Koh Phangan became famous for its full moon parties on Haad Rin Beach. That the island has other advantages, remains hidden for many a party guest. Especially on the north and east side of the island are less refrequentierte beaches that are true natural beauties. There are only a few roads leading there, the ride on a rented scooter is rather something for experienced drivers. Some of the secluded beaches can only be reached by longtail boat. But the more complicated journey there is very worthwhile.

Also on the former backpacker island some luxury hotels have emerged in recent years. Especially in the eastern part of the island you can still find small, simple huts with lots of flair and hammock romance. During the high season and especially at the party dates of the Fullmoon party, it is advisable to book a hotel.

Koh Phangan has so far only a small airport for patient transport. The nearest "international" airport is on Koh Samui. However, the journey to Thailand takes place via the two metropolitan airports in Bangkok. The approximately 1-1.5 hour flight to Koh Samui ends with landing at a beautiful, tropical-style airport, considered one of the most beautiful airports in the world.

Airport transfer (Koh Samui) to the piers to Koh Phangan:
The airport transfer is regulated in Koh Samui. For about 500 bath / car you can get from Samui Airport in about 20 minutes (depending on traffic) to the Big Buddha Pier and another pier. There are no price negotiations with the taxi drivers, because the taxi tickets are issued in the arrivals hall in the airport building and the fixed price is charged depending on the destination. There you will receive a receipt and can then board the booked taxi or minibus / van. From Big Buddha Pier we continue by boat to Koh Phangan.

Arrival from Bangkok:

• Arriving from Bangkok by plane is possible with either Bangkok Airways or another airline (Thai Airways, Malaysian, Singaporean and Chinese companies). In Bangkok there are 2 airports to choose from (Don Muang, where only domestic flights depart and land and Suvarnabhumi Intl.)
• The journey by land is e.g. possible from Bangkok with the so-called "VIP Bus" or "Aircon Bus" and takes depending on the traffic between 13 and 16 hours. Due to the air conditioning, it gets really cold in the buses. It is best to take a warm sweater or jacket with you for the ride. The buses go to Surat Thani (Don Sak Pier) There you have to change to the ferry to Koh Phangan. There are 3 different buses at the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok:

1. Standard buses (orange) with approx. 75-80 seats (280 THB = approx. 7.- EUR) (the bus stops in different locations)
2. Aircon buses (blue) with approx. 40 seats (600 TBH = approx. 15.- EUR)
3. VIP buses (inscription "VIP Bus 999") with approx. 24 seats (895 THB = approx. 25.- EUR)

• Koh Phangan is not connected to Thailand's rail network. But you can take the train to Surat Thani and from there by ferry to Koh Phangan.
• Upon arrival in Bankok, the onward journey is either by plane / train to Surat Thani or by bus to Surat Thani and then by ferry to Koh Phangan or onward flight to Koh Samui and ferry to Koh Phangan.

Arrival from Koh Samui / Koh Tao:
Here it is advisable to book a ticket in one of the small travel agencies that are found everywhere in the tourist centers. The travel price includes a pick-up service directly from the hotel. The mini bus continues to the pier and from there by boat / ferry to Koh Phangan. From the pier, pick-ups or minibuses continue to the beaches.

Arrival from mainland Tailand (for example Krabi, Khao Lak, Pattaya, Hua Hin):
Again, you can book the pick-up service directly from the hotel again. The mini bus continues to the bus station and from there by VIP bus to the "Bus Station" at Donsak Pier in Surat Thani. From there, take the boat / ferry to Koh Phangan. From the pier, pick-ups or minibuses continue to the beaches.

Road conditions:
Most hotels and towns are located on a well-developed, paved road. But there are also some beaches that can only be reached by sandy and gravel roads. This is especially true for the eastern part of the island, e.g. Beaches like Haad Khuad (Bottle Beach), Thong Nai Pan, Haad Nam Tok. Here you should only drive with off-road vehicles. These roads are only suitable for experienced drivers. To these beaches you can also get by taxis and pickups.

Thong Sala
The place is the capital of Koh Phangan and offers a larger ferry port. Here are the ships from the mainland (Don Sak) or from Koh Tao and Koh Samui. In addition to numerous shops, there is also the Phantip Night Market. Here you will find delicious curries, papaya salad and finger food and a covered food court. In the Pizzeria Chiara near the Phantip Market, there is the world's best Diavola Pizza. On Saturdays there is also a market on Walking Street between Pier and Chinese Street (road to Ban Tai). In addition to food, clothes, jewelery, batiks and hammocks are also sold here.
The sunsets in Thong Sala are legendary. The best way to watch them is from the pier or next to the big military ship. The sun sets directly behind the small island of Koh Tae Nai, which lies just off the coast.

