A worthy successor to the Spanish Ibiza and the Crimean Kazantip is Thai Phangan (Ko Pha Ngan). This island in the South China Sea has become popular all over the world thanks to the Full Moon Party, which takes place every month on a full moon on the five-kilometer Haad Rin beach. A few days before the full moon comes progressive young people from all over Europe, the USA, Australia and Canada. Lovers of the alcoholic will appreciate the sale of cocktails in a bucket sold at many parties (200-300 ml of strong alcohol, mixed with cola, energy, etc.)
The rest of the time, the fans of wild beauty, deserted beaches and unhurried island life come to Phangan , which is becoming increasingly difficult to experience on the more "promoted" Thai resorts . On some of the best beaches, especially in the north of the island, it is better to get to the Taxi Boat - a taxi cab, because of bad roads, or lack of them . Riding for the first time makes sense To visit Ko-Tao, or "Turtle Island" - a small island that follows after Koh Phangan and also like Ko Phangan, which has its own unique charm .
In Baan Kai a new 4 * resort was opened. The prices are stated to be so high - from 3, 800 Baht per night (for 4 stars it is, you see, is too high) - that I will not even write the name to avoid advertising.
The road to Ton Nai Pan is almost ready. This made the local remember the favorite rumor - Airport !!Dacha Beach Hotel 2 * 10.03. for 11 nights from 54,459 rubles
Ambassador City Pattaya 3 * 11.03. for 11 nights from 54,459 rubles
Long Beach Garden Hotel 4 * 14.03. for 8 nights from 56 536 rubles
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How to get to Phangan
The nearest airport is Samui, which accepts flights from Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Singapore, Chiang Mai and Kuala Lumpur. From there, the island can be reached in 15-50 minutes, depending on the carrier's company.
In addition, guests and residents of Phangan can use the airport, which is on the mainland - Surat Thani. It takes surprisingly cheap flights from Bangkok (1000-1500 baht in advance, 2000-2500 baht on the day of departure) of the airlines AirAsia and One-Two-Go. The only inconvenience: the way from the airport to the island includes traveling by bus and boat.
The fastest and most expensive way to get from Koh Samui to Ko Phangan is individual high-speed boats (the easiest way is to find them from the Big Buddha). They are sent at least 3 times a day, and moored directly on Haad Rin beach. In addition, several ferries depart from the Samui beaches of Maenam and Nathon several times a day, stick to the town of Thong Sala.
The most economical one is buying a bus ticket back in Bangkok, at the Sai Tai Taling Chan bus terminal, which already includes ferry transport (around $ 35 one way). In this case, the boat will sail from Chumporn through the island of Tao.
Search for air tickets to the city of Samui (nearest a / p to Phangan)
Best beaches of Phangan
The most famous and long sandy beach is the famous and crowded Haad Rin in the south-eastern part of the island, on which the full moon is celebrated. Lovers of silence can take a boat on it and go to the neighboring Haad Yuan, Haad Tian and up to the east - there the secluded little sandy coves alternate with the rocky coastline.
The best sandy beaches of the east are Ton-Nai-Pan and, of course, amazing Tan Sadet with the same waterfall is the favorite resting place of King Rama 5, one of the most revered in Thailand .Time seems to be powerless over this place - in photographs of twenty years ago you will see the sunny "today", looking back at the river at lunch you will notice a huge monitor, and in the bungalow there are still no air conditioners, hot showers and even round the clock electricity (due to savings on Diesel electricity) . In Ton-Nai-Pane, on the contrary, there are the most luxurious hotels of the island with large swimming pools, modern SPA centers, and other attributes of La Bella Vita .
In the north, sandy Chaloklam and Bottle Beach (get to m You can go on a boat from Chaloklama, or go 5 km on foot.)
Well, in the west, you can not miss the coral Mae Haad and the mini island of Ma - the best place in the Phangan for snorkeling. We also recommend seeing Haad-Yao, Haad-Chao-Pao and Voktum - the sunset is especially beautiful here.
Beaches in the south, although not the best option for bathing, but also have a special "lazy" atmosphere and charm. Especially happy with these places are fans of joyful beach dogs - there are a lot of them!
