Koh Phangan Island - hotels, beaches, recreation and activities. Party island Koh Phangan in Thailand Koh Phangan island in Thailand when is the season

Phangan, also known as Phangan (Kho Phangan) is an island located in the Gulf of Thailand with an area of ​​125 square km. The name of the island has the following origin. Particle "Ko" means "island" and the second part - "Ngan" translated as "sand spit".

The attractions of Koh Phangan are plentiful and worthy of admiration. The island is located at a distance of 56 km from the mainland, the distance from neighboring islands is as follows. From Koh Island Koh Samui island Phangan is 16 km away, and 35 km from Koh Tao.

Just as the sun is destined to rise in the sky, just as spring is destined to come after winter, so is the island of Koh Phangan in connection with its incredible beauty was destined to satisfy tourists who want to relax and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a beautiful oasis.

Koh Phangan Island and tourism

What's remarkable is travel business began functioning on the island not so long ago, less than thirty years ago. However, in this moment Koh Phangan has become the epicenter of popularity among young Europeans. And all thanks to the opportunity to take part in entertaining events and vibrant parties in the southern part of the island.

This resort is universal. Because in addition to lovers of noise, music and vivid impressions the souls of people who want to indulge in a quiet, blissful rest in the lap of peaceful and beautiful nature can also find shelter there. The second category of tourists can find everything they want in the west and north of the country, full of harmony and exoticism.

Full Moon Party

The island of Koh Phangan in Thailand may differ from other resorts with a unique celebration called Full Moon Party - a delightful celebration held directly in the lap of nature, hundreds of participants take part in it at one time.

Events take place monthly in the middle of the night. Any such event is attended by thousands of fans have a nice rest from different parts of the globe. Local residents claim that at the chosen point the full moon is most beautiful and attractive. The event takes place over 3 nights. The main trends in the musical accompaniment are modern styles, which young audiences love to party to.

The tradition started in 1985. Today, a pass to the celebration costs 100 baht. These rates are valid for visitors using boats to moor near the venue on the day of the celebration. People arrive from . For all other visitors, admission to the celebration is free.

Haad Rin Nok Beach

The holiday is held inside the territory Haad Rin Nok beach . At your disposal are nightclubs, cozy bars, dance areas, shops where you can buy something to eat or quench your thirst. Especially popular among young people is the plastic cocktail bucket, where fancy combinations of cocktails can be created.

Haad Rin Beach is full of hotels. But, despite their great number, on party days they are completely occupied by numerous people who want to become part of a wonderful celebration.

We can give you some practical advice: when going on a trip, you need to book a hotel room a month, or even two, in advance, so as not to really spend your entire vacation on the sand. In this area there is a transport called Songthaew - these are cars with a canopy, inside of which there are benches on which passengers sit. During festive events A large number of these pickup trucks are busy transporting tourists. You can ride this pickup truck for 300-600 baht per passenger for one direct flight.

Having got a taste for it and not wanting to stop purely within the framework of the Full Moon Party local residents A number of other measures have been introduced:

• Half Moon Party,
• Black Moon Party,
• Jungle Experience, these parties are also in demand.

What makes them different from Full Moon Party is that they take place in the middle of an island jungle and have a special specificity and goals. The timing of the events is not the same, so every tourist has the right to attend several parties at the same time. For example, the Jungle Experience takes place on the same day as the Full Moon Party.

If you are a sports fan, you will definitely like it here. Since this resort has many chances and options to relax actively and get thrills using aquatic species sports and entertainment. If you have arrived on the island in order to give peace to your soul and delight your eyes with beauty, you have at your disposal the wild beauty of pristine nature, deserted beaches that look like a piece of paradise, and a calm, quiet life.

Koh Phangan - prices

• Transportation by road from Thongsala to many parts of the island costs 140-200 baht per person.
• A scooter ride can cost from 200 baht per day.
• Residential rental costs from 300 baht per day.
• Food costs from 110 baht per tourist for one meal in a wonderful restaurant or cozy cafe.

How to get to Koh Phangan

There are the following options for the path to a resting point, where now not only your thoughts and dreams, but also you yourself can rush:

• You have the opportunity to travel to the island by air from. Koh Phangan is deprived of an airport.
• The points from which you can continue your journey after your flight are Surat Thani and.

Flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui cannot be called cheap, but they can certainly be called the fastest and most comfortable. You can get to the pier from the airport by car. Then take a ferry for a fabulous voyage to Koh Phangan.

The cost of ferry transportation is 200-300 baht one way. To avoid worries regarding the organization of the transport chain and the timing of flights, at the point of departure by air on Samui, it is recommended to take advantage of the opportunity to buy a combined ticket, which includes transportation by bus and a ferry trip.

