Koh Phangan is a large-ish island in the Gulf of Thailand (to the east of mainland Thailand). It has become famous worldwide for its monthly Full Moon Party, which is on many travellers’ bucket lists. The island itself has so much more to offer than just a crazy party twice a month. Koh Phangan has beautiful beaches, scenic hikes and great night markets. Please note that this blog will focus on Koh Phangan itself, not specifically the Full Moon Party. I have a full guide to surviving and thriving at Koh Phangan’s Full Moon Party here.
How many days to spend in Koh Phangan
How many days you spend in Koh Phangan depends on a few factors, like how much of a partier you are and whether you can drive a scooter. Many parts of the island are trickier to get to without your own transportation, like a scooter. I would recommend everyone stay at least 3 days on Koh Phangan, including Full Moon Party. However, this would be 3 jam-packed days where you are sightseeing all day and partying at night. Staying four to six days would allow you a few chilled-out hungover days after Full Moon Party nights and to see the island’s sights.
How to get to Koh Phangan
As Koh Phangan is an island, you must catch a ferry to get there. Most people will either come from the neighbouring islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao or from the mainland. In the south, getting from Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang, Phi Phi Island, Railay Beach and Khao Sok National Park to Koh Phangan in 1 day is possible. You can also easily get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok. Most ferries will arrive at Thong Sala Pier in the north of Koh Phangan. After, you must get in a Songthaew (open-air truck/local bus) to get to your accommodation. You can book transfers to Koh Phangan through hostels or online using 12GOAsia.
How to get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok by plane
There are a few options to get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan. The quickest yet most expensive would be to fly to Koh Samui Airport. From there you will need to jump on a ferry to Koh Phangan. Expect to pay anywhere between 2600-5200 THB Thai Baht ($77-$154 USD) for the flight and the ferry. The flight is 1 hour and 5 minutes long, and the ferry only takes 30 minutes. So you could get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan in less than half a day. Make sure you allow plenty of time between your flight arrival and ferry departure on Koh Samui in case of delays.
How to get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok by ferry
The cheapest way by far to get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok is a night bus and then a ferry. But beware, the bus ride is pretty uncomfortable and smelly from the toilet on-board. Depending on which bus company you use, you will transfer from the bus to the ferry at Chumphon Port or Suratthani Port. The journey will take between 13-16 hours, depending on which company you go with. Expect to pay around 1200- 2400 THB Thai Baht ($35-$50 USD) for the entire journey. Ferries depart Koh Samui at 8am (not an overnight bus), 12:20
The best way to get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, in my opinion, and from my experience, is by night train and ferry. You must book these as two separate tickets on 12GOAsia as a self-transfer, so allow extra time between the train arrival and ferry departure. The train journey takes around 12-13 hours on a sleeper train; just make sure you purchase a “sleeper” seat that converts to a bed instead of a regular seat that will not move.
There are multiple train times departing Bangkok at regular intervals from 4 pm to 10:30 pm bound for Surat Thani Train Station. To get from Surat Thani Train Station to Bangkok, you must purchase a ticket on 12GOAsia for a van + ferry transfer. There are three pickup times from Surat Thani Train Station 8 am, 9:30 am and 11 am. The van and ferry transfer takes around 4-5 hours. The journey will take you around 17 hours and cost around 1920 THB Thai Baht ($57 USD).
How to get to Koh Phangan from Koh Tao
Several ferries are operating between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan as it is a popular travel route. You can book ferries via the 12GOAsia or through your hostel. Some hostels include complimentary drop-off at the pier if you book through them. The ferries depart at 7 am, 9:30 am and 3 pm from the main pier in Koh Tao (Mae Haad) to Thong Sala Port in Koh Phangan. The journey takes between 50 minutes and 2 hours, depending on whether you get a speedboat or slow ferry, and costs 470- 670 THB Thai Baht ($14-$20 USD).
