Koh Phangan is not only a famous party island, it also has many other things to do such as beaches, viewpoints, hiking, night markets, and yoga/meditation classes. In this article, I will share with you my itinerary for 3-4 days in Koh Phangan and my opinion on how many days in Koh Phagan is enough.
Koh Phangan is a popular island located in the Gulf of Thailand, close to two other famous islands, Koh Tao and Koh Samui. The island attracts both party-goers, digital nomads, and those looking for peace and natural beauty.
How Many Days in Koh Phangan is enough?
In my opinion, 3-5 days is a good amount of time to spend in Koh Phang for sightseeing, enjoying the beaches, hiking, and nightlife. I spent 4 nights and 5 days on Koh Phangan and I was able to see most things on the island from north to south.
This island is a popular destination for digital nomads, many visitors ended up staying long term. There are plenty of things to do and see, keeping you busy all the time.
Here are my recommend on things to do in Koh Phangan and how long I spend to do each activity:
#1. Beaches. Koh Phangan is packed with beautiful beaches and you can spend a few days to months exploring these. There are popular beaches for parties and quiet ones for relaxing. Famous beaches are Zen Beach, Srithanu Beach, Haad Rin, Mae Haad, Chalok Lam Beach, and Thong Nai Pan Beach.
#2. Hiking. If you love hiking, you can find many trails to explore on the island. I recommend Bottle beach Viewpoint trail, Haad Rin Hike to Haad Yuan Viewpoint & Beach, and Khao Raa Viewpoint. This hiking trails involve climbing to steep ascend and takes around 2-5 hours round trip.
#3. Waterfalls. There are many waterfalls on Koh Phangan to explore. Popular ones are Phaeng Noi Waterfall, Than Sadet Waterfall, or Khao Raa Waterfall. You can spend a few hours exploring each of those waterfalls. Some are just a short walk from the parking area.
#4. Full Moon Party. This party is held once every month on Haad Rin Beach. You can enjoy an all-night beach party with fire shows, music, and dancing until sunrise. There are many parties and bars all around the island to enjoy the nightlife each evening.
#5. Night markets. There are two major night markets located in Thong Sala Town, including Pantip Market, and Phangan Food Court. You can explore this market every night.
#6. Yoga and Wellness Retreats. The 7-10 days program is a popular choice in Koh Phangan. You can choose to take a shorter or longer course.
See more: 30 Wonderful Things to Do in Koh Phangan
Getting to and Around Koh Phangan:
Koh Phangan is only accessible by boat from mainland Surat Thani, or nearby islands such as Koh tao and Koh Samui. It is around 2-3 hours from Donsak Pier in Surat Thani, around 30 minutes ferry ride from Maenam Pier in Koh Samui, and 1.5-2 hours ferry ride from Koh Tao.
There is no airport in Koh Phangan. The closest airport is in Koh Samui. You can take a flight to Koh Samui then ferries to Koh Phagan.
Thong Sala Pier is the main pier on Koh Phangan. From the pier, you can get a songthaew pick up truck to your accommodations around the island. Many boat companies offer a combo ticket which includes a boat ride and a transfer from the pier to your hotel.
You can get around the island by rental cars/ motorbike, and songthaews. Longtail boats are also a great option to explore beaches such as Bottle Beach, Haad Yuan, and Haad Thian. Within each beach town, you can easily get around on foot.
If you plan to rent a motorbike, be sure that you are an experienced driver because Koh Phangan is quite hilly and the road has lots of sharp curves.
See more: How to get to Koh Phangan & Get Around
Best time to visit Koh Phangan:
The best month to travel to Koh Phangan is from December to March. These months are parts of the dry season that has little to no rain, and low humidity. March to May is the dry season but hotter.
The peak rainy season is from September to November. These months have only fewer tourists, lower prices, and great for those traveling on a budget.
I traveled to Koh Phangan in late December. There were heavy rains in my first two days on the island, and the rest of my holidays were better with lots of sunshine.
Top areas to stay in Koh Phangan for tourists:
There are few different zones in Koh Phangan for every type of traveler. The north west part of the island is the quieter part of the island and is the hub for yoga, meditations, and hippies. The south and south west are popular places for nightlife and Full Moon Party, while the east coast is a less developed area.
Thong Sala is the main town on Koh Phangan and is home to the main pier. It is the arrival point of many visitors. Here you will find the markets, lots of restaurants, bars, and shops.
Haad Rin, located at the south coast, is the best place to stay on Koh Phangan for nightlife and parties. This area is the location of the monthly full moon parties. It is home to many backpacker hostels and affordable accommodations.
See more: Where to Stay in Koh Phangan
Here are my itinerary on how to spend 3-5 days in Koh Phagan:
How to Spend 3-5 Days In Koh Phangan Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Thong Sala Night Markets
I came to Koh Phangan from Koh Tao. The boat departed from Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao around 4pm and arrived at Thong Sala Pier on Koh Phangan at 5.30pm.
Thong Sala Pier
Thong Sala Pier is the main pier on Koh Phangan, located on the west coast of the island. It’s where most travelers arrive and depart when coming to or leaving the island. It has boat connections with mainland Surat Thani and Chumphon as well as nearby islands like Koh Tao and Koh Samui.