Method 1

Let's consider the following option. You can fly to a nearby airport in Surat Thani . Our advice is to use the services of local airline companies, as their prices look much more tempting and attractive. The most profitable option is to engage the services of the following companies that have managed to establish themselves as a responsible and attentive transport service provider to the wishes of clients:

• Thai Smile,
• Lion Air,
• Nok Air,
• AirAsia.

Air carriers Air Asia and Nok Air provide the opportunity to purchase combined ticket (Joint ticket) , which includes plane + ferry + bus, is a very convenient option for people who want to pay more attention to their vacation rather than its organization.

Ticket prices from Bangkok to Surat Thani fluctuates around the level 1300 baht, for flights operating in the evening after 17.00 you can often get discounts, so you have the opportunity to get tickets for 600 baht (there are no return flights from Surat Thani).

Method 2

The next way to get to the resort is transportation by bus . Buses operate to a stop in the city of Surat Thani. Here you have the opportunity to purchase a comprehensive ticket. This will give you the opportunity to travel by bus to Donsak pier and take a ferry to Koh Phangan. If you like this method, take it into account in your budget, leaving for this trip 300 baht. In addition, there are flights departing directly to the Donsak pier. From here there is the possibility of departure by ferry.

The Bangkok-Surat Thani flight operates from the Bus Terminal in the south of Bangkok (Sai ​​Tai Mai or Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal). Flight price approx. 500 baht, it is possible to choose a bus class.

With the help of vehicles, you can easily get to Surat Thani from anywhere in the southern part of the country: Krabi, Hat Yai and other resorts.

Koh Phangan island what to see

There is no better creation of art than what is created by nature. The beaches of the island are the most attractive and entertaining part of it. And beautiful waterfalls and exotic nature. For natural energy and freshness, head to Than Sadet Park. You can get there at any convenient time without any entrance fee.

Admire the multi-tiered Peang waterfall, Lake Laem Son surrounded by coconut palms. Wonderful places to rest. Must visit Wat Thong Sala temple .

It's great to visit Koh Phangan with children. Here there is not only a lot for them interesting entertainment. But in general, such a trip is unforgettable experience for life. Something that your child will remember at a conscious age as a children's fairy tale, a wonderful kingdom of beauty and nature... Where you will definitely want to return and bring your children.

When we were just getting ready for a month-long trip to Koh Phangan, we only knew that there were a lot of beautiful beaches, mountainous roads with sharp turns, and most of the contingent are Rastafarians, yogis and raw foodists. And in general, Phangan is like a second Goa. If you are interested in how Koh Phangan turned out, then keep reading.

Distinctive features of Phangan, its features and its life

Phangan reviews

We spent whole month to Koh Phangan. We drove around the entire island and lived on everyone best beaches. What about prices, housing and beaches, what kind of population lives there, what kind of roads are there? During this month we lived in 7 hotels, saw more than 15 beaches, took taxis, boats, walked and traveled by car with friends. Based on this experience, we can tell you what the situation is really like on Koh Phangan.

Hotels on Koh Phangan

• Little Paradise
• Palita Lodge
• Thongtapan Resort
• Santhiya Resort and Spa
• Utopia Resort
• Salad Beach Resort
• See Through Resort

All hotels on Koh Phangan

The inflated myth about yogis, vegans and Rastafarians, about the second Goa on Phangan

Phangan is not only yogis, enlightened people, vegans and drinking youth. Already in the second week on the island it became clear that this was the same myth as the one. Someone once wrote this and everyone else picked it up without even bothering to take a closer look around them.

Not to say that everyone around is stoned and drunk. People are like people. Relax, have fun, enjoy island life

During a month of actively moving around Koh Phangan and living in its main areas, we saw, well, maybe 3-4 people in “strange clothes,” like Phangan hippies. I think these people have some kind of their own party, and it’s almost impossible to just see a raw food yogi in rags on the street.

Judging by the fact that residents and vacationers actively use shops and cafes, it is also impossible to say that the island is clearly vegetarian. We have never seen people sitting on the beach and eating only fruits or vegetables. And even more so, no one will look askance at you when you are eating kebabs with beer.

Of course, people live here who practice abstinence from meat, fish, alcohol, communication, sex, etc. But where there are none, they also live in Phuket and Samui and even in Pattaya.

Informal individuals, in such numbers as can be seen every day on, seeing on Koh Phangan is an impossible task. They certainly exist here, but there are ten times fewer of them and the atmosphere does not resemble Goan.

On the beaches there are no freaks meditating, no people playing the pipe, no snake charmers, no guys with unwashed hair in stretched and dirty clothes, drugged by something, beggars, bauble sellers who earn their living from this alone. We haven’t seen anything like this in any of the areas of Koh Phangan for a month. Even on Sritan.

