Koh Phangan Hotels and Rooms Review

Koh Phangan Film Festival

2012-01-27T03:46:00.000-08:00

One of the few cultural events to occur on Koh Phangan Island, other than the regular moon parties (if they can be described as cultural), is the Koh Phangan Film Festival. This will be the fourth Phangan Film Festival and it promises to be as good if not better than last year’s.

The film festival will be held over a long weekend from 24th to 26th February. The films will be shown on a large outdoor screen on Ban Tai beach. The host for the event is the Holiday Beach Resort. You can book a room at Holiday Beach Resort directly by following this link.

Each year the independent film festival has had a different theme. This year the theme of the festival is Nature and Spirituality. Independent films will be shown from all over the world exploring these and concomitant ideas.

The organizer for the event is filmmaker and traveler Julian L Balmer who directed the 2007 film, Through the Easter Gate. It is a story of 3 young people on a spiritual quest.

Other notable films to be screened in the past at the festival include: Bag It – Is Your Life Too Plastic?, Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love, and Agrarian Utopia by Thai director Uruphong Raksasad.

There have been world premieres at the Koh Phangan Film Festival. Although some of the movies have not benefitted from a large budget they all seek to be thought provoking.

The 2012 Phangan Film Festival kicks off with an opening party at Ando Loco Mexican Restaurant located on the road between Ban Tai and Thongsala. The party is on 23rd February.

If you are in Koh Phangan at the end of February you should and make the effort to get to the festival to not only show your support to this worth-while event but also to be entertained. What better than watching a movie on the beach?

Here’s the trailer that was made for the 2009 Phangan Film Festival.

Hualamphong Dining

2012-01-21T20:04:00.000-08:00

The video says it all really. It's not a bad restaurant if you have time to kill before getting on your train down to Suratthani. The food was rice and chicken or pork. It cost about 40 Thai Baht a plate. The beers were reasonably priced, too. Next door is a handy convenience store to stock up on snacks, cigarettes etc. for the journey.

Remember that the train doesn't actually go to Suratthani. It goes to Punpin Station that is about an hour from a ferry port to take you to Koh Phangan. When you get off the train you get rushed by steerers trying to sell you tickets for the Seatran. This is one of the irritating things about traveling in Thailand: they tend to try and herd you around.

There is a man outside the row of cafes who sells tickets for all the transport companies. I prefer waiting at Punpin for an hour or so and getting a bus/boat ticket for the Raja Car ferry that leaves from Donsak. This is the biggest boat and rocks around the least when the sea is rough.

The worst boat to take when the sea is rough is the Lomprayah. It's a high speed catamaran and bounces over the waves. Last time I took it was January 9th 2012, just after the Full Moon Party. I have never seen so many people sick. I was heaving too. Those who had spent all the previous night drinking buckets must have rued their decision to take the Lomprayah the next morning.

The good thing about the train from Hualamphong to Punpin is that you get a better night's sleep than the bus. Also the prices go up less often than for the bus/boat deals.

There is a dining carriage on the train where you can get food and beer. You can also smoke there. The beer and food is expensive, though. There are also vendors (legal and illegal) that sell meals that go up and down the carriages.

For a description of the First Class Air-Con Carriage and the journey between Hualamphong, Bangkok to Suratthani click on the link.

Ban Tai in 2012

2012-01-15T21:42:00.000-08:00

Above is a short video I took from the taxi going from Thongsala to Thong Nai Pan. This stretch covers part of Ban Tai up until the Thong Nai Pan turning.

Things to Note

1) Niras Bakery is still going. Good news for all bread lovers.
2) The bar on the corner has re-opened. I think this is now called 'The Sound' and has live music on Fridays and Sundays. There are also a couple of rooms to rent above the bar.
3) For better or for worse the girly bars are still in Ban Tai
4) Chai Motorbike has expanded. The best place to get your motorbike repaired for a reasonable price. Recommended if you rent a bike and scratch or damage it in any way. If you take it back unrepaired to where you rented it from they will ask for lots of money before they return your passport.
5) There's now a big pharmacy in Ban Tai opposite the 7-11 called 'Nopporn Pharmacy 7'. A recommended place to buy medicines.

Many of the old traditional wooden houses remain. The speed boat pier is still running but gets very little custom. Things change slowly in Koh Phangan but often for the better.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

2012-01-11T07:46:00.000-08:00

The chances are that you are going to have to visit Bangkok before you make it down to Koh Phangan island. One of the experiences you shouldn't miss in Bangkok is Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Chatuchak Weekend Market is quite far out from the center of Bangkok. You have to sit on an overhead train for about 30 minutes to get there from Sukhimvit. Once at Mo Chit Station (BTS) you just follow the crowds heading to the market. The heaving masses of people don’t start to thin out before you get into the heart of the market.

Chatuchak Weekend Market covers 27 acres of land and has more than 15,000 booths. It is a square with a walk way around the market. It can be very disorientating at first. Around the walk way there are shops, bars, food stands as well as musicians, buskers and the sad sight of children begging. Around the outer fringe are many shops but the majority are in the center.

The shops are set out in a grid system that confusingly goes off at acute angles. There are meant to be areas in the market to help people find what they want, but of course these are only rough guidelines. There are sections for electronic devices, flowers, antiques, clothes and pets. The latter is attractive and repulsive. Lots of cute dogs and kittens are cramped into small boxes and cages. The further up the evolutionary chain you get as an animal the more you no doubt hate your captivity, not to mention the heat and the constant parade of prying fingers through the bars.

When you first enter the center part of Chatuchak Weekend Market the numbers of people are overwhelming. It is very difficult to move; if you have a backpack or kid in a pram even more so.

Following the crowd or just going wherever grabs you can be fun. You are sure to come across a shop selling something that interests you. It is a great place to find souvenirs, clothes, spices, art work, decorations, small furnishings, silk and hundreds of other things. There isn’t much hi-tech stuff. This isn’t the place to go for iPods or pirated software or movies.

If have something particular in mind that you want to buy it can be infuriating. You just seem to find shop after shop selling the same things that aren’t quite right. If you do find what you want the chances are that the price will be wrong. Since becoming a favorite tourist destination many of the shop owners have got wise to the fact that they can charge more and haggle less. As a general rule the further in you go, the cheaper the prices seem to get. You can pay in one shop 750 THB for an item that costs 100 THB at another. If you hold off buying thinking that you could get a cheaper price only to discover that the first place was better value you might have a headache retracing your steps. It all starts to look the same after 40 minutes in the market.

However, for the experienced shopper and professional shopper there are still some real bargains to be had in the market. It is much cheaper for many items then the big shopping malls such as MBK. Many make good relations with shop owners and go several times a year to stock up on goods that they sell on for a tidy profit. As is often the case in Thailand establishing friendly relations and bulk buying makes the chances of getting a big discount far more likely.

The smells of the market are interesting. There is incense and the smell of deep fried food in the air. You can smell plenty of cologne, perfume and body smells. There are the smells of animals and the occasional unpleasant whiff of vomit. Like a bazaar, masses of people are perched in small boxes with their wares facing the narrow walk way. Many of the shop workers are chatting or playing with their smart phones.

Americanification has set in at Chatuchak Market as with most of Bangkok. There are no smoking signs everywhere. Even outside the market huddle there’s no lighting up. The park outside upholds the same dictate. Naturally, it is not hard to find a few Thais surreptitiously defying these edicts. As in many of the late night spots there are ashtrays at every table.

Other than the smoking issue, Chatuchak Market remains one of the most interesting places to visit in Bangkok. It is like Camden Market in that the market has character and provides a barrage of sights, sounds and smells; moreover, you might find some great bargains.

Chaloklum

2011-12-17T19:03:00.000-08:00

One of the best beaches in Koh Phangan is Chaloklum. It is in the north of the island, accessed by a good road from Thongsala that goes over flatish jungle. The noticeable thing about Chaloklum is that it has kept its character – it’s not been overtaken with expensive luxury resorts, nor has it become solely a party center. It has these elements but it remains very much the same place as it was 15 years ago. As a result Chaloklum is a favorite with regular returnees to Koh Phangan.

Chaloklum consists of a road that runs parallel to the beach. Along this road there are still a few of the traditional wooden Chinese fisherman’s houses. This invites comparisons with Fisherman’s Village in Bophut, Koh Samui. However, unlike in Bophut many of the houses are still used by fishermen instead of being converted into boutique bars, cafes and shops.

The Chaloklum village is an intriguing mix of the old and the new. There are local shops and restaurants next to boutique places like the Mandalai Hotel and Sheesha Bar. There are also backpacker bars, dive shops, book shops, DVD places etc. On the corner next to the main road is a very handy 7-11 where you can buy cheap drinks and snacks.

Beaches

The main beach at Chaloklum is long – 2.5 km long. Near the center is a pier that the fishermen use. There are good swimming spots to either side of the pier. Being such a long beach it is easy to find an uncrowded part of the beach. Indeed Chaloklum never feels particularly crowded.

The best beach is a sand bank just off the coast. It is accessed via a bridge from Malibu Beach Bungalows. The beach is thus called Malibu Beach. As is so often the case, it is claimed to be a ‘private beach’ but in law it isn’t. The sand is fine white and the sea clear.

From Chaloklum there is a path through a forest to the small beach of Haad Khom. It can be done by motorbike or 4 wheel drive. From March to November some of the bungalow places in Haad Khom shut as it is the lower tidal months. There is an extensive coral reef system at Haad Khom that makes it a great spot for snorkeling.

Haad Khom has no mains electricity. It is a quiet and hippy style beach popular with long stay visitors. Here you can strike a deal to pay for a fan bungalow on a monthly rate. Coconut Beach and Garden Bungalows has bungalows starting at 300 THB a night. Ocean View Resort has bungalows from 450 THB. Often there are no seasonal variations in price at Haad Khom and certainly no minimum stay requirement because of the Full Moon Party.

Activities in Chaloklum

Chaloklum is one of the better places for those who like to do something other than lie on a beach and read a book. Diving is popular. There are a few dive schools at Chaloklum, the best of which is probably Chaloklum Diving.

