Waning crescent
9% lit · full moon in 18 days
I will be full on 24 November, and that same night they dance under me at Haad Rin.
Ко Панган · Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan beaches
Every beach on the island on one map: where to swim, where to eat by the water and how to get there.
Places recommended by 84280 editors. From favorite beaches and sunsets to cozy bakeries and bonfire spaces: verified island spots with our personal notes.
Sunset: company or open space. Two different evenings on the west coast. Choose the one you feel like.
One beach, a whole day. Swim, have lunch, return to the water. These three shores make very different days out.
An evening needn't start with a party. Go out for food, music, or a night of dancing. Start with the kind of evening you want.
Map
Choose what you need, or a part of the island, and the places on the map get numbers.
Swipe the cards and the marker follows. A circle with a number, or two fingers, zoom the map; the little island in the corner brings the whole choice back.
Places: 6 Beaches × For sunset × The sunset coast × × «» ×
Haad Yao, Haad Salad and Mae Haad. Different bays for a day by the sea.
Chaloklum's fishing bay, Haad Khom and Bottle Beach. Each beach has its own character.
Srithanu, Hin Kong and their neighbours. Beaches, studios and sunset gatherings; the tides reshape the shallows.
Maduea Wan and Baan Nai Suan. Studios and event spaces among residential areas and wooded hills.
Thong Nai Pan and Than Sadet. The other coast, across the hills, for a day by the sea.
Piers, markets and everyday errands — and the venues where the island meets in the evening.
Haad Rin is known for Full Moon. Beyond it lie Haad Yuan and Haad Thian, each with its own gatherings.
-
Haad Rin · Beach
Haad Rin Beach🌊Depth builds fast · swim at almost any tide🦶Clean white sand · Oct–Dec waves, Jul–Oct jellyfish nets☀️Little shade (trees mostly at northern end)🏖Bars, cafés & shops all along the sand
Our pick · Reliable swimming almost any time
One of the island's best swimming beaches: long stretch of sand, gentle entry into the water and a smooth seabed. Spacious and great for swimming.
Home to the Full Moon Party; during event nights the beach turns into a massive party.
Tue, 24 NovFull Moon PartyOur pick · When you want a big night
Full Moon transforms the entire beach. Head to Haad Rin for that big night, checking dates in advance.
Plan your return transport in advance after late party hours.
-
Srithanu · Beach
Zen Beach🌊Shallow shore · swim near high tide🩴Rocks & coral in places · water shoes☀️Little shade · no sunbeds or public toilets🌅Sunset gathering on sand · Friday drum circle
Our pick · The vibe, sunset sky and evening drums
People come here for the atmosphere rather than a perfect swim: good tunes drift from the bar, everyone gathers on the sand for sunset, then dances to the drum circles. The evening sky and beach vibe make it.
Swimming is shallower and more tide-dependent than on Haad Rin.
Our pick · Sunset with music and drum circles
The main sunset gathering spot in Srithanu. Bring a mat and arrive a bit early: listen to tunes from the bar, watch the sea sunset, and stay for the drum circle.
A busy, social shore; choose another bay if you want a quiet sunset.
One of the liveliest and most atmospheric sunset beaches on Koh Phangan, located on the west coast in Srithanu. Relatively quiet during the day, it fills up towards the evening: gatherings form on the sand to watch the sunset, great tunes drift from the beach bar, and as twilight sets in, spontaneous drum circles and dancing begin.
-
Thong Nai Pan · Beach
Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach🌊Swim at any tide · monsoon waves Nov–mid Dec🦶Clean rock-free sand · deep near shore☀️Little shade at noon · hill shade in afternoon🏖Beachside cafés & resorts · village with ATMs
Our pick · Great beach across the hills and an alternative to Haad Rin
A bay on the island's other coast, reached via scenic hills. Pristine sand, superb swimming waters and lush surroundings make it a top alternative to Haad Rin.
The drive crosses mountain hills; east-facing bay without a sea sunset.
The northern and most charming of the two Thong Nai Pan bays on the north-east coast. Reaching it involves a scenic drive across mountain roads, fully rewarded by pristine emerald waters, powdery sand and comfortable swimming depth at any tide.
-
Haad Yao · Beach
Haad Yao Beach🌊Swim at high tide · calmest Dec–Apr🪸Sand, rocks at low tide · reef 300–400 m🌴Palm shade🏖Sunbeds, cafés & SUP hire🌅Sea sunset all year
Our pick · A day without moving between stops
A long northwest bay for alternating sea, a beachside lunch and a book. A useful choice for a group that doesn't all want to do the same thing.
Depth changes with the tide. Check the sea forecast before leaving and the waves when you arrive.