How to get to Koh Phangan from Koh Samui
Plenty of ferries and speedboats are running between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. They depart daily from 8:30-5 pm, running at half-an-hour to an-hour intervals. The journey takes between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on which boat type you book. Expect to pay between 230-685 THB Thai Baht ($7-$20 USD). There are three piers/ports on Koh Samui where ferries depart from Bangrak, Na Thon and Maenam. Make sure you check which one is closest to your accommodation to save money on transport to the port. If you’re staying in the main area of Koh Samui (Chaweng Beach), the closest is Bangrak. If you book ferries through your hostel, they will often do a combined ticket that includes a van transfer to the port for a small additional charge.
How to get to Koh Phangan from Phuket
It takes around 9 hours to get from Phuket to Koh Phangan and involves a bus and ferry transfer. There are two buses departing at 7:30 am and 8 am from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket Town. Both buses arrive at Koh Phangan at 4:30 pm at Thong Sala Port. Expect to pay around 680 THB ($20 USD) regardless of which bus time and company you go with.
How to get to Koh Phangan from Krabi and Ao Nang
There are a number of pick-up points in Krabi and Ao Nang for the bus heading to Koh Phangan, including Krabi Bus Terminal and Ao Nang Beach near the pier. Bus departure times vary depending on your pick-up point. The first bus departs between 9-10:30 am and arrives at Thong Sala Port in Koh Phangan at 4:30 pm. The midday bus departs between 11-11:30 am and arrives at Thong Sala Port at 6 pm. The last bus departs between 12-1:30 pm and arrives at Thong Sala Port at 8:30 pm. Prices vary depending on the time of day and pickup point, but you can pay anywhere between 680-930 THB Thai Baht ($20-$27 USD).
How to get to Koh Phangan from Railay Beach
To get to Koh Phangan from Railay Beach, you have to catch a local longtail boat from Railay Main Beach to Ao Nang, get on the bus, and then get on a large ferry to Koh Phangan. The local boat doesn’t run on a schedule; it runs whenever there are enough people. Make you get to the beach super early to allow enough time in case you have to wait for the boat to fill up.
The boat only takes around 10 minutes and costs 90 THB Thai Baht ($2.50 USD). Depending on how far in the tide is, expect to get your feet and maybe legs wet embarking and disembarking the boat. I had to carry my backpack on my head to avoid my luggage getting wet. The boat will drop you off at the main beach in Ao Nang, where you can get on the bus and transfer to the ferry port to get to Koh Phangan. Refer to the above paragraph for the bus times from Ao Nang to Koh Phangan.
How to get to Koh Phangan from Koh Phi Phi
The journey from Phi Phi Island to Thong Sala Port in Koh Phangan takes a whopping 10 hours and involves two ferries and a bus transfer. The ferries depart from Ton Sai Pier on Phi Phi Island at 9 am and 10:30 am and arrive at 4 pm and 8:30 pm, respectively. Expect to pay between 1300-1600 THB Thai Baht ($37-$47 USD).
How to get to Koh Phangan from Khao Sok National Park
Getting to Koh Phangan from Khao Sok National Park involves a small van transfer to Surat Thani Port and then a ferry to Thong Sala Port on Koph Phangan. The van departs from the Khao Sok van station at the town entrance. Most hostels will include a free transfer to the station, or it should only be around a 10-20 minute walk, depending on where you’re staying. There are two van departure times: 8 am and 12 pm, and you will arrive at Koh Phangan at 4:30 pm or 8:30 pm. The price is 680 THB Thai Baht ($19.50 USD), with the journey taking around 8 hours.
How to get around Koh Phangan
Despite how built up and touristic Koh Phangan is (particularly around Full Moon and Half Moon), it is not the easiest island to get around. Distances are quite far, so you need to plan how you get places in advance, as there is no Grab or Gojek on the island.
Getting around Koh Phangan by scooter
The easiest, fastest and cheapest way to get around Koh Phangan is by renting a scooter. That way, you can go to the night market for dinner and easily get to viewpoints and beaches. If you’re going out for the night, you will most likely be jumping onto a local bus with others from your hostel instead of driving a scooter. Scooter rental is pretty common in Koh Phangan, and most hostels will help you organise it through a reputable scooter rental company. The roads are generally pretty good (except for the dirt roads getting to and from Bottle Beach Viewpoint).