The wind sometimes gets up in the bay. There is a place on the beach that offers kite boarding and wake boarding.

Near Chaloklum village there is a place that offers elephant treks in the jungle. Opposite is another place that has archery.

From Chaloklum it is possible to walk to Haad Khom and from there you can take a coastal path over to Bottle Beach. For those people intent on a big adventure, the trail continues on to Thong Nai Pan Noi.

Nightlife in Chaloklum

Chaloklum is not a party beach. It is much more laid back and less packed with bars and bodies than Haad Rin. However, it is not a bad place to go out for a few drinks. Drinking spots include the stylish Sheesha Bar where you can get a sea view and suck on a Sheesha pipe. Opposite is Omega Bar. On Wednesday nights Omega Bar has a jam session. They have amps, instruments and a stage. Often ex-pats appear to get some lively jamming going.

In the jungle just off the main village road is Crow Bar. It serves a range of cocktails and snacks and often has a party night. The newest bar in Chaloklum is Zhaba Jazz Bar. It is a converted fisherman’s house on the beach that plays jazz music.

For trance heads in the high seasons there is often an all night party 1 km from Chaloklum. It is the Paradise Waterfall Party, near Paradise Bungalows. The waterfall is not much but there are permanent buildings in the jungle that provide alcohol, food and chill out areas. The party is similar to most of the other parties in Koh Phangan (the Half Moon, Shiva Moon, Black Moon and Jungle Experience) in that it is mostly psy-trance and progressive house beats.

Accommodation in Chaloklum

There are a number of places to stay the beach and nearby. At the west end of the beach is the popular Chaloklum Bay Resort. It has plenty of bungalows both fan and air-con. It also has a small pool. For hotel style rooms there is Viva on the Beach.

A new place is Buri Tara Resort and Spa. It is at the east end of the beach. It has air-con cottages and the resort has an impressive free form pool overlooking the beach.

If you hunt around you can still find some of the original fan bungalows that go for about 300 Thai Baht a night.

Moscowfish

2011-11-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

The best band to emerge from the growing musical scene in Koh Phangan is Moscowfish. The core of the band consists of 2 Canadians that hail from Vancouver - Ted Hall and Ea Birkett. They've set up a recording studio in a converted fisherman's wooden house on the island. They enthuse alot about the creaky wooden house, but they clearly love the place.

Moscow fish are a live band that mixes electronica with acoustic and electric guitars as well as other instruments. It is hard to pigeon hole Moscowfish they sometimes sound like the triphop of Portishead other times like a folk punk band. On their facebook page Moscowfish describes their music as: Other / chill-out, contemporary creative, folk/punk/blues, / electronica acoustic.

Whatever the genre it is a sound that works, and that is original. Below you can see a Youtube video that they made on Koh Phangan that features images from the island:

You can catch Moscowfish at several venues around the island. They play every Half Moon Party in Ban Tai. The Half Moon Party is a Jungle Party that is held 1 week before and 1 week after the Full Moon Party. To find the schedule for the Half Moon Party click here.

Moscowfish also sometimes play at A's Coffeeshop. To find their latest gig date go to their website: moscowfish.com.

The band also has a soundcloud page with lots of great songs for you to check out:

http://soundcloud.com/moscowfish

Despite the sometimes formulaic nature of the party scene in Koh Phangan it is clear to see that the beautiful island is also starting to attract those who want to create not just 'play' and imitate.

Jungle Experience

2011-11-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

The Jungle Experience is one of the several parties in Koh Phangan that sprang up shortly after the Full Moon Party gained international recognition. The party is held in the jungle as opposed to the beach. For people who are really keen on hard techno and psy-trance the Jungle Experience is in some ways better than the FMP.

Ban Tai is the village on the road between Thongsala and Haad Rin. There’s a turning just before the 7-11 for a road that goes to Thong Nai Pan and Than Sadet. About 1 km up this road is the home of the Jungle Experience in Koh Phangan.

The party always happens 2 days before every Full Moon and Black Moon Party. The FMP itself doesn’t always fall exactly on the night of the full moon when there is a clash with a Buddha Day holiday.

Jungle Experience is great value at only 300 Thai Baht for entry with 1 free drink. If you go before 11pm entry is free. Time and effort has been put into the area of the party. There is a river that runs through the site. There are water features, fluorescent displays, a ‘magical flower garden’ and organic light installations.

As well as selling alcohol all night long (although they should stop at 2am) there is also an all night Thai restaurant for those who need to stock up on carbohydrates.

Unlike the Full Moon Party there is one DJ playing at a time. One sound system brings people together. The 12 plus sound systems at the FMP tend to fragment the crowd.

The music at Jungle Experience is very much the ‘Phangan Sound’ – namely hard and progressive beats and psy-trance. It’s what Thai DJs on Koh Phangan do best. The DJ team includes popular Thai and foreign DJs resident on the island.

Naturally the party is made better with fire dancing, VDJ displays and of course the gradual heightening of the tempo as time goes on. The party ends at 8am.

Jungle Experience is not the biggest or most original party in Koh Phangan but for those who love the Half Moon and Black Moon parties it is worth going to. The one sour note is that many of the villagers living in Ban Tai have complained about the noise keeping them up all night. Nobody has paid much attention to them it seems.

Plaay Laem Beach Review

2011-09-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

Plaay Laem is located in the south-west of Koh Phangan. It is an area of the island that is much less visited than other parts, especially the south-west where the twin beaches of Haad Rin dominate the tourist scene. In many ways this is a good thing because part of the undoubted charm of Plaay Laem for the visitor is that it is an empty beach.

It is not easy to reach Plaay Laem. You cannot simply hop on a motorbike and drive there. A short ride from Thongsala there is a footpath that is inaccessible by normal bike. A visitor must walk the final ten minutes to get to Plaay Laem beach. The alternative is to hire a longtail boat in Thongsala and take the sea route to the beach.

Plaay Laem is a beautiful white sand beach with a great sunset and view of Angthong National Park in the distance. Behind the beach rises the mountain of Khao Hin Nok. The mountain appears to overflow from the land and spill at into the sea. The result is giant granite boulders scattered around the bay of Plaay Laem. Consequently the best place to kayak in Koh Phangan is Plaay Laem. It is great fun exploring the rocks just off the coast. It is also possible to organize sailing and windsurfing if you stay at Plaay Laem

80 meters off the shore there is a coral reef that is great for snorkeling. The only downside to the beach at Plaay Laem is that the sea shelf gets deep gradually before the corals. This makes swimming best during the higher tidal months between November and April.

Accommodation in Plaay Laem

The cheapest place to stay in Plaay Laem is Cookies Bungalow. They have basic fan bungalows starting at 300 Thai Baht a night. They also have better air-con bungalows available. It is at Cookies Bungalow that you can organize sailing and windsurfing.

Recommended is Sabai Beach Resort. They have clay and Thai thatched bungalows both beachfront and sea view. Some of the bungalows are directly on the beach; others command impressive views as they are elevated. Sabai Beach Resort offers basic bungalows as well as air-con bungalows with TV, fridge and DVD player. Bungalows at Sabai Beach Resort cost between 900 THB and 2,500 THB. They also have a restaurant.

Click here to find out more about Sabai Beach Resort

Another good accommodation option at Plaay Laem is Amsterdam Bar and Stone Hill Resort. The Amsterdam reference might not be lost on all; and yes, Plaay Laem is a very laid back place. Amsterdam Bar is accessed from the main road and is built on a giant rock. The veranda at the bar has the best views of the spectacular sunset at Plaay Laem.

Near the bar there are a few air-con bungalows including a family bungalow suitable for 4 people. All the bungalows have large balconies and are great places to enjoy the view.

Click here to find out more about Amsterdam Bar and Stone Hill Resort

Conclusion

Plaay Laem might not have the best beach in Koh Phangan, but it does have one of the quietest beaches. It is a great place to relax and escape the crowds. Plaay Laem is also a good place to enjoy water sports such as kayaking, sailing and windsurfing. Plaay Laem is ideal for couples and for those who like to be near all the amenities of Thongsala but want to enjoy a beautiful beach locale.

Club 9 Review

2011-08-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

Club 9 Newest Club addition

Club 9 is the newest club in Koh Phangan. It is also the largest club on the island. Although having an indoor club is not a new idea, it does seem to be quite novel for Koh Phangan where people tend to gather and revel outside. The FMP, the Half Moon Party, the Jungle Experience and the Black Moon Party are all outdoor events with either the jungle or the beach providing the ‘walls’.

Better than Brandon

Although it is not a new idea to charge a cover charge, it is a new idea to use some of that money to get someone famous to play. The other events take the punters money and put on the very non-famous Brandon Block or Graham Gold: both of whom nobody outside of Koh Phangan has heard of. Already in the short life of Club 9 they have hosted Dub Pistols, LTJ Bukem and (disappointingly) Brandon Block.

It is sincerely hoped that this trend in investing in music talent to come to Koh Phangan is a good thing. The derivative sound of progressive/hard trance/techno that the same small band of Thai and ex-pat DJs play for every event in Koh Phangan is frankly monotonous. It is just a re-hash of Goan trance that seemed good back in the late 1990s and has since vanished.

If Koh Phangan is going to persist in championing trance why not get Paul Oakenfold or Tiesto to play more often?

Drink deals

Club 9 has drink deals sometimes available. Something along the lines of pay 1,500 THB to drink as much as you want and get a breakfast. Considering a bucket usually costs 250 THB that means you have to be able to drink 6 buckets to get your money back!

Hostel next door

The club has something called Skittle Vodka and serves pizza. There is also a VIP room available for hire. Next door is a tie-in hostel, House 9 for those who prefer noise to a private beach bungalow.

Angthong National Marine Park

2011-08-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

Excursion from Koh Phangan

One of the best excursions from Koh Phangan is to the nearby group of small islands known as the Angthong National Marine Park. It is a protected area that was not open to the public until 1980. It is a collection of over 40 islets that are mostly uninhabited and have a good selection of wildlife and marine life. It also has some splendid scenery and a breathtaking inland lake.

