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Phangan
Phangan island Thailand
Phangan Thailand
Koh Phangan island
Thaialnd
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Koh
Phangan Paradise on Earth
Another
ideal destination for travelers
who prefer less crowded,
more private beaches set
in a laid-back atmosphere.
However, this is also a
very hip place to be as
the island hosts the world
famous, and perhaps the
biggest beach party on this
planet the full moon party
on Hat Rin.
Covering an area of 191
square kilometers, Koh Phangan
is located 20 kilometers
directly north of Koh Samui,
or approximately 100 kilometers
from Surat. The best time
to visit Koh Phangan is
from February to September.
Interesting attractions
include secluded and virgin
beaches around the island,
a hilltop temple called
Wat Khao Tham which is ideal
for meditation, Than Sadet
Waterfall, and the Namtok
Phaeng National Park. Renting
a motorcycle to explore
the island is recommended
as there is a lot to see
and do.
Boat Services to
Koh Phangan
From Koh Samui to
Koh Phangan
There are approximately
10 daily transfers to Koh
Phangan. Boats depart between
7.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.
The trip takes approximately
30 minutes to an hour, depending
on weather conditions. Boats
leave from Thong Sala Pier
and Hat Rin on Koh Phangan
to Ko Samui Pier including
Na Thon Pier, Mae Nam and
the Big Buddha. The fare
is approximately 115 baht
to 250 baht / trip / person.
From Surat Thani
to Koh Phangan
Surat Thani Pier operates
a minimum of 6 daily departures
to Koh Phangan. Boats leave
from 7.00 a.m. to 10.00
p.m. and arrive at Tha Sala
Pier on Koh Phangan. The
fare ranges from 200 baht
to 370 baht / trip / person.
From Koh Tao to
Koh Phangan
Approximately 6 daily departures
from Thong Sala Pier to
Ko Tao are provided. They
leave from 8.30 a.m. to
1.00 p.m. The fare ranges
from 180 baht to 350 baht.
Getting around Koh
Phangan
Traveling around the island
by rented motorcycle from
bungalows is recommended.
The cost is approximately
200 baht / day. For those
who prefer truly Thai-style
transportation, songthaew
services are also available.
The fare is 50 baht from
Thong Sala Pier to any place
on the island. Exceptions
are on routes to Ban Khai
(30 baht) and Ao Thong Nai
Pan (80 baht). Car rental
service is also available
at approximately 1,000 baht
/ day.
Koh Phangan
is a very special place,
there are few places in
this world where you can
live out your desert island
dreams of palm trees and
white sand beaches, and
still have a blinding night
out at a rocking party every
month. With the global notoriety
that the Full Moon Party
has gained as being one
of the biggest and best
beach bashes in the world,
we get more than our fair
share of hedonists gracing
our shores. Each year the
scene here grows with the
ever-increasing number of
party faithful that return,
bringing their mates and
spreading the vibe.
Haad Rin is home to the
Full Moon Party and also
houses about 3-5000 rather
mad people; it is the island's
nightlife capital and has
Koh Phangan's biggest concentration
of beach clubs that collectively
put on the ultimate travellers
get together. There are
over 12 major sound systems
running the length of Had
Rin beach, catering for
8000 to 12,000 punters in
low season, 15,000 to 20,000
in high season and up to
30,000 at New Year. Within
this transient crowd of
party animals some highly
talented DJ's pass through,
banging out their wares
to the raging lunar explorers
that have landed on planet
party.
The Full Moon Party on Koh
Phangan is far more than
a party; it is Had Rin's
dance music festival, with
everything from drum and
bass to full-on psy-trance.
Paradise Bungalows, the
site of the original Full
Moon Party, consistently
puts on the biggest show
with inspired d?cor and
a combination of superb
resident and guest international
DJs. Worth looking out for
is DJ A, who also holds
residency at the Backyard,
possibly the most famous
after party venue in the
world, starting at 11am
as Had Rin's beach shuts
shop, licks its wounds and
counts the casualties. The
Backyard also puts on three
cracking nights per week,
each catering for the full
spectrum of dance music
heads in a totally refurbished,
two floor club with mind
bending fluoro sculptures.
The Drop In plays on Koh
Phangan a more commercial
set with a few classics
thrown in, and still pulls
in big crowds from when
it launched way back in
1989, as does the Cactus
with a similar policy. The
Vinyl Club pumps out hard
techno and psy-trance, also
putting on pre Full Moon
Party parties in Ban Tai,
with an Israeli DJ massive
keeping it banging.
The Big Boom Bar on Koh
Phangan is a daytime favourite,
especially with their volley
ball contest a few days
before the Full Moon Party.
Their commitment to leaning
away from trance, by playing
progressive to hard house
with a fair few anthems
thrown in means that resident
DJs Simon (UK) and locals
Tony and Dai have the beach
going ballistic every Full
Moon Party.
Harmony on Koh Phangan,
located inland, is a great
find with an intelligent
music policy, resident Djs
Jao and Orin plus guests
play house to progressive
trance three nights a week.
If you want to rinse it
out true DnB stylee, the
Orchid headed by resident
DJ Kay puts a smile on many
a trance-tired face. For
a real refuge, head out
to the Outback Bar to enjoy
superb Thai and European
tucker, pool and live sports
in a bar that looks as good
as the paintings it sells!
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