Here on many beaches every evening they set up tables on the beach and play music. Somewhere calm and melodic. Somewhere on the contrary, energetic and fiery.

I would also like to note that there are no Chinese on Koh Phangan, no package tourists or guides. There are not even any merchants except for two beaches, and even then they are kind of sluggish there. The island lives an unobtrusive but rhythmic life and you can feel it.

In general, as far as the public is concerned, nothing out of the ordinary, with the exception of a few days of the Full Moon Party.

Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan: should you be afraid of it?

This party is held every month on the night of the full moon on the beach. About 3-4 days before the party and 2-3 days after it, it is better not to come to Had Rin. There will be crowds, dirt, noise and housing prices inflated by 5 times. On other beaches the party has no effect. We came to Haad Rin for the second time 3 days after the party and the beach was absolutely clean, the hotels were at normal prices and the entire party crowd had already left.

Therefore, if you are afraid to go to Koh Phangan because of the party, then look at the official Fuul Moon party website for the party schedule and avoid visiting Haad Rin on these days. We waited for the Full Moon party for Sritan. Our readers were at Tong Nai Pan. If they didn’t know that there was a party going on today, they would never have guessed it. That is, Fulmunpati is not reflected in any way on other beaches.

Contingent of tourists: young people, few older people, few Russian speakers

What really stands out is the sheer number of European youth. On the contrary, there are very few Russian tourists, although there are contradictory reviews on the Internet. We rarely met Russian-speaking tourists. At least in the summer. For the most part, Russians simply live on Koh Phangan or fly in for the winter with their children.

You can often see very young boys and girls aged 18-20 who are not here for Full Moon, but just on a trip. Some even come with their parents or family. Young people may have just finished school and came to Phangan to have fun before adulthood.

Since our average graduate, unfortunately, cannot afford to save money and rush off to travel around Asia for a couple of months, we can say that European youth have completely occupied Phangan.

Cleanliness on the island. The cleanest island in Thailand

Koh Phangan in Thailand is a very clean island. This is perhaps the cleanest island we have been to in Thailand. Despite the fact that there are always problems with waste disposal on the islands, the people living here apparently somehow care about cleanliness. There is no trash lying around in the bushes or on the roadsides; you won’t see any bottles, bags or other waste. Even Haad Rin beach after a party is cleaned to almost perfect condition on the second day. Well done Pangans!

The party was the day before yesterday, and today the beach is unrecognizable. Everything shines and breathes purity

Burmese live on Koh Phangan, not Thais

It was a real shock that Koh Phangan, like neighboring island Koh Tao was completely taken over by the Burmese. Burmese are everywhere. The Thais even get lost against their background. Meeting a Thai on Koh Phangan is rare. Here you shouldn’t show off your knowledge of Thai and tell everyone “sawadi kap”

The Burmese are very easy to distinguish by their thanaka-smeared cheeks and long colorful skirts.

And if their cheeks are clean, then just look at their mouth when talking. They often have bad teeth. We didn’t really like this proximity to the Burmese. For some reason you are always on guard with them. Also in Phuket, where there are also a lot of Burmese, we noted that they are an unfriendly people. Not all of them, of course, but many of them.

So the cleanliness of Phangan, despite the fact that mostly Burmese live here, is even more amazing. After all, the Phuket Burmese litter everything around them within a kilometer radius, but here there is perfect cleanliness.

Shallow and rocky bottom on Koh Phangan beaches

The beaches on Koh Phangan, there are no words, how beautiful, memorable and different they are. Most with crystal clear water.

• Read:

But the beaches have problems with depth and bottom. Even in high tide season at all western beaches it will be small. And at low tides, popular beaches such as Had Yao, Salad and Mae Haad will be knee-deep in depth. But it would be okay if it was just petty, and also most of The beaches are often unsuitable for swimming due to the rocky bottom.

Beach . Swimming is only possible during the high tide season and not too far from the shore

Everything seems to be great, but as you get closer to the beach, you see a bunch of stones. And it would be nice if they were only in one part of the beach, but there are very few stones right in the water and clean clearings where a person can swim without looking back.

Haad Salad beach has very few places for swimming, only a couple of clearings on the right side

Video Haad Salad beach

The views from the observation decks are different, since bars and restaurants are located in different parts of the island. The next photo is from the observation deck at the Panviman hotel on the beach.

There is even a bar with an infinity pool, which offers another gorgeous view. And there are plenty of such places on the island.