Until 1980 the collection of islands known collectively as Angthong was a naval base for the Thai navy. Now it is a national park. It costs 200 Thai Baht for foreigners to enter (40 Thai Baht for Thai nationals).

About Angthong National Marine Park

The 42 islets cover an area of 250 sq km. The islands are the peaks of limestone mountains that finish in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The islands have wonderful rock formations from which they take their names such as Sleeping Cow Island and 3 Pillars Island. There are also dramatic cliffs, hidden beaches and lush forest.

Wildlife in Angthong

The islands are home to a variety of animals including 40 types of tropical birds, dusky langurs, short tailed macaques and sea otters. The sea around the islands is also rich in corals and marine life. One of the best diving and snorkeling spots is around Koh Sam Sao. It is an area that has fan corals and a wealth of fish to spot. Sometimes dolphins can be seen in the area too. Most diving schools on Koh Phangan have trips to Angthong Marine Park year round except in July when the currents change and make visibility bad. Recommended diving specialists in Koh Phangan is H2O Scuba School.

The park headquarters is on the largest island, Koh Wua Talab. Here it is possible to hire guides to see something of the interiors of the islands. On the same island there are treks to impressive viewpoints of the archipelago. Also on Koh Wua Talab is a camping ground with tents for hire. Staying the night in Angthong is wonderful because you have beautiful beaches all to yourself like you were Robinson Crusoe.

Golden Basin Highlight

The highlight of a trip to Angthong National Park is a visit to Koh Mae Ko. It is an island that contains a big lake with turquoise water. Surrounding the lake is a golden basin (‘angthong’ in Thai) that gives the name to the archipelago.

Other activities in Angthong

As well as trekking, snorkeling and diving, other popular activities include sea canoeing and exploring limestone caves. The whole area has pristine natural scenery that is well worth the effort getting to the island.

Other than the park headquarters the only other inhabited island is Koh Paluay that is a semi-permanent home to sea gypsies.

Costs

A number of dive schools and travel agents arrange trips to Angthong Marine Park. A trip typically costs about 1,500 Thai Baht (excluding entrance fees). If you have your own boat or yacht it is an ideal area to moor in a bay and enjoy your own private beach.

Best Snorkeling Spots in Koh Phangan

2011-07-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Although Koh Tao is the most famous island in the Samui Archipelago for snorkeling and diving, the small island does not have a monopoly on dive sites in the Gulf. There is over 16 km of live corals around Koh Phangan, much of which is easily accessible by swimming from shore or taking a kayak out from the beach. Because Koh Phangan is not famous for its snorkeling it is often the case that you can find yourself alone on a reef. Less people snorkeling means the marine life is less disturbed and the better the chances you have of seeing something special. Below is a list of some of the best snorkeling spots around Koh Phangan.

Koh Ma

Koh Ma is a small island off the Mae Haad beach. It is joined to the mainland by a small sand bar. In a way Koh Ma is Koh Phangan’s Nang Yuan because it has a sand bar; it is a marine park; and has some great snorkeling.

Koh Ma has boulder, staghorn and fan corals. There is a spectacular 30 meter long anemone garden. There is an abundance of marine life to see including Blue spotted stingrays, Barracuda, Butterfly fish, Groupers and sometimes a reef shark.

Haad Salad

This is a favorite snorkeling spot for many. The reef stretches around the bay. At the southern end it is sandy and ideal for snorkeling and diving. The reef has many brain and table corals. There are many colorful fish to see such as Butterfly fish, Angel fish, Parrot fish and Damsel fish. Haad Salad used to be a smuggler’s hideout and is a great beach to stay on.

Haad Yao

Haad Yao is sometimes referred to as a ‘perfect beach’. The snorkeling does not disappoint either. The corals stretch for the whole length of the 1km beach. Haad Yao has a very healthy coral system that includes brain corals, table corals and barrel sponges. The coral is accessible for snorkeling from the beach and has Porcupine fish, Blue spotted rays, Parrot fish, Squirrel fish and fusiliers.

Haad Chao Phao

Haad Chao Phao is a lesser known beach on the West coast. It is a great place to snorkel uninterrupted by groups of people learning to dive. The dive site is close to the shore. There is a soft coral field where you can see Nudibranches and Blue spotted rays.

Other dive and snorkeling spots on Koh Phangan include the small beach of Haad Khom between Chaloklum and Bottle Beach, and some small islets a short boat journey away – Kong Nui and Kong Yai (both 15 minutes by longtail boat off the West coast), and Koh Tae Nok, Koh Tae Nai (off the South coast). Even if you don’t want to spend money joining diving or snorkeling trips it is possible to hire a motorbike and get to many of these snorkel sites by yourself. As always never touch the corals and don’t be tempted to take home a souvenir.

Haad Yuan

2011-05-29T04:53:00.000-07:00

Haad Yuan on the east coast of Koh Phangan is just 5 km north of the main party beaches of Haad Rin Nok and Haad Rin Nai and yet this small and isolated beach feels like a million miles away from the brash and hedonistic atmosphere of Haad Rin.

Haad Yuan - Window on the past

Haad Yuan is like a window onto the past. The small beach has avoided development partly because it is only accessible by jungle footpath or by longtail boat and partly because most of the bungalow owners are opposed to big development such as has occurred on Thong Nai Pan Noi that prices most people out of the market.

The beach still has simple bungalows made from natural and local materials such as coconut wood. They offer a fan, a bathroom (optional) a mosquito net and a small veranda. Bamboo Resort, Horizon Resort and Haad Yuan Resort all offer such basic bungalows. These are some of the cheapest places to stay on the entire island.

And the great thing about Haad Yuan is that it is one of the most picturesque beaches on the island. It has fine white sand and the sea has only a small tidal difference. Unlike many of the beaches on the west coast, Haad Yuan offers year round swimming.

There are also some good trails to follow in the area. It is a short walk to the equally beautiful beach of Haad Thian (East) where people study tai chi, yoga etc.

Concession to the 21st Century

There is no one resort with air-con rooms and a communal swimming pool. This is the only concession that Haad Yuan seems to be making to the 21st Century. The place is Centara Pariya Haad Yuan. It has 39 beach villas built from concrete in a round style. The rooms are well appointed and the villas fit unobtrusively into the jungle fringe of the beach.

For people looking for a beach near Haad Rin but without noise, Haad Yuan is a good option. For those people looking for privacy and the ultimate in relaxing atmospheres Haad Yuan is a good option. And for those people wondering what Koh Phangan used to be like Haad Yuan is a good choice.

Haad Salad

2011-05-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Haad Salad and Koh Phangan

Haad Salad is the name of a beautiful beach that is located in the north west of the tropical island of Koh Phangan. It is a less well known beach than other destinations on Koh Phangan such as Haad Rin, Haad Yao and Thong Nai Pan Noi, and this is to its advantage, as the beach is one of the most unspoiled and peaceful of all the beaches on the island.

Koh Phangan is blessed with over 20 beaches. Most of them have fine white sand, clear blue waters and tropical foliage. It is typical of human nature that most first time visitors to the island head for the most commercial beaches. It seems that people want to have the same experiences wherever they go.

It is only those who re-visit the paradise island of Koh Phangan who realize that there is so much more to the place than simply the Full Moon Party. These are the people you will encounter if you stay at Haad Salad.

Haad Salad - pirate hangout

In Thai ‘haad’ means ‘beach’ and in southern dialect ‘salad’ means ‘pirate’. This small beach was so named because it was a favorite smugglers’ hangout many years ago. The bay allows only shallow bottom boats because there is a coral reef 150 meters out from the coast. This provided protection to those seeking to hide from the Thai navy.

Nowadays the pirates have gone. Until recently Haad Salad was a place catering exclusively to backpackers and those wishing to stay long term and cheaply. Now Haad Salad has a good range of accommodation. There are both cheap bungalows on the beach and air-con rooms. Prices range from $10 to $120 a night for accommodation.

Accommodation and Bars on Haad Salad

There’s a good selection of restaurants, bars, shops and cafés on Haad Salad. It is a beach with good facilities but it remains quiet. It is not a party beach.

To enter the beach you first pass a number of businesses including Reggae Village and the ever popular Haad Salad Reggae Bar. Reggae is far more the flavor of Haad Salad than the psy-trance of Haad Rin.

The swimming in Haad Salad is best during the high tidal months of November to April. The coral reefs just out in the bay offer great snorkeling and diving opportunities. Nearby is Koh Ma, Koh Phangan’s only Marine Park. Other places of interest nearby include Wangsai Waterfall and Laem Son lake.

After staying on Haad Salad for a while you begin to wonder why anybody would prefer bigger and noisier beaches; you also start to envy those earlier pirates.

Bottle Beach Review

2011-05-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

Legendary Status of Bottle Beach

Bottle Beach is legendary in traveler’s circles because of its perfect beach backed by lush jungle. Until a few years ago Bottle Beach was one of the most inaccessible beaches on Koh Phangan. That has somewhat changed since a road was built connecting Bottle Beach to the Thong Nai Pan road. It nevertheless remains a very attractive beach destination for those who like their nature unspoiled.

It used to be that the only way to leave Bottle Beach was to take a taxi longtail or to attempt a hike through the jungle to the nearest road followed by a hitch back to Thong Sala. If the weather turned and the sea became choppy then people found themselves stranded on Bottle Beach for a few extra days.

And what a place to become stranded! Bottle Beach has a wide golden sand beach with good year round swimming. The water is clear and often small fish can be seen. Behind the beach is undisturbed jungle as far as the eye can see. There are a number of trails that you can take from the beach. One of them leads to a view point over the bay.

Accommodation on Bottle Beach

The accommodation on Bottle Beach is not luxurious, but neither is it uncomfortable. There are 4 accommodation providers – Smile Resort, Haad Khuat Resort (Bottle Beach 3), Bottle Beach 1 and Bottle Beach 2. These places offer air-con or fan bungalows with bathrooms.

As yet there are no hotels or luxury resorts on Bottle Beach. This is one of the beaches on Koh Phangan that has so far resisted the call to promote itself as a package tourist destination complete with swimming pools and Thais wearing uniforms.

