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THINGS
TO SEE & DO ON KOH PHANGAN
PARTIES
ON KOH PHANGAN
The parties
on Koh Phangan follow the
cycle of the moon: full
moon, half moon, black moon,
half moon and back again.
Each month the beach of
Haad Rin is transformed
into a huge party zone during
the Full Moon Party . Blacklights,
fluorescent colours and
thousands of people dance
and party under the light
of the full moon. Big sound
systems on the beach play
everything from psy-trance
to house and techno and
from RnB to drum 'n bass.
Starting 15 years ago the
Full Moon Party made Koh
Phangan famous. Because
it is one of the most famous
dance events in the world,
you should definitely experience
it. Click here for Full
Moon Party dates
The very popular
and well organized Half
Moon Party takes place twice
a month, a week before and
a week after the Full Moon
Party and is held on a beautiful
location in the Ban Tai
jungle. There is a big dancing
arena, two bars and food
stalls all nicely decorated
with sculptures, light projectors,
neon-art and UV decorations.
Expect quality progressive
and trance music, a good
vibe and a perfect sound
system. The Black Moon Party
is held on the beach of
Ban Tai and each month attracts
up to 1,500 people. You
can expect a nice beach
party with a lot of UV decorations,
fire artists and fireworks.
The party is much smaller
than the full moon party
but therefore has a more
intimate atmosphere. The
music played is mainly progressive
and trance. Click here for
Half Moon Party and Black
Moon party dates. Around
full moon you can expect
many bars on the island
to organize parties. By
clicking on the map on the
homepage you get a more
detailed description of
the nightlife in the different
areas: the Northwest, Southwest
and Haad Rin. In the Northeast
and Southeast there is hardly
any nightlife.
DIVING ON KOH PHANGAN
What many people don't know
is that from Koh Phangan
you have shorter trips to
the most attractive dive
sites in the Gulf of Thailand
like Sailrock and Anghthong
National Marinepark. Koh
Phangan is also a perfect
place to learn diving. The
courses here are offered
for some of the best rates
in the world and the waters
in the bays around the island
are shallow which makes
it easy for you to take
your first breath from a
regulator. Whether you want
to do a PADI course or go
fun diving, through us you
can book it in advance.
Click here if you want more
information about diving
or you want to book a PADI
course or fun dive <
in advance through us.
NATIONAL PARKS &
WATERFALLS ON KOH PHANGAN
Koh Phangan has two protected
National Parks with waterfalls
and nice jungle trekking
routes: Phaeng Waterfall
National Park in the centre
of the island and Than Sadet
Waterfall National Park
on the east side of the
island. Best time to visit
the waterfalls is during
or after the wet season
or right after rain.
Phaeng
Waterfall National Park
Phaeng Waterfall National
Park is located in the village
of Madua Wan. The Park has
a nice waterfall close to
the entrance and some trekking
routes to mountaintop viewpoints,
including a long winding
foot trail leading up to
Koh Phangan's highest mountain
peak Khao Ra (630m). The
trail can be steep and difficult
to follow at times, so it
is recommended to hire a
guide at the entrance of
the park. After all the
exercise you can treat yourself
on a delicious home-made
ice cream on the way to
Thong Sala opposite the
school.
Than
Sadet Waterfall National
Park
Than Sadet waterfall or
"Royal Stream"
is the largest waterfall
on the island, a 3km run
of rock pools and streams
with a royal emblem, since
it was visited by several
Kings of Thailand, including
the reigning monarch, H.M.
King Bhumibol (Rama IX).
There are inscriptions on
boulders near the river
bed made by each of the
Kings. The park has several
nice jungle trekking paths
as well.
HEALTH, SPA &
MEDITATION ON KOH PHANGAN
Koh Phangan is known for
its relaxed atmosphere and
still has a lot of secluded
beaches and areas. It is
therefore a good choice
if you like to do yoga,
meditation or get a massage
or spa treatment.
Massage
& Meditation
At most towns, resorts and
beaches you can get a traditional
Thai or oil massage. Koh
Phangan also has a couple
of retreat centers offering
various courses in Thai
massage, meditation, fasting
and cleansing programs,
chakra healing, pilates,
Reiki and reflexology.
Wat
Pho Herbal Sauna
This traditional herbal
steam sauna is run by monks
at the Wat Pho temple in
Ban Thai (on the road to
Thong Nai Pan). The sauna
uses traditional methods
by heating natural herbs
such as lemongrass and tamarind
leaves on a big log fire.