Video from Bar 360 viewpoint

Roads on Koh Phangan

This indisputable fact is not easy to believe, but the roads of Koh Phangan are very good quality, but there may still be those turns and roller coasters. Sharp turns and narrow passages. In winter, during the rainy season, roads are often washed out when the mountain has moved onto the roadway or vice versa. You won’t find many of these same roads on Koh Phangan. First up, and then sharply down, and so often. Apart from the slides, then good roads already almost everywhere. Sometimes they are even so convenient for the owner of a car or bike that you can’t believe that you are still on the island.

But there are some roads that are scary to look at, let alone drive along them and get stuck for half a day. For example, the road to , which, according to locals, the authorities will not make asphalt. Or this is what the road to Haad Yuan Beach looks like:

The mountainous terrain and winding roads make it difficult to drive fast, unless you want to gamble with fate. We will not advise you to rent a bike on Koh Phangan. There are a lot of stories on the Internet about how people crash here and break their arms and legs. And when you come to the island, every day you see young Europeans with bandaged body parts. Even experienced drivers can’t handle driving on Koh Phangan. Be careful and don't waste money on taxis or moving between beaches using a boat. Life is more valuable!

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article.

Public transport on Koh Phangan and taxi prices

There are songthaews (tuk-tuks), but they work like taxis. Travel is usually paid per person. Prices at first glance seem overpriced. But then you realize that with such steep roads, the journey is worth the money. Approximate prices:

• From Thongsala Pier to Haad Rin Beach 150 baht per person. If there are 3 people or more, then you can get there for 100 baht per person.
• From the pier to Haad Yao, Salad, Maead from 100 to 150 baht per person.
• To the distant beaches of Thong Nai Pan Noi and Yai from 300 baht per person.

Is it expensive to drive 30 minutes from Thongsala Pier to Had Rin Beach for 300 baht? It seems expensive, but on the other hand, 300 baht is only $9. And if you remember other Thai resorts, in Pattaya we took a taxi for the same money for 10 minutes from the condo to the bus station. So, I think it's quite tolerable.

Good and inexpensive hotels on the beaches of Koh Phangan

We were lucky with all the hotels on Koh Phangan, without exception. In total we lived in 7 different hotels on all main beaches. All hotels except Utopia cost less than 1000 baht per night. Also, all the hotels were clean and new, there was air conditioning and internet everywhere, all the hotels were on the first line.

• More details in the article:

Your own observation deck on the hotel balcony

Hotel deposits

A special feature of Phangan hotels is deposits. Usually you give a deposit when renting an apartment, but here, out of 7 hotels, 6 require a deposit. Only in one Utopia were they not asked to leave money as collateral. They return deposits without tricks, sometimes without even checking the number.

Good internet on Koh Phangan

There were fears that the Internet on the island would not be very good. Nowadays, on all developed islands everything is fine with the Internet, but there are exceptions to the rules that directly depend on the hotel owner. It’s not uncommon to check into a normal hotel, which is far from the cheapest, but the wi-fi in it is barely adequate. A lottery, in a word.

On Koh Phangan we did not experience any difficulties with the Internet. Only one hotel on Salad Beach was completely devoid of connection in the room, and working on the balcony with constantly interrupted Wi-Fi was not our option. In other hotels, even those that were much cheaper, the Internet was good.

Shops, markets, fruits on Koh Phangan

7-Eleven is available at the following beaches: Had Rin, Thong Nai Pan Yai, Chaloklam, Had Yao, Srithanu. There are also 7/11 in Thongsala and on non-swimable western beaches, such as Bantay. Prices are slightly higher than mainland prices, about 10%.

There are also medium-sized supermarkets: Tesco Lotus, Big C and even Makro. Located in Tongsala near the pier. Everything is marked on Google Maps.

There are two main markets on the island. Both are in the Thongsala area, where backpackers usually stay, who believe that this way they save on housing or who come to Koh Phangan to hang out. The market is in the area of ​​the Big C supermarket and seems to be open only three times a week. In Big C, even with your own transport, you often won’t run into people. You shouldn’t rely too much on the search markets on Koh Phangan.

The same can be applied to makashnitsa, which are very rare. In my memory, we saw makashnitsa only in the Chaloklam area, Sri Thanu and Thongsal. Surely they exist somewhere else, in areas like Baan Tai and Baan Khai, but I can’t guarantee.

There is also tension with fruits. We saw fruit stalls, where the choice is only bananas, pineapples and a maximum of papaya, in Sri Tana, in Chaloklam and Haad Rin. So, being a fruit-eating vegan on Koh Phangan is not easy. And you say island of yogis. Here, as long as you find the nearest fruit stand, let alone a vegetable stand, you will become a meat eater from hunger

Lots of hammocks and swings

Another of the associations that we now have with Koh Phangan is hammocks!

