tropical rainforest. You can either book an organized day- or camping trip or hire a speedboat with a group (usually minimum of 6 people) and plan your own trip.
Koh TaoThe waters around
Koh Tao offer some of the best diving and snorkeling sites in the
Gulf of Thailand, both for beginners and the more experienced divers. There are daily boats between Thong Sala and Koh Tao. The trip takes around 2 hours by boat.
Organized dive and
snorkel trips can be arranged at most
travel agencies.
Koh SamuiTake a half hour
boat trip to big sister island
Koh Samui to go shopping at touristy Chaweng Beach or to visit the
Samui Butterfly Garden,
Snake Farm, the
Samui Aquarium and
Tiger Zoo or the
golden Big Buddha statue at
Bophut.
Information : Things to see and Do ?