Advantage of Bottle Beach

The main advantage of Bottle Beach is that there is no road behind the beach. This means there is never any traffic noise. It also completely eliminates those visitors who enjoy polluting the air by zapping here and there on their bikes.

For some Bottle Beach remains one of the best places to unwind not just in Thailand but in all of South East Asia. For those who like to go shopping and enjoy a variety of bars and restaurants and a loud nightlife this is not the beach for you.

Haad Chao Phao Review

2011-05-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

Haad Chao Phao - less visited beach

Haad Chao Phao is one of the less visited beaches on the tropical island of Koh Phangan. Most of the visitors to the island in the Gulf of Thailand seem to end up either staying at Haad Rin, Ban Tai, Thong Nai Pan or Haad Yuan. This is great for those people who get the gorgeous white sands of Haad Chao Phao to themselves, but is perhaps bad for the locals who have businesses in the area.

Koh Phangan has now become synonymous with the Full Moon Party in the minds of lots of gap year students and backpackers. As a consequence the south and the east of Koh Phangan sees a lot more visitors than the west coast. This is somewhat ironic because the roads in the west of Koh Phangan are in much better condition. Moreover, there is a long series of live corals along the west coast which offers great snorkeling and diving opportunities.

About Haad Chao Phao

Haad Chao Phao is about 10 minutes by taxi from the main port town of Thongsala. It is a softly curving bay with spectacular sunsets. The beach has fine white sand. The sea drops off steeply before the coral reef so there is good swimming no matter what the tidal conditions. The coral reef is 100 meters from the shore and once crossed there is a great profusion of marine life to enjoy.

Accommodation, Bars and Restaurants in Haad Chao Phao

There is plenty of accommodation on Haad Chao Beach. The options range from basic bungalows on the beach to luxury apartments with sea views at Sunset Hill Resort. The apartments can hold up to 8 people and so can be great value for money.

Nearby is the Village Green Restaurant and Pub that does great Thai food and English grub. In its own little cove is the Pirate Bar. It’s a great spot to have a few drinks and go wild to the music. Alternatively, there’s the Seaflower Beach Bar on the center of Haad Chao Phao beach. When a few customers turn up the bar man can often be persuaded to do some fire dancing.

Haad Chao Phao is a gem of a beach. There’s everything you could want except for the crowds. If you want them you will have to go to Haad Rin.

Song for Bottle Beach

2011-05-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

You know a place must be either really good or really bad if it can inspire a song. The Bottle Beach Song is a bit of a hippy cliche but it gives you a good idea about:

1) How gorgeous Bottle Beach is

2) How peaceful the place is and how perfect it is for a beach holiday.

Although Bottle Beach or Haad Kruat/Kruad has expanded from 1 resort offering basic coconut thatched bungalows for $3 a night to 3 resorts with $10 to $20 a night fancy bungalows, it still remains one of the least developed beaches on the island. It used to be cut off from the rest of the island. Now there's a road through to Thong Nai Pan Noi. It remains a hard place to get to and definitely worth the effort.

There's virtually no tide on Bottle Beach. It is great for year round swimming. You can sometimes spot little fish in the sea. There are also some good trails to follow into the jungle behind the beach.

Anyway, without further ado here's the Bottle Beach Song.

To book cheap accommodation on Bottle Beach click here

Budget Places to Stay in Bantai

2011-01-28T00:34:00.000-08:00

There is a wide selection of accommodation options in the small village of Bantai in the South of Koh Phangan. Bantai is conveniently situated on the road between Thongsala, the main port town and Haad Rin, the home of the Full Moon Party. There is a great stretch of white sand beach running the length of Bantai which is only broken by a small river that marks the boundary with neighboring Bankai.

Bantai offers a great combination of convenience and unspoiled beauty. There is a small selection of restaurants, internet shops and shops on the main road including the Bantai 7-11 where you can pick up cheap food and other essentials. Yet the place is quiet and laid back.

Bantai makes a great spot for those people who are keen to party. The Full Moon Party is 10 minutes away, the Half Moon Party is around the corner as is the more intimate Black Moon Party. Yet you can easily get away from the noise when you return to your resort.

Prices for accommodation are generally a lot more reasonable in Bantai than in Haad Rin.

Here is an updated list of places to stay in Bantai (February 2011) with the prices. Budget places first. Simply click on the place to take you through to the R24.org booking engine for secure online booking. Secure a great deal today.

Coco Garden Bungalows 450 thb (low season); 500 thb (high season)

Field Paradise Village 400 thb (low season); 500 thb (high season)

Holiday Beach Resort 530 thb (low season); 700 thb (high season)

Phangan Beach Resort 550 thb (low season); 600 thb (high season)

Sabaii Bay Resort 600 thb (low season); 800 thb (high season)

My Phangan Resort 500 thb(low season); 600 thb (high season)

Jungle Bar and Bungalow 700 thb (low season); 850 thb (high season)

The Garden Lodge 1,200 thb (low season); 1,700 thb (high season) - RECOMMENDED

Palida Garden Resort 800 thb (low season); 1,000 thb (high season)

Beer Bungalow 1,000 thb (low season); 1,250 thb (high season)

Rungarun Resort 1,500 thb (low season); 1,800 thb (high season)

Milky Bay Resort 1,400 thb (low season); 1,600 thb (high season)

Power Beach Resort 1,200 thb (low season); 1,400 thb (high season) - SPECIAL RATE

Pimolsuph House 1,500 thb (low season); 1,800 thb (high season)

Da Kinda Villa Beach Resort 1,600 thb (low season); 2,100 thb (high season)

B52 Beach Resort 1,650 thb (low season); 1,950 thb (high season)

Morning Star Resort 1,600 thb (low season); 1,790 thb (high season) - HOT DEAL

Awe Resort (private Villa for 4 people) 5,100 thb (low season); high season 5,500 thb

For reviews of these resorts click the links and you will find review links at the bottom of the page just below the price lists. Don't forget to check about minimum stay requirements if you intend to stay during the time of a Full Moon Party.

Places to Visit in Koh Phangan

2011-01-19T06:13:00.000-08:00

For those people who want to do something other than rave the night away at the Full Moon Party there are a number of interesting places to visit in Koh Phangan.

Firstly, there are over 20 temples to visit on the island. The oldest is Wat Phu Khao Noi, just outside Thongsala, near the Hospital. It has some interesting Chedis and a great view over the island. There is also the Chinese Temple on the road between Chaloklum and Thongsala. It is a beautiful temple that was built as the result of a dream that Mrs Malawan had while visiting the island. She dreamed of the Chinese Buddha, Jaomae Kuanin. After the dream she went to Bangkok and raised the money to build the temple that was completed in 1992.

If temples aren't your thing then there are a number of waterfalls to visit on the island. There is Phaeng Waterfall on the trek up to the top of Khao Ra mountain. There is Wang Sai Waterfall near Koh Ma in the north west of Koh Phangan. There is the famous waterfall of Than Sadet where 3 Kings of Thailand have their intitials on the rocks. And there is Thaan Prawet Waterfall near Thong Nai Pan Noi beach.

There are also a number of treks on the island including the walk up to the top of Koh Phangan's highest mountain, Khao Ra. The trek starts at the small village of Baan Madua Wan. You can hire a guide in the village for 500 THB.

On really hot days a good place to cool off is at Leam Son Lake. The lake is situated on the coastal road on the west of the island just before Haad Yao. There are shady pine trees and a few rope swings for diving into the water. No fishing allowed.

Other places of interest to visit include the fishing village of Chaloklum in the north of the island. There you will find traditional architecture, long tail boats and fishermen mending their nets.

And finally, if you fancy a boat trip a good day excursion is to Ang Thong Marine Park. it is a collection of 40 islands in a protected nature reserve. There are coral reefs to snorkel, kayaking around the islands, limestone caves and a giant saltwater lake. It is possible to arrange over night camping trips to the Marine Park.

And of course when you have had enough of exploring Koh Phangan you can always return to your resort, have a swim and enjoy a cocktail as you watch the sunset.

Reviews of Phanganburi Resort and Spa in Haad Rin Nai

2011-01-03T07:16:00.000-08:00

The Phanganburi Resort and Spa is a tall hotel style place to stay near the entrance to Haad Rin. It has 2 pools - one in a central courtyard and one on the beachfront. The beachfront pool has a towel service and a bar. One of the main advantages of the Phanganburi Resort is that it is near to the Full Moon Party and all the amenities of Haad Rin but far enough away to allow guests to get some sleep during the big party.

Facilities at the Phanganburi Resort and Spa include 2 pools, restaurant serving Thai and Western food, herbal sauna and motorbike hire.

Reviews of the Phanganburi are mixed. Some people are very happy with the staff, service and rooms. Others complain about the dirty pools, the old sun loungers and the lack of maintenance. One reviewer describes the Phanganburi as a '2 Star resort'. That is probably a fair assessment.

Here are the prices for the Phanganburi for 2011. The prices are in Thai Baht. 's' = single 't' = twin

                      Dec-April May-June July-Sep15 Sep16-Oct31
Deluxe Room(s)       2700     2500        2850         2500
Deluxe Room(t)       3000     2850        3250    2850
Cottage,single          2900    2750        3150        2750
Cottage,twin            3200 3150 3500       3150
Beach Side Cottage(s)3450 3350       3750    3350
Beach Side Cottage(t)3800   3750      4150        3750
Corner Suite,single     4050 4000       4350        4000
Corner Suite,twin       4350   4350      4750      4350
Beach Front Cottage(s)4050 4000      4350    4000
Beach Front Cottage(t)4350   4350    4750        4350

Click Here For Secure Booking of rooms at the Phanganburi Resort & Spa

Emily Bennett
2010-04-03
The hotel was great. good location and good set up. The staff speak english well and are very helpful. the prices are reasonable at the resteraunt and the food is excellent. Recommended for anyone who wants to stay somewhere with a great view of the beach, but not the mayhem of the full moon party beach. two thumbs up!

Jayne Russell
2010-01-05
Was a lovely hotel, great location for full moon party.. only a quick stroll to the party and nice and close to coral bungalows for the pool party.. only downer was the restaurant and service. It took ages for food and wasnt that great. and you may have to ask for fresh towels etc as they dont come some days..