You probably won’t see such a number of hammocks everywhere else in Thailand. Almost every hotel, every beach, most restaurants and bars have hammocks. And not some simple and tattered ones, but high-quality and wide ones.

Hammocks are like a certain charm of the island, which further decorates it. We hung in hammocks whenever possible and even got used to them. At Bottle Beach, the two of us loved to hang out on one hammock, looking at the stars and feeding mosquitoes.

And there are more than enough swings too. There will definitely be an alternative to hammocks. Every beach has a swing.

Lots of pools

Many hotels have swimming pools. This makes me happy. Especially when the price per day is not exorbitant money at all, but very reasonable. It turns out that even a backpacker with a budget of 400 baht per day for housing can easily rent a bed in a hostel, but will still be able to swim in the pool.

Dogs on Koh Phangan

There are dogs, like everywhere else in Thailand. There are no more and no less of them here than on other Thai islands. They still lazily lie on the beach during the day and come to life after 5 pm.

In Pattaya, for example, there are many more dogs than in Koh Phangan. And unlike Pattaya, we didn’t see them gathering in large flocks here, making it scary to walk around.

The only thing we felt uncomfortable with was their excessive attention to the food in our bags. As soon as we left the 7-11 with warmed sandwiches, it happened that some dog would run up to us. And some impudent faces unceremoniously stuck their heads straight into the bag. We usually feed our dogs everywhere, but we prefer to do it after we have eaten ourselves. Therefore, we had to tie the bags in a knot, lift them at chest level or throw them behind our backs so that the smell was not so obvious.

Season on Koh Phangan. When is it better to go, and when is it raining and waves?

• Ko Phangan in autumn and winter: many tourists, inflated hotel prices, bad weather, waves, the sea throws garbage and algae onto the sand, low tides at night. High season…
• Ko Phangan in spring and summer: few tourists, discounts in hotels 50-70%, sunny weather, no waves, clear water, clean beaches, low tides during the day. Low season...

The high season on Koh Phangan lasts from November to February. It is called high not because during these months there is clear sunny weather and good sea, but because in winter a large influx of tourists comes to the Thai islands to bask. And of course, the peak season is December, New Year. And in January there are New Year holidays.

In principle, the situation is similar with Nha Trang. When it’s full... And people flock there in droves, buying trips three times more expensive regular price. And when there is no rain in the summer and the sea is clear, everyone assumes that it is the rainy season, since they are accustomed to thinking that one should fly to Asia only in winter.

On Phangan, fortunately, there is no such trash as in Nha Trang, with the exception of several floods and floods, when wires are cut, people cannot even get out of their hotels and oh beach holiday there can't even be any talk. The rainiest months are October and November. And in winter on Koh Phangan the weather is rather tolerable, a lot sunny days, but there are also a lot of rainy and cloudy days. Probably, if you choose the winter months, then it is better to go in February-March. But in winter there is a high tide season on Koh Phangan.

In spring and summer from April to September, Koh Phangan has ideally calm seas. There are no even minimal waves, no debris washes up on the shore. The sea is clean and transparent. There are few people. Even in the summer, hotel prices drop sharply. This is like an additional motivator to book a room and live for your pleasure in real life. good hotel on the first line for mere pennies.

• See the selection:

It rains in summer, but not as often as in winter. It may rain for 3 days, but in fits and starts, not all day, and then the whole week it is sunny and there is not a cloud. The temperatures are comfortable, there is no unbearable heat. During the day it feels like +29 +31C.

Our opinion about Koh Phangan

What else should I add? Phangan impressed us in a good sense of the word. Left behind a pleasant aftertaste. We want to come back here again and live on our favorite beaches. They are all different here and almost all are memorable, even if they are not very suitable for swimming.

Beach . Just a fishing village

And even the recently visited island, which we liked so much, is, of course, significantly inferior to Koh Phangan in all respects. Is it just that the depth on Samet is what you need?

Come here too. Getting to Koh Phangan is no more difficult than getting to Koh Samui. Even ferries depart from the same Donsak pier. You can come to the island with your own bike and even your own car.

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Our monthly expenses on Koh Phangan

We calculated how much money we needed to travel around the island for a month. We did not sit on one beach all this time, but stayed in a hotel for several days on one beach, then moved to another. The exploration began in Haad Rin, then moved north counterclockwise, eventually returning to Haad Rin. All transfers were by taxi, we did not take a bike.

