For many years I wrongfully assumed Koh Phangan in the South of Thailand just a few kilometres from Koh Samui was a party island, a place for the young back packers to party all night – with the Full Moon Party the showcase party on the island; but I was wrong. Koh Phangan is multi-faceted and caters for broad and niche markets and to a large extent zoned by the part of the island you are staying.
Phangan is roughly 125 km square – compared to 229 km square of Samui. The Full Moon party is located in Haad Rin Beach, on the southern tip of the island and many hostels and back pack locations are here and along the Southern coast – which are also very family friendly too as the beaches are beautiful and there are many restaurants, bars and opportunities to take boat trips from this coastline.
The West coast, with the signature Zen Beach where many go to watch the sunset and on a friday evening enjoy the drum sessions, is where you experience the more spiritual side of the island. Whenever I visit it appears one of the most busiest parts of the island. Again, many restaurants, bars, night markets, gyms, sauna and fashion shopping if you like the spiritual, relaxed look.
The North coast, notably Chaloklum, seems to be getting stronger and stronger every year I visit. Boasting a beautiful sandy coastline, pier for boat trips and boat taxi to other parts of the island it is no longer the isolated region I used to have it down as. Much of the area remains very charming and traditional with a Sunday food market with Western and Thai fare and enough restaurants and bars to keep you occupied in the evening. Kite surfing also appears very popular in this region. It is a good family option as a location.
This is why I consider the island an ideal location for three distinct groups, the partygoers, the wellness/spiritualist and also families.
