Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan, with an overall area of 167sqkm, is Thailand’s fifth biggest island.

Located 70km from the mainland and just 12km from Koh Samui, Phangan does not have an airport and relies heavily on ferries from the mainland and Koh Samui.

Predominantly made up of granite, Koh Pha Ngan almost unspoilt beauty is accented by a hilly, lush tropical jungle interior, many idyllic, long white-sand beaches and over 20 nearby dive sites.

The main disembarkation points are Thongsala and Haad Rin. We disembarked at Haad Rin.

Transportation is mostly provided by ‘song teaows’, converted pickup trucks that ply the hilly roads and rental jeeps and motorcycles while private taxis can also be hired.

Parts of Phangan – especially between Ban Tai and Haad Rin – are extremely hilly with not the best road conditions so caution should be exercised – especially at night and in adverse weather conditions.

Phangan’s main claim to fame is largely due to its many Full Moon Party, ‘Black Moon’ and just about any other moon beach parties, with the Full Moon celebrations attracting from 10,000 to 30,000 revellers at New Year’s Eve.

Full Moon Party has become a world-famous institution, but its ancestral home remains the crescent cove of Haad Rin Beach on the southernmost tip of Phangan Island in Thailand. More than 12 powerful sound systems turn the 800-metre beach into possibly the most popular open-air nightclub in the world once a month, with a lively festival-like atmosphere, great music and huge quantities of alcohol. This one-of-a-kind event is routinely listed on bucket lists as one of the essential experiences in Thailand which absolutely must be seen to be believed.

As many as 30,000 party people gather on the famous strip of sand to party in the glow of the Earth’s nearest celestial neighbour, right through the night and into the dawn. Due to the cost of cleaning up after such carnage, the local community implemented a 100 baht entry fee to access the beach on the night of Koh Phangan Full Moon Party.

Fingers crossed as the articles we have read indicate that it has been cancelled because of COVID -19.Read more