Ko Phangan island is located in the gulf of Thailand and neatly situated between Koh Samui, Koh Tao and the Angthong marine park. Long gone are the days when Ko Phangan was only accessible by the most experienced adventurous backpackers as the island now caters for all types of tourists. If you are looking for 10 days of tropical luxury or 6 months of budget beach hut, Ko Phangan can cater for your needs. It is now very easy to travel there with regular ferries, a high speed catamaran services and private speed boats from the neighboring Koh Samui Island. Boats run throughout the whole day so you will always be able to plan your arrival to fit in perfectly with your itinerary.
There are many things to do whilst you stay on Ko Phangan. If you are looking for the traditional Thai experience why not try Wat Po herbal sauna. Located at the temple in Ban Tai, the herbal sauna offers you the chance to experience a very traditional sauna managed by the temple. What makes this so special is that the voluntary workers boil up local herbs to mix into the steam that is pumped into the sauna which creates a very therapeutic and healing environment. Along the same genre you will find many Yoga schools and wellness centers on Ko Phangan, many of which have been established by long term residents. Meditation retreats can be found at the islands oldest temple, Wat Khao Tham. Here there is also a fabulous and easily accessible view point that looks out across the whole of the south of the island, over the sea and towards Koh Samui.
If you on the other hand you are looking for something more adventurous why not try your hand at some of the more extreme sports that have appeared on the island over the past several years. You could try wake boarding in the 3km long bay of Chaloklum, in the very northern point of the island. The bay is surrounded by mountains so it offers a perfectly flat playground for learning, improving and enjoying the sport. You will also find sports such as kite surfing, mountain biking, diving, water skiing, and there is even a micro-lite.
Accommodation is usually easy to book and find. However in the busiest periods of the year it is advisable to book in advance as the island gets full very quickly. Due to the now infamous full moon party Ko Phangan gets very busy on a monthly basis for a period of 2 days either side of the event and then tends to quiet down again as the party goers move off the island to their next location. Haad Rin ( the location of the full moon party ) is situated in one far corner of the island so if you are not traveling there for the party you can stay most places on the island and not even notice that it is happening. Due to the diversity of Thailand's tourism industry Ko Phangan offers something for everyone and nearly everyone leaves the island with a big smile and unforgettable memories.
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