Introduction: Koh Pha Ngan Travel Guide
Koh Pha Ngan is one Thailand most known islands. Located in the Gulf of Thailand along with Koh Tao and Koh Samui, it is one of the top places to visit during your stay in Thailand.
Koh Pha Ngan got its name out in the world because of its crazy parties. The Full Moon and Half Moon party are some of the most famous parties around the world. Thousands of people come to this small island to attend those parties.
But the island has much more to offers and if you are not into party, do not worry, it is still on the must to visit in Thailand. It is a great place to simply enjoy the beaches, relax every night with a breath-taking sunset or even hike in the jungle.
Table of Contents
Mapping the Koh Pha Ngan Travel Guide
Getting there
The only way to get to Koh Pha Ngan to by ferry or speedboat. You can first fly to Koh Samui and then hop on a ferry to Koh Pha Ngan.
Another option, still with a ferry is to first get to Surat Thani and front there take a bus and ferry to Koh Pha Ngan.
Moving Around
Once again, the easiest way to move around the island is by renting a scooter. We pretty much opted for this option everywhere in Thailand and most of the accommodation are renting it or know a good deal.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Koh Pha Ngan is from December to March, which is the dry season. At this time, the weather will be nice but the place more crowded. April to September is the second options which is the humid season with hot weather and a bit of rain. October and November welcome the rainy season.
Where to Stay
- (€): Thai Terrace Bungalow
- (€€): Nibbana Bungalows
- (€€€): Panviman Resort Koh Phanganv
What to Eat
Generally, in Thailand, the to-go-food are:
- Pad Thai (Thai Style Fried Noodles)
- Som Tam (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)
- Pad See Eiw (Thick Noodle Dish)
- Khao Pad (Fried Rice)
- Gaeng Keow Wan (Green Curry)
- Pad Phak (Fried Vegetables)
- Kao Niew Ma Muang (Mango and Sticky Rice)
In Koh Pha Ngan, we especially loved the street food market located in the main city.
Things to do
Amsterdam bar
Enjoy the sunset from Amsterdam Bar. A Cool place to get a beer while admiring the nicest sunset on the island. Do not expect much from the cocktail nor the food but go for the view.
Scuba Diving
Book a diving tour from a scuba diving school to dive in one of the marvelous spots around the island. Koh Tao, the small island up north has lots of easy diving spot and Sail Rock which is one of Thailand’s best diving site, is the place to get lucky and spot Manta Rays, Barracudas or even whale sharks.
Khao Ra
Hike the 3h (up and down) trail to the Khao Ra. Along the way you will have beautiful landscape toward the island. And if you are not a crazy hiker, do not worry, this hike is pretty easy.
Secret beach
Chill by the secret beach. One of Koh Pha Ngan best beaches and one of our favorites. Warm water, sandy white sand, a nice swing, everything you need to get a great day on.
There are plenty of other beaches on the island. Another call to take is to pick one that is not too crowded.
Bottle Beach
Another hidden beach of the island. To get there, you will first hike 1h30 in the jungle from Coconut beach to Bottle beach. But you will be rewarded.
Ang Thong National Park
Go on a 1-day adventure to the Ang Thong National Park. Start with a speedboat ride and then hike around the main island and get some breath-taking views toward smaller one. Or kayak around the island, there are ton of things to do there.
Night Market
Eat yourself out at the night market and try some of the best street food in Thailand.
Party at Koh Pha Ngan
Full Moon Party
What made Koh Pha Ngan famous is its party. The Full Moon being the TOP party on the island. The party takes place on Haad Rin Beach every month. Get yourselves some UV paint and party the night.
Half Moon Party
Similar to the Full moon party, the half-moon party takes place in the forest near Jungle Experience Koh Phangan. Again, dress up with UV paint and party on the 3 different type of music: psytrance, house and hip-ho
Jungle Experience Koh Phangan
If the moon parties are not on and you want to party, head to jungle experience for a similar experience.
3-day Itinerary Koh Pha Ngan
Day 1:
- Khao Ra
- Bottle Beach
- Amsterdam bar
Day 2
- Scuba Diving
- Secret beach
- Night Market
Day 3:
- Ang Thong National Park
แมวไม่อยู่หนูร่าเริง ( meaw mai yoo noo ra reng) – When the cat is not there, the mice are happy.
Meaning: When the cat’s away, the mice will play. (When no one in authority is present, the subordinates can