Getting Around Koh Phangan by Songthaew
A Songthaew is basically a truck where the back has been converted into two long seats to carry people around, much like a taxi or bus. They are a common method of transport around South East Asia and are generally pretty affordable. There are Songthaew pickup points at Thong Sala Pier at Haad Rin Beach (where the Full Moon Party is), but you can flag down a Songthaew from any road if you see one going past.
If you are only one person, the Songthaew driver may wait and try to pick up more passengers to make the drive and fee worth it for him. Drivers will try to squeeze as many people into the vehicle as possible, even if it means your luggage goes on the roof or people are left hanging onto the back. Songthaews have no set price and can charge whatever they want. Drivers do tend to charge more around Full Moon Party when picking up for the last ferry (because they know you have no other option) and when picking up at night.
Getting around Koh Phangan on foot
Depending on which area of the island you are staying in, you may be able to get to some places on foot. For example, if you stay in the Haad Rin Beach area, you can easily walk to the Full Moon Party. Alternatively, if you stay in the Thong Sala area, you will be within walking distance from the pier and from the night market. There are not really any footpaths in Koh Phangan, so you will be walking on the side of the road. Be wary of scooters, stray dogs and songthaews when walking around Koh Phangan.
Where to stay in Koh Phangan
The island’s three main areas are where travellers will stay: the Thong Sala area in the north, the Baan Tai area in the west and the Haad Rin area in the south. They all have different positives and negatives and are better suited to different traveller styles/ types of travellers. Thong Sala in the north is arguably one of the nicest parts of the islands to stay in due to its proximity to beautiful, quiet beaches. They also have lots of nice cafes, restaurants and bars and are the closest area to the pier. Thong Sala is popular with couples and vacationers looking to avoid the party scene.
Baan Tai is halfway between Thong Sala (where the pier is) and Haad Rin (where the Full Moon Party is). It is also the cheapest area to stay in. There are a lot of hostels in this area and a few cafes, eateries, and hostel bars for pre-drinks. This is a good location if you want to both party and explore the island, as you are halfway between the beaches/viewpoints and the party area.
The other area you can stay in is Haad Rin, where you would be within walking distance to the Full Moon Party. One major positive if you will save money on Tuk Tuk’s to and from Full Moon. However, it is extremely loud, and drunk people will always be around your hostel area. If you stay in Haad Rin, you will be in the thick of it 24/7, so I would only recommend staying here if you just want to get drunk and party the whole time. You can book all accommodation online here.
What to do in Koh Phangan
I will ignore the obvious top thing to do in Koh Phangan because I have a full guide to the Full Moon Party here. Whether you plan to attend a Full Moon Party, Koh Phangan is worth the visit for all the other sites.
Hike to Bottle Beach Viewpoint
One of the best things you can do in Koh Phangan! The hike to Bottle Beach Viewpoint is about 30-60 minutes (depending on how fast you are) and is tricky. You can get to the start of the hike by typing in “Bottle Beach Scooter Parking” into Google. Be warned that the road to the scooter car park is unsealed and rough. You may want to park just off the sealed road and walk a bit further if you are not a confident scooter driver.
From the scooter car park, the first 30 minutes of the hike are through the jungle and only a moderate incline. The last section of the hike involves scrambling through boulders. Would not recommend it if you are afraid of heights, as there are some really steep drops. Also, just a general warning to be careful; it would be very easy to slip and fall from the viewpoint.
Snorkel at Mae Haad Beach
Mae Haad Beach is located right in the north of the island. It is famous for the strip of sand which connects Koh Ma Island to Koh Phangan Island at low tide. The sand is super white, and the water is very clear, so great for snorkelling. You can ask any of the beach-side resorts and restaurants for snorkel rental.
