Ko Pha-ngan

The driest months are February to April. Rain is heaviest from October to December, when boats can be delayed and some beach bars close. The party calendar stays busy all year.

The biggest event is the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin, held every month around the full moon. Thousands of people come, so book rooms early and expect higher prices. Ferries and rooms fill up fast in the days before the party.

• Haad Rin Nok is the party beach on the southeast tip. It is wide and busy, and it hosts the Full Moon Party. On other days it is calm and sunny.
• Ao Thong Nai Pan Yai is a bay in the northeast with fine sand and a quiet atmosphere. It is a good place to relax away from the party area.
• Haad Salad is a calm beach on the northwest coast. It is known for sunsets and for snorkeling in the clear water.
• Haad Thong Lang is a quiet beach on the north coast, known for its views and relaxed pace.
• Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park protects the forest and waterfalls on the east side of the island. Walking trails lead through the park.

• Full Moon Party: Dance on the sand with thousands of other travelers. Keep your valuables safe.
• Yoga and wellness retreat: Several centers on the island offer classes and retreats.
• Waterfall hike: Walk through the forest to the waterfalls in the national park.
• Sunset on the west coast: Many beach bars on the west coast serve drinks at sunset.
• Snorkeling day trip: Join a small boat tour for clear water and quiet beaches.

These trips are listed from closest to farthest.

• Koh Samui: about 30 to 60 minutes by ferry. Larger island with more shops, restaurants and sights.
• Ko Tao: about 1 to 1.5 hours by ferry. A small island known for diving and snorkeling.
• Ang Thong Marine Park: about 1.5 to 2 hours by boat. Limestone islands, a lagoon and kayaking. Most people book a day tour.

• Koh Samui is the larger island to the south.
• Ko Tao is a small island to the northwest, known for diving.
• Ang Thong Marine Park is a marine park of limestone islands.
• Khao Sok National Park is a rainforest national park on the mainland.

• By air: Ko Pha-ngan has no airport. Most travelers fly to Koh Samui (USM), or to Surat Thani (URT) on the mainland, and then take a ferry.
• By ferry: Boats run from Koh Samui and Ko Tao. The trip from Samui takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Boats also run from Surat Thani and Donsak on the mainland.
• Combined tickets: Bus and boat tickets from Bangkok and from Surat Thani are sold together. The trip from Bangkok takes about 12 hours or more.

• Songthaews: Pick-up trucks run between the main beaches. Prices are fixed per route or you agree before you start.
• Boat taxis: Longtail boats connect some beaches that have no road, such as Haad Rin and the northern bays.
• Motorbikes: Popular, but roads are steep and often in bad shape. Accidents are common.
• On foot: Beach areas are walkable. Distances between them are long, and some roads are steep.

• Is a car worth it?: Not really. Roads are narrow, steep and busy with scooters. Songthaews and boats cover most trips.
• Driving side: Traffic drives on the left.
• Roads: Some mountain roads are unpaved and become slippery in the rain.
• Motorbikes: A license and a helmet are required. Many visitors are hurt each year.

Ko Pha-ngan has fresh seafood and southern Thai dishes with coconut. Many small restaurants also serve vegetarian and vegan food, because of the wellness crowd.

The best eating areas are the night market in Thong Sala, the main port town, and the beach restaurants on the west and north coasts.

Ko Pha-ngan is generally safe, but the party scene needs care.

• Full Moon Party: Do not accept drinks from strangers, and watch your drinks. Use a small waterproof bag and leave valuables in your room.
• Motorbikes: Traffic accidents are the main danger. Do not ride after drinking.
• Sea: Currents can be strong in the rainy season. Swim only where it is safe.
• Drugs: Drug laws are strict in Thailand, and police do checks around party areas.
• Water: Drink bottled water.
• Royal family: Do not speak or write badly about the monarchy. It is a serious crime in Thailand.

For a long time Ko Pha-ngan was a quiet island of fishing and coconut farms. Royal visitors came to the island in the 19th century, and some of their visits are marked on rocks near the waterfalls in the national park.

Backpackers arrived in the 1970s and 1980s, and the first beach parties started in the 1980s at Haad Rin. That grew into the monthly Full Moon Party known today.

Quick practical facts for Thailand at a glance: