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The view down to Bottle Beach on the north coast of Koh Phangan
The curve of sand and jungle hills at Bottle Beach on Koh Phangan
Sunset over the sea from Haad Yao on the west coast of Koh Phangan
Mae Haad Beach and the sandbar running out to the island of Koh Ma
The sweep of Thong Nai Pan beach on the north-east coast of Koh Phangan

Things to do on Koh Phangan: 9 experiences

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Photo: kaaist, CC0

Haad Khuat, Koh Phangan

Reach Bottle Beach by longtail and hike to its viewpoint

Check dates and prices

Photo: Renek78, CC BY-SA 4.0

Haad Son and Zen Beach, Koh Phangan

Watch the sun go down from Secret Beach or Zen Beach

Check dates and prices

Photo: Eric Molina, CC BY 2.0

Mae Haad, Koh Phangan

Walk the sandbar to Koh Ma and snorkel its protected reef

Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0

Thong Nai Pan, Koh Phangan

Spend a day on Thong Nai Pan Yai, the bigger of the twin bays

Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0

Koh Phangan lies just north of Koh Samui and is known worldwide for the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin. The rest of the island is quieter than its reputation: jungle hills, waterfalls, a national park around the Than Sadet river, and beaches on every coast, some still reached most easily by boat.

Thong Sala, on the west coast, is the main town and ferry port. The north coast has the fishing village of Chaloklum, Bottle Beach and the Koh Ma sandbar; the north-east has the twin bays of Thong Nai Pan; and the west coast faces the sunset.

9 things to do in Koh Phangan

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Mae Haad Beach and the sandbar running out to the island of Koh Ma

Walk the sandbar to Koh Ma and snorkel its protected reef

Mae Haad, Koh Phangan

Half a dayFree

A sand spit joins Mae Haad beach to a small island whose reef is protected and no-fishing.

Been there?
The curve of sand and jungle hills at Bottle Beach on Koh Phangan

Reach Bottle Beach by longtail and hike to its viewpoint

Haad Khuat, Koh Phangan

A full dayGo alone or with a tour

One of the most isolated beaches on the island, reached by boat or a jungle trail, with a viewpoint above.

Check dates and pricesTraditional boat trip with snorkelling
Been there?

Follow the royal river of Than Sadet to the sea

Than Sadet, Koh Phangan

2 to 3 hoursGo alone or with a tour

A 2.5 km jungle river of waterfalls and pools, with the initials King Rama V carved on a boulder in 1888.

Check dates and pricesOne-day private road trip around the island
Been there?
The sweep of Thong Nai Pan beach on the north-east coast of Koh Phangan

Spend a day on Thong Nai Pan Yai, the bigger of the twin bays

Thong Nai Pan, Koh Phangan

A full dayFree

The larger of two sheltered bays on the north-east coast: gentle water for swimming, kayaks and grilled fish at sunset.

Been there?
Sunset over the sea from Haad Yao on the west coast of Koh Phangan

Watch the sun go down from Secret Beach or Zen Beach

Haad Son and Zen Beach, Koh Phangan

An eveningGo alone or with a tour

Koh Phangan's west coast faces the sunset: a small cove with a rock bar, and a beach with a Friday drum circle.

Check dates and pricesSunset catamaran cruise with snorkelling
Been there?

Eat your way round the Phantip night market in Thong Sala

Thong Sala, Koh Phangan

1 to 2 hoursFree

The island's everyday food market by the ferry pier, open every evening, with full meals at stall prices.

Been there?
Chaloklum Bay and the fishing village on the north coast of Koh Phangan

Join the Sunday walking street in the fishing village of Chaloklum

Chaloklum, Koh Phangan

2 hoursFree

Once a week the main street of a north coast fishing village fills with seafood stalls and live music, out onto the pier.

Been there?
Water running over boulders at Phaeng waterfall in the forest of Koh Phangan

Hike from Phaeng waterfall to the Domsila viewpoint

Phaeng waterfall, Koh Phangan

2 to 3 hoursFree

Inland Koh Phangan's best-known short hike: from a forest waterfall up to a lookout over the coast.

Been there?
The crowd on Haad Rin Sunrise Beach during a Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan

Go to the Full Moon Party on Haad Rin, prepared

Haad Rin, Koh Phangan

One night, plus a slow next dayBook ahead

Join the monthly party on Haad Rin Sunrise Beach under the full moon, with your ferry, room and meeting point sorted first.

Tours in Koh Phangan
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Traveller picks

Hidden gems suggested by travellers. We check each one before it goes up; the words are theirs, not ours.

No traveller picks for Koh Phangan yet. Know a place most visitors miss?

Plan your trip

  • Getting there

    Ferries run several times a day from Koh Samui's Big Buddha, Nathon and Mae Nam piers to Thong Sala, and from Big Buddha pier straight to Haad Rin. A night ferry leaves Surat Thani at 23:00 and reaches Thong Sala around 06:00. Combined bus and boat tickets run from Bangkok.

  • Getting around

    A scooter is almost the only way to get around, but roads are steep and many have no shoulder; take care on the hill to Haad Rin and the unpaved north-east. Songthaews and taxis work on set fares; walk to the taxi stand at the Thong Sala roundabout rather than taking the first offer at the pier.

  • How many days

    In must30's view, four days fits it: one on the north coast with Koh Ma and Chaloklum, one at Bottle Beach, one for Than Sadet and Thong Nai Pan, and one on the west coast ending with a sunset.

  • When to go

    The Gulf islands get their main rains from about November to February, when the waterfalls run but the north-east roads turn to mud. Check the moon calendar too: the island fills around the Full Moon Party.

  • Where to base yourself

    Thong Sala for markets and ferries, the north coast around Chaloklum and Mae Haad for snorkelling, Thong Nai Pan for a quieter beach base, Haad Rin only if you are coming for the parties.

Questions travellers ask

Is Koh Phangan only for parties?

No. The Full Moon Party fills Haad Rin once a month, but most of the island is quiet beaches, jungle waterfalls, a national park and small villages like Chaloklum.

Do I need a scooter on Koh Phangan?

Mostly yes, as beaches are far apart. If you are not an experienced rider, use songthaews and taxis at fixed fares, and longtails for Bottle Beach.

Can I visit Koh Phangan from Koh Samui for a day?

Yes. Ferries run several times a day from Samui's Big Buddha, Nathon and Mae Nam piers to Thong Sala, but the island rewards a few nights.

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