Welcome to Koh Phangan

@ Koh Phangan

Welcome to Koh Phangan, a lush tropical island paradise, unspoiled white sand beaches and outstanding natural beauty.

if you haven't been to Koh Phangan lately, then it is definitely worth the trip. Thankfully with ever improving connections between the islands of the Gulf of Thailand, getting there has never been easier. There are many ferry companies as well as speedboat tour outfits offering transfers, but for speed and comfort I would recommend either the Seatran ferry service which leaves from Na Thonn at 10:30 and 17:00 daily taking thirty minutes, or the Lomprayah company which leaves from Bangrak at 08:00 and 12:00 and takes just twenty minutes. Tickets can start as little a 250 Baht depending on seasonal deals.

Once you arrive you find yourself at the formous or informous FULL MOON PARTY town, Haad Rin. The town has had a lot of development over the past three years and if you haven't been here for a while, you may not recognize all the changes. There are still many lovely resorts among the sprawl with the best between Leela Beach and Baan Tai.

Once outside of Haad Rin you are in for a wonderful surprise. THe new road on the west coast has made driving the hills and adventure and a pleasure. Some of the most breath taking views can be found here, making it worth the stop at the viewpoints. if your timing is right, the mixture of the sunset, sea and sky will carry you into a dream like state.

Further on you will arrive in Baan Tai, a charming little village, mixed with a few stylish shops and resorts. The Baan Tai junction will take you to anywhere you want to go on the island. West will take you into Thong Sala, the Thai town know for its markets and ports. Continuing north around the west coast, you will run along some beautiful beaches and tourist resorts. Finally the road circles its way back from the fishing village Chaloklum.

From Baan Tai, you can take the junction northest to the Thong Nai Pan bays. The dirt road gets a little choppy through here but it's worth the drive if you plan to stay overnight. There are also some very attractive waterfalls and hiking trips where the natural spendour is beyond expectations.

The slow pace of development has been good for Koh Phangan, as has the influence of its regular visitors on the local economy. Land here has been kept in the family much longer, keeping out unscrupulous developers and allowing the island to mature slowly with its expanding market. The result is pleasing with an environmentally conscious population who truly care about the island that is their home. A unified approach to developing in harmony with the beautiful natural surrounding is the aspiration.