Viewpoints:
Koh Ma Viewpoint
Koh Ma Viewpoint is our favorite viewpoint on Koh Phangan. The view is fantastic: the view goes from Mae Haad Beach to the small peninsula Koh Ma. The viewpoint is located just outside Mae Had, near the Ton Sai waterfall. The Koh Ma Viewpoint is a bit off the paved ring road. The best way to drive with a terrain motorbike or off-road vehicle.

Thong Nai Pan Viewpoint
From this vantage point you have a beautiful view over the two bays Thong Nai Pan Noi and Thong Nai Pan Yai. The road to Thong Nai Pan is unpaved and the last stretch is very steep.

Chaloklum Viewpoint / Chinese Temple Viewpoint
The Chinese Temple is located on a hill near Chaloklum. Stairs lead to the temple. From here you have a fantastic view over the Chaloklum Bay.

Haad Son Viewpoint / Haad Salad
Haad Salad can be reached via a well-developed road. The viewpoint is right on the street.

Thong Yang Viewpoint
The Viewpoint sits on a very steep hill and is the spot to enjoy the sunset. Near the viewpoint there is the Sunset Bar, from here you also have a nice view. The Viewpoint and the bar are located between Haad Rin and Baan Tai. The view goes over Thong Yang Bay.

waterfalls
Koh Phangan's largest waterfalls are in the Thaan Sadet National Park. The falls lead during or shortly after the rainy season most water. But they are also in the dry period, a very nice destination.

Phaeng waterfall
This waterfall is located in the Thaan Sadet National Park in the southwestern part of the island. In the national park the waterfall is signposted.

Thaan Sadet waterfall
This is also located in the eponymous National Park in the eastern part. The water of the Thaan Sadet Waterfall is considered sacred. King Rama V. left an inscription here. The waterfall falls over granite rocks in cascades in a large basin. The best way to reach the waterfall is via a dirt road in Thaan Sadet.

Thaan Prawet waterfall
The waterfall is about 2 km long and is located in the northeastern part of Koh Phangan. It is signposted from Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach. Access is via a dirt road.

Koh Phangan has countless beautiful beaches to offer. Some of them are only accessible via a dirt road. Especially in the rainy season or shortly thereafter, the road conditions are difficult and only suitable for experienced drivers.

Haad Rin
Haad Rin is the beach where the legendary fullmoon parties take place. In the high season and especially when parties take place, then the bear will step here. For the Fullmoon party the beach Haad Rin Nok transforms into a huge party mile, big sound systems are set up everywhere, there is a huge selection of fingertood and various buckets (small buckets filled with ice and high-proof stuff). The Fullmoon Party costs 150 THB entrance, which is payable on the paths to the beach.
On normal days Haad Rin is a busy little town with many shops and restaurants. Likewise, the place has a small harbor. The Haad Rin Queen Ferry departs from the Big Buddha Pier on Koh Samui and lands in Koh Phangan on Haad Rin Beach. In Haad Rin there are several hotels for every budget.

Ao Baan Tai
This stretch of beach lies between Thong Sala and Haad Rin on the paved main road. You can watch beautiful sunsets here and see as far as Koh Samui. You can see a lot here of real island life, as well as fishermen and companies that are processing coconuts. In addition to many hotels and restaurants, Baan Tai also offers very good shopping opportunities, as a macro market and a Big C supermarket have settled here. There is also a lot going on in the evening, as there are regular parties here. Access to the beach is not possible unhindered everywhere, as most hotels on the beach have a protective wall, since the water can rise quite high between November and March.

Wok Tum Beach and Hin Kong Beach
The beach section from Wok Tum Beach to Hin Kong Beach is the second longest beach on Koh Phangan at about 2.5 km. There are few hotels or bungalow resorts, and most of the coastline is covered with mangrove forest, so there is little beach. The road runs here directly on the coast.

Plai Laem Beach
There are beautiful granite rock formations and the beach has an offshore reef. At this beach section, a handful of hotels have settled.

Nai Wok Beach
North of Thong Sala begins the small romantic Nai Wok Beach. There is an offshore island, as well as a coral reef. There are many small bungalow resorts here. The most beautiful stretch of beach is the Becks Beach Resort. Here palm trees are beautifully sloping on the beach and donate at noon shade and on one of the palms a swing is attached. This beach is one of our favorite beaches on Koh Phangan.

