Part Three of my Thailand Travel Series is finally here! Following on from my last travel blog post which was all about Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands, this blog post covers everything you need to know about Koh Phangan. From things to do and places to see to getting around and not forgetting those accommodation costs. I caught a ferry to Koh Phangan from Ko Samui and stayed there for a few nights. I had plenty of time to do and see everything so if you’re short on time – don’t worry, you should have plenty of time!
How To Get There
I flew into Koh Samui from Bangkok and then as I was saying, I caught a ferry to Koh Phangan. Both the flights and ferries are frequent and quite cheap. Ferries tickets typically cost less than €12 and the journey over is short enough so if you tend to get sea sick like (like myself) then don’t worry – you should be fine.
Accommodation
There are loads of guesthouses, beach bungalows, villages and hotels to choose from depending on your budget. Beach side bungalows start at 5o0 THB per night, and go up from there. For a 4-5* bungalow or hotel, expect to spend about 1,600 THB onwards.
Transport
Songthaews (otherwise known as pick-up truck taxis) criss-cross the island for approximately 120-170 THB a ride. You can also grab a tuk tuk but their prices are pretty much set so you won’t have much luck haggling.
THINGS TO DO
Go Crazy at a Full Moon or Half Moon Party
The Full Moon Party is a giant rave with a lot of drinking, dancing, and partying. Each bar has its own sound system, so you’ll hear different music every few feet. The beach is lined with people selling alcohol and fire dancers putting on shows. Little booths are also set up, which sell glow-in-the-dark face paint. It happens during the full moon every month. High-season parties see about 20,000-30,000 people, with the full moon around New Year seeing the most. It you miss it, there’s always the half moon party, quarter moon party, and black moon party. Really, every day is a party here.
Go snorkeling
Who doesn’t love swimming with fish? I love nothing more than taking my camera into the water and snapping all of the beautiful fish. You can book a snorkeling trip almost anywhere on the island. They usually run from 11 am-5 pm and include transportation by boat, snorkeling, swimming, and lunch for roughly 475-675 THB. You meet tons of people on them as well.
Relax by the beach
The real treasure in Koh Phangan are the many beautiful beaches. This is a great place to sit around, get a tan and cool off in the ocean. Had Rin is the most developed beach on the island, as that is where the Full Moon Party is held. But, with over 30 beaches to choose from, you can have anything from touristy and developed, to deserted and secluded beaches all to yourself.
Do a Yoga Class
I am a huge fan of yoga! I would definitely recommend topping off your trip with a relaxing yoga class. Depending on how much time you have and how serious you are you can go for a single lesson or stay there for six months learning to be a yoga instructor. You can drop in for a class for as little as 300 THB, or become a pro and get 10 class passes for around 2,500 THB.
Rent a kayak
Head out for an hour of paddling, or be more ambitious and do an organised day-tour. You can find kayaks on almost every beach, with most starting at around 100-150 THB per hour. The West coast offers some of the best kayaking waters to beach hop.
Do a Temple Tour
Thailand is covered with temples, and Koh Phangan is no exception. If you haven’t gotten your fill of culture yet, I would recommend visiting some of them. Soak up the culture and the amazing architecture and artwork, and don’t forget to take lots of photos.
Visit the waterfalls
Koh Phangan has its share of waterfalls! If you’re up for some hiking, making your way to one of these for a secluded getaway from the beach party scene. I would visit one the day after a wild night out so you can walk off that hangover, enjoy the views and the peach and quiet of course.
Go diving
Sailrock is a well-known dive site in the area: a rock that pierces the water, and creates the opportunity for a great wall dive down to 130ft. Dare devil much? The island has a couple of schools offering PADI-courses. Sure why not?
There you have it! My latest Thailand travel series blog post. If you are planning a trip to Thailand or have any questions about what I got up to on my last trip you can catch me on Snapchat: duffyloikes, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter! 🙂 In the meantime for more Thailand travel inspiration check out my recent blog posts on Bangkok, Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands.
Thanks for reading!
Until next time…
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