• Travel 2,800 baht (not including the way to the island)
• Meals, groceries and cafes 14,000 baht
• Alcohol 2,400 baht
• Housing 23,300 baht
• Clothes 200 baht
• Household 900 baht

Total: 43,600 baht or $1,300 for two

We have seen from our own experience that it is quite possible to travel on Koh Phangan without a bike. If we had settled somewhere in Tongsal for a month at once, then without our own transport, of course, there would have been nothing to do there. And so, due to traveling by taxi only in one direction, we were able to spend even a little less on travel than if we had taken a bike (3000 + gasoline).

Where to go in summer in Thailand - all on Koh Phangan

If Phuket best island in Thailand for winter holiday and for permanent life, then Panganchik perfect place for the summer, when it is rainy in Phuket and the rest of Thailand. We wouldn’t be able to live here for a long time, since there are no condominiums with apartments, but we would be happy to come for 2 weeks or a month.

See Through Resort

All Koh Phangan hotels

Map of Koh Phangan with beaches

The sights of Koh Phangan are its beaches. Some interesting temples or there are no palaces here. There are also observation platforms, I will add them to this map a little later.

Thailand... A country that is generous with sun, warmth and hospitality. The land of eternal summer and eternal smiles. They say that in Thailand it is impossible to frown or walk around in a bad mood. Nature itself acts as a healer and heals from blues and depression, melancholy and despondency. Among the many paradises lost in this small country, there are no last place occupies the island of Koh Phangan. Thailand is proud of this oasis of relaxation, where the gentle sun and velvet sandy beaches invite foreign guests tired of everyday life into their arms. Have you never been there before? What are you waiting for? You can spend your next vacation exploring the sights of this country.

Koh Phangan Island (Thailand) on the country map

A charming town that attracts tourists with its beauty, it occupies very little space on the map. Yes, he is miniature in real life, he cannot be called a giant. The area of ​​the island is 168 sq. km. And this little one is only 15 km in diameter. But, despite such small size, the island of Koh Phangan (Thailand) enjoys well-deserved popularity among local residents and is well known to foreign guests.

History of the name

Previously, this shelter for tired tourists was called Koh Phangan. It is still often called that way. It owes its name to the word “Ko”, which is translated into our usual language as “island”, and another word from the vocabulary of the inhabitants southern provinces- “ngan”, this word means “sand barrier” or “strip”.

The name is telling, because the coastal part of the resort is replete with many sandy islands and sediments. They protect the island from sometimes aggressive waves and strong monsoons.

Geographical position

The small island of Koh Phangan (Thailand) is located in Surat Thani, one of the provinces of the country. It is separated from the capital by 500 km. It is part of the famous Koh Samui archipelago, which includes about 40 islands. For such small country, like Thailand, this is a lot. Koh Phangan is located 15 km from the main Samui. Thong Sala is considered the main port of the town. It is also the capital.

Excursion into history

We rarely think about the past settlements that we visit while traveling. Meanwhile, some of them keep whole scatterings of legends and interesting stories in the boxes of their cities.

Koh Phangan (Thailand) is notable for its archaeological excavations. They confirmed his advanced age. As it turned out, the existence of the island of Koh Phangan dates back 2000 years. In the 19th century, the Chinese began to emigrate here, resulting in a population increase. At the very beginning of the 20th century, about 300 families lived here. Nice, kind Thais did not pretend to have European charms. They calmly enjoyed the eternal sun and the generous gifts of the sea. They were mainly engaged in farming and fishing. But since the mid-80s the situation has changed dramatically. Thailand decided to get into the tourism business. And crowds of tourists from all over the world poured into this paradise country. I liked Thailand and began to talk about it more and more often. Today it is one of the fashionable resorts. Among the most visited regions of the country are the Koh Phangan Islands.

International airlines

Flights to this amazing country operates many international airlines. Therefore, you will not have any problems with your trip. Among the most notable are Lufthansa, Air France, Finnair and many others. When in Bangkok, you should pay attention to this: where the departure will take place. The fact is that all international flights land at the brand new airport. His name is Suvarnabhumi. But flights around the country are carried out from the old airport, which is called Don Mueang.

Koh Phangan (Thailand): how to get there

If you find yourself in the land of eternal summer for the first time, don’t worry: it’s impossible to get lost in Thailand. It is so compact and intuitive. If your goal is the island of Koh Phangan, you will have to get to it by way of transport. Of course, you will arrive from Europe by plane. All that remains is to choose your primary destination. There are several options.

1. Bangkok. It is located near Koh Phangan. However, in this cozy country everything is at hand. There is a bus from Bangkok to the island. This pleasure will cost from 500 to 1500 baht. Both tourist and local buses go to Koh Phangan. The first of them depart from the street, which is intended specifically for guests of the country, the second - from a regular bus station. You cannot give preference to any one type of transport. Both are equally comfortable and suitable for movement.
2. Surat Thani. This place also has a local airport called Surat Thani Airport. You can get to Koh Phangan by traveling by bus and then by ferry. The trip will take about 2.5 hours.
3. Samui. Here you will be greeted by the airport of the same name. From this city getting to Koh Phangan is easy. Ferries depart in this direction several times a day. The fare is from 5 to 8 baht. Travel time is about 40 minutes.