A long arc of light sand on the west coast, the most built-up beach on this side of the island. Along the water: resorts, restaurants and bars, sunbeds and umbrellas, massage, kayak and SUP rental, dive shops; behind the beach, on the main road, cafes and a 7-Eleven. Palms give shade.
-
Mae Haad · Beach
Mae Haad Beach🌊Sandbar walk at low tide · swim at high tide🪸Reef 30 m off Koh Ma · water shoes needed🌴Tree shade in the middle & north🏖Beach cafés, massage & kayaks
Our pick · For a little exploring
A sandbar links the shore to Koh Ma. Come if a towel on the sand isn't quite enough: watch the tide reshape the crossing and bring a mask for calm conditions.
The sandbar can be submerged. Keep off the coral; leave the mask in your bag when there are waves.
A beach in the north-west facing the islet of Koh Ma. A sandbar about 200 metres long joins them: at low tide people walk across, at high tide it goes under. The reef around Koh Ma is the island's best-known snorkelling without a boat: the coral starts some thirty metres from the shore. Fishing in the waters around Koh Ma is banned.
-
Thong Nai Pan · Beach
Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach🌊Gentle slope · 80–100 m walk to depth at low tide👶Firm rock-free sand · shallow east end for kids🌴Trees along shore · more shade after lunch🏖Sunbeds for café/resort guests · kayak rental
Our pick · To spend time on the other coast
An eastern bay beyond the hills is a reason to set aside a whole day. Arrive in the morning and leave time for lunch and a long walk by the water.
The road crosses the hills. Take a taxi if you're not a confident rider; this isn't a sea-sunset beach.
The southern and larger of Thong Nai Pan's bays: 800 metres to a kilometre of sand, open to the north-east. Quieter and simpler than Noi next door: bungalows and mid-range resorts, restaurants and bars by the water, massage, kayak rental, a 7-Eleven and shops in the village. A wide beach, often nearly empty.
-
Thong Sala · Club
MESTO💻Cultural space · café, garden & events hall🎭Film nights, jams & life drawing · often free/donation
Tomorrow · 20:00Dungeons & Dracula: Costume BallOur pick · Events, community and lively atmosphere
One of the most active gathering spaces in Thong Sala: regular concerts, meetups, screenings and workshops, with many events free of charge.
Programme changes frequently; check the calendar schedule for dates.
-
chao_phao · Bar
Holly Stone🔥Open-air campfire & music✨Lakeside venue inland🌅Sea sunset
Tomorrow · 21:00Samotarev, VakabularOur pick · Great music and a lakeside bonfire
An atmospheric bar nestled in the Chao Phao jungle. Quality tunes and a real lakeside campfire make it an enduring island favourite.
Located inland by the lake: mosquito repellent is handy for the evening.
-
Thong Sala · Café
Croissant & Ko🥐French pastry · butter croissants🏷Afternoon pastry Happy Hour🍷Wine list, steaks & cheese fondue
Our pick · Croissants and afternoon Happy Hour
Probably the best French pastries on Koh Phangan: authentic flaky butter croissants with a great selection of fillings. In the late afternoon their Happy Hour kicks in, selling the day's fresh pastries at up to 50% off — an evening habit that's very hard to break.
Popular filled croissants sell out quickly during Happy Hour — try to arrive early in the discount window.
French bakery and concept restaurant with two branches in the south: the flagship in central Thong Sala and a branch in Ban Tai. Widely known across Koh Phangan for authentic French baking: flaky butter croissants, crusty baguettes, pastries and desserts.
-
Hin Kong · Beach
Hin Kong Beach🌊Swim at high tide only · 700 m–1 km low-tide flats🩴Shells & coral on bottom · water shoes🌴Palms & mangroves · no sunbeds for rent🌅Low-tide sunset walks · cafés along the road
Our pick · For a wide horizon and a long conversation
Boats, shallows and plenty of sky. Come for dinner by the shore or a walk; at low tide the sea leaves a broad stretch of sand.
Come for the light and the view. Hin Kong isn't a swimming choice at low tide.
A long, open bay on the west coast between Srithanu and Wok Tum: about two kilometres of narrow, yellowish sand. Palms lean over the water, and in places there are mangroves, replanted over the last few years. The bay's southern end is called Wok Tum, where the fishing boats are.
-
Srithanu · Restaurant
K.C. Kitchen🍜Thai & Western food · generous portions (~100 ฿)
Our pick · A generous plate to share
Choose Thai or Western food and leave room for dessert. A reader recommends the panang curry, caramel toast and rice with pork, describing portions generous enough to share between two.
The reader’s price guide is about ฿100 per dish. Check the opening hours on the map before going.