Mananunt Ahlefeld
2009-12-12
This hotel could use some TLC. The pool area was messy with dirty dishes and broken glass. The pool furniture was falling apart, the umbrella stands if you were lucky enough to have an umbrella didn t support the umbrella which would fall over with the slightest breeze. The entire place was poorly managed. The rooms were below average, especially for the money being charged. When I requested a comment card to voice these issues I was handed a blank sheet of paper and asked to write my comments.

Sagi Ramon
2009-11-29
dont expect too much, rooms are below mid-level, the pool is very nice and the private beach is realy not recommended. if u lokking to stay in had-rin not many good high class resort. rate is overprice to what u get. we stayed there only couple of nights, will not go back.

Roy Michael Atkinson
2009-10-06
Well situated on the quieter Sunset Beach but easy access to the busy town and sunrise beach. The whole resort was clean and well appointed which gives a 5 star feel to the resort. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

Hin Patelio
2009-07-13
Had a great stay, nice room, helpful staff, ideal for a comfortable stay in koh phangan!!!

Sofia Khan
2009-05-13
Nice Hotel would visit there again. Everything clean and staff very friendly. Nice food. Nice pools. Close to Full moon parties but far away enough to get some sleep.

MRS NICOLA PIERCY
2009-04-03
We stayed here for three nights - our second stay at this hotel following a trip three years earlier. From what we ve seen it is definitely one of the better resorts in Haad Rin - the staff are good, the pool is clean, and most importantly the location is excellent!! On the good side the two pools are lovely - one is located centrally in the hotel and is very quiet - the other is directly on to the beach and has a very good pool bar including a towel service. It is also an amazing place to view SUNSET, which is spectacular!! Our allocated room was on the ground floor, but as mosquitoes love me, we asked for an upper floor and were accommodated without any hassle. The tourist desk also offers a moped hire service and for 200 baht per day (about £4) the bike we hired was in perfect condition and was brilliant for travelling around the island - but be VERY careful - the roads aren t great (bit s missing, big hills getting out from Haad Rin to Thong Sala) and further north east are basically clay, but if you know what you are doing a great way to get around. On the negative, the resort appears to have nothing done in the last three years - I d describe it as a posh way of roughing it - the rooms are good in size, but could do with a bit of a freshen up and the sunloungers have definitely seen better days... Great if you want to party (close enough to walk to SUNRISE), but also far enough out that you ll get a decent nights sleep.

Patrik Arvidsson
2009-02-28
We stayed at Phanganburi in a Corner Suite for a week. All in all the rooms are overpriced. For the same price you will get a much nicer room on Samui. It is a typical 2-star resort. Our suite, room 3217, was ocean facing but had mostly tree-view. The room was ok, but the bathroom was not. Housekeeping was slow and not very good. There are two quit nice pools, but the sun bed mattresses were dreadful (200 years old and mouldy!). The beach had not the best sand and the seafloor is a bit muddy.

Buchanan
2009-01-13
Most worthwhile just for the pool that overlooks the beach. I think the best resort by far in the Had Rin area. Beautiful deluxe cottages with everything you could possibly want except a bath tub. Staff are friendly, helpful and very polite. Very close to all the action but far enough away to escape. Highly recommend the Phanganburi!

Reviews of Dreamland Resort in Thong Nai Pan Yai

2010-12-20T07:23:00.000-08:00

Mixed reviews for Dreamland Resort tucked into the northern corner of Thong Nai Pan Yai beach. For a long time Thong Nai Pan Yai was the other great beach in Koh Phangan, behind its more famous cousin, Thong Nai Pan Noi. Times are changing. the Thong Nai Pan area is still stunning and the road access has improved but the prices have gone up market along with the tourist demographics. Still for all those diehard Thong Nai Pan fans Dreamland is still a great option if you want to lie on a postcard perfect tropical beach and mid-range comforts.

The comforts have improved slightly in Dreamland Resort - they now have a pool and pool dining area. There also some fairly nice air-con bungalows.

Here are the prices for Dreamland Resort for 2011:

                     Jan-March April-June July-Aug Sept-Nov Dec
Standard Fan 800 THB    600 THB       800 THB     600 THB 800 THB
Standard A/C1500 THB 1200 THB 1500 THB 1200 THB   1500 THB
Superior       1800 THB 1500 THB 1800 THB 1500 THB 1800 THB
Family          1500 THB 2000 THB 2500 THB 2000 THB 2500 THB
Deluxe          4000 THB 3500 THB 4000 THB 3500 THB 4000 THB
Rates are excl. breakfast

Click Here for secure booking of accommodation at Dreamland Resort

TRONEL

2010-07-30

Fantastic location without too many tourists. Resort with an human size where you can stay quietly enjoying beach and the fantastic swimming pool. Very kind and efficient personnel always here to help you. A perfect way to end our trip around Thailand. Thanks !

Annika Hilmersson

2010-07-25

Vid vårt besök på Dreamland Resort drabbades vi dessvärre av regn och blåst. Dreamland resort har en underbar pool och är säkert dt bästa boende vi kan tänka oss på denna strand.Svårtillgängligt att ta sig hit med bil det är bättre att åka båt.

Kerlir Gwenaelle

2010-01-02

very good bungalows but 1- the resort is very far off all and the road is very dangerous 2- the resort is very noisy during all the nights, we can t sleep. Lots of people went to sleep without respect for others, they shout, laughted at 4:OO AM.

FULGINI Sigrid

2009-08-18

Les chambres sont bien et l hotel est l un des plus beau de cette magnifique plage de sable. accueil inexistant, on arrive et on se débrouille et aussi pour repartir... il ne faut pas avoir besoin de quelque chose à moins que ce ne soit un verre dans la piscine qui elle est magnifique, surement la plus jolie de la plage (la il y a du monde) je vous invite à éviter le restaurant qui est extrement mauvais (surtout le hamburger qui est cuisiné avec on ne sait trop quoi) au secours... l hotel mériterait un petit changement de direction et de personnel qui a l air de sortir de boite de nuit tout le temps... dommage car hotel est magnifique ..vraiment dommage

Hendrik Schneider

2009-08-08

There are good and bad things about the resort. Good: Located at the very nice beach which is clean and quiet. The resort is well maintained. Clean, green, nothing that disturbes. Bad: The rates are without breakfast (which I have simply overseen). Actually everything seemed to be overprised. A few damages in the bathroom which I simply do not expect when I book superior. Overall we had a good stay there anyway.

Advice For Those Planning to go the Full Moon Party

2010-12-10T03:36:00.000-08:00

The Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Nok or Haad Rin Sunrise beach on Koh Phangan is a massive event. The all night (and most of the next day) party regularly attracts up to 30,000 people. The vast majority of these people, young and old, have a great time and nothing bad happens to spoil their evening. However, there are a few for whom the party turns into a nightmare or at least a night they would rather regret. Here are a few simple guidelines to make sure your time at the Full Moon Party is ruined.

1) It is naive to tell people to not take drugs, but those who choose to take drugs should be aware that the party is patrolled by both uniformed and under-cover police who go up and down the beach looking for people smoking joints. Furthermore, you can be guaranteed that any class As that are offered to you on the night of the party are going to be of low quality and possibly cut with unpleasant substances. There is one bar that sells magic mushroom shakes. There have been a number of complaints from people who have felt very sick after imbibing one of these cocktails. Also magic mushrooms are strong hallucinogens that strongly distort reality and can easily lead to paranoia and can trigger more serious psychological events. Being surrounded by 1000s of people might not be the time to experiment with hallucinogens for the first time.

2) Booking your accommodation is a must for the Full Moon Party especially if you want to stay on one of the Haad Rin beaches or nearby at Seekantang or Bantai. The chances are that if you arrive on the day of the party you will be turned away from most places. Also the majority of bungalow operations place a minimum stay requirement (normally 3 or 4 nights) on anyone looking for accommodation over the Full Moon Party period. For more about Full Moon Party accommodation follow the link. Remember that if you book over the internet then there is very little room to negotiate a price reduction later because commissions have to be paid. At the same time, Thais are often open to haggling if they are having a slow month.

3) On the night of the party leave your passport, credit card and the bulk of your money in a safety deposit box back at your bungalow operator. There are many thieves and prostitutes at the party who look for people who have passed out so they can look for money. The less valuables you bring to a party the better. Carrying your money in a bag and then leaving your bag unattended is also a common mistake. Cameras and mobile phones are popular things to steal.

4) You may feel like you are returning to nature but don't let that deter you from wearing flip flops or thongs. The beach gets covered in broken glass as the night wears on.

5) Similarly, over 50% of men (and a fair proportion of women) go to the sea to empty their bladders rather than queue at the toilets (many of which you have to pay for). Be warned that if you go for a swim you are swimming in other people's urine.

6) Again on the subject of swimming: people regularly drown at the Full Moon Party because they are too drunk. During October, November and December the sea is turbulent and dangerous because of the monsoon season.

7) If you fancy a sleep on the beach, then a good spot to choose is the designated resting area. Volunteers are on hand to protect those who pass out and the sand is free of broken glass.

8) Beware of buckets. Because of the coke and red bull in buckets it is often hard to notice how strong the Thai whiskey is. If you want to last the distance than pace yourself. There is no last orders at the Full Moon Party so there is no reason to hurry your drinking.

9) If you meet a Thai woman who seems keen to be your girl friend you might want to find out if she is not a he and if she expects to be paid. Finding these things out in advance saves a lot of embarrassment later on.

10) Don'r ride a motorbike when you are drunk. The road to Haad Rin is steep and dangerous and on the night of the party is full of taxi drivers taking risks to make runs as quickly as possible.

11) Taxis over-charge on the night of the party. There is little that can be done about it. Keep your calm but negotiate. If there is a group of you, you have more power of negotiation. Also there are lots of taxis to choose from so don't worry you will get back eventually to your bungalow.

12) Remember that entry to the party is free but now people taking the Haad Rin express from Koh Samui on the day of the party are charged an extra fee. Also several travel agents add supplemental fees to tickets during the Full Moon period.