Beaches of Koh Phangan

Of course, many of us are attracted to a holiday in Thailand. The beaches of Koh Phangan represent a whole kaleidoscope of popular and not so popular places where you can swim in the sea waves, meditate while lying on the beach and absorbing the generous warmth of the Asian sun with every cell.

What beaches make sense to visit when arriving in Koh Phangan (Thailand)?

Sights of Koh Phangan

Despite its miniature size, there is also room here for the cultural values ​​for which Koh Phangan is famous. Thailand - unique country, which can boast of its traditions and monuments.

What do loving tourists say?

All of us, when going to some unfamiliar country, pester our friends and acquaintances who have already been lucky enough to visit there with questions. Before going to Thailand, it would also be a good idea to get acquainted with the opinions of experienced tourists. If you are attracted to the island of Koh Phangan, reviews will help you choose a place to stay, tell you about prices and which beach is best to prefer. People who have been there once remember their trip with a happy smile and dream of returning to this country again.

The island of Koh Phangan hides many attractive secrets and generous gifts. Thailand, whose photos evoke admiration for the beauty of its landscapes, has more than one such magical corner in reserve. So why not start getting to know them?

Phangan Island (Koh Phangan) in Thailand located in the southern part of the kingdom, in the huge Gulf of Thailand Pacific Ocean between two other islands - a small one and a slightly larger one. Samui is located slightly to the south (), and Tao, on the contrary, is to the north. They are especially famous Koh Phangan beaches, which received the love of residents and tourists thanks to their snow-white sands, unique nature and stunning sea filled with a huge amount marine organisms. In addition, a party called !

In general, Koh Phangan is a very small island, only 168 square kilometers. At the same time, the distance from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui between the closest points is only 8 kilometers, and from Koh Phangan to Tao is slightly longer - 35. It belongs to the rather modest province of Sura Thani, and Koh Phangan is inhabited by only 15 thousand people. Thongsala is the most Big City islands, "Haad Rin"- the same beach where the main event takes place. It is divided into southern and northern parts: "Sunset Beach" And "Haad Rin". You can find combined routes and book a ticket through.

In general, Koh Phangan is the fifth largest island in Thailand. The peculiarity of its name is directly related to Thai language, since "Phangan" comes from the word "Ngan", which translates as "sand spit". By the way, they can be seen from the island during low tide. They perfectly protect Phangan from the raging monsoons.

Phangan has changed quite imperceptibly over the course of a quarter of a century, from the very moment when the very first places for tourists to stay appeared on the island. Many local residents decided to change their activities, choosing serving tourists as their main occupation. For some 20-25 years, while tourism was developing on this island of Thailand, life has changed little, but over the past few years, literally 5-7, changes have become very clearly visible.

The oldest structure on the island is the Nai Temple, built in the village of Baan Nua, located in the south of the island. Historians suggest that this stupa was created four hundred years before Ayutthaya, in another period - Srivichaya.

Buddhism is the main religion of the inhabitants of the island, as well as for the whole of Thailand. On Koh Phangan you can also see Christian churches, and even places for Muslim prayers.

Phangan was considered the most beloved island of Rama V, the king who was most revered there. His portraits can be easily found almost everywhere on the island, and on the rocks you can see 9 autographs of the kings and rulers of Thailand.

A selection of the best hotels on Koh Phangan island

On the island Phangan (Koh Phangan, Koh Phangan) in Thailand Summer can be experienced all year round. Thanks to the beach parties that began to be held on the island in the 1990s, it gained popularity and competed with the Spanish island of Ibiza. The sand spits that give the island its name block the monsoons, so Koh Phangan almost always enjoys good weather.

How to get to Koh Phangan

The shores of the island are washed by the Gulf of Thailand. From mainland Thailand it separated by 55 km of water. Koh Phangan is easily accessible by ferry, speedboat or boat from the coastal city of Surat Thani or Koh Samui.

Local airlines from Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Chiag Maya make landing on Koh Samui. Planes from Bangkok land in Surat Thani.

From Samui boat takes passengers to Koh Phangan in half an hour. A ferry runs between the islands, and you can rent a private boat. The ferry or boat route from Surat Thani will take a little longer. You can get to Surratani by train; it’s cheaper to take the bus.

Time on the island

There is a three hour difference between Moscow time and Koh Phangan time. Acclimatization usually proceeds without problems.