-
Thong Sala · Market, restaurant
Phantip Market🕒Open daily · liveliest 17:00–22:00💵Dinner 40–150 ฿ · covered tables · cash only
Our pick · Dinner when nobody can agree on a cuisine
In Thong Sala, put dinner together from several stalls and meet without a reservation or a big plan. Everyone can choose their own food.
Phantip is a regular market. Saturday Walking Street is a separate outing, not the same market.
Thong Sala's main food market. It is open every day but comes alive towards evening, around five: rows of stalls in the yard and a covered hall with long shared tables next to them. Thai food (pad thai, som tam, curries, skewers, grilled fish, roti, mango sticky rice) sits alongside sushi, pizza, Israeli and Indian stalls. Fruit shakes everywhere.
-
Maduea Wan · Studio
Aum Sound Healing Center🧖Sauna, ice bath, pool & tea lounge🧘Thu AUM Day · Fri sober camera-free ecstatic dance
Today · 18:45SOULFIRE Ecstatic Dance w/ Sandesh & Friends -
Coconut Lane · Studio, venue
Labracadabra Today · 19:30Friday Fire Spinjam: Labra's Community Gathering -
Ban Tai · Club
Harmony Beach Club🏖Daytime pool, sunbeds & restaurant · sunset by the sea
Tue, 17 Nov · 15:00Halfmoon Festival: Harmony Beach (Pre-Halfmoon) -
Whole island · Supermarket
7-Eleven🕒About 30 shops across the island · 24/7
The most common shop sign on the island: OpenStreetMap counts about thirty 7-Elevens on Phangan. Most are in Thong Sala, Ban Tai and Haad Rin, five or six in each; a few in Chaloklum and Thong Nai Pan; one each on the west coast in Srithanu, Haad Yao, Hin Kong and by Haad Chao Phao.
-
Baan Nai Suan / Maduea Wan · Studio, venue
Aliyah Sanctuary -
Wok Tum · Bar, viewpoint
Amsterdam Bar🌅Panoramic sunset over sea & Ang Thong park🏊Multi-level terraces with pool · reggae & cushions
One of the island's pioneer sunset institutions, perched on the rocky hillside above Wok Tum bay since the early 2000s. Multi-tiered wooden sun decks, a cliffside plunge pool, floor mats with cushions, and chilled reggae tunes.
-
Hin Kong · Studio
Ananda Yoga & Detox🧖3 shalas (one sea-view) · saltwater pool & herbal steam🌅Beach across the road · daily drop-in classes
A yoga and detox centre with accommodation on Hin Kong beach, on the west coast; the centre says it has run since 2006. A saltwater pool, a herbal steam room, an ice bath, Thai massage, a detox bar and three shalas, including a small one with a sea view.
-
Haad Salad · Studio
ARCANA🧖Adults only (18+) · spa, sauna, steam, ice bath & pool🧘Quiet hillside · classes open to non-guests
ARCANA Wellness Village is an adults-only resort in the hills between Haad Salad and Haad Yao: rooms from dorms to villas, a spa with saunas, a steam room, an ice bath and pools, a gym and a restaurant. It is quiet, away from the party side of the island.
-
Ban Kai · Beach
Ban Kai Beach🌊Very shallow · sea almost gone by day Apr–Oct🩴Long sand flats for walks & kiting · water shoes🏖Quieter shore · resorts, cafés & dive shops
The eastern part of the long beach on the south coast: from Ban Tai it runs without a break to the Haad Rin hills. Broad in places, with coconut palms; the sea is eating the shore, and in places it has been shored up with concrete rings. Resorts with restaurants and bars line the beach, with plenty of inexpensive places to stay; by the road are a 7-Eleven, dive shops and massage.
-
Ban Tai · Beach
Ban Tai Beach🌊Knee-deep for hundreds of metres · low-tide walks🩴Rocks & coral · kitesurf schools (Dec–Apr, Jul–Sep)🏖Swim in resort pools · beach bars & hammocks
A long beach on the south coast, five kilometres east of Thong Sala. Resorts line it, many with their own pools, along with beach bars, restaurants, massage and hammocks; in the middle is a small pier with fishing and trip boats. Samui is in view across the channel.
-
Ban Tai · Clinic
Bangkok Hospital Koh Phangan🏥24/7 Emergency · English-speaking doctors · direct billing
A private international hospital in Ban Tai, operated by the Bangkok Hospital Samui (BDMS) network. Modern medical diagnostics, English-speaking staff, and 24/7 emergency medical care.