13) Lastly, check your dates. The Full Moon Party is often not on the exact day of the full moon.

14) Finally, be respectful of Thai culture and the Thai king and don't get involved in a fight with local boys. You might win round 1 but they will be back with their mates to make sure you badly lose round two.

Have a great party. Be safe. Be careful

Reviews of Santhiya Resort and Spa on Thong Nai Pan Noi

2010-11-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

Santhiya Resort and Spa was the second real hotel on Koh Phangan. And it choose the opposite end of the beach from the first hotel, namely the Panviman on Thong Nai Pan Noi

Panviman is a great hotel and so is Santhiya. They have differing styles. Panviman seems lower key and Santhiya is a brash and luxurious place that announces itself very loudly. They have some very expensive villas with private pools and great sea views.

Below is a list of real reviews of the Santhiya Resort and Spa:

Boris Steiner

2009-12-16

The Hotel was really amazing! You feel like you are in paradise. I personally enjoyed most the room with pool access, but this might be up to the person you stay with!\r\n\r\nThe hotel is suitable for couples, honeymoon etc. Makes sure you are not going with a buddy (like i did) to have a nice and pleasant stay and really can use everything to the full extend!\r\n\r\nFor the location i can just give a four, as the beach directly next to the resort is even more beautiful! But the good thing is, you just walk 5 minutes!

Orit Ziv
2009-12-12

A grat and beutifal hotel. An hour drive in a very bad road too quite. Recomended for people that would like to b alone.

Eva Christina Bengtsson
2009-06-28

Great hotel. We had a super view from our room. Breakfast was excellent. Staff very friendly and always at your service. The beach at the hotel was not very good but just a few steps away around the corner you reach a nice beach. Pool terrific. This hotel I would like to return to.

Nataliia and Oleksandr Globenko
2009-04-22

Amazing and relaxing luxurious hotel, making you feel as being in paradise from the first minute you arrive there. Stayed in Santhiya Garden Villa Suite for 4 nights in April, 2009. There is nothing negative we could find about this hotel. Villas look gorgeous, all of them new, spacious, made of carved teak wood, with really LARGE verandas (there were 2 sun beds with a small table, normal dining table with 2 chairs and a large bathtub on ours). Almost all walls of the villa feature large windows from the floor to the ceiling, which can be easily closed by the curtains if you look for 100% privacy (though rich rain forest trees and flowers around your villa will provide enough privacy to keep the windows open). The wooden roof of the villa covers only the part of the veranda so if you are afraid of getting burned with sun ask for a large beach umbrella and hotel staff will easily provide it in shortest time). All in-room facilities were excellent: starting from cosy cambric bathrobes and slippers embroiden with golden elephants and ending with a variety of elegant glasses in the bar. Service was very nice, all staff friendly and trying to be as helpful as possible. We were impressed with the welcome and check-in procedure. The hotel is large, its villas are situated on different heights of mountain hill but don’t be afraid of exhausting climbing up/down as there are many wooden-decorated hotel cars available upon call from your room or near the reception which will give you a drive as many times per day as you may need (free of charge). The private beach of Santhiya is very good though if you look for a really airy sand – walk through the rocks (1 minute) to the nearby beach. If you want to swim in the deep water – do it on the hotel beach, if you prefer walking for 20-30 meters in shallow water – the neighbor beach would be your choice. Closer to the left side of the private beach of the hotel (side of the speedboat pier) there is a nice coral reef with different fish and underwater habitants so do not miss the opportunity to snorkel there. We are not the swimming pool fans but the pool in Santhiya is the most excited infiniti pool I’ve ever seen in reality or on the pictures. It’s a great pleasure either to relax in jacuzzi section or massage your back and shoulders under the streams of the waterfall. What is very important – they use high quality cleaning system so no clorine can be felt in the smell of your skin or swimming suit. We didn’t try Santhiya’s restaurants because of their high prices and were very happy about many dining facilities on the nearby beach (you can eat in any of them and won’t be disappointed). Still, the breakfast at Santhiya was very good, serving not only European but also Thai food. In general, we were more than satisfied with the hotel which even exceeded our expectations. We took the special room rate at Sawadee.com (our room cost us around 172 USD/night with breakfast and all taxes) and consider that there hardly could be possible to find better alternative on all Samui group islands for the period of our stay.

Pamela Molnarova
2008-09-11

Absolutely fantastic! We have nothing to add. Beautiful rooms, luxurious, beautiful resort, nice place to stay. Great breakfast, beach, level of service provided. We loved the place and we recommend it to everyone who needs the luxurious accommodation for a reasonable price. Thanks to Sawadee and a special hotel offer (buy 6 pay 4 nights) we paid less than 50% of the normal rate. The only con was the price of the food in the restaurant, which equals to the European level. However the quality was more than corresponding. We had there the best Pad Thai noodles ever. Most of the time we ate in restaurants on the beach next to the hotel resort as the prices were on the level as you are used to in Thailand. We recommend this hotel and we would love to come back again.

Michael Rasmussen
2008-08-03 until 2008-08-10 Santhiya Resort and Spa, Thong Nai Pan Noi
We had a PERFEKT stay really relaxing and fantastic facilities on the whole resort. We enjoyed the golf cars taking us to and from our room (just press 0 on the phone and the golf car is there instantly). We loved the evening walks on the nearby Thong Noi Pan beach, with is calm and cool/trendy bars dinner places. We DEFENTNENTLY WILL BE BACK... Love from Michael & Diana, Copenhagen DK.

Grassagliata
2008-07-28 until 2008-08-05

Magnifique, exceptionnel à tous points de vue. Beauté des paysages, gentillesse du personnel, la plage, la magnifique piscine. Un endroit magique. On a déjà envie d y revenir.

Delight Resort - near Haad Rin Sunrise Beach

2010-09-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Delight Resort is 3 minutes walk from Haad Rin Nok or Haad Rin Subrise beach where the Full Moon Party takes place. It is one of the cheaper places to stay for the Full Moon Party.

Delight Resort is next to Haad Rin Lake. It is a good value option for the FMP. It has a small communal pool and restuarant serving Thai and seafood BBQ. You have to check in at least 3 days before the Full Moon Party and stay a total of 5 nights. All Rooms have air-con and hot water. Exclusive rooms have wi-fi, sat. TV and a private balcony.

Standard Room 2,000 THB
Superior Room 2,200 THB
Deluxe Room 2,700 THB
Exclusive Room 3,500 THB
Exclusive Spa Room 5,900 THB

Below are a number of candid reviews of Delight Lodge. It is what it is and you have to bear in mind that the FMP is the mainstay of business for most of Haad Rin.

Hyun Joon Kim
2009-10-05

if you are looking for crazy fun and to meet people, this resort is a perfect place to stay. However, if you are expecting somewhere nice, clean, and good night sleep, this place is not a good place for you. Also, its little dirty and smells funny.


Laura Cappelletti
2007-08-16 until 2007-08-18

NOT SO NICE LIKE IN THE PHOTO ! A LITTLE HOTEL WITH A LITTLE SWIMMINGPOOL! IT S NEAR TO THE BEACH AND IN THE CENTER OF THE LITTLE TOWN! ROOM NOT VERY CLEAN


Yonit Bisk
2007-03-27 until 2007-04-03

Best things about the resort : water pressure and comfy beds. Worst thing about the resort: You can hear everything that goes on outside while you are in your room! (I m guessing, due to the glass single-glazed doors. Had to sleep with earplugs... Breakfast: Only Ok. Not a buffet. Service: Lacking. Not very friendly. Overall impression: Much too expensive for what you get!


Christian
2007-01-10 until 2007-01-12

Much too expensive for the low quality you get.We had cockroaches in our room. this hotel is not recommendable.

David John Williams
2006-12-31 until 2007-01-06

A pretty good little resort. Great location slap bang in the middle of Haddrin. The restaurant is very good with quick service. The pool area though is very small but the beach is only 3 minutes away. There is a sign at the entrance saying you are not allowed to take guests back so make of that what you will. I would stay again. I would give it 7 out of 10.

Reviews of Chaloklum Bay Resort

2010-08-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

A couple of bad reviews here are mixed in with generally positive reviews for Chaloklum Bay Resort. There is no doubt that it is in a beautiful, quiet location. The bungalows are not 5 star but neither are the prices, which are between 1,800 and 2,600 Thai baht for a beach front villa, standard room.

The point about no car rental and worn motorbike tires is worth noting. Always check the wheels and brakes on any bike you rent on Koh Phangan. They are often not in good condition. You can tighten up the brakes cables easily but worn tires need changing. For just short trips older bikes are fine but if you attempt some of the more challenging roads in Koh Phangan you might damage yourself and the bike. Since the rental company have your passport they can charge what they like for the repairs and you have little choice but to pay.

Another point - check before you check in about room cleaning and towels provided. Normally these things are standard, but you never know in Thailand sometimes.

Reviews of Chaloklum Bay Resort, Chaloklum Bay, Koh Phangan

Gilad Shtinberger

2010-01-31

We were very disappointed from the place, the room that we had was with very small, hot water was only for one shower in a day, after that there was no hot water during the whole day, the pool is nice and the beach is quite, the restaurant was nice, not more than that. They don’t have a car rent, only bike rent with overused tires (very very dangerous for driving) the only good thing beside the pool and the quite beach was amazing masseur that works there. Try to avoided unless you’re looking for a good massage.

Kirill Pavlenko

2009-01-05

I don t recommend this hotel. The service is awful, bungalow interior is poor. They clean our room only when I asked to do it. They took 4 towels, but brought only 3, one of which was with a big hole and so on. The manager said: we have many guests now (!). The restaurant is so so, the food is very salt and there are no any fresh fish or seafood (despite its location on a beach). We stayed here in family bungalow only 3 days, then moved to Ko Samui.

Phillip Harrison

2008-06-30 until 2008-07-02

Lovely hotel, rooms are fantastic, very friendly staff and even though I only stayed one night and didn t know anybody at the resort they welcomed me with open arms and kept the bar/ restaurant open until late.

