Koh Phangan travel guide

Getting around

Koh Phangan stretches 15 km north to south and 10 km east to west. The main settlement is Thong Sala. Thong Sala and Hat Rin are connected by a paved road. Two roads run between Thong Sala and Ao Chao Lok Lum: the west coast route and the one through the centre of the island. Around the remainder of the island there is a limited network of poor roads and tracks, and the stretch from Ban Khai to Hat Rin is steep and treacherous and inadvisable for anything but a 4WD during the rainy season. The number of accidents is huge. For off-the-road beaches it is often easiest to travel by long-tailed boat. Motorbikes and mountain bikes are available for hire, and the most appealing areas to ride are in the north and west of the island, which are flat. Songthaews run from the pier to any of the bays served by road. A trip to Hat Rin from Thong Sala is ฿80-100. The cost to the other bays depends on how many people are going with you. At Hat Rin songthaews wait close to the Drop in Club Resort between Hat Rin East and West. For a few beaches walking is the best option.

Ins and outs

Getting there

There is no airport on the island so everyone arrives by boat. There are daily ferries from Don Sak Pier and Bandon near Surat Thani on the mainland and also from the larger, neighbouring island of Koh Samui and its northerly neighbour, Koh Tao. Minibus taxis meet the boats and take people from Thong Sala pier to Hat Rin for ฿฿100 and to Thong Nai Pan for ฿฿150. The quickest way to Koh Phangan is to fly from Bangkok to Koh Samui and then to catch an express boat from Samui to Koh Phangan. Alternatively, it is possible to fly to Surat Thani and take a boat from there.

Tourist information

There is no official tourist information on the island. The TAT on Koh Samui. See http://www.kohphangan.com and http://www.phangan.info, for information.

Koh Phangan

Boat

Boats to Hat Rin run from both Thong Sala and Ban Khai.

Long-tailed boats take passengers from Hat Rin, Ao Thong Nai Pan, Ao Hat Yao and Ao Hat Kuat to Thong Sala and Ban Khai piers for somewhat inflated prices. Most boats dock at the pier at Thong Sala, although there’s a ferry, the Haad Rin Queen, T077-375113, from Big Buddha pier on Samui, 50 mins, 1030, 1300, 1600 and 1830 going straight to Hat Rin (฿150). It returns at 0930, 1140, 1430, 1730.

From Thong Sala to Koh Samui, with Songsern, T077-377704, to Nathon pier, 0700, 1230, ฿฿200. Mae Nam beach with Lomprayah, T077-238411, 1100, 1600, ฿฿250. Big Buddha pier with Seatran, T077-238679, 1100, 1630, ฿฿250.

Speed Boat Line to Bophut, Koh Samui, 0600, 0930, 1300, 1530, 20 mins. To Koh Tao from Thong Sala with Seatran, 0830, 1400, 1½ hrs, ฿฿350; Lomprayah, 0830, 1300, 1 hr 20 mins, ฿฿350; Songsern, 1230, ฿฿250.

To Surat Thani from Thong Sala with Songserm, 1230, ฿฿300; Raja Ferry, 0700, 1100, 1300, 1700, 2½ hrs,฿฿310. Prices include bus ticket to bus and train stations. The night boat leaves Koh Phangan for Surat Thani at 2200 (although times can vary, so it’s worth checking in good time), 6 hrs, ฿300.

To Chumphon with Lomprayah at 0830, 3 hrs 15 mins, and 1230, 3 hrs 40 mins, ฿฿900.

Motorcycle hire

Available in Thong Sala and from the more popular beaches. Some guesthouses also hire out motorbikes, from ฿200 per day.

Train

The State Railways of Thailand runs a train/ bus/ferry service between Koh Phangan and Bangkok‘s Hualamphong Station.

Banks

There are banks with ATMs on the main road in Thong Sala. International money transfer, Moneygram is available at the Siam Bank. There are many ATMs in Hat Rin and plenty of foreign exchange outlets.

Medical Services

Koh Phangan Hospital, about 2.5 km north of Thong Sala, offers 24-hr emergency services. Facilities are better in Samui or Bangkok. Bandon International Hospital, in Hat Rin, T077-375471, is a 24-hr private clinic with English-speaking staff.

Internet

There are now plenty of internet cafés, all vying for business and charging ฿2 per min.

Police

about 2 km north of Thong Sala, T077-377114; Tourist Police, T077-421281.

Post office

Hat Rin, close to pier, Mon-Fri 0830-1640, Sat 0900-1200.

Telephone

Virtually every agency and internet café offer IDD telephones, around ฿฿25 per min for international calls.