-
6 addresses · Supermarket
Big C🕒Big C Market (Pure pharmacy inside) & five 24/7 Mini shops
The big Big C on Phangan is a Big C Market, the chain's mid-size format, on the ring road between Thong Sala and Ban Tai. Thai and imported food, fruit and vegetables, cleaning products and household goods. Inside is the chain's own Pure pharmacy. A market sets up next to the store three evenings a week.
-
Thong Sala · Café, restaurant
Blessings Home & Café -
Bottle Beach · Beach
Bottle Beach🌊Steep shore · swimmable at almost any tide🦶Clean soft sand, no rocks where you swim🛶Access by taxi boat (~150 ฿) · cash only, no ATM
A cove on the north coast between steep headlands, one of the most secluded beaches on the island. Its Thai name is Haad Khuat (หาดขวด), "bottle beach". The sand is soft and light, with no coral or rocks where you swim; rocks at the eastern end.
-
Bottle Beach · Viewpoint
Bottle Beach Viewpoint🪨Bare rock cliff over turquoise Bottle Beach bay🥾30–45 min jungle trail · sturdy walking shoes
A dramatic rocky viewpoint perched high above Bottle Beach bay on the island's northern coast. A massive flat granite boulder at the cliff edge offers an iconic vista across the turquoise bay, white sand crescent, and forested national park hills.
-
Haad Yao / Haad Salad · Studio, venue
Chakra community -
Chaloklum · Beach
Chaloklum Beach🌊Best swim Dec–Mar · time high tide Apr–Nov🦶Soft sand & gentle entry · no live reef🛶No sunbeds · taxi boats & village seafood cafés
The fishing village's beach in the north of the island: a long sandy curve in front of the village, with a pier in the middle and fishing longtails moored off the shore and pulled up on the sand. The sand is pale and soft, the entry gentle. West of the village is Malibu Beach, which has its own page.
-
Haad Yao · Restaurant
Coco LocoBeachfront restaurant and bar right on the sand at Haad Yao Beach (at Tropicoco Beach Resort). Following a late-October 2026 fire (reportedly caused by an electrical fault), the owner is actively restoring the venue and plans to reopen in December.
-
Maduea Wan · Viewpoint
Domsila Viewpoint🕒15 min climb from the falls · same 100 ฿ ticket (to 16:30)🌴Rock-ledge view over the island's green valley to Samui
A viewpoint on the rocks above Phaeng Waterfall. The trail starts at the foot of the falls and climbs over steps and roots, about fifteen minutes up. At the top: the green middle of the island and, on a clear day, Samui. Usually few people.
-
Haad Yuan / Haad Tien · Venue, club
Eden Garden -
Srithanu · Studio, venue
ETHOS Cafe Shala -
Ban Tai · Park, viewpoint
Giant Yang Na Tree🌳400-year-old Yang Na tree · over 50 m high🪢Sacred island landmark · spirit shrine at the base
The tallest and oldest tree on Koh Phangan: a majestic Dipterocarpus alatus (Yang Na) estimated at over 400 years old. It towers more than 50 metres above the surrounding canopy, with buttress roots spanning over 14 metres in circumference.
-
Chaloklum · Temple
Guan Yin Temple🕒Open ~8:00–17:00 · ~40 ฿ cash at entrance👕Hillside Chinese pagodas · cover shoulders & knees
A Chinese shrine to Guan Yin, the goddess of mercy, on a hill by the Chaloklum road. Red walls, gold dragons, warrior statues, and Guan Yin herself at the centre of the altar. The buildings step up the slope, and from the top you see Chaloklum Bay, on a clear day as far as Koh Tao.
-
Haad Chao Phao · Beach
Haad Chao Phao Beach🌊Gentle flat bottom · swim near high tide🪸Shallow entry (kid-friendly) · reef 100–150 m☀️Little afternoon shade🏖Resort sunbeds only · sea sunset🌅Sea sunset
A quiet beach on the west coast, just past Srithanu on the road north. Resorts and bungalows take the whole shore: a few cafes and massage huts by the water, sunbeds only at the resorts, no shops on the beach. The crowd is local: resort guests and neighbours.
-
Haad Khom · Beach
Haad Khom Beach🌊Come at high tide · shallow coral at low tide🪸Shore snorkelling over reef · water shoes a must🌴Plenty of shade from palms & casuarinas🛶Quiet bay · boat taxis & coastal jungle trail
A small beach at the eastern end of Chaloklum bay, about two kilometres from the village. It is also called Coral Bay, after the resort, and Coconut Beach. Quiet, often almost empty, with plenty of shade from palms and casuarinas. A few bungalow resorts with restaurants and bars stand on the shore; there is no shop, the nearest are in Chaloklum.
