Koh Pha Ngan

Koh Pha Ngan, or Ko Phangan, is located just 12 north of Koh Samui.  Predominantly made up of granite, the island is covered by lush tropical jungle and coconut trees. Thong Sala is the main village on the island; here is the main dock, the seat of the municipality, the command of the police and the post office. There are restaurants, bars, a great selection of accommodation to suit all budgets shops, small medical centers, plenty of ATM machines and banks. Most of accommodations and restaurants are located in the island's main beaches. Koh Pha Ngan is well known by tourists for its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and some of the best dive sites and snorkeling areas close to Koh Samui. Although the surface is less half of the nearby Koh Samui, the island has an abundance of pristine beaches. The whole island is a succession of coves and bays with white sand beaches. Koh Pha Ngan has also a beautiful coral reef, full of marine life, in its northeast area. Discovered by tourism in the 80s, the first tourists who arrived at Koh Pha Ngan were backpackers and hippies looking for a new destination out of everything. At that time, given the lack of paved roads, the only beach frequented by visitors was Haad Rin, which was easily accessible from the nearby Koh Samui and the only one which had a few simple bungalows built of wood and bamboo. It is from these first tourists that started the tradition of the Full Moon Party, which has made the island famous. Even today, in the island reigns an informal atmosphere, with excellent beaches, friendly people and a tourist development that has respected the environment, an ideal destination for a day trip or few days of stay from Koh Samui.
Getting there - The day trips from Koh Samui to Koh Pha Ngan depart from Bo Phut Pier situated at the north-eastern tip of Koh Samui, right next to the airport. Most of these tours include the transfer by minivan from your hotel, the roundtrip by speedboat, lunch buffet, snorkelling equipment, tour guide and insurance. The day trip includes stops at some Koh Pha Ngan 's beaches, such as Thong Nai Pan Noi, Thong Nai Pan Yai, Mae Haad, Haad Rin, and the visit to the small island of Koh Maa. Prices of day tours range from 1,700 to 2,200 THB depending on the company and on the type of boat you choose. More fascinating is the tour with Burma junks 25 meters long in wood teak. The journey of these beautiful boats is clearly slower, but the charm of sailing is worth the time lost in shipping. The beautiful main deck offers plenty of space for sunbathing during the crossing and to enjoy the view of this part of the Gulf of Thailand. There are three cabins are available with air conditioning, bathroom and hot water. The stops are the usual made with speedboat tours. Lunch, eaten on board, is better than the usual buffet offered in almost all excursions and provides a good selection of Thai dishes, fruit and pastries. The cost of this cruise is about 3.000 THB for adults and 1,700 for children. In alternatively, to reach Koh Pha Ngan from Koh Samui individually you can use the ferry services. The ferries of Seatran Discovery depart from the Bang Rak Pier, 300 metres before the Big Buddha, with daily departures at 8:00 and 13:30. The Lomprayah high speed catamarans leave from its pier in Mae Nam, with daily departures at 8:00, 12:30 and 17:00. The journey take about 30 minutes and it cost is around 300 THB per one way.Read More