Destination guide
Things to Do in Koh Phangan
A roadless beach, a sandbar to an island, jungle waterfalls and a market every night
The best thing to do on Koh Phangan is a boat day in Ang Thong National Marine Park, and the best thing on the island itself is the north coast, where you can climb to the Phasawan Viewpoint over Bottle Beach, take a longtail down to the sand, and wade the sandbar to Koh Ma on another morning. Add the waterfalls and royal inscriptions at Than Sadet, a sunset on the west coast, a dive at Sail Rock and a night at Pantip Market, and five nights fills up without the Full Moon Party.
Below are twenty things to do, ranked, with each one's hours and price, the boat days, what to do at night and in the rain, what to skip, and the party in one paragraph.
Arriving in Koh Phangan
Where to stay in Koh Phangan
This route ends in Koh Phangan. Search Koh Phangan hotels with your dates, or narrow it to the area you're heading for. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
See Koh Phangan hotelsOpens Booking.com with your dates · also on Expedia · Trip.com
My pick at each price level in Koh Phangan
Key Facts
Ang Thong is the day to book first
Speedboats from Thong Sala cost about ฿1,700–2,500, plus the park fee of ฿300 for adults and ฿150 for children, which many operators collect in cash on the day. Hotel pickup is usually between 07:30 and 08:30, and you're back by about 16:00.
The marine park closes from 1 November to 15 December
Ang Thong shuts for about six weeks every year in the Gulf's rainy season, and the dates can move with the weather. If your trip falls in that window, Koh Tao and Nang Yuan is the boat day instead.
Most of the island is free
The beaches, the viewpoints, the Koh Ma sandbar and the night markets charge nothing. The costs are the boats, the dive and the small fees at some waterfall and beach entrances, about ฿100.
There's no Grab, so plan the rides
Shared songthaews from Thong Sala cost about ฿100–250 a person to most beaches and ฿400–600 a truck to Thong Nai Pan. Scooters rent for ฿200–300 a day, but the roads north and east are steep and rough.
Mornings for the hikes, evenings for the west coast
Climb Khao Ra and the viewpoints before the heat, check the tide for Koh Ma, and keep the late afternoon for a sunset on Zen Beach or Secret Beach.
November is the wettest month
The Samui weather station records about 445 mm of rain in November and 64 mm in February, the driest month. February to April has the calmest sea for boats and snorkeling.
The 20 Best Things to Do in Koh Phangan
Ranked by how much I'd prioritize each one on a first visit of about five nights. The north coast fills a day on its own, the boat days need a calm sea, and the temples and markets slot in around them.
1. A boat day in Ang Thong National Marine Park, West of Koh Samui, about 45 minutes by speedboat
The best day outAn archipelago of 42 limestone islands, and every tour is built around the same two stops. One is the Emerald Lake, a saltwater lagoon inside a ring of cliffs, seen from a platform above it, because swimming in it is banned. The other is the viewpoint on Koh Wua Ta Lap, a steep 500 m climb to the view of the whole park. Kayaking, a snorkel stop and lunch fill the rest.
From Phangan it's a speedboat from Thong Sala for about ฿1,700–2,500, plus the ฿300 park fee. Pickup covers most of the island, but expect a surcharge from Thong Nai Pan and no pickup at all from Bottle Beach. Start up the viewpoint as soon as you land, before your slot runs out.
- Getting there
- A tour with hotel pickup. There's no ferry.
- When to go
- Late December to October. February to April is calmest, and the park is closed from 1 November to 15 December.
2. Phasawan Viewpoint, The north coast, above Bottle Beach
The view of Bottle BeachThe view on every Bottle Beach photo, a bare rocky ledge high above the bay with the jungle falling away to the sand. Most people walk up from the road in about 20 minutes. From the beach itself the climb takes 30 to 45 minutes and you'll arrive soaked.
There's no platform at the top, so the last few meters are for people comfortable with heights. The road up is steep and winding, which is one more reason to come by songthaew rather than on a scooter you've just rented.
- Getting there
- By road to the trailhead, or the climb from Bottle Beach.