-
Haad Pleayleam · Beach
Haad Plai Laem Beach🌊Swim around high tide only · shallow coves🪸Reef by boulders 100 m out · water shoes🏖Clear emerald water · kayak rental🌅Sea sunset · hillside sunset bars above
A chain of small sandy coves at the foot of the granite hill Khao Hin Nok, between Nai Wok and Wok Tum, below the main road. Granite boulders and mangroves divide the coves, and many boulders stand right in the water. The water is clear and emerald most of the year, and the light sand bottom makes the sea glow.
-
Haad Rin · Beach
Haad Rin Nai Beach🌊Shallow far out at low tide · reaches wall at high tide🩴Rocks & coral underfoot · calm in easterly winds🌴Palms & quieter further north · Samui boat pier
Haad Rin's western beach, also called Sunset Beach, across the village from the Full Moon beach, a 5–10 minute walk. A long narrow strip of about 1.4 km: the third nearest the pier is built up, further on it is quieter, with palms. Guesthouses, bars, restaurants.
-
Haad Rin · Pier
Haad Rin Pier🛶Direct Haad Rin Queen ferry to Samui (Bangrak) · takes motorbikes
A small pier on the west side of Haad Rin, at the south-eastern end of Haad Rin Nai (Sunset Beach). The Haad Rin Queen passenger ferry sails here from Bangrak (Big Buddha) pier on Samui: the only direct boat between Samui and Haad Rin, with no trip through Thong Sala.
-
Haad Salad · Beach
Haad Salad Beach🌊Swim at high tide · shallow to reef at low tide🪸Sandy centre, coral bits · reef 80–100 m🌴Palm shade · quiet family bay🏖Restaurant sunbeds · sea sunset in summer
A beach in the north-west: five or six hundred metres of soft white sand. Quiet and family-friendly, with fewer people than Haad Yao next door. Resorts, restaurants, a couple of bars and massage line the shore; the restaurants have sunbeds, the palms give shade. There is no nightlife on the beach itself. It is also called Pirates Beach.
-
Haad Son · Beach
Haad Son Beach🌊Swim near high tide · rocks show at low tide🪸Snorkel by the rocky point · water shoes🌴200 m cove between rocks & jungle🌅Overwater decks · sea sunset all year
A small cove on the west coast between Chao Phao and Haad Yao: 100–250 metres of sand between rocks, with jungle behind. It goes by Secret Beach, but it stopped being a secret long ago: in season, especially from late morning, it is crowded.
-
Haad Tien · Beach
Haad Tien Beach🌊Deeper than west/south · best at mid to high tide🪸Coarse sand & boulders · snorkelling (bring a mask)🛶By boat or trail · retreat bay, no shops
A small, secluded bay on the east coast, north of Haad Yuan, with big boulders at both ends and jungle behind. There is not much sand, and it is coarse, gravelly in places. The main place here is The Sanctuary, a yoga and detox retreat; few places to stay, no shops, food at the resorts' cafes. The bay faces east-south-east.
-
Haad Yuan · Beach
Haad Yuan Beach🌊Deep by the shore all year · swim at low tide too🦶Soft white sand, no stones in the water🛶By longtail boat (10–15 min) · resort sunbeds
A bay on the east coast north of Haad Rin. Fine white sand and a soft bottom with no stones where you swim; granite boulders at both ends, crossed by wooden walkways to bars and restaurants on stilts. It faces east-south-east, to the sunrise.
-
Srithanu · Café
HEXAGON💻Vegan café · Silent Hour (Fri) & sound co-working (Tue)🧖Herbal sauna & ice plunge · closed Sun
Not a club, despite the name: a vegan café and meditation space in Srithanu, with a herbal sauna and an ice plunge. The whole menu is plant-based: pancakes, avocado toast, smoothie bowls, salads, ceremonial cacao and matcha, and a set lunch or buffet at midday.
-
Wok Tum / Coconut Lane · Venue, studio
Inner Walk -
Maduea Wan · Viewpoint
Khao Ra🕒630 m peak · 3 km trail · 2–3 h up, 1 h down🩴Grip shoes & extra water · go on a clear day only
The island's highest mountain, about 630 metres. From the top you see the north coast (Chaloklum, Malibu, Mae Haad with Koh Ma) and, on a clear day, Koh Tao; Samui opens up on the way.
-
Wok Tum · Clinic
Koh Phangan Hospital🏥24/7 Emergency Room · public rates · X-ray & rabies shots
The island's main government hospital, operated by Thailand's Ministry of Public Health. Located at the junction between Thong Sala, Wok Tum, and Chaloklum.
-
Thong Sala · Public service
Koh Phangan Immigration🕒Weekdays (excl. holidays) · visa extensions, TM.30 & Residence Certificate👕Government dress code: cover shoulders & knees
The island division of the Surat Thani Provincial Immigration Bureau, located in the government compound on the Chaloklum Road in Thong Sala, next to the police station.