The herbs have many health
and skin benefits. It is
run on donations, so please
don't forget to make a donation
after using the sauna. It
should be remembered that
ladies have to wear a sarong
outside the sauna and men
their shorts.
Chinese
Temple
On the road between Thong
Sala and Chaloklum the Chinese
Temple is located. The temple
is the result of the dream
a woman had in 1990 in which
the (Chinese) Buddha spoke
to her and asked her to
build a firelight for the
people.
ACTIVITIES ON KOH
PHANGAN
If you don't want to be
lazy in your hammock or
on the beach all day, there
are many different activities
you can do on Koh Phangan.
Trekking
Koh Phangan has many nice
trails and view points so
is ideal for some adventurous
walking and climbing. Check
one of the free guide books
for maps and suggestions.
See also above at “National
parks & waterfalls”.
Mountain
biking
The road along the coast
from Ban Tai to Haad Chao
Phao is relatively flat
and all concrete. If you
go further north to Haad
Yao, Chaloklum and Mae Haad
the road has a couple of
big and sometimes pretty
steep hills. Going of the
road or on dirt tracks can
be an adventure but be careful
and we recommend you to
wear a helmet. Mountain
bikes can be hired at many
different places.
Snorkeling
If diving is a bit too adventurous
for you, then snorkeling
is a nice way to get a glimpse
of the beautiful underwater
world around the island.
There are many great snorkel
spots on the island, especially
on the Northwest coast.
One of the best spots is
around the little island
of Koh Ma ('Horse Island'),
off Mae Haad beach at the
Northwestern tip of Koh
Phangan.
Boat
trips / kayaking
Boat trips around the island
or to other islands can
be arranged at most resorts
and travel agencies. Kayaks
can be rented at most resorts
and at beaches. A boat trip
is a great way to see the
island from another side.
By boat it is possible to
go to nice secluded beaches
or snorkelling spots.
Wakeboarding
& Kiteboarding
Wakeboarding is offered
by Phangan Adventure in
Chaloklum. They also offer
many other activities like
kayaking-, sailing- and
big game fishing trips,
sunset boat trips and mountain
bike trekking. Kiteboarding
or kitesurfing is offered
by Cuttlebone Kiteboarding
Center near Ban Tai.
Elephant
Trekking
Just outside Chaloklum you
can enjoy an elephant ride
through Koh Phangan's jungle.
Paintball
Just outside main town Thong
Sala you can find “Paintball
Warfare” where you
can play paintball in the
jungle with a group of friends.
The neighbouring restaurant
Big Mango serves good food
and occasionally organises
a party.
Thai
boxing
Koh Phangan has three Muay
Thai stadiums in Thong Sala,
one in Haad Rin and one
in Thong Nai Pan where regularly
events are being held. Go
there to experience a night
of Thailand's most popular
sport. You can learn the
art of Muay Thai yourself
at the Jungle Gym in Haad
Rin and Thong Sala.
Fitness
If you like to exercise,
some resorts offer fitness
equipment. You can also
go to the Jungle Gym in
Haad Rin or Thong Sala.
Apart from
all the activities above
you can also do a cooking
or massage course at some
places. A daily returning
activity for everybody is
of course is having food.
Thai people love cooking
and enjoy eating together.
Their food is delicious
and has an enormous variety
so try it!.
DAYTRIPS FROM KOH
PHANGAN
Ang
Thong National Marine Park
Ang Thong ('Golden Basin')
is an archipelago made up
of around 40 small, mostly
uninhabited islands with
limestone cliffs, caves,
beautiful beaches, a giant
emerald saltwater lake (also
known from the movie The
Beach) and dense tropical
rainforest. You can either
book an organized day- or
camping trip or hire a speedboat
with a group (usually minimum
of 6 people) and plan your
own trip.
Koh
Tao
Koh Tao is a well known
destination among divers.
The waters around the island
offer very good diving and
snorkelling. There are daily
boats between Thong Sala
and Koh Tao and the trip
takes around 2 hours. What
many people don't know however
is that from Koh Phangan
you have shorter trips to
the most attractive dive
sites in the Gulf of Thailand
and the classes here are
usually less full which
means more attention for
each individual student.
Koh Phangan is also a perfect
place to learn diving. Click
here if you want more information
about diving from Koh Phangan
or you want to book a PADI
course or fun dive in advance
through us.
Koh
Samui
Take a half hour boat trip
to big sister island Koh
Samui to go shopping at
touristy Chaweng Beach or
to visit the Samui Butterfly
Garden, Snake Farm, the
Samui Aquarium and Tiger
Zoo or the golden Big Buddha
statue at Bophut.
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