Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan is the island between Koh Samui and Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand, reached only by boat. It is famous for the monthly Full Moon Party at Haad Rin, but most of the island is quiet: the west coast around Srithanu is known for yoga and wellness, and the north and east have remote bays reached by steep roads or boat.

Phangan is smaller and less developed than Samui, with no airport, no big resort strips and a lot of hilly jungle in the middle. That shapes everything about a stay here. Where you base yourself decides whether your week is about parties, yoga, family beach time or doing very little, and moving between areas is slower than the map suggests.

This guide gives you the layout of the island, how to get there and around, and what to know before you go. Our guide to Koh Phangan's beaches beyond Haad Rin compares the bays in detail, and our Full Moon Party guide covers the party, its dates and the law.

The island's areas at a glance

Think of Phangan as five areas rather than one island. Each has a different feel, and each suits a different kind of trip.

If you are visiting for the Full Moon Party but do not want to live inside it, stay in Thong Sala or Ban Tai and take a taxi to Haad Rin for the night. If you are here for a week of rest, base yourself on the west or north coast and visit Haad Rin by day, when it is a pleasant beach town.

Getting to Koh Phangan

All routes end with a boat, and most arrive at Thong Sala pier.

• From Koh Samui: catamarans and speedboats leave several times a day from Samui's north-coast piers, and Raja Ferry's vehicle ferry runs from Lipa Noi on the west coast (about 1 hour 30 minutes, according to Raja). Our guide to getting to Koh Samui covers flights into Samui.
• From the mainland: Raja Ferry and Seatran run vehicle ferries from Donsak, near Surat Thani, to Thong Sala; Raja gives about 2 hours 30 minutes. Lomprayah sells bus-and-boat tickets from Surat Thani airport and railway station.
• From Bangkok: Lomprayah's overnight bus and boat from Pinklao leaves at 21:00 or 21:30 and reaches Phangan at about 10:30 the next morning, from 1,150 to 1,650 baht depending on bus and boat type (2026 timetable).
• From Koh Tao: several boats a day; see getting to Koh Tao for the times in the other direction.

Boats fill up and prices rise around Full Moon Party nights. Book ahead for the days before and after a party, and expect crowded piers. The UK Foreign Office warns that boats between the mainland and the islands have sunk or collided, usually because of overloading, poor maintenance or rough monsoon seas, so do not board a boat that is clearly overloaded. Seatran offers left-luggage at Thong Sala pier from 08:00 to 18:00, which helps if you have a late boat after checking out.

Roads, scooters and boat taxis

The main roads from Thong Sala north to Chaloklum, east to Ban Tai and Haad Rin, and across the island to Thong Nai Pan are paved. The problem is the gradients. The road into Haad Rin climbs and drops very steeply, and descending it is where many scooter accidents happen. Several beaches on the north and east coasts are at the end of steep, rough tracks that are not suitable for a rented automatic scooter.

Shared pickup trucks (songthaew) and taxis run between the main areas and wait at Thong Sala pier. Longtail boat taxis serve the beaches without good road access, such as Bottle Beach from Chaloklum and the coves north of Haad Rin. On a party night, do not ride a scooter to or from Haad Rin; take a taxi.

Our general guide to safe scooter riding in Thailand covers helmets and licences. For Phangan's specific roads, rental shops and damage disputes, our sister site has a detailed guide to renting a motorbike on Koh Phangan.

Srithanu and the wellness scene

The village of Srithanu (also written Sri Thanu) on the west coast has grown into the island's yoga and wellness center. Along the lanes behind the beach you find yoga shalas, meditation and breathwork classes, vegetarian and vegan cafés, and long-stay guesthouses. Many visitors come for a week-long course and stay for months.

The scene is informal and mixed. Some teachers are highly trained, others less so, and some "healing" offers make health claims that no doctor would back. Treat anything sold as medical treatment with caution, ask about the teacher's training, and do not stop prescribed medicine because a retreat suggests it. Ceremonies involving drugs are illegal in Thailand regardless of how they are described.

Longer stays raise practical questions. Visitors from most Western countries, Singapore and Malaysia now get a 30-day visa exemption (since 15 September 2026), so a two-month yoga course needs an extension or a proper visa; see our guide to the visa exemption and the guide to the Destination Thailand Visa, which some long-stay students use.