- When to go
- Early morning for the clearest air, or late afternoon for the light.
3. Bottle Beach (Haad Khuat), The north coast, no road
A beach you reach by boatA wide crescent of soft sand between jungle hills, with a few bungalows and beach restaurants and calm water for a proper swim. The lack of a road is the whole appeal. Day trippers share it, and anyone who stays the night has it nearly to themselves once the boats go.
Longtails leave Chaloklum for about ฿100–150 a person and take about 15 minutes. The jungle trail from Haad Khom takes 60 to 90 minutes. The boats depend on the sea, there's no ATM or 7-Eleven, and I'd pair it with the viewpoint on the same day.
- Getting there
- Longtail from Chaloklum, about 15 minutes.
- When to go
- A calm morning, February to September.
4. The Koh Ma sandbar and Mae Haad, The northwest tip
Walking to an islandAt low tide a sandbar about 200 m long joins Mae Haad Beach to the little island of Koh Ma, and you can wade across. There isn't much on Koh Ma itself. The walk is the point, and the reef around the island is some of the best snorkeling you can reach from a beach on Phangan.
Check the tide times before you go, because at high tide the bar is under water. Bring a mask, since facilities are limited, and Mae Haad's beach bars are the place for lunch afterward.
- Getting there
- Songthaew or scooter from Thong Sala.
- When to go
- Low tide, in the morning.
5. Thong Nai Pan, The northeast coast
A calm swimming bayTwo horseshoe bays side by side under jungle hills. Thong Nai Pan Noi to the north has the island's smartest resorts, and Thong Nai Pan Yai is the bigger, village-like one with guesthouses and family resorts. The water is calm for most of the year in both.
The catch is the 45 to 60 minute drive over the hills from Thong Sala, so I'd either stay here or give it a whole day rather than a stop on a loop.
- Getting there
- A shared songthaew, or about ฿400–600 for the whole truck.
- When to go
- Any dry day. The road is hard work in the rain.
6. Than Sadet waterfall and Haad Sadet, The east coast
Royal history and a jungle riverA rocky river of small falls and pools running down through the national park to Haad Sadet, a little bay walled in by jungle. Several Thai kings came here, and their inscriptions are carved into the rocks. King Chulalongkorn visited the island 14 times.
It's a stream of cascades, not one big drop, and in the dry season it's a trickle, so come after rain. Some entrances to the park and the beach charge about ฿100, and the park is open 08:30 to 16:30.
- Getting there
- By songthaew or a confident scooter rider. The road through the park is steep.
- When to go
- Morning, in or just after the rainy season.
7. Sunset on the west coast, Zen Beach and Secret Beach, near Srithanu and Haad Yao
The evening ritualThe west coast faces the sunset, and two small beaches are where people gather for it. Zen Beach, by Srithanu, is tiny and sheltered, good for a swim and a book, and it fills toward evening. Secret Beach (Haad Son), just south of Haad Yao, has a beach bar on the sand and gets deep close to shore.
Neither is a beach club, which I'd count in their favor. The roads down are steep and narrow, so arrange a ride back before the light goes.
- Getting there
- Songthaew from Thong Sala, about ฿150–250 a person to the west coast.
- When to go
- The last hour before sunset.
8. The Khao Ra hike, The center of the island
The island's highest pointAt 627 m, Khao Ra is the highest point on Phangan, and the trail climbs through jungle to panoramic views over the island. Accounts put it at two to three hours, and parts are steep enough that you'll pull yourself up on roots and branches.
Go on a clear day, start early, take more water than you think and plenty of mosquito repellent, and skip it after heavy rain, when the way down turns slippery. If you've never hiked in the tropics, I'd go with a local guide.
- Getting there
- By scooter or songthaew to the trailhead in the middle of the island.
- When to go
- Early morning on a clear day.
9. Pantip Market, Thong Sala
Dinner any nightThe market the island actually shops at, open from 06:00 to midnight, with produce in the morning and street food stalls through the evening. You pay island prices, not beach-road prices.
