Are you wanting to relax on the beach, party at the full moon party or maybe BOTH? Koh Phangan is a beautiful island that has a little bit of everything from a relaxing atmosphere to crazy party vibes.
I visited Koh Phangan Thailand for 1 week where I was volunteering at a hostel for the full moon party and I had an AMAZING time. I want to share all of my travel tips and advise for travelling to Koh Phangan so you too can have an amazing trip.
This blog post is all about everything you need to know before travelling to Koh Phangan Thailand.
Koh Phangan Thailand Travel Guide
How to Get to Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is an island in Thailand off the southeast coast of the mainland. This island is pretty small therefore does not have a airport meaning the only way to travel to Koh Phangan is by ferry. You can either fly to Surat Thani and then take a ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan OR you can fly to Koh Samui (another island of the southeast coast of Thailand) and take a ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan. If you are looking into booking your ferry I recommend 12GoAsia. 12GoAsia is the app I used to book all my Southeast Asia transportation including busses, trains, and ferries.
How to Get Around Koh Phangan
The two main ways to get around Koh Phangan is by renting a scooter or getting a taxi since there is no Grab on the island.
If you are renting a bike I just want to let you know that Koh Phangan is very hilly so please make sure you are comfortable riding. There are lots of places you can rent bikes around the island for just the day or however long you are staying. Also please me careful driving during peak times of the month. Koh Phangan is know for its full moon parties every month and thousands of people attend these full moon events meaning lots of tourists will be on the roads and some may not be comfortable driving a motorbike. This is not me trying to deter you just please be safe!
The other option to get around Koh Phangan is by taxi which is not the best option if you are trying to travel on a budget. The taxis on Koh Phangan and the other Thai islands are run by the mafia meaning one group runs all the taxis allowing them to make the price whatever they would like. Usually the taxis would charge 300 or 400 THB which is around 8-11 USD. Unfortunately this is the only other option if you don’t ride a motorbike since most places are not super walkable with all the hills.
Where to Stay in Koh Phangan
There are tons of places to stay in Koh Phangan but just a warning prices do tend to increase during the full moon party week. If you are looking for more budget friendly accommodations I recommend looking on HostelWorld. When I visited Koh Phangan I stayed at WET hostel which was nice. It had a pool, lots of activities and events for the full moon parties, and was only a 5 min walk to Haad Rin Beach which is where the full moon party is held. Another hostel I heard good things about from others travellers I met in Koh Phangan was Funky Monkey Hostel.
- Click HERE if you want to book WET hostel
- Click HERE if you want to book Funky Monkey Hostel
- Click HERE if you want to look at all the different hostel options on Koh Phangan
Also if you are REALLY wanting to experience the full moon party in Koh Phangan but the increased prices are not in your budget volunteering at a hostel is a great way to save money. That is what I did during my stay in Koh Phangan and I LOVED it! I volunteered with Worldpackers and applied to this opportunity to a volunteer at WET hostel. My job consisted of bringing people to their rooms, running games by the pool and promoting the full moon parties. I met an amazing group of travellers both volunteering and staying at the hostel. I got my accommodation for FREE and entry into some of the full moon parties for FREE. If you want to volunteer with Worldpackers you can use my code NEVERENDINGTRAVEL for money off your WP membership. Happy budget travelling!
Is Koh Phangan, Koh Samui or Koh Tao Better?
I am sure if you have been planning your trip to Thailand you have heard of the three island off the east coast of Thailand, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Everyone planning their Thailand trip wonders which Thailand islands are worth visiting and which are not and I am hear to help you make your decision. Each island is different so depending on your type of travel you may prefer a different island.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is the largest island out of the three and closest to the mainland. It is the easiest to travel to and from since it is the only island that has an airport therefore you can fly or take a ferry to this island. Koh Samui is known for having a bit more of a relaxing atmosphere where many families go on vacation. This island has lots of activities including beaches, temples, waterfalls, and more.
Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is the second largest island of the three and is between Koh Samui and Koh Tao. The only way to travel to Koh Tao is by ferry as there is not airport on Koh Phangan. Koh Phangan is known for its beach parties the most famous one being the full moon party. This island also has lots of natural beauty including beaches, waterfalls, and lookout points.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is the smallest island out of the three and is the furthest away from the mainland of Thailand. The transport to Koh Tao is the same as Koh Phangan, the only way to travel to Koh Tao is by ferry. Koh Tao is most famously known for diving. Koh Tao is one of the cheapest places in the world to get your diving certification so many people take diving course while they are visiting. This island also have tons of beaches and water activities like snorkelling, diving and boat tours.
Koh Tao was my favourite island since it felt like it had a little bit of everything natural beauty, lots of activities, parties, and both a relaxing and social environment. Also if you do not want to rent a bike like myself this island was the only one sort of walkable if you did not want to pay for a taxi everywhere.
If you are thinking of travelling to Koh Tao check out my blog post “Top 10 Best Things to Do in Koh Tao Thailand” to plan an amazing time on this island!
Koh Phangan Bucket List Activities
If you are planning a trip around Thailand check out my other Thailand blog posts to help plan an amazing trip. I hope this Koh Phangan Thailand travel guide helped answer any question you may have had about how to get to Koh Phangan, where to stay in Koh Phangan, and more. Hope you have an amazing trip to Koh Phangan!
