Phangan Island - hotels, beaches, recreation and activities

Phangan or Phangan (Kho Phangan) is an island located in the Gulf of Thailand, with an area of 125 square km. The name Koh Pangna comes from the Thai "Ko" - "island" and "Ngan" - "sand spit". The distance to the mainland is about 56 km, remote from the islands: Koh Samui is 16 km, Koh Tao is 35 km.

Tourism on the island is a relatively young industry, no more than 30 years old, but in such a short time, Koh Phangan managed to gain popularity among European youth with the opportunity to participate in party events in the south of the island, and among lovers of a relaxing exotic vacation (west and north).

Koh Phangan on the map of Thailand

A feature of the island is the Full Moon Party (Full Moon Party) - a grand open-air event that gathers thousands of people in one place.

Sports lovers on Koh Phangan have excellent conditions for active and extreme water recreation. Fans of a relaxing holiday here are waiting for the wild beauty of untouched nature, deserted beaches and a leisurely quiet life.

Approximate prices:

• Taxi from the main pier in Thongsala to many parts of the island 150-200 baht per person;
• Scooter rental from 200 baht per day;
• Accommodation from 300 baht per day;
• Meals from 100 baht per person for 1 meal in a cafe or restaurant.

How to get there

By plane from Bangkok

There is no airport on Koh Phangan, the nearest ones are Surat Thani and Koh Samui International Airport.

Sending from Bangkok to Koh Samui is very expensive, but the fastest and most convenient. You can take a taxi from the airport to the pier. And from the pier by ferry is already sailing to Koh Phangan. Ferries cost 200-300 baht one way. At Samui Airport, you can buy a combo ticket (bus + ferry).

The second option is to fly to the nearby airport in Suratthani. You can fly to the airport much cheaper using the services of local airlines: Nok Air, Air Asia, Thai Smile and Lion Air. You can purchase a combined ticket (Joint ticket) plane + bus + ferry from Air Asia and Nok Air. The cost of Bangkok-Surat Thani tickets is 1300 baht, flights after 17.00 often have discounts, as a result, tickets can be purchased for 600 baht. (There are no return flights from Surat Thani).

By bus

Buses run to the bus station in Surat Thani, from here you can buy a complex ticket that includes a bus ride to Donsak Pier and ferry to Koh Phangan. The cost of such a ticket will be from 300 baht. There are also routes that go straight to Donsak Pier, from which you can take a ferry.

Bangkok-Surat Thani depart from the Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal or Sai Tai Mai). The characteristic cost is from 500 baht, depending on the class of the bus.

You can easily get to Surat Thani by bus from anywhere in southern Thailand: Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai and other resorts. See the schedule and prices at www.sawadee.com

By train

You can get there by train from Hua Hin and Bangkok. The train goes to Phun Pin Railway Station, near Surat Thani. The train departs from the Bangkok railway station - Hualamphong. The cost of the trip ranges from 150 to 1500 baht, depending on comfort (from a seated 3rd class to a compartment).

It's best to travel at night.

Very often, buses and minibuses run from the railway station to the pier, from which you can cross to Koh Phangan.

Maritime traffic

The final stage of each of the above transport is a water crossing. If you have a complex ticket with the final stop - Koh Phangan in your hands, then you do not have to worry about anything, everything will be organized for you.

Sea routes

If you decide to travel alone, you can take the ferry from any pier. Ferry service between the mainland pier Donsak (Donsak International Port), Koh Samui (Koh Samui), Koh Tao (Koh Tao), Koh Phangan (Koh Pangan) is very well developed. Ferries to Koh Phangan land at Thong Sala Pier.

Ferry schedule

The information above is for informational purposes only, as the schedule is subject to change.

Transportation

The main transport on Koh Phangan are scooters and motorcycles. They can be rented from 150 baht / day. There are Songteo taxis on the island - pickups with a roof and benches, travel from 20 baht. On the main street in Thong Sala, you can rent a pickup truck from 1500 baht per day, a sedan 800 - 1000 baht per day.

It is better to go to some beaches of Koh Phangan on foot or move on specially equipped boats (taxi-boat). The fare for one person will be 150-350 baht, depending on the distance.

Beaches

The crowded beach of Haad Rin. Tourists call it the beach of the rising sun. Located in the southeast of the island, it is famous for its monthly Full Moon festivals. It is here that lovers of cheerful evenings and parties are drawn. From Haad Rin, a small path or boat takes you to the beaches of Naad Yuan or Naad Thian, where peace and quiet reign.

In the northeast of Koh Phangan, the beaches of Thong Nai Pan Yai and Thong Nai Pan Noi are surrounded by green mountains. Here you can dive into the water to explore the beauty of the underwater world.

Not far from Thong Sala, the main port of the island, is Ban Tai Beach. The beach is interesting due to the coral reef located close to the shore, which can be clearly seen by the daredevils of scuba diving. But it is precisely because of it and the pronounced low tides from May to November that it is problematic to swim here.

But in the port itself there are small beaches at the hotels. However, the proximity of the port and the passing parties Half Moon Festival (Middle Moon), Shiva Moon Party (Shiva) for living here does not attract tourists who come to relax from the hustle and bustle.

Tan Sadet. Once upon a time, this secluded beach and nearby Than Sadet waterfall were a favorite place for visiting the royal family of Thailand.

Hotels

There are different accommodations on Koh Phangan depending on the preferences of the tourist. Wooden bungalows are the most common for housing. But it is worth considering that not everyone has hot water. The price per day starts from 400 baht.

Also on the island you can rent a good guesthouse, equipped with air conditioning, internet, a refrigerator and TV. Its cost is very pleasing and is 300-700 baht.

There are more than 290 hotels on the island. You can choose the one that suits the price or comfort. Prices range from 1000 to 1200 baht for a room in a 3* hotel.

The most popular among tourists are:

• Le Divine Comedie, located 8 kilometers from Haad Reed Beach.
• milky Bay. The hotel with its outdoor pool is located on Ban Tai Bay.

All hotels have free Wi-Fi (but not always in the rooms) and almost all have free parking spaces. All rooms are provided with amenities and air conditioning.

Prices in hotels are approximate. Depending on the season, they increase, and especially during periods of national holidays and festivals.

Attractions

All the natural beaches of the island with their waterfalls can be attributed to its attractions. But the largest is Than Sadet National Park. The park is open to visitors at any time and admission is free.

The park is famous for the largest and most beautiful waterfall in Koh Phangan called Peang. Its multi-tiered appearance gives the waterfall an impressive look, especially in winter. In the spring, in the absence of rain, it dries up, and instead of a turbulent stream of water, a thin trickle of water flows down wet stones.

The park also contains the wonderful Lem Son Lake, surrounded by coconut palms, under which you can relax. It is also interesting to visit the Chinese temple with a statue of Kwan Yin, which is the Mother of Mercy of the East.

One of the popular temples is Wat Thong Sala. Wat Pho Herbal Sauna is also worth a visit. Here you will relax, relieve fatigue after long excursions, gain new vitality and recharge your good mood.

On the territory of the marine reserve, you can visit the "little copy of paradise" - the evergreen island of Ko Nang Yuan. Here there is an opportunity to see rare inhabitants of the underwater kingdom, such as clown fish, sea angels.

Since the island is very large, there are also a lot of attractions on Koh Phangan. We will tell you more about the sights in the next article.