Koh Phangan

Haad Rin

Haad Rin is the home of the Full Moon party and for some people this is the only part of the island they will ever see. As you would expect there are plenty of bars and some of the best are right on the beach. There are also many Koh Phangan accommodation in this area, but be sure to book early if you are coming for the full moon party as they fill up fast. The most celebrated drink in Haad Rin is the bucket; this is made up of vodka, red bull, coke, and sometimes a lot more as well. Haad Rin once had a reputation as an easy place to buy illegal substances, the Thai police are serious about changing this – penalties for tourists caught with banned products can be severe. As well as full-moon parties they also celebrate half-moon as well. Even when there is no real event you are always sure to find a party at Haad Rin.


Haad Yao

This is usually considered the most beautiful beach in Koh Phangan and with good reason. Most people are quite taken aback by the beauty when they first visit. There are plenty of beach activities on Haad Yao, but most people prefer to just soak up the sun. There are a few nice restaurants and bars locally but if you really want to party you will be best heading to Haad Rin or Thong Sala.
Thong Sala
A lot of visitors only see Thong Sala on arrival and departure. This is a pity because it really is a funky little town with a great atmosphere. Tesco-Lotus opened here a few years ago and many saw this as the end of the world; the town has remained much the same though. Some tourists see boycotting Tesco in Thong Sala as a way of boosting their standing as ‘real’ backpackers.

Tong Nai Pan

Tong Nai Pan is made up of two beaches; Tong Nai Pan Yai is the longest (Yai means big in Thai) and Tong Nai Pan Noi is a smaller stretch of beach. The two are separated by a headland but you can go from one beach to the other if you have the energy for a bit of a hike. This part of the island has probably been the least spoiled in recent years, and you will probably want to go here for the cheapest Phangan accommodation. Tong Nai Pan is the area where backpackers once boasted of being able to live for less than a $1 a day. You will meet plenty of tourists who come back every year so expect plenty of stories of how things used to be before it went commercial. This area will appeal to those types of people who like to think of themselves as travelers rather than tourists.

Chalok Lam

Chalok Lam is a great place to choose if you want to spend days lying on the beach and the evenings in nice restaurants and bars; people do party here but in a much more sedate way than in Haad Rin. This is still an area where fishing is important but tourism has meant that most people now make their living from visitors. Staying on this part of Koh Phangan can feel like being on a completely separate island; this is due to the fact that you mostly have mountains between the beach and the rest of Phangan. People staying here tend to take up residence on a part of 3 kilometer beach during the day, walk along the shoreline at sunset, before heading to the village (which is now nearing the size of a town) in the evenings.