Steven Harrison

2008-06-26 until 2008-07-03

This was a very peaceful resort and village. There is little tourist influence and the village is a lovely fishing port with few tourist shops. There are some very good restaurants but remember your torch for this resort. The garden view bungalows are very well decorated and comfortable and the newest. The pool is lovely and the new terrace they were building will be great (due to be finished by end of July as at present it is a bit noisy with construction work).

James Brennan

2007-12-22 until 2007-12-27

This resort is very nicely situated on the North coast of Pahngan island. It is a little far from Tongsala and Haad Rin if you wish to visit these regularly, but is nicely tucked away in a quite part of the island. The rooms were quite expensive imo for the size and content of them, however we booked in the knowledge it was quite an expensive resort as we wanted somewhere nice to stay for Christmas. Friendly staff, rooms were nice, right close to the beach, and the resort has a lovely beach front swimming pool. about 1km to nearest 7-11 about 20 minute on motorbike to Tongsala and about 45 minutes taxi/motorbike to Haad rin. overall 8/10 for this resort, and i ve stayed in quite an array in this part of the world.

Reviews of the Panviman Resort on Thong Nai Pan Beach

2010-08-19T22:04:00.000-07:00

As you can see from reading the reviews below, The Panviman Resort on Thong Nai Pan Noi is a popular high-end resort. It has a spa, 3 restaurants, and a big pool with an infinity lip with views over the bay. There are 72 rooms to choose from. The cheapest are about $150 a night. The most expensive have their own private pool. Panviman was the first luxury hotel on Koh Phangan and they have obviously developed excellent customer service. However, Steven T's comment is a reminder that in Thailand it is still very hard to get anything 'complimentary' if you complain. Thai staff just aren't trusted with that type of responsibility and the manager might be having a bad day (such things exist in paradise).

So here are the reviews of Panviman Resort

Cameron Teys
2010-03-20

Me and my wife had 5 nights here for our honeymoon and it was amazing! Worth the journey to get there. Staff were so friendly, location is stunning, room (spa villa which we were upgraded to free of charge from a deluxe villa) was incredible. Great peaceful location overlooking the bay. Great food (especially breakfast) and a short walk down the beach to the village. Couldn t have been better.

Lorna Gordon
2010-03-04

I can't recommend this hotel enough, everything was fantastic. We had a deluxe cottage

Veronica Capone
2010-03-01

Beautiful hotel, beautiful staff who made us feel very welcome and special - nothing was too much trouble. The staff really make this hotel something special.

Finn Sonsby
2010-02-18

The stay at Panviman was indeed a wonderful experience. First of all a real killer location with fantastic view to both beaches. great ambiance and service. I like the style that is not so comtemporary. Highly recommended and we will definitely be back some other time.

Steven T.
2009-07-24

Disappointed! First, the swimming pool was out of order. Water was green and really disgusting. Now these things can happen, so if they do, a small compensation from the hotel would be appreciated (eg free bottle of wine, or a free meal, or a free spa treatment whatever but here - nothing!!). Second: the beach. Next to the beach there runs a stream but basically this is a sewer. Really disgusting! We had dinner on the beach and visited the Rasananda resort which is REALLY nice. I strongly suggest booking either the Rasananda or the Santhiya. On a positive note: the staff were very friendly and polite.

Peter Lim
2009-01-02

Although a bit far from everything else, Panviman Resort is in one of the best locations in Koh Phangan to rest and relax. Its pools, rooms and facilities are by far one of the best I had seen, and staff are very hospitable. It is up a large hill which was hard to walk up, but gave great views on the beach and sea below. I highly recommend this resort for couples wanting to spoil themselves in luxury, and being far away from all the troubles of busy cities.

Jason Laurence
2008-11-15

To stay at this hotel you must love the quiet romantic beauty that would see you isolated from the rest of the island. We stayed here two nights to get away from it all and Thong Nai Pan is very beautiful. This hotel is situated on the top of the cliffside and naturally, there are a few steps to climb and a steep hillside to walk most places. I enjoyed it because all I had been eating for days was bacon and egg breakfasts! This hotel offers free taxi to and from the main town (some cab drivers wanted 1500Bt to drive to Thong Nai Pan one way due to its remoteness) and free internet. The value for money was definately there given this hotel is fairly expensive. I would recommend for a few days but not a long stay. You can t beat the beauty of Thong Nai Pan and getting there on the island s mountainside roads is truely an adventure.

Dupichot
2008-08-01 until 2008-08-08

very nice hotel but much inconvenient it is seated on a hill and no shuttle service is available we asked 3 times for a coach and received three times a negative answer it is really tiring to get up from the beach

Mr J. Atkins
2008-07-23 until 2008-07-25

Great hotel and fantastic location - certainly the best value for money (we had a Superior room) during our two week trip to Thailand. If you want to escape the frenzy of Koh Samui, then head for Koh Phangan and the Panviman. Beautiful setting on a headland overlooking two great beaches. Yes, the road is a little rough getting there (50 mins. from the port) but the relative seclusion and outstanding natural beauty of the setting more than make up for it. We particularly liked the pool area and the beach at Nai Pan Noi - good swimming (unlike much of the west coast of Koh Phangan) and several beachside restaurants/bars to choose from for lunch/dinner. Food at the hotel was fine, though being a four star, was obviously quite a bit more expensive than down on the beach. Breakfast - an excellent buffet. Overall, excellent rapport qualite prix as the French say (basically value for money). We would highly recommend the Panviman to all those planning a trip to the Samui archipelago.

Reviews of Centara Pariya on Haad Yuan beach

2010-06-26T00:52:00.000-07:00

The reviews for the Pariya on Haad Yuan beach are generally favorable. It is a higher-end boutique style resort on Koh Phangan and most people who stayed said that they enjoyed themselves. The beach is especially recommended. It is a beautiful secluded beach tucked away in a cove just north east of Haad Rin. Near the action but also a million miles away. There are a few complaints about the prices, the breakfast and the staff, but overall if you are looking for peace and comfort with stylish accommodation then the Pariya is a good choice. For more choices for accommodation in Koh Phangan visit phanganaccommodation.net.

Reviews

Angela from Perth

2009-04-10
We stayed in a Tropical Villa which was very nice - they upgraded us into this room free of charge which was nice of them. The food prices at the hotel were a bit pricey for what you got and the room service menu was very limited. We were recommended to stay there for the full moon party but that was a bad recommendation - we had to wait 5 hours for a boat to come and pick us up because of a low tide. Also our return hotel transfer was a nightmare because they were late so we had to catch a taxi to the pier or we would have missed our ferry back to koh samui.

Idit Shalve

2009-03-14
Amazing place! great hotel and rooms, lovely staff, beautiful beach. You should check the 2-3 restaurants in the area that are very good and cheap. Will definitely visit again when I get a chance to be in Thailand.

Alice Kath

2007-12-30 until 2008-01-01
This place is a disaster for the price you pay. the service sucks, they don't speak english well and are not helpful at all, the breakfast is horrible. the bungalows are nice and so is the beach, but for this kind of money i really expect more. Out of the 4 weeks southeastasia trip we did, we stayed at 10 dollar a night hotels that had way better service and breakfast than this one, which cost 200 dollars a night.


Marcus Coutou

2007-06-27 until 2007-07-02
Great time, staff was very attentive. A little overpriced for Thailand (probably why the place was pretty much empty our entire stay) but it had all the amenities and is situated on a very nice beach. Stayed in the tropical villa. Would prob stay again but maybe in one of the hip rooms, better value.


Jean Christophe Lombard

2007-04-02 until 2007-04-05
Had a lovely stay in this exceptional paradise. Very polite staff and 2 chefs largely worth the stay. Secluded enough to be quiet but not too much lost in the jungle. Overall, a must on Koh Pha-Ngan

Trekking Routes in Koh Phangan

2010-05-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

Koh Phangan is blessed with an abundance of unspoiled nature: jungle, mountains, waterfalls and inaccessible beaches are all available to explore by those wishing to trek on the island. This post details some of the trekking routes available on Koh Phangan.

Khao Ra

Khao Ra is the highest peak in Koh Phangan. It stands 630 meters above sea level. From the summit there are great views of the bays of Thong Nai Pan and Chaloklum. On a clear day the distant island of Koh Tao is also visible. The trek starts near the elephant place and view point on the road between Thong Nai Pan and Bantai. It is not an overly strenuous walk but the path is not well marked. ‘Bird and Trekking’ man (on the Bantai-Thong Nai Pan road) has organized tours up the mountain.

Phaeng Waterfall

This is one of the best waterfalls on the island. It is a national park so the whole area is protected against development. It is free to enter the park. The trek involves a steep walk up a jungle trail. Once at the waterfall it is possible to take one of several clearly marked trails to a nearby mountain viewpoint. From there you can follow trails up Khao Ra. The trail is in the middle of the island. To get to the trail head take the main road from Thongsala to Chaloklum and take the sign posted turning off to the right (if you are heading north).

Chaloklum to Bottle Beach

You can reach the remote and beautiful beach of Bottle Beach or Haad Kuat. The trek takes about two hours. The path starts at the western end of Chaloklum. Follow the dirt path to Haad Khom and then take the narrow and winding narrow path over the mountain that drops down to Bottle Beach.

Haad Yuan and Haad Thian

This is an excellent two hour trek that starts in Haad Rin and goes north over mountainous terrain before dropping down to the beautiful beaches of Haad Yuan and Haad Thian. There are no roads to these beaches, but you can take a boat out or retrace your steps.

Companies offering organized trekking tours include: Hippo Club Tours (Thongsala), Phangan Safari (Chaloklum) and Phangan Safari Eco-nature Tour (Chaloklum).

Remember to follow these simple rules for your own safety.

1)    Don't trek alone
2)    Tell somebody where you are going so they can call out help if you don't home back.
3)    Bring plenty of water and sunblock.
4)    Wear boots or good shoes. Not flip flops. The island has many snakes, including the poisonous variety.
5)    Get a map, no matter how basic, to guide you. A compass is also useful too.
6)    Give yourself extra time to do the trek. There's nothing worse than being stuck in the middle of the jungle in the dark.
7)    Bring insect and mosquito repellent.
8)    Don't leave any rubbish behind.
9)    Don't start fires.