Shopping: shops of Phangan
There are many shops on the island where You can buy a bright outfit for a party or an acid color T-shirt with a disco logo. The best souvenir from Phangan is handmade hammocks (for example, to the Hammock Home store in Thong Sala)
Rent of transport and moving around the island
There are motorbike and car hire points at every corner and in most hotels, average prices for motobike - from 150 Baht, car - from 800 Baht per day. Be careful when driving - on the island mountain roads with serpentine, there are also drunk drivers (especially at night on a full moon). Please note also that many rental companies earn compensation for the broken bike more than the actual rental. The average price of a taxi is 100 Baht per person, it's easier to get to the best beaches in the north by a boat taxi - the price varies.
Hotels of Phangan
Unitary Board for Choosing a Hotel in Ko Phangan: The farther from the beaches Haad Rin to go deeper or to the north of the island - the cheaper and calmer it is to find a hotel.
Find a suitable hotel right after you arrive on the pier of Haad Rin or Tongsala: many hotels offer a free transfer of guests directly from the pier. However, for the time spent on the island of Full Moon Party, the hotel should be booked in advance, otherwise there is a high probability of spending the night on the beach or at a very expensive lodge.
Cheap accommodation can be found to the left of Tong Sal: Haad Yao, Haad Son, Ban Tai or Haad Salad . Those who plan to stay for a long time (from a month), it may be preferable to rent a house (from 5,000 Baht per month for a simple house with a fan). But there are almost no houses on the shore, everything is occupied by resorts.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions
Tired of blasting parties on the beach, you can go to the Than Sadet-Ko Pha-Ngan National Park, which got its name from the river Than Sadet ( "The Royal River"). It is here that the biggest (and picturesque) waterfall on the island, which loved to visit the Thai kings (for example, Rama 5 visited here as many as 14 times).
At the north-western tip of the island is Ko-Ma - an excellent place for snorkeling. On the road between Thongsala and Chaloklum there is a beautiful Chinese temple with a beautiful view of Chaloklum Bay
In addition, it is worth taking a stroll to the elephant camp that is on the road from Baan Tai to Ton-Nai-Pan.
Yoga classes, kiteboarding on the sand spit, trekking through the jungle, a boat trip along the wild beaches of Phangan. As well as snorkeling near the neighboring island of Ma, to which you can walk from Phangan along the sandbank. Fans of diving and snorkeling recommend Sail Rock and Anthong National Park - a lot of small beautiful islands.
Phangan is famous for its many tattoo parlors - it is possible to make tattoes not only qualitatively, but also inexpensively (not to be confused with the so-called "Phangan Tatu" so here we call bruises and scratches from a lot of traffic accidents on motobikes.)
Diving in Phangan
@ Around the island there are many nice places where you can spend an hour or two, burying your face in the water. Sailrock is one of the best places for diving, located between the islands of Ko Phangan and Ko Tao. The local reef extends to a depth of 40 meters and allows divers to dive at all levels.
There are several PADI diving schools on the island, for example Scuba Fun Thailand, which is located in Woktum Bay. Other dive centers: Haad Yao Divers (located on the beaches of Haad Yao, Mae Haad and Haad Chao Phao), Reefers Dive Resort (on Haad Yao beach), Sail Rock Divers and Lotus Dive Resort (both located in Chaloklum), Phangang Divers ( on Haad Rin beach)
Schedule of the most popular parties for 2011
| Dates | Full Moon Party | Half Moon Party | Black Moon Party |
| January | January 1, 19 | 12, January 26 | January 4 |
| February | February 19 | 11, February 25 | February 3 |
| March | March 19 | March 13, 26 | 5 March |
| April | April 18 | 11, 25 April | 3 April |
| May | 17 May | 11, 25 May | 3 May |
| June | June 15 | June 9, 23 June | June 2 |
| July | July 15 | 8, 23 July | 1, 31 July |
| August | August 13 | 6, August 22 | August 29 |
| September | September 12 | 5, September 20 | September 27 |
| October | October 11 | 4, October 20 | @ 27 October |
| November | 10 November | 2, 18 November | 25 November |
| December | 10, 25, 31 December | 2, 18 December | 25 December |
Photo by Phangan (53)