Haad Rin and the Full Moon Party

The Full Moon Party takes place on Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach), the east-facing beach at Haad Rin, around each full moon. It is a big event, with crowds of around 20,000 reported at a typical party, and it shapes the whole island's calendar: prices, boat demand and police checks all rise around it.

The party is moved by a day when the full moon falls on a major Buddhist holy day, when alcohol sales are banned. Drug laws are strict and enforced, and the Foreign Office says violent sexual assaults are most common during full moon parties and similar events. Our separate Full Moon Party guide, linked at the top of this page, explains the date rule, safety and the law in full.

Than Sadet, waterfalls and the national park

Much of the island's forested interior and parts of its coast belong to Than Sadet–Ko Pha-ngan National Park. The name means "royal stream", after royal visits to the Than Sadet waterfall on the east coast. The park is in the DNP's lowest fee group: 100 baht for a foreign adult and 50 baht for a child (as of October 2026).

In 2024 the Department of National Parks closed the Than Sadet waterfall area from 1 to 30 November, during the heaviest rains, according to the government's Anti-Fake News Center. Waterfalls on Phangan are at their best after rain but dangerous during it; the Foreign Office warns that currents near waterfalls can be extremely strong in the rainy season.

Weather, sea safety and health

Phangan follows the Gulf pattern, not Phuket's. Thai Meteorological Department averages for nearby Koh Samui show October to December as the wettest months, with November the peak, and February the driest. Our guide to the best time for the Thai islands explains the two coasts.

Box jellyfish have been recorded off Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao from July to October, according to Thai marine researchers, who put up warning signs and vinegar at beaches. Read our guide to box jellyfish in Thailand, and follow red flags; the guide to rip currents and beach flags explains what they mean.

Phangan has clinics and a hospital, but serious cases are usually transferred to Samui or the mainland, which takes time by boat. That is one more reason to have travel insurance that covers evacuation. Keep the emergency numbers in your phone: 1669 for an ambulance and 1155 for the Tourist Police.

How Phangan fits into a Gulf trip

Most people combine Phangan with its neighbors. A common order is Samui first (easy flights), then Phangan, then Koh Tao for diving, and back to the mainland via Chumphon. Our Gulf island-hopping route sets out the timings. From Phangan you can also join day trips to the Ang Thong marine park. For the bigger island next door, see our Koh Samui guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is Koh Phangan only for partying?

No. The Full Moon Party takes over Haad Rin a few nights a month, but most of the island is quiet. Srithanu on the west coast is known for yoga and wellness, and the north and east coasts, including Thong Nai Pan and Bottle Beach, attract families and couples looking for calm bays.

Does Koh Phangan have an airport?

No. The nearest airports are Koh Samui, Surat Thani and Chumphon. Most visitors fly to Samui and take a short boat ride to Thong Sala, or fly to Surat Thani and take a bus-and-boat ticket.

Is it safe to rent a scooter on Koh Phangan?

It is risky for inexperienced riders. The road into Haad Rin and several access roads to remote beaches are very steep, and accidents are common, especially at night around party dates. Use songthaews, taxis or boat taxis if you are not a confident rider, and check that your insurance and licence cover you.

Where should I stay on Koh Phangan?

Thong Sala and Ban Tai are practical and central. Haad Rin suits party-goers. Srithanu and the west coast suit yoga and longer stays, while Thong Nai Pan and the north suit families and couples who want quiet. Our beach guide compares each area.

Sources

• Raja Ferry Port – Sailing schedule and crossing times (Donsak, Samui, Phangan) (checked October 2026)
• Seatran Ferry – Routes and services (Donsak, Thong Sala, Bangrak) (checked October 2026)
• Lomprayah – Timetable 2026 (checked October 2026)
• Department of National Parks – National park entry fees by group from 7 June 2022 (checked October 2026)
• Anti-Fake News Center Thailand – National park closures from 1 November 2024 (verified with the DNP) (checked October 2026)
• UK Foreign Office – Thailand: safety and security (checked October 2026)
• Bangkok Post – Full Moon Party draws 20,000 tourists to Koh Phangan (checked October 2026)
• The Nation – Tourists warned of box jellyfish at Surat Thani's popular islands (2019) (checked October 2026)