Reviews of Mandalai Hotel in Chaloklum

2010-05-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

The reviews are generally good for the Mandalai Hotel in Chaloklum. It is branded as a boutique hotel. It is a small hotel with cout yard and swimming pool. Next door is the Sheesha Bar and Restaurant that serves the usual mix of Thai and Western cuisine. It is a mid-range option.

Some people love the traditional feel of Chaloklum as a working fishing village. Others find it a bit noisy, smelly and busy with traffic going up and down the road. It is really a matter of how isolated and remote you want your beach. If you want really remote try Haad Yuan, Than Sadet or Haad Khom.

Anyway below are a number of reviews of Mandalai Hotel in Chaloklum. They have not been edited.
We had planned to spend our honeymoon at the mandalai hotel, so our expectations were higher than usual. But as we visited the hotel in advance we decided to cancel our stay. So we can t say anything about the hotel, rooms and service itself. The reason we cancelled is because the hotel is located directly at the main village road (2 meters from street to the reception desk...) and the inner courtyard where the pool is located is open to one side. At that side all the people passing the hotel to reach the beach can watch inside the courtyard through a wire-mesh fence. Just behind the hotel is the boat pier of chalok lam. So it is to be expected to have a lot of busy and loud boat traffic.

Tim Werner - September 2009

For the second time we stay to Mandalay hotel and we enjoy as the first time. In a peaceful village a white house in front of beach with a sheesha bar , like an old Chinese house but decorated in a modern style. very nice rooms and the best is the staff so kindly.

Ferrand - August 2009

Staff were very friendly and helpful and staff who cleaned the rooms did a good job. Hotel was always nicely presented and clean. However, on the first day i requested staff ensure there were enough umbrellas on the beachside deck for all and that never happened so on occasions we couldnt go down and lie on the deck as not enough shade. Sheesha restaurant service was fast and food was nice and room service was also good. Portions could have been larger though and the milk in the morning for breakfast was warm and should have been cold. Transfer charged to pick up and drop to the pier for the boat should have been free or less than the 400 Baht charged since it was staff doing the driving. For the transfer to the full moon party, most people had to sit in the back tray section of the car and while this is acceptable for locals this was totally unacceptable for foreigners and women especially and i know that many people were offended and greatly surprised by this action. Plus the cost since there was so many in only one car should have been discounted. Also if more foreign TV channels were available that would have been even better. Hot water in the shower was usually not hot enough and should be fixed. Overall i enjoyed my stay and appreciated the cleanliness of the hotel and the friendliness of the staff! Was plenty to do nearby the hotel if desired or could just lie around the pool and beach.

Craig MacDonald - September 2008

The hotel is fine but far from being a luxury hotel as it is said on several internet sites. The beach in front of the hotel is a little dirty with the hotel s sewer that flows in the water (despite of asking us to keep towels several days for the environment !!). The hotel's restaurant is very expensive and the breakfast could be better.

Coiffard - August 2008

Small hotel with about 12 rooms. I think the smallness made it more welcoming and you knew all the staff. One of the best places i have stayed and i have stayed in quite a few 5 stars. Sea view room/suite was excellent with all comforts. With views over the bay the corner jacuzzi was a treat. Not too close too Full moon party but easily reachable.

Tariq Asfar - May 2008

The best rates to book a room online at the Mandalai Hotel in Chaloklum is found at Phanganacommodation.info.

Muay Thai in Koh Phangan

2010-05-14T03:19:00.000-07:00

Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand. Every boy at school learns the basics. Millions stop what they are doing every Sunday afternoon to watch the televised Muay Thai bouts. Muay Thai champions are famous in Thailand.

And of all the places in Thailand to study Thai boxing, Koh Phangan is one of the best. The reason for this is that the great weather and laid back atmosphere of the small island near Koh Samui seems to suit former champions. There are several 'big names' working for the Muay Thai gyms in Koh Phangan. Thus, if you are looking for a place to learn Muay Thai or improve on your Muay Thai technique then Koh Phangan could be the place for you.

The oldest and best established gym in Koh Phangan is the Jungle Gym in Haad Rin. It has been running for more than 13 years. They have a full range of equipment for working out and also offer yoga classes.

The beautiful and remote beach of Haad Thien (or Haad Tien) in the south east of Koh Phangan is the location for the Horizon Thai Boxing Camp. They have a former champion in residence and offer training sessions every day - one in the morning and one in the evening. Horizon Thai Boxing Camp has a fight now that is staged at Bantai. It is 500 bahts to get in.

The Chorenrit Boxing Stadium in Thongsala offers expert tuition on a one to one basis and has a fight night where they have fights at all weight divisions and include women Muay Thai boxers.

There is a small Thai boxing stadium in Thong Nai Pan. It is called Muay Thai Stadium Pechrunruang. They offer personalized Muay Thai training sessions at competitive prices and have a fight night the Monday before the Full Moon Party during high seasons.

There are a few more stadiums and Muay Thai schools dotted around the island. All of them offer training programs for beginners and advanced students. They also organise for non-Thais to participate in fight nights. If you want to learn Muay Thai, just get a work out, lose some weight or get an insight into Thai culture attending a Muay Thai gym in Koh Phangan may be for you.

Coco Garden Bungalows in Bantai Review

2010-05-10T05:20:00.000-07:00

Coco Garden Bungalows in Bantai are reasonably cheap at 450 thb for a night and have lots of good reviews from travellers who have stayed there.

Here are a selection of reviews from people who have stayed at Coco Bungalows in Bantai.

There is only one word to describe our time at coco gardens and that is awesome!!! Service was perfect, all the staff there are really nice and helpful. Food was great, cocktails were great, and the fry up in the morning went some way to curing our hangovers :). We will come back one day....

Keely and Phil - Jan 10th 2010

Coco Gardens by far is one of the best places to stay on the west side of Thailand. The staff are so helpful and the rooms are of a high standard. I stayed for 10 days over Christmas and wished I could have stayed for more. You d be mad not to try this little gem out. Room 101 is the aircon ed top bungalow and well worth the price. Ady. Lee and Thai the owners cannot make you feel more welcome. Try it and see. Happy holidays.

Tompkins - December 30th 2009

the bungalows are great, you step off your balcony and you are on the beach. The room is simple, but sturdy, clean and well kept. the restaurant serves amazing (and cheap) food from 8-10. the beach bar is the place to be at night if you want to escape the lunacy at Haad Rin, the local bar flies make for entertainment and good conversation and the owners (Adrian and Lee) make excellent drinking buddies (If you can keep up with you). I would highly recommend Coco Gardens to anyone, whether you are full mooning or not. Just far enough away from Haad Rin to not goet bothered or robbed but to still have some amazing night life. Lek also makes the best Mai Tais on the island! Cheers Guys, see you again soon!

Samuel Hughes - September 8th 2009

I went to Coco Garden with my wife and a friend of ours for two nights - to attend the Half Moon Party. We were so pleased with our choice. The air conditioned bungalows we stayed in were clean, charming and simply furnished. Exactly what we needed and had hoped for. The rest of the resort was a delight. The staff are just lovely and the beachfront bar was a great place to congregate and loosen up before the party with a few cocktails and beers. The restaurant served yummy Thai food with a smile and the setting was just beautiful. I guess, as others have mentioned, the beach was a bit of a letdown but not such a big deal that I would not stay here again. Apparently the tidal problem only happens a few weeks of the year and honestly, it didn t bother us that much. A great resort on a lovely island - we will definitely return. Thanks Adrian, Lee, Tai and all the other great people running the place. David, Chryss and Gill.

David Bamford - June 16th 2009

The location is great. Staff is vey pleasant and the restaurant provides good food in a very pleasant setting. The rooms (we had a fan room facing the beach) was very basic but perfect for a place to sleep. A fridge is the room will be nice. Will stay at Coco Gardens again.

Dave Engelbrecht - South Africa March 19th 2009

All the other reviews I have found of Coco Garden Bungalows in Bantai have been similarly glowing. They obviously provide good service on a great beach. To book a bungalow at Coco Garden Bungalows online go to Phangan Accommodation.net.

Thongsala Cheap Eats

2010-05-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

Thongsala, the main port town in Koh Phangan, has the best selection of cheap places to eat in Koh Phangan.

Below is a list of some of my favourite cheap eats in Thongsala.

Just down from the post office is a local hole in the wall place that is usually full every lunch time. They serve a mean khao mu deang (red pork with rice). It cost 30 baht when I was there last. The food comes quickly and the walls are covered in classifieds.
At the edge of the market there's a street food stall that serves good and cheap Thai food.
In the evening the night market (on the main street, half way down) is the place to get a cheap meal Thai style. Rice and curry or noodles is the standard fare. You can also get a cold beer with your meal. The night market usually has plenty of people and atmosphere and is a good spot to hang out early evening.
More expensive, but tasty is the fish restaurant on the corner by the sea, on the same road as the post office. They serve fresh shark, snapper etc. with salads and rice. Other than the food, the best thing about the restaurant is the view of Thongsala bay.
Finally, if you are waiting for a Lomprayah ferry the best place to get a snack is the 7-11 opposite the pier entrance. Cup noodles, burgers and crisps are good choices. Stay clear of Thai 7-11 sandwiches - they are sweet with odd (relatively speaking) fillings.
If you want western food, then A's is the place to go. It's good but not in my 'cheap eats' category.

Koh Phangan Review - the First Post

2010-05-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

For those who have visited the place it needs no description, for those yet to visit it is difficult to describe in a sentence. Koh Phangan is different to Koh Samui, Koh Tao and other even less visited islands but it has its own unique charm.

The abundance of great beaches, the chilled out atmosphere, the easy island life style of service is seriously addictive. After just a few days on the beach you will start wonder why you don't spend every day on the beach. That is the dream and the beauty of Thailand and Koh Phangan in particular.

This blog is about independently describing what Koh Phangan has to offer. It is hoped that the information herein is found useful and amusing. And that readers will chip in with good comments and suggestions.