-
Thong Sala · Public service
Koh Phangan Police Station🕒24/7 duty desk · lost-passport reports & road accidents
The main district police station of the Royal Thai Police on Koh Phangan, located in Thong Sala alongside the immigration office.
-
Haad Son · Bar, restaurant
Koh Raham🏴☠️Driftwood pirate style · water swings & reef fish🌅Rocky promontory · daytime snorkeling & sunset
A whimsical driftwood bar and restaurant jutting out over the rocky point between Haad Son (Secret Beach) and Haad Chao Phao. Built entirely from marine salvage, weathered logs, hemp ropes and giant shells, styled like a shipwreck fantasy.
-
Haad Rin · Beach
Leela Beach🌊Swim at mid–high tide · clearest Oct–Mar🩴Sharp stones & pebbles at low tide · water shoes🌴Quiet resort cove · sunbeds, swings & lighthouse walk
A cove of about 800 m at the island's southern tip, a 5–10 minute walk from Haad Rin village, with a cliff at the north end and a forested hill to the south. It is sometimes confused with Haad Rin Nai (Sunset Beach), but it is a separate beach, south of the village.
-
2 addresses · Supermarket
Lotus's🕒Main supermarket (until 22:00) & go fresh branch
Lotus's is the former Tesco Lotus: the chain changed owner and name, and the old name still lives on in conversation and on maps. A supermarket for groceries and household goods.
-
Thong Sala · Supermarket
Makro🏖Cash-and-carry bulk packs, fresh meat & seafood
Makro is a wholesale store for businesses, from cafes to guesthouses: big packs of food and household goods. Phangan has one, in Thong Sala, on the ring road between Lotus's and Big C.
-
Chaloklum · Beach
Malibu Beach🌊Swim at high tide (deep 15–20 m out) · shallow at low tide🦶Flour-fine white sand · sheltered bay, no waves🌴Tree shade · volleyball & beachside cafés🌬Kite season Nov–Jan · sandflies by the sandbar
The name for the stretch of Chaloklum's beach in front of Malibu Beach Bungalows, on the west side of the village by the 7-Eleven. The sand is among the whitest and finest on the island, like flour. The bay is sheltered, with hardly any waves, and no snorkelling either: shallow, no reef.
-
Maduea Wan · Viewpoint, park
Monkey Corner🐒Wild macaques by the road · morning & late afternoon🛵Slow down · secure bags and food
A roadside spot on the Chaloklum road in Ban Maduea Wan where a troop of wild macaques gathers on overhead wires, trees, and roadside fences almost every morning and late afternoon. A familiar landmark for island residents and a great place to observe wild monkeys without visiting commercial animal attractions.
-
Nai Wok · Beach
Nai Wok Beach🌊Knee-deep lagoon behind sand spit at any tide👶Almost no waves (for kids) · reef 80 m out🛶10 min walk from pier · kayak & SUP hire
A small bay just north of Thong Sala pier, across the river: the beach nearest town. In front of it runs a long sand spit ending in an islet, and behind the spit is a calm, very shallow lagoon with almost no waves. Resorts line the shore; it is quiet, with families with small children and photographers.
-
Srithanu · Studio
Orion Healing🧘2 shalas (beach & jungle) · drop-in 10–15 min early🥗Vegan bayfront café open to everyone
A yoga, detox and holistic-healing centre on the shore in Srithanu, at the south end of the village, running since the mid-2000s. It has bungalows and live-in programmes: detox and fasting, yoga teacher trainings, Reiki courses.
-
Wok Tum · Vet clinic
PACS (Phangan Animal Care for Strays)🏥Free care for stray animals · volunteering & donations
A non-profit charitable veterinary clinic in Wok Tum, founded in 2001. Operating entirely on donations, PACS provides free medical care for Koh Phangan's stray dogs and cats: desexing (CNVR), rabies vaccination, and emergency treatment for injured strays.
-
Maduea Wan · Waterfall, park
Phaeng Waterfall💵National park: 100 ฿ / 50 ฿ cash · ~8:30–16:30🩴Steep root trail (grip shoes needed) · 15 min to viewpoint
A waterfall in the middle of the island, by the headquarters of Than Sadet–Koh Phangan National Park. Not one wall of water but a staircase of small cascades along a jungle stream. The trail beside them is wooden steps, roots and ropes. From the foot it is about fifteen minutes up to the Domsila viewpoint, with a view over the island and Samui.
