Koh Phangan is Thailand’s fifth largest island. It is an island that until recently received much less publicity than such tourist destinations as Phuket and Koh Samui. Now things are changing with luxury resorts being built and the Full Moon Party drawing thousands of party goers every month to the island.
Now is the perfect time to visit Koh Phangan – the roads and infrastructure has improved and the accommodation has improved but the island still remains a haven of biodiversity and the prices are much more reasonable than other more established places.
There are nearly 30 beaches to visit on Koh Phangan. You might choose just one to stay on but it makes a great trip to see some of the other beaches by boat or on a motor bike. Some beaches such as Haad Yuan and Haad Sadet are only reached by jungle trail or boat. Haad Sadet is particularly worth a visit because it has a series of waterfalls with a rock that has been initialed by 3 Kings of Thailand including the present incumbent.
Another reason to visit Koh Phangan is to enjoy trekking. There are a number of great trails to follow including one that takes in Phaeng Waterfall on the way to the top of Khao Ra, Koh Phangan’s highest mountain. There are also many great roads and tracks for mountain biking.
If you enjoy water sports than Koh Phangan is a great destination. There are places to do wake boarding, kite boarding and yachting. Fishing trips are easy to organize and along the west coast there are corals to explore. Snorkeling and diving around the coast and farther afield offer opportunities to see a good variety of marine life.
Finally, there are several big parties on Koh Phangan including the Full Moon Party. There is also Muay Thai fights, live music and lots of great bars and restaurants to try.
After two weeks on Koh Phangan you will realize that you need another two weeks to do all the things you want to do.