Koh Phangan
Samui's quieter neighbour: jungle hills, empty northern beaches and one very loud night a month. Outside the Full Moon Party, Phangan is one of the calmest islands in Thailand.
Two islands in one
The south-east around Haad Rin is the party island, busy for four days a month and quiet the rest. The north and west — Srithanu, Chaloklum, Mae Haad — are yoga retreats, fishing villages and long empty sand.
Getting there and around
Ferries run from Samui every hour or so and take 30 minutes. The island ring road is steep and winding; a scooter is how most people get around, but the hills are not for beginners.
Who it suits
Three different holidays share the island: yoga and wellness around Srithanu, backpackers at Haad Rin for the Full Moon, and families on the quiet north-west beaches. Luxury is limited — there are good boutique resorts, but no big five-star names.
Practical
The ring road is steep and accidents are common; if you are not a confident rider, use songthaews or stay within walking distance. Power and water can be interrupted in heavy storms, and ATMs run out on full-moon weekends.
Things to see in Koh Phangan
Beach
Haad Rin & the Full Moon Party
The beach that made Koh Phangan famous — empty most of the month, and packed with 10,000 people once a month.…
Beach
Srithanu & the West Coast
The quiet side of Phangan: yoga shalas, vegan cafés and a coastline that faces the sunset.…
Island
Koh Ma
A tiny island joined to Phangan's north-west tip by a sandbar you can walk across at low tide.…
Tours that include Koh Phangan
Experiences here
Add Koh Phangan to a longer trip
Most travellers combine it with two or three other places. Tell us your dates and we will suggest the route.