Walk the whole site before you buy, bring small notes, and eat wherever the locals are lining up. It's near the pier, so it's also the easy dinner on the night you arrive.
- Getting there
- In Thong Sala, near the pier.
- When to go
- Any evening.
10. Diving at Sail Rock, Open water between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
The Gulf's best dive siteA pinnacle rising from the seabed in open water, with strong currents and big schools of fish. Dive schools in Chaloklum, Haad Yao and Thong Sala run trips there, and Koh Tao's schools go too.
Beginners can do a discovery dive that starts in a pool, at about ฿4,100 with Sail Rock Divers. Trips leave in the morning, and February to April has the calmest sea and the clearest water, so book ahead then.
- Getting there
- Dive-school boat with hotel pickup.
- When to go
- February to April for visibility.
11. Phaeng Waterfall and the Domsila viewpoint, Inland from Thong Sala
An easy jungle walkA shaded trail through the national park to a small waterfall and pool, with a steeper path on to the Domsila viewpoint over the west coast. It's the most accessible jungle walk on the island.
It's open 08:30 to 17:00 and the entrance charges about ฿100. Like every waterfall here, it's worth the trip in the wet months and can be dry rocks by the end of the dry season, so ask at your guesthouse before going.
- Getting there
- Inland from Thong Sala, by scooter or songthaew.
- When to go
- Morning, before the heat.
12. A yoga class in Srithanu, Srithanu, the west coast
Yoga and wellnessSrithanu is the island's yoga village, a strip of schools where the whole neighborhood practices. Orion Healing, on the beach, runs daily Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin classes you can drop into, and a shala facing the sunset.
Plenty of people come for a class and stay a month. Samma Karuna sells 28-day programs from $1,856 with the room, and Wat Khao Tham, on a hill above Ban Tai, runs meditation workshops and silent retreats that fill up early.
- Getting there
- Songthaew from Thong Sala, about ฿150–250 a person.
- When to go
- Morning or the sunset class.
13. The Saturday Walking Street, Thong Sala
The island's weekly night outEvery Saturday from 17:00 to 22:00, a street in Thong Sala fills with food stalls, crafts and clothes, and half the island comes to graze. Go early for the popular stalls, and wear proper shoes, because the surface is uneven.
- Getting there
- In Thong Sala, near Pantip Market.
- When to go
- Saturday, 17:00 to 19:00.
14. Kuan Yin Temple and Wat Pa Saengtham, On the hill road from Thong Sala to Chaloklum
Color and a viewA Chinese temple to Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy, with red roofs, gold ornaments and dragon statues on a hill with a view over the island. It's an active place of worship, open 07:00 to 17:00, with a small entry fee of about ฿40.
Wat Pa Saengtham, right next door, is a forest temple with a meditation center and a golden rock in the jungle, so see both together. Cover your shoulders and knees for each.
- Getting there
- By scooter or songthaew on the road north from Thong Sala.
- When to go
- Morning.
15. The herbal sauna at Wat Pho, Ban Tai
A cheap, local wind-downA simple steam sauna on the grounds of Wat Pho in Ban Tai, set up for the monks, where the steam carries a blend of herbs. It's no spa, which is the charm. The island's tallest resin tree, a colossal dipterocarp, stands nearby.
For the evening version, The Dome Sauna opens nightly from 18:00 to 23:00, an open-air herbal dome with a fire to sit around afterward.
- Getting there
- On the main road between Thong Sala and Haad Rin.
- When to go
- Late afternoon, or after a long day on a boat.
16. Wat Phu Khao Noi, Above Thong Sala
The oldest templePhangan's oldest temple, said to date from the 15th century, a white temple on a small hill set back from the main road, with views from the top. The name means the temple of the small mountain.
It's quiet and close to Thong Sala, so I'd fit it into the morning you arrive or the one you leave. Dress modestly, because it's a working temple.
- Getting there
- A short ride from Thong Sala.
- When to go
- Morning.
17. Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, About an hour north by boat
The best snorkeling dayThe second boat day, and the better one if snorkeling is what you want. The tours stop at Koh Tao's reefs and at Koh Nang Yuan, three islets joined by sandbars, with a viewpoint over them. Nang Yuan charges ฿250 to land.
