Best At Thailand Holidays

Koh Phangan hotels are available; however, most of the island’s accommodations are quaint, family-run bungalow affairs. Because these families assume guests will pay for at least two meals a day, they keep their prices low and it’s easy for travellers to find cheap holidays to Koh Phangan as result. In addition to backpacking and bungalows, Koh Phangan holidays offer some of the best diving in the world with dive sites like Sailrock and the entire Ang Thong National Marine Park. For those looking to find a more festive holiday in Koh Phangan, the island hosts a monthly Full Moon Party on the crescent-shaped beach of Haad Rin. With 75% of the island covered by mountainous jungle forests, many travellers will want to get away from the beaches for a day to explore the inland part of this tropical paradise. A hike up Kao Ra, Koh Phangan’s highest mountain point, will yield stunning panoramic views; meanwhile Than Sadet’s series of waterfalls and lush riverbanks are so relaxing as to have been a favourite with Thai royalty since 1888. Koh Phangan holidays first became popular with Thai royalty in 1888 when King Chulalongkorn first visited Than Sadet on the island. Until that time, Thai kings had been unable to visit these southern Thai islands; King Chulalongkorn was able to do so only with the purchase of a steamship. However, he liked the island so much that he visited 10 times between 1888 and 1909. Since that time, several other Thai kings have taken holidays in Koh Phangan and the area was named a national historic park in 1983. Accessible from the mainland only by boat, Koh Phangan’s seclusion once made it a little-known haven frequented only by backpacking travellers. Though backpackers still delight in the mountainous jungle trails and cheap Koh Phangan holidays to be had, other types of travellers are also drawn to Koh Phangan as a destination.

With monthly Full Moon Parties that begin at dusk each full moon, young and young-at-heart travellers who love to dance, drink, and wade along a white sand beach illuminated by a full moon have made holidays at Koh Phangan a priority. Similarly, as transportation became more accessible, scuba divers and snorkelers have begun frequenting the island for some of the best underwater experiences in the world. Divers will find that the southwest, west, and northern parts of the island host the best diving sites, with the largest concentration of sites being located off the western side. Must-see sites at Koh Phangan include Sailrock, the most famous site in the Gulf of Siam. Sailrock rises out of the water, providing one of the best wall dive experiences possible for divers at all levels. This site is particularly known for its swim-through “Chimney.” Other must-see sites are found scattered throughout the Ang Thong National Marine Park (which is featured in the 1996 novel The Beach as well as the 2000 movie of the same name). This park provides excellent snorkelling as well as diving and is best known for featuring giant hydroids and black coral as big as 2 metres. Other holiday travellers come to Koh Phangan on a spiritual quest. Wat Kow Tahm, a Buddhist meditation centre, offers students a chance to learn the methods, techniques, and tools of mental development under the direction of the centre’s resident teachers. Guests may enjoy the rejuvenating effects of Wat Pho, an herbal steam sauna where natural herbs are heated over a log fire to generate steam. Whether looking to refresh oneself after a night of partying in celebration of the Full Moon or looking for some relief of dry skin, Wat Pho is sure to ease and comfort the most tired of Koh Phangan travellers. In addition to the family-run Koh Phangan hotels, travellers looking for Koh Phangan deals can find package rates. However, these package holidays to Koh Phangan generally feature the Full Moon parties. Additionally, there is the five-star Koh Phangan resort, the Centara Payria. The five-star Centara Payria is situated right on the oceanfront and hemmed in behind by lush mountain jungles; though quiet and isolated on its own property, Centara Payria is also a mere 5-minute boat ride from the monthly Full Moon parties. For those travellers looking to avoid party scenes at such hotels in Koh Phangan that cater to the Full Moon party crowds, other options exist. Not every hotel in Koh Phangan participates in the monthly parties, and many are located on other parts of the island. There’s really no poor time to visit Koh Phangan, though of course if you want to attend the Full Moon party, you should schedule your trip accordingly. Koh Phangan late deals can be had if the hotels and resorts are not booked fully, which is more likely to happen in times of the month that don’t include the full moon as well as during the rainy or cool seasons. Though the rainy season lasts from June through September, the island still gets plenty of sun during those months and travellers may only be inconvenienced for short periods of rain each day. The cool season stretches from October through February, during which time travellers may find the beaches more isolated and relaxed than during the hot, busy season of March through May. Though much more accessible now than even 50 years ago, Koh Phangan is still only accessible via boat. Holiday travellers are therefore required to fly into Bangkok, take rail or bus to the Suratthani province and then ferry from the piers in Donsak.