-
Srithanu · Restaurant
Plantasia🎭Open mic, Wed jazz jam & Mon board games
A restaurant and lounge bar in Srithanu with live music and community evenings. An open mic for music and poetry several nights a week, and a jazz jam on Wednesdays: the house band opens, then the stage is open. Board games on Mondays, and the odd film night on the projector.
-
Haad Salad · Studio
Pyramid Yoga🧘Pyramid shalas & Sound Dome in the jungle☀️Sunday daytime Rise ecstatic dance (tickets at door)
A yoga centre and residential school in the jungle on a hill above Haad Salad: pyramid-roofed shalas, the Sound Dome, bungalows with jungle and sea views. It runs teacher trainings (200 and 500 hours) and multi-week Chakra Yoga courses.
-
Thong Sala · Restaurant, venue
Ratatouille -
Haad Salad · Bar
Reggae Sunset Bar🌅Hillside 1.5 km inland · hammocks & sunset view
Panoramic hillside sunset bar overlooking the northwest bays of Haad Salad and Haad Yao. The multi-level wooden decks offer one of the most breathtaking views of the island, ocean and setting sun to a relaxed reggae soundtrack.
-
Hin Kong · Restaurant, bar
Romanzo Tropicale -
Haad Chao Phao · Studio
Samma Karuna🧘Beachfront campus · drop-in daytime yoga & Vipassana
A school of personal development with its own campus on the shore of Haad Chao Phao, in the Srithanu area: yoga, meditation, tantra and breathwork. Every day: early meditations (OSHO Dynamic, Vipassana sitting), yoga, breathwork in the afternoon, tantra practice in the evening, and a bonfire and sauna at night.
-
Ban Tai · Restaurant, viewpoint
Secret Mountain🏊Panoramic ridge-top pool with mountain views🌅Views over jungle, coast & Samui · mountain breeze
A ridge-top restaurant and viewpoint with an infinity-edge swimming pool, perched high in the mountains between Thong Sala and Ban Tai. Commands a 360-degree vista overlooking untamed jungle canopies, southern bays, and Koh Samui across the sea.
-
Hin Kong · Café
Seeds of Dreams☕Bean-to-bar chocolate & cacao · quiet by day, acoustic nights
A ceremonial-cacao and craft-chocolate café and shop on the Hin Kong road: cacao drinks, bean-to-bar chocolate, desserts, chocolate fondue. Despite the name, it is not a seed shop or a retreat.
-
Thong Sala · Venue, studio
Spirit House Gallery -
Srithanu · Beach
Srithanu Beach🌊Swim at high tide · low by day Mar–Jun👶Fine sand & gentle entry · kid-friendly🏖Resort & café sunbeds · quiet by day🌅Sea sunset · access via resort footbridges
Srithanu village's beach on the west coast: a gentle arc of fine light sand, some 250–300 m long, south of Zen Beach. Quiet, few people, no music in the daytime. Bungalows and resorts line the shore; the sunbeds belong to the resorts and cafes. It faces west-south-west, and the sun sets into the sea.
-
Haad Chao Phao · Studio, venue
Sunset Hill Resort -
Maduea Wan · Supermarket
SuperCheap💵Big warehouse behind the tills · low local prices
SuperCheap is a Thai chain from Phuket, about a hundred stores across the south of Thailand. Phangan has one, north of Thong Sala by the District Office.
-
Than Sadet · Beach
Than Sadet Beach🌊Deep within steps · swimmable at low tide too🩴Coarse pebbly sand · stronger waves in monsoon💵National park: 100 ฿ cash (8:30–16:30) · stream cascades
A small cove, some two hundred metres, on the east coast below the Than Sadet waterfalls. The stream from the falls splits the beach in two, and the cascades are a short walk upstream. The sand is coarse and pebbly, hard on bare feet; big boulders at both ends.
-
Than Sadet · Waterfall, park
Than Sadet Waterfall👑Royal waterfall with royal seals of Kings Rama V–IX💦Rocky stream & shady jungle pools
A historic cascading river valley in eastern Koh Phangan, revered by Thai royalty. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) visited these cascades fourteen times between 1888 and 1909, carving his royal initials into the granite boulders, later joined by Kings Rama VII and Rama IX.
-
Thong Sala · Café, venue
The Quarter - Creative Space Café -
Thong Sala · Pier
Thong Sala Pier🛶Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery & Seatran Ferry, Raja car ferries🏖Ticket offices, waiting hall & songthaew rank
The island's main gateway by sea. Lomprayah high-speed catamarans, Lomlahkkhirin speedboats and Seatran Discovery ferries come in from Samui, Koh Tao and the mainland (Donsak and Surat Thani), along with Seatran Ferry and Raja Ferry car ferries from Donsak. Cars and motorbikes from the mainland come in on the Seatran Ferry and Raja Ferry car ferries (directly from Samui, only the Haad Rin Queen ferry to Haad Rin takes motorbikes).