It's also the plan for an Ang Thong closure. The fast ferries take about an hour for ฿600 if you'd rather go on your own and stay a night.
- Getting there
- A day tour from Thong Sala, or the ferry to Mae Haad on Koh Tao.
- When to go
- A calm day. It runs while Ang Thong is closed.
18. A Thai cooking class, Thong Sala
A rainy morningSmall-group classes covering curries, pastes, soups and stir-fries, with dishes you can realistically cook at home. Proud Home Thai Cooking School, also in Thong Sala, is the other well-reviewed option. Both keep groups small, so book ahead in high season.
- Getting there
- In the Thong Sala area. Ask about hotel pickup when you book.
- When to go
- Any morning, and the best plan for a wet one.
19. Wat Maduea Wan, The center of the island
A monk's blessingA working temple reached by a gold staircase guarded by five-headed naga serpents. Monks here give visitors a chanted blessing and tie a cotton string bracelet on your wrist for luck. It's open 08:00 to 20:00, and modest dress is required.
- Getting there
- By scooter or songthaew inland from Thong Sala.
- When to go
- Morning, when the monks are around.
20. Phangan Zipline at Wang Sai, The northwest, near Mae Haad
An adrenaline hourThree or four lines depending on the package, the main one about 150 m across a valley with a view of Wang Sai Waterfall. First-timers get a practice run, and guides go with you at every stage.
It's open 10:00 to 17:30, and reviewers say buying at the door is cheaper than through third-party sites. Wear closed shoes, and pair it with Koh Ma, which is nearby.
- Getting there
- By scooter or songthaew toward Mae Haad.
- When to go
- Late morning, then the sandbar at low tide.
Koh Phangan Attractions, Hours and Prices at a Glance
| Place | Open | Cost | Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ang Thong speedboat day | Pickup 07:30–08:30, back about 16:00; park closed 1 Nov–15 Dec | About ฿1,700–2,500, plus ฿300 park fee (child ฿150) | February to April |
| Phasawan Viewpoint | Always open | Free | Early morning or late afternoon |
| Bottle Beach longtail | Daytime, weather permitting | About ฿100–150 a person from Chaloklum | A calm morning |
| Koh Ma sandbar | Low tide | Free | Low tide |
| Than Sadet National Park | 08:30–16:30 daily | Some entrances about ฿100 | After rain |
| Phaeng Waterfall | 08:30–17:00 daily | About ฿100 | Morning |
| Pantip Market | 06:00–midnight daily | Free | Evening |
| Saturday Walking Street | Sat 17:00–22:00 | Free | Early evening |
| Chaloklum Sunday Market | Sun 16:00–22:00 | Free | Late afternoon |
| Kuan Yin Temple | 07:00–17:00 daily | About ฿40 | Morning |
| Wat Maduea Wan | 08:00–20:00 daily | No fee listed | Morning |
| Sail Rock discovery dive | Dive center 07:00–18:00 | About ฿4,100 | February to April |
| Orion Healing yoga | 08:30–22:00 daily | Drop-in classes | Morning or sunset |
| The Dome Sauna | 18:00–23:00 daily | Ask at the door | After dark |
| Phangan Zipline | 10:00–17:30 daily | Cheaper at the door than online | Late morning |
| Koh Tao and Nang Yuan day trip | Day tour from Thong Sala | Nang Yuan landing ฿250 | A calm day |
Hours come from each place's Google listing in our records and can change on Thai public holidays. Tour prices are the ranges in our Koh Phangan and Ang Thong guides, and the park fees are the national park's posted rates.
Boat Days From Koh Phangan
Ang Thong is the boat day if you only do one, a speedboat from Thong Sala with hotel pickup between 07:30 and 08:30, back by about 16:00, for about ฿1,700–2,500 plus the ฿300 park fee. Book it for a calm day early in your stay, so a cancelled trip can move, and never for the morning after the Full Moon Party. The park is closed from 1 November to 15 December.
Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan is the second, about an hour north, for snorkeling and the viewpoint over Nang Yuan's sandbars, and it's the one to take while Ang Thong is closed. Closer to home, the longtail from Chaloklum to Bottle Beach and the walk across to Koh Ma are boat-and-beach mornings of their own, and Koh Samui is 20 to 50 minutes away by ferry for ฿200–500 if you want a day of its sights.
What About the Full Moon Party?
It happens about thirteen times a year on Haad Rin's Sunrise Beach, on the night of the full moon or the night after when that's a Buddhist holy day, and entry is ฿200 at the gate. The Halfmoon Festival, Jungle Experience and OXA's jungle parties fill the weeks in between near Ban Tai. If it's part of your trip, my Full Moon Party guide has every date for 2026 and 2027, where to stay and the boats home. If it isn't, check the date anyway, because Haad Rin's rooms book out and want minimum stays around it, and stay on the west or north coast, where the party barely registers.
Things to Do in Koh Phangan at Night
Nights here start with the sunset on the west coast and move to a market. Pantip Market in Thong Sala serves street food until midnight every night, the Walking Street fills Thong Sala on Saturday from 17:00 to 22:00, and Chaloklum's Sunday Market runs from 16:00 to 22:00 in the fishing village on the north coast.
After dinner, The Dome Sauna opens from 18:00 to 23:00 for a herbal steam under the stars. For a big night out, Haad Rin's bars carry on most high-season nights, and the jungle parties near Ban Tai follow their own calendars, which my Full Moon Party guide lists with the rest.
Arriving in Koh Phangan
Top-Ranked Hotels in Koh Phangan
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Koh Phangan. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#2Panviman Resort4.5 (1,679 reviews)
Refined hotel with elegant rooms, plus free breakfast, an open-air restaurant & an outdoor pool.
Check rates
#6Cookies Salad Resort4.4 (670 reviews)
Laid-back beach resort offering rustic-chic quarters, airy dining & a pool, plus free breakfast.
Check rates
#7Sabaii Bay Resort Koh Phangan4.1 (587 reviews)
A beachside resort on Koh Phangan offering relaxed island accommodation with daily reception hours.
Check rates
Koh Phangan in the Rainy Season
The Gulf's rainy season runs from October to December, wettest in November. The Ko Samui weather station, the nearest to Phangan, records about 295 mm of rain in October, 445 mm in November and 263 mm in December, with rain on about 16 days a month in October and November. The sea gets rough, the longtails to Bottle Beach stop when it does, and Ang Thong is closed from 1 November to 15 December.
It's still the season for the waterfalls, when Than Sadet and Phaeng run full. Plan the rest around shelter. A cooking class, the herbal sauna at Wat Pho, a yoga class in Srithanu, the Kuan Yin Temple and a long dinner at Pantip all work in the rain. From June to September it's the other way round, with about 100–135 mm a month at Samui while the Andaman coast takes the monsoon, so the Gulf is often the better summer beach.
Things to Do in Koh Phangan With Kids
The north and west coasts suit children best. Salad Beach is sheltered between two headlands, with a reef about 100 m out that older kids can swim to with a mask, but go at mid or high tide, because at low tide it turns shallow and rocky, and pack water shoes for the urchins. Thong Nai Pan Yai has the family resorts and calm water for most of the year, and the Koh Ma sandbar is a walk most children love.
Inland, Phangan Elephant Sanctuary cares for three elephants rescued from tourism work, and an hour's visit means preparing their food, feeding them and walking beside them. The zipline starts every first-timer on a practice run, and a cooking class keeps a wet morning busy. Skip Haad Rin around a Full Moon date and the scooters, and use songthaews.
What to Skip
Skip the waterfalls at the end of the dry season. Than Sadet and Phaeng are lovely after rain and can be a trickle over dry rocks by the end of the dry season, so ask before you make the drive. Paradise Waterfall, in the north, depends on the rain the same way.
Don't book Ang Thong for the morning after the Full Moon Party or for the closure from 1 November to 15 December, and don't stay in Haad Rin around a party date unless the party is the point. And skip the scooter if you don't already ride at home. The hills are steep, many roads are unlit, and the tracks to Bottle Beach and Thong Nai Pan are rough, so a songthaew costs more and is worth it.
