The beautiful island of Koh Phangan is situated in the Southern Gulf of Thailand, just a little North from Koh Samui, and lies approximately 100km from the mainland district centre of Suratthani. Koh Phangan became a popular backpacker hideaway some 20 years ago, but now attracts families and mainstream tourists in search of a perfect getaway retreat.
Measuring around 170 km2, it has so far escaped mass development and remains a natural paradise with around 70% of the mountainous interior landscape covered by tropical rainforest
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Being a small island, there are no direct flights, buses or trains to Koh Phangan, but it is easily accessible from many popular destinations in Thailand.
The most popular route is to take a direct flight to the neighbouring island of Koh Samui & then hop on one of the frequent ferry, speedboat or catamaran transfers for the 15km journey over to Koh Phangan.
Alternatively, visitors can travel to Suratthani by plane, train or bus and then board the ferry service from Don Sak pier (40 kilometers from Suratthani town) to Koh Phangan. The ferry runs 4 times a day and the crossing takes around 2½ hours. Bus services from Suratthani town or Suratthani Railway Station to Don Sak are available.
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Koh Phangan boasts some of the best beaches in the Gulf of Thailand. Many remain undeveloped, so it is still possible to seek out your own private cove for a day of relaxing under a gently swaying palm tree.
The larger beaches around the resorts of Thong Sala and Hat Rin offer plenty of watersports options to tempt you off your sunbed. Or why not try your hand at archery, wakeboarding or even muay thai boxing.
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Snorkelling and Scuba Diving are ever popular activities due to the island’s close proximity to the areas best sites. Koh Phangan is a nature lovers dream with plenty of jungle trails to explore on foot, mountain bike or even by elephant. The island also offers a good selection of health spas, healing and meditation facilities, as well as yoga classes.
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Away from the pristine beaches, the island and surrounding area offers many other places of interest to explore.
A visit to one of the many temples makes a fascinating excursion. At Wat Maduea Wan you can see a replica of the Lord Buddha’s Footprint, or visit the Wat Pho temple in Ban Thai and partake of a traditional herbal steam sauna.
The island also has two protected National Parks, Than Sadet and Phaeng, with waterfalls and jungle trekking routes.
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Boat trips are easily arranged to the neighbouring islands of Koh Tao and Koh NangYaun – both of which offer excellent snorkelling and diving. Or take an excursion through the nearby Angthong National Marine Park for incredible photo opportunities.
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Koh Phangan has become known the world over as the venue of the famous Fullmoon Party. The beach at Haad Rin is transformed into a huge partyzone which attracs thousands of revellers every month. However, it should be remembered that it is easily avoided if that’s not your cup of tea – Haad Rin is party central while the rest of the island remains quiet.
The island now caters for all culinary tastes with a multitude of restaurants providing local and international cuisine, as well as numerous bars. Enjoy the catch of the day in an excellent beachside restaurant or indulge in an affordable feast of tastes from around the world.
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You will have no problem finding souvenirs to take home, especially in the larger resorts. Bargains abound from Thai silk to antiques, DVDs to ‘designer’ clothes. But remember to haggle – it’s expected!
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The tropical climate means that temperatures remain fairly constant year round, ranging from 25° - 34° Celsius. There are three main seasons: the dry season (mid December - April) when it is mostly dry and relatively cool, the hot season (May - September), when it can be very hot and humid with occasional storms and the wet season (October - mid December), when there can be a strong and windy monsoon which brings the rains.
But as with anywhere, the weather is unpredictable and you will usually enjoy a good deal of blue skies and sunshine no matter what time of year you visit.
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