-
Thong Sala · Public service
Thong Sala Post Office🕒Postcode 84280 · EMS shipping, boxes & Poste Restante
The main Thailand Post branch on Koh Phangan, serving the island postal code 84280. Located on historic Talad Kao Road in central Thong Sala, ~600 metres from the pier.
-
Thong Sala · Market, restaurant
Thong Sala Walking Street🕒Saturdays only · roughly 16:00–22:00💵Street food, crafts & live music · bring cash
Thong Sala's Saturday evening market. Once a week Talat Kao Road, often called Chinese Street, is closed to cars and fills with stalls: street food, clothes, jewellery, crafts, souvenirs. There is live music.
-
Mae Haad · Bar, viewpoint
Three Sixty Bar🌅360° sunset view over Mae Haad bay & Koh Ma🏔High viewing deck · steep hill climb
A high-altitude viewpoint bar set on a steep ridge in the island's north-west. The wooden deck hovers above the jungle canopy, offering a breathtaking 360-degree panorama over Mae Haad bay, the sandbar crossing, Koh Ma island, and open sunset waters.
-
Hin Kong · Bar, sunset
Top Rock Bar🌅Bar perched on granite boulders in the trees✨Quiet sunset over Hin Kong bay · cliff stairs
A rustic treehouse-style wooden bar built directly atop massive granite boulders on the hillside in Hin Kong. Reached via a winding wooden staircase climbing through the jungle canopy.
-
9 addresses · Supermarket
Tops🕒Tops Phangan supermarket & 8 Tops Daily shops
Tops is Central Retail's chain, with a lean towards imported food. The Tops Phangan supermarket is on the ring road east of central Thong Sala, about 300 m from Lotus's.
-
Ban Tai · Temple, viewpoint
Wat Khao Tham🌅Hilltop · view over the south coast, Samui & sunset👕Free entry · quiet grounds · cover shoulders & knees
A temple on a hill above Ban Tai, looking over the south coast to Samui; people come up for the sunset too. It is known as a place of meditation: for many years it ran ten-day vipassana courses for foreigners. The centre's website no longer works, and we could not confirm whether the courses still run.
-
Ban Tai · Temple, spa
Wat Pho🧖Wood-fired herbal steam sauna from 13:00 · ~120 ฿ cash🏖Bring swimwear or a sarong & a towel
A temple in Ban Tai known above all for its herbal steam room. The abbot started it in the early 2000s: herbs, lemongrass among them, are boiled in a wood-fired cauldron and the steam is piped into separate rooms for men and women. Massage is offered on site after the steam.
-
Wok Tum · Temple
Wat Phu Khao Noi🕒Oldest stupa (15th c.) · free entry · quietest in morning👕Cover shoulders & knees · hilltop panorama
Every guide calls it the island's oldest temple, and its white stupa is dated to the 15th century. The main stupa, about 10 metres tall, is ringed by eight smaller ones, with old ceramic bowls set into the masonry. The other buildings are newer.
-
Area not given · Restaurant, bar
High Life Bar & Restaurant Today · 19:30Digital Nomad Dinner w/ Liana
Which shore for what
Koh Phangan has two different seas, and it is the shore, not the weather, that picks one. The west lies behind a reef: the water is calm and shallow, and at low tide off Hin Kong it goes out 700 metres to a kilometre, so people walk the sea floor. In the east the water is deep a few steps from the sand: at Haad Yuan, Than Sadet and Bottle Beach you can swim at low tide too. The east is open to the wind, though: from November to January the north-east monsoon brings waves, and on some days swimming is banned.
The tide has seasons as well. From about April to September the west's water stays low for long hours in the daytime, and a swim has to be timed to high tide. From October or November to March it is the other way round: the water is high most of the day. Each beach's page says when high tide is today.
Snorkelling without a boat. Mae Haad: the coral starts some thirty metres off the beach, by the islet of Koh Ma. Only at high tide on a calm day — at dead low tide it is too shallow and easy to scrape the coral.
With small children. Nai Wok by Thong Sala: behind a sand spit, a knee-deep lagoon at any tide.
To swim, not to wade. The east, and Bottle Beach. A longtail goes to Bottle Beach from Chaloklum, usually 150 baht a person: it leaves once about four people are aboard, the last at about five in the afternoon. In a storm the boats stay put and you can be stuck there for a day or two. As places to be stuck go, it is not the worst.
Box jellyfish occur in the island's waters. Where a beach has a net, swim inside it, and stay out of the sea at dusk and at night.