How Many Days, and Where to Stay
Five nights covers it. One day for Ang Thong, one for the north coast with the viewpoint, Bottle Beach and Koh Ma, one for the waterfalls and Than Sadet, one for Khao Ra or a dive, and one on your own beach, with the markets in the evenings. Three nights works if you're combining Phangan with Samui and Koh Tao.
Pick a coast before you book. Thong Sala puts you at the pier and the markets, the west coast has the sunsets and the yoga, Thong Nai Pan has the calm bays and the best resorts, and Haad Rin is for the party. My Koh Phangan travel guide has the hotels on each coast, the boats from Samui and the costs.
Plan the rest of the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Things to Do in Koh Phangan.
Most of the island. A boat day in Ang Thong Marine Park, Bottle Beach by longtail and the Phasawan Viewpoint above it, the Koh Ma sandbar, the Than Sadet and Phaeng waterfalls, the Khao Ra hike, diving at Sail Rock, yoga in Srithanu, temples, and a night market somewhere every evening.
Walk the Koh Ma sandbar at low tide, climb to the Phasawan Viewpoint, watch the sunset from Zen Beach or Secret Beach, hike Khao Ra, and browse Pantip Market and the Saturday Walking Street. The beaches and markets charge nothing. Some waterfall and beach entrances ask about ฿100.
Yes, it's the best day out. Speedboats from Thong Sala cost about ฿1,700–2,500 plus the ฿300 park fee, the crossing takes about 45 minutes, and you're back by about 16:00. The park is closed every year from 1 November to 15 December.
By longtail from Chaloklum, about 15 minutes and ฿100–150 a person, or on the jungle trail from Haad Khom in 60 to 90 minutes. There's no road, ATM or 7-Eleven, so bring cash.
At low tide, when a sandbar about 200 m long joins Mae Haad Beach to the island. Check the tide times before you go, and bring a mask for the reef around Koh Ma.
To a sunset on the west coast, then a market. Pantip Market in Thong Sala runs until midnight every night, the Walking Street opens on Saturday from 17:00 to 22:00, and Chaloklum's market on Sunday from 16:00. Haad Rin's bars and the jungle parties near Ban Tai are the big nights out.
November, with about 445 mm of rain at the Ko Samui weather station, the nearest to Phangan. October and December are wet too. February is the driest month, with about 64 mm.
Take a cooking class, sit in the herbal sauna at Wat Pho, join a yoga class in Srithanu, visit the Kuan Yin Temple, or go to the waterfalls, which run best in the wet months. Boats to Bottle Beach stop in rough seas.
Yes, on the right coast. Salad Beach and Thong Nai Pan Yai have calm water, the Koh Ma sandbar is an easy adventure, and the elephant sanctuary, the zipline and the cooking classes fill the inland days. Stay away from Haad Rin around Full Moon dates.
Five nights, for Ang Thong, the north coast, the waterfalls, a hike or a dive, and a beach day. Three is enough as part of a Samui and Koh Tao trip.
Where to stay in Koh Phangan
Compare prices across major booking sites, and filter for free-cancellation rooms if you want to reserve now and decide later.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Expedia
One Key member prices
Compare rates on Trip.com
Strong across Asia
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
You Might Also Like
Bangkok City Guide
A city of three zones and a river — understand the layout and everything else falls into place.
Chiang Mai City Guide
A walled square, a mountain, and the best-value good living in Thailand — once you know the calendar.
Things to Do in Bangkok
Ten experiences worth the trip — ranked, priced, and timed so you catch each at its best hour.
Things to Do in Chiang Mai
Twenty-five things worth the trip north, ranked, priced, and timed around the mountain, the markets and the smoke-free months.
Best Time to Visit Thailand
November to February for most trips, and the right coast for the rest of the year
Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
More about MacReady to build your itinerary?
Use our free itinerary builder to save places, organize days, and share your trip.
Open Itinerary Builder