Weather for a week

All year round the air temperature remains almost constant at 26 degrees. It rains in November and December. The driest month is February. September on Koh Phangan is the most suitable month for a holiday.

Beaches on Koh Phangan

The island is almost entirely covered with tropical forests and mountains. The coast of the island is indented with coves and lagoons with narrow strips of beach. The clearest water and fine white sand make these places ideal for swimming.

When planning a trip to Koh Phangan, be careful when choosing a beach. It should fit your lifestyle.

Most big beach Haad Rin, located in the southwest of the island. It stretches along the sea for 5 kilometers. During the full moon it becomes very noisy and parties are held there. To visit small, secluded beaches, you can use a “sea taxi”.

The most attractive beaches in the east of Koh Phangan are located in the coves of Thong-Nai-Pan Bay.

In the north, tourists willingly visit sand beach Chalok Lam, located near a fishing village. Its length is more than two kilometers and it is characterized by fairly strong ebbs and flows, so it is comfortable to swim there only during the period high water, from December to the end of February. The nearby bays of Had Khom and Had Thong Lang offer swimming all year round.

The west coast is decorated with the magnificent Mae Haad beach, from which you can walk along a sandy spit to the island of Ko Ma. The vegetation near the beach comes close to the water, so you can hide in the shade from the sun. Right off the coast it is quite deep, about one and a half meters.

The most beautiful sunsets can be seen in the south of the island, but the places there are not very suitable for swimming.

Hotels

Over the past 25 years, the tourism business on the island has been actively developing and new hotels are being built. You can rent a room with WiFi and air conditioning for a very reasonable price, or stay in a bamboo bungalow with virtually no amenities.

The price of housing increases significantly during the period of parties. The further the hotel is from Haad Rin beach, the cheaper the rooms.

The most expensive comfortable Hotel Panviman Resort located on a rock in the middle of Thong-Nai-Pan Bay. You can rent a cheap bungalow on literally every beach.

It is advisable to book a room before your trip, especially during the period when parties are planned on the island.

Shopping

Shops with a variety of souvenirs can be easily found in any part of the island. Bright party dresses and handmade hammocks are especially appreciated.

Entertainment

Every month during the full moon, many young people from Europe come to the island to take part in the “Fool Moon Party” beach parties. Parties take place on Haad Rin Beach.

In addition to the noisy parties, which last only a few days, you will be offered an elephant ride. Traveling through the jungle, tourists visit. Before your trip, you can watch how elephants are bathed and hand-feed baby elephants. Children love the hilarious monkey show.

Wat Pho Temple

An active Buddhist temple is open to the public in the southwestern part of the island. Here, those who wish can use the herbal sauna; it is especially effective after stormy parties.

Than-Sadet Park

Here is Mount Khao Ra, the most high place islands. Its height is only 630 m, but the climb to the top follows a very difficult route and is impossible when it rains.

As you move towards the top, you can admire the Paeng Waterfall. Another large waterfall, Than-Sadet, is located on the Royal River, its waters are considered sacred.

In the east of the park is beautiful lake Lem-Son shaded by coconut palms. Visiting the park is free.

Ang Thong Park

On the island of Koh Phangan you can book a tour to Ang Thong, sea national park. Forty one desert island included in its territory. The nearby islands are home to only small animals, but deep in the rainforest you can find pythons and cobras.

Large limestone islands are indented with numerous caves. In beautiful lagoons you can explore the underwater world by snorkeling.

Co observation deck on the island of Vua Talab the entire Ang Thong archipelago is visible. In the middle of the island of Ko Mae Ko is an amazing salt Lake. Coral reefs near the many beaches on the islands are attractive for diving enthusiasts.

Diving and snorkeling

Phangan is recognized as one of the most interesting places for divers in Thailand. This place also attracts snorkelers. The island has excellent conditions for exploration underwater world, there are several diving schools.

From the piers Chalok Lam Beach usually boats with divers go on a dive. Test dives are held at Mae Haad Beach. The beach is surrounded by coral reefs, hiding in their crevices sea ​​creatures. It is very pleasant to snorkel here.

Reviews about Phangan

Tourists who are tired of the crowded, overly civilized beaches of Thailand come to Koh Phangan. Those who prefer privacy and relaxing holiday, should consider holiday options in the northeast of the island. Wild partygoers prefer to occupy the southwest of Koh Phangan.

1. Before visiting the island, please read carefully moon calendar. You might not want to get up close and personal with the Rastafarians who roam the island during the full moon.
2. Choose a beach based on your lifestyle.
3. Don’t take a lot of things with you; you can buy everything you need on the island.

A selection of photos from Koh Phangan island in Thailand