Visit Thong Nai Pan Beach
If you want a beautiful, quiet beach that you don’t need to hike to, Thong Nai Pan is the place to visit. Located on the island’s east coast, it is easily accessible by road on a scooter. The beach has white sand and super blue, clear water- it is literally paradise! There are a few resorts where you can rent a beach lounger. There are also a few cafes and restaurants selling food and drinks. Otherwise, it is a very quiet beach perfect for relaxing under a palm tree.
Hike to the summit of Khao Ra Mountain
Khao Ra Mountain is a great hike if you want panoramic views of the island or to be active. The hike is only about 3 hours return and on dirt paths that are clearly marked, so it would be hard to get lost. Finding the hike’s starting point can be tricky as Google Maps is wildly incorrect. Make sure you type in “Khao Ra Terrace” to get to the starting point. It is an incredibly hot hike, so I recommend doing it first thing in the morning (just after first light is best) instead of doing it in the middle of the day. Ensure you have plenty of water, sunscreen and bug repellant, and the mosquitos are intense during the jungle hike.
Chase Waterfalls
There are a bunch of waterfalls in Koh Phangan, but the most famous one is Paradise Waterfall. It is located in the far north of the island and is easily accessible without hiking far. It is only a 10-minute walk from the car park to the waterfall. Paradise Waterfall has a good amount of water year-round, and you can safely swim there. Most people will combine a visit to Paradise Waterfall with Mae Haad Beach as they are only a 10-minute drive from each other.
Watch the Sunset at Amsterdam Bar
There are a lot of great sunset spots on the west of the island, but Amsterdam Bar is one of the most popular with backpackers. Pre-warning, you must walk up a few steps to get to the bar, but it is well worth it. Try to get there around 30 minutes before sunset so you have time to grab a good seat and get a drink. They play chilled-out reggae music, and it’s generally pretty good vibes at Amsterdam Bar.
Where to eat in Koh Phangan
Whether you’re staying in Baan Tai, Haad Rin or Thong Sala, Koh Phangan has plenty of great food options. From night markets, outdoor eateries, and beachside brunch spots to local Thai restaurants, there’s a bit of everything on Koh Phangan.
Thong Sala Night Market
Arguably the best night market on the whole island! Thong Sala Night Market is near the pier in the north of the island. So it is a bit trickier to get to unless you have a scooter or can flag down a Songthaew. The market is open from 4 pm to 11 pm daily and sells a variety of foods, drinks, desserts, clothing, and souvenirs.
Night Market Cafe Vintage
If you’re staying in Baan Tai and don’t fancy journeying to the north of the island to visit Thong Sala Night Market, then this recommendation is for you. Night Market Cafe Vintage is an outdoor eatery featuring a number of market stalls selling various local and international foods. Their garden has plenty of outdoor seating, with fairy lights and live music. They are open daily from 11 am to 11 pm.
Paprika
Paprika is an awesome Israeli restaurant right in the heart of the Haad Rin Beach area. The food is to die for; they’re open from 11 am to 11 pm daily.
Coconut Home
Located along the main road of Baan Tai, Coconut Home is a great, affordable breakfast and brunch place. They do all-day breakfast, so even if you’re a bit hungover and sleep in until noon, you can still get some eggs on toast. Coconut Home also serves traditional Thai food for lunch and dinner. They’re open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
Bliss Cafe & Brunch
If you’re craving a smoothie bowl or some eggs benny, then head to Bliss Cafe in Baan Tai. They serve breakfast foods until 4 pm but also offer a selection of Thai lunch and dinner foods and cocktails. Bliss Cafe is right on the beach and is also a great place to watch the sunset. Some evenings they have live music and fire shows. They’re open daily from 11 am-10 pm.
Nightlife in Koh Phangan
Most of the nightlife will revolve around Full Moon if you’re in Koh Phangan during this time. However, there are some other bars and places to go out if you want to avoid the intense partying of Full Moon. Also, there won’t be much nightlife if you’re on the island between the two moon parties.
Rasta Home
Rasta Home is located in the North of the Island (near Mae Haad Beach). They have reasonably priced, strong drinks and play classic music everyone knows. It’s a great spot for a low-key party and to dance.
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