Chao Phao Beach, Ao Niad and Ao Srithanu
These 3 beach sections follow each other. The beaches are very small. In the village of Ao Srithanu and Chao Phao there are several bars, restaurants and bungalow facilities. At Chao Phao Beach there are rocks in the sea and the small natural beach looks like painted.

Haad Yao Beach
This beach is one of the better known beaches on Koh Phangan. The Haad Yao Beach is about 1 km long and beautifully lined with rocks and the water is crystal clear. Haad Yao is a very relaxed village with supermarkets, cafes, bars and restaurants and there are hotels in different categories from backpacker to luxury hostel. However, the beach can only be reached by all-terrain vehicles or by boat, as the road is not paved there.

Haad Salad
Beside the Haad Son Viewpoint is also the so called "Pirate Beach". The beach is very popular and here are year-round guests to be found. From cheap accommodation to the luxury resort, everything is represented on this stretch of beach. There are live music in some bars and restaurants in the evening.

Mae Had Beach
This is located right next to the Haad Salad Beach and is also very popular, as here leads a 100 m long sandbar to the small island of Koh Ma. In addition to the island there is also a reef and the place around Koh Ma is very attractive for divers and snorkelers. The Mae Had Beach is bisected by the promontory to Koh Ma, the southern part is about 1 km long, fine sandy beach. There are simple bungalows right on the beach. At the northern part is a 4-star facility.

Ao Chaloklum / Malibu Beach
The Malibu Beach bears the same name as a resort located here. The beach section is well maintained and the sand is white and powdery.

Bottle Beach / Haad Kuad / Coral Bay
The beach is located in the north of Koh Phangan on the unpaved road. You can arrive here by pickup or long tail from Chaloklum or Thong Nai Pan. Over a jungle trek you can reach the neighboring Coral Bay. The way there is marked with plastic bottles. The beaches are very idyllic and quiet and there are only a few resorts surrounded by dense jungle.

Thong Nai Pan Beach (Thong Nai Pan Noi / Thong Nai Pan Yai)
Here you will find a wonderful twin bay, while the Noi section is a small stretch of beach and Yai is a larger one. Thong Nai Pan Noi has become more luxurious accommodation. Thong Nai Pan Yai has more original backpacker charm. The twin beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The journey takes you through dense jungle and unpaved roads.

Haad Yuan
In the southeast of the island is Haad Yuan Beach. Part of the road is already paved there. The calm bay has crystal clear waters and is lined with large rocks. This beach is really gorgeous.

Koh Phangan also became known around the world for Haad Rin Beach's Full Moon Parties. The first fullmoon party took place at the end of the 80s at the Paradise Bungalows. Here is the biggest stage today. Meanwhile, the entire town of Haad Rin has grown into a large party mile.

Depending on the season, about 10,000 to 30,000 happy-goers celebrate together on the beach. Especially at Christmas and New Year it is very, very crowded on the island, so many hotels are fully booked at this time! Some hotels also insist on a minimum stay of 3 - 5 days! The hotel prices for the party are much higher than on other dates!

•  Pay attention to sturdy shoes, unfortunately, cuts to the feet are among the most common injuries!
• Pay attention to your drinks and do not leave them unattended!
• If you arrive by scooter, you should definitely not drink alcohol. The roads on Koh Phangan are very winding and sometimes there is sand on the road! Unfortunately, many accidents happen under the influence of alcohol and drugs!   
• Most hotels offer a chauffeur service to the party. The fares are very cheap! Likewise, several TukTuks drive to the party and bring you back safely home.
• If you leave by TukTuk (collecting) taxi, you may have to. expect waiting times until departure. The taxis sometimes go very fast.   
• Take care of your valuables and do not leave them unattended on the beach. With the onset of the flood, abandoned objects can be washed away on the beach.
  

Note: These dates might change by a day or two, depending on whether extra Thai public holidays are announced in future.

With these costs, you have to count on a visit to the Fullmoon party:

• Taxi costs to party e.g. from Thong Sala 100 THB
• Admission (entry ribbon can be purchased on site only) 100 THB
• Food (for example sandwiches or pasta dishes) from about 80 THB
• Drinks, e.g. Beer about 100-150 THB
• Buckets (mixed drinks in a bucket) from about 150 THB
• At some bars, you also get free "shots", e.g. for a hug or if you buy a drink there.
• Fee for toilet 20 THB
• Neon painting depending on size from about 50 THB
• Souvenir e.g. Shirts according to Shop & Design 150 - 250 THB