Visit the beautiful waterfalls and lookouts in
the interior of the island.
The
herbal sauna at Wat Pho is a great relief after
long party nights. It's near the 7/11 branch in
Baan Thai, on the south-western side of the island.
Don't forget to leave a donation, always wear a
sarong (over your bikini) - remember that you are
on temple-territory and locals find nudity offensive.
This is not a European sauna, sitting naked will
get you into trouble.
If you're into fire, you'll find spinners and twirlers
on many of the beaches, teachers abund and poi are
easy to find.
Attractions
Beach
Ban Tai Beach
Ban Tai, the longest beach, lies along the east
coast of Koh Pha Ngan. The oldest villagers here
was started by the Muslims who came from Nakorn
Sri Thammarat and Pattani province and earn their
living fishing. There is a pier for gathering to
sell or buy fresh seafood at a reasonable price
in the morning. Ban Tai beach is located in the
southwest of the island, about 2 kilometers from
the Thong Sala pier.
Rin Beach
This wide, sandy beach in the south of Pha Ngan
island is one of the most beautiful ones. Had Rin
is actually comprised of two popular beaches, Rin
Nai beach on the west side of the peninsula and
Rin Nok on the east side. From Rin Nai beach you
can see Koh Samui very clearly. This is also a great
place to catch the sunset. On the beach of Rin Nok
is Bang Rak pier where the ferryboats from Koh south
Samui arrive and leave daily. Rin Nok beach is well
known among Thai as well as the foreigner tourist
for its Full Moon Party. This spot is
ranked as the third most beautiful spot in the world
to view the full moon. For this reason on every
full moon night a great number of tourists from
all over the world flock here to take part in the
famous celebration. The two beaches of Had Rin Nai
and Had rin Nok have the most resorts, bungalows,
stores and restaurants available on the island.
Had Rin is located on the southeastern tip of the
island, 12 kilometers south from the district Office
in Ban Thong Sala or take a ferry directly from
Koh Samui to get there.
Chaloklum Bay
Because the water is so deep around the wharf here,
its a good place for the fisherman to bring
their boats to. Its also a good place to tie
up to when the winds get too strong. This deep seaport
serves as a stopover for the fisherman who are responsible
for transferring fresh water to the neighboring
islands. Its the site most populated by the
largest number of fisherman on the island. Besides
fresh seafood the villagers sell their most famous
product, dried squid. This a very good place to
come to and witness the live -style and scenes presented
by the local fishermen. There are various bungalow
style accommodations to choose from. There are many
places that offer snorkeling equipment for rent
and snorkeling or fishing for squid during the night
is very popular with the tourists who visit here.
Of cause just sightseeing around the island is also
a very popular pastime. The beach at Chaloklum Bay
is located in the northern part of Koh Pha Ngan
about 15 kilometers from the port Tong Sala. Local
buses are available for transportation daily.
Thansadej Beach
The beach here is not very long but it is very beautiful
and a tranquil sport. The water isnt too deep
here and very clear .A great place for swimming.
The beach here is very close to the Thansadej Protection
Unit where the Thansadej waterfall is located. This
waterfall is considered one of the most important
sites to visit on Pha Ngan island. Most of the hotels,
bungalows, shops, and restaurants are situated along
the beach here. The beach is on the east coast of
the island about 13 kilometers from the port of
Thong Sala. You can catch a local bus from the port.
From Koh Samui you can take a rapid speed boat or
a long-tail boat to get there and back.
Mae Had Beach
This northwestern beach still maintains its sense
of tranquility. During period of low tide the water
is shallow enough to walk across to the island named
Ma, which is another very beautiful beach here on
Koh Pha Ngan. Bungalows, resorts, sops, restaurants
and travel agencies also line the beach here. The
beach is situated on the northwest side of the island
near Salad beach which is about 15 kilometers from
the town of Thong Sala. Local transportation is
available from the town of Thong Sala.
Thongnaipan Bay
This beach with its fine white sand, peaceful and
natural atmosphere still is unspoiled because it
is situated so far from any city. There is also
another beautiful and peaceful beach just north
of here named Tongnaipannoi. It is worthwhile to
pay a visit here for those who love to snorkel in
shallow waters. There are many pleasant bungalows,
resorts, shops, restaurants, and travel agencies
here to choose from. These two beaches are located
on the west coast of the island approximately 25
kilometers from the Thong Sala port. Traveling by
land to get there is not recommended, especially
during the rainy season, as some parts of route
are very difficult to pass though. The best way
to access these beaches is by water transport.
Sri Thanu Beach
This tranquil beach is located on the west side
of the island. This is another great spot for those
who like peace and quiet and to just relax surrounded
by nature. Its one of the many idyllic beaches
of Koh Pha Ngan. The water here is clean, limpid,
and not to deep. A great place for swimming; however,
be careful during the monsoon season as that can
change. When its stormy, there can be strong
waves accompanied by strong winds. There is great
sightseeing around the island here as well as good
snorkeling. There are many hotels and bungalows
at your service shops and restaurants abound along
the beach area. Sri Thanu Beach is 12 kilometers
from the port of Thong Sala on the west side of
the island. Transportation there is by way of local
bus.
Tae Nai Island
This small island is just 400 meters away from Thong
Sala Bay. You can hire a boat to take you around
the island. There is a beautiful sandy beach there
called Chan siaw as well as other places of interest
such as the caves of Phra and Talu. Around the area
of Taykho cliff, on the back side of the island,
is a great place to take in the sunset at the end
of the day. Koh Tae Nai is just a short 10 minutes
boat ride west of the port of Ban Thong Sala.