Ko Pha Ngan (or Ko Phangan, Thai: เกาะพะงัน) is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in South East Thailand. It is famous for its full moon party at Hadin Beach and as a backpackers destination. Ko Pha Ngan has two sister islands: the larger Ko Samui to the south and the smaller Ko Tao to the north.

• Area: about 168 km²
• Estimated perimeter: 50 km EST. (10hrs average walking time)
• Province: Surat Thani
• From mainland: about 55 km
• From Ko Samui: about 15 km
• From Ko Tao: about 35 km
• Population: 11,846 (2004)
• Main town: Thong Sala

see also Wikipedia:

In general (this website)

the site is like a guide e.g. "Lonely planet".  To make somewhat more clearly I divided the island in 5 sections (see Map).  These sections of its general orientation naming and design. Allways going around the island clockwise, starting at the arrivel point, Thongsala Pier. Lot's of maps (many of them, made by us) helping to explain the island and find easier any place on the paradiese island dream.

	• West coast • north coast • east coast • south coast • center • hadrin • thongsala.

A special subsection for the peninsula Hadrin (or also Haad Rin) is available too (soon). I'm doing a major update on this web site and this material available right now (already uploaded) is enough to make the needed planning for the trip to come. I have only uploaded the files regarding Had Chaopao Beach. All files regading the INFO "how to get there" until details about Ko Phangan are uploaded allready. So if your beach or your bungalow resort is not yet in, you find all information for your planning from home until the island. Bangkok, Kaosan Road and time schedule are up to date (Oct. 2008) and available too. USe the "info" butto on the top navigation.
We from "hadrin.com" thank you for using this web page for information collecting and booking's. If you have anything to mention about anything regarding the island, comments pictures etc. don't hesitiate to mail us. Email on every page at the bottom.

The head sections are then subdivided to the respective Beaches or the places at that beach.  Each Resort has its own side (for the moment only had chaopao available until new page is uploaded within the next month or so).  With all available information to the Resort's, the prices, pictures, address and the possibilities on tha particulare beach.  Larger resorts can booked over my site, via PayPal or visas etc., including, payment, confirmation and pick up service.  The database of 120 resorts are available from my partner page www.phanganbungalow.com's database, for direct booking all over the island. go to the booking direct button.

For newbies: I guess you never been on the island or even never in Thailand or Asia.  But it is nowadays, generally no problem to do this trip, formerly an adventure journey. To manage the trip and book independently, or together, is very easy.  For women alone, just the way at it should be everywhere.  "how to go to Ko Phangan"

Preparation of the trip:  Purchase a ticket to BKK (Bangkok) and I would book another flight with Air Bangkok to Ko Samui. 

A cheaper way, is possible with a flight with Thai Airways to Suratthani and there by bus and boat (300 Baht = 6 €) to Thongsala (main village and arrival place) on Koh Phangan (Pha Ngan). 

Much cheaper way: Take the train or the bus from BKK. You can buy everywhere so called "Joint-Ticket's" either Train/Bus/Boat (via Suratthani 84280, Dosnsak Pier) or Bus/Boat (via Chumpon and Ko Tao) they are sold by company's like Songserm, Lomprayah and Seatran Discovery. Easy to get it at Kaosan Road, where all departure are as well.

With the train, 2nd class sleeper is fully convenient, better with AC same class, or the more expensive but hi lux drive in a 1st class "apartment", convenient when a lot of stuff to carry, like shopping time in BKK, or the adequate budget. In Bangkok on the railway mainstation "Hualalumphong" you can take a shower and make you fresh, for as little then 10 Baht, in clean environment. Very cool when coming from the nort or east and taking the evening train to the south.

And the cheapest way is the Government Bus (from Southern Bus Terminal) this is the Thai way, Suratthani, Donsak, Raja Ferry, Thongsala Ko Phangan. Time requested = 12 - 14 hour (for all the way)

The easiest way is to purchase a "Joint Ticket" anyway.

Airport Ko Samui:  arrived on the airport, all is well organized.  Buy you at the Desk with the nice young ladies in uniform of the airline, (next to the conveyer belt of the arriving baggage), a ticket to your planed destination, (Nathon, head place of the island) or for Big Buddha, Bophut or Meanam, according to the arrival of the airplane in Samui and the departure place of your boat. Just mention that you want to go to Ko Phangan. They will send you to the appropriate mini van.   Usually they bring you to the next embarking boat resp. that pier.

All day long you can catch flight's to samui. First and last flight are cheaper! The boats are lesser underway.  From Samui, boat's are heading to hadrin, ban tai and thongsala.

An express boat goes from Meanam directly to Tong Nai Pan (east coast), which leads from Thongsala only over a long and sometimes (in the rainy season) uncomfortable street through the however worthwhile jungle and over the mountains.  The arrival to the Tong Nai Pan Bay is spectacular and by sunny and beautiful weather it is worthwhile to do the trip on the bridge and benches on a songtaew rather then a closed mini van. You can feel it more ;-).  

Bottle Beach is still only by boat accessible. Starting in Chaloklum.  On the other hand the Bay and village is car free.  All other Beach's can be accessed by any taxi or bike. Such as, Had Yao, Had Chaopao, Had Salad or Bantai, Bankai and Hadrin. At every arrival, taxis to fixed prices are ready at the respective pier.  With large boards and sign's, No one gets lost,

Therefore in Thailand, the traveling is and was never a problem.  You are important, YOU bring money, also if you only look for a cheap resort.

Now have fun and enjoying planning your trip, or need to know more?

cheers, ham 2008

STAY IN THONGSALA

AVAILABLE GOOD SHOPS IN THONGSALA

ELECTRIC SOCKETS FOUND ON THE ISLAND

7-11 Limpipong Tesco Lotus Big A Baan Computer Banks Friendly Shop Honda Songserm Office Nampanit Electro Dental Clinic Thai Inter Medical Clinic Dr. Worawut Post Office

Siam City Bank Siam Commercial Bank Bank of Ayuttaya Krung Thai Bank TMB 

ON THE STREET TO CHALOKLUM ON HONDA PHANTOM

ELEPHANT TREKKING NEAR CHALOKLUM

ELEPHANT TREKKING ON THE STREET TO TONG NAI PAN/THAN SADET

CHINESE TEMPLE NEAR CHALOKLUM

BACKWATER IN CHALOKLUM

CHALOKLUM BAY

HAD YAO WITH HAD YAO VIEW RESORT

TOMMY's HADRIN

SHEESHA BAR IN CHALOKLUM

TEAK HOUSE AT THE LAEMSON LAKE IN SRITHANU

for rent

THE LAEMSON BEACH

CHALOKLUM THE FISHERMEN"S VILLAGE

RAJA CAR FERRY TO DONSAK (Mainland)