Palms beautiful beaches, clear water, reef's for snorkeling, elephants, mountains, primary jungle, waterfalls (if there was rain ;-) good streets, dirt roads, still cheap bungalows available, tendency to more higher standard (AC, swimming pool etc.) all over the island. There will be more short time tourist in the years to come. Nevertheless it is still one of the nicest spot to go in all Thailand, concerning "untouched" and a lot of nature. It is time to go now, before it is over and busy like ko samui. But my guess is that ko phangan will be a more tranquil place, more mind holiday, then high life or action holiday for the ruthless people. A lot of action during the party time too, every month and several other day's between the fullmoon party, if there is any request to do so.

There are many different reason to come to ko phangan. Most common is of coarse the monthly celebration of the fullmoon party @ hadrin. Thousands every full moon, finding they're way to ko phangan. It can happen during the high season Dec - March that all is booked out. But since recent years, things have quite changed on the island. Like all other famous holiday "colonies" vent through this same process of transformation, from a real unknown hide way to a world wide known destination, such as e.g. ko samui or phuket. Anyway also those places are very nice to be visited. You always find, what you are looking for. Even remote quiet places!!

Now it happen to this island! The younger backpacker searching for other hideaways or just planning a stop over in ko phangan for the party. This means also over fullmoon is not easy traveling, bus booked fully, air plain, train, boats all crowded. If you can choose the dates and wan to have a cool chill out over here, any other time is easier to access the island ;-), you can also bargain here in this more quiet time. Prices can drop dramatically for people who planning to stay longer!!. Now people coming for yoga schools and other "enlightening" sessions. People often stay longer here, so there is a growing of a "rent a house" scene. Houses with any kind of luxury, such as TV, Internet etc. There is also a little "farang community" growing on the island, to mix up with pizza's and other nice and tasty westerner food. Seven-Eleven, Tesco/Lotus (with prices as in BKK) ATM's, Pharmacy's (for the bikers :) everywhere. Everywhere friendly people helping you to spending your money, while on the island. But after all still a cheap place to recharge batteries and taking care yourself. Massage, Yoga, Massage school, Jam Session, Retreat's, Spa, working with a laptop under palms with dsl. What ever you wanted to do for such a long time, here you get the possibility if you're traveling with open eyes. Escaping the winter, living on a island under palms in a nice wooden thai house with all comfort if you desire so. There are all over the island bigger project in the tubes, as well as in progress, e.g. Tong Nai Pan, Had Chaopao, Wogtum.

where would you like to go?