There are various facilities at Thong Sala Pier, including a waiting area with seating, a ticket office area with an ATM, money exchange shop, and several shops selling foods and drinks.
There are many travel agencies and motorbike rentals on the main road at the exit of the pier. You can consider renting a motorbike from here if you have a backpack (not a big suitcase) with you.
At the pier, you can find many songthaews (local taxis) to get to your hotel. I walked to my hostel because it is located in Thong Sala Town, only 10 minutes walk away.
Thong Sala Town
Thong Sala Town is the main town on the island, and is a great place for shopping and trying authentic Thai Food at night markets. This town has lots of shops and boutiques selling clothes, jewelry, Thai arts and crafts.
It is home to several night markets such as Phangan Food Court, Pantip Market, and Saturday Walking Street Market.
Phangan Food Court
Phangan Food Court is located right on the main road in the center area of Thong Sala. This is a great place to go for dinner. It is open daily from 11am to 9m. You can find a wide range of food here including both Thai food and international dishes.
There are restaurants serving Vietnamese, Italian, Middle East, Mexican, and Western food. You can order pho, banh my, pizza, burger, burritos, as well as traditional Thai food such as Pad Thai, fried rice, or tommy soup. There are lots of vegetarian options.
The food court has tables and chairs to sit and eat. Additionally, you can do some shopping at many stalls in front of the food court. They sell clothes, beach wear, and souvenirs.
Pantip Market
Pantip Market is a popular market in the central area of Thong Sala, open daily from morning to late night (6am to 12am). I came here around 8pm and it was very lively even though it was raining. This market is only a 10 minute walk from Phangan Food Court.
Pantip Market is a big market that has both inside and outside areas. You can find many stalls selling food and souvenirs. I personally think this market has a more reasonable price than Phangan Food Court.
There are also many restaurants, shops, and bars in the area near the Pantip market. I recommend shopping and eating at the market, and going for a look at the shops nearby on the main road.
Soi Krung Thai Walking Street
Soi Krung Thai is a small and lively street located just a minute walk from Phantip Market. This street is lined with bars, restaurants, and weed shops. Good places for nightlife. There are many bars and restaurants that put tables and chairs on the street in the evening.
Day 2: Rainy Day, Hair Cut, and Saturday Walking Street Market
It was raining heavily on my 2nd day in Koh Phangan from morning to late afternoon. I still manage to do a few things when it rains, including having a nice lunch at a local restaurant, having my hair cut, and exploring the Saturday Walking Street Market in Thong Sala.
I woke up and didn’t know what to do because it was raining, and the weather forecast said it would rain all day. I wanted to have my hair cut and my hotel’s owner recommended a place called “Maliwan Hair Cut”. The hairdresser did a good job on cutting my hair short and she charged 250 baht.
Lunch at Chicken Rice Shop
Chicken Rice Shop has very good reviews on Google, so I decided to give it a try. They are located right on the main road in the center area of Thong Sala. It is open daily for breakfast and lunch from 8.30 to 2pm. I had a few meals at this shop during my stay in Koh Phangan.
I tried chicken rice and crispy pork, which is, in my opinion, one of the best dishes in Koh Phangan and Thailand. The price is also reasonable. The shop is clean and the staff are very friendly. I highly recommend this shop if you are in Thong Sala.
Saturday Walking Street Market
Saturday Walking Street Market is a night market, open only on Saturday evening from 5pm to 10pm. This market is located very close to Thong Sala Pier.
It was raining during my visit, but the shops are still open and visitors still come out to eat with umbrellas and raincoats with them.
LIke many other night markets in Thailand, this market has many street foods such as grilled meats and seafoods, sushi, pancakes, burgers, samosa, sweets… There is a dish that I have never seen in other night markets in Thailand such as crispy rice salad.
Day 3: Wat Phu Khao Noi, Zen Beach, Bottle Beach Viewpoint
On my 3rd day in Koh Phangan, I explored the northern part of the island. I visited Wat Phu Khao Noi, Hin Kong Beach, Zen Beach, Bottle Beach Viewpoint, Night Market, Cafe ‘Vintage.
Renting a motorbike at Jinny Motorbike Rental
I looked for the good motorbike rental shops near my hostel in Thong Sala. Jinny Motorbike Rental showed up on Google list and they had good reviews.
December was in the high season on Koh Samui and all the motorbikes in the shop were rented out. Fortunately, I arrived at the shop just as another customer was returning a motorbike. He said it is a good bike and you can rent it.
I took the bike, signed the contract, paid 300 baht, and got ready for exploration. There was not much petrol in the bike but there is a petrol station right next to the shop which is convenient to buy it.
Wat Phu Khao Noi
Wat Phu Khao Noi is a small temple located within a 10 minute drive north of Thong Sala. It is free to enter and you can park the scooter at the ground of the temple. It is a peaceful temple and you can spend 15-20 minutes here walking around.
Hin Kong Beach
Hin Kong Beach is a nice quiet beach located 10 minutes drive north of Thong Sala Town. You can have a nice drive along the beach on Hin Kong Road.
The center of the beach is home to several beachfront bars, restaurants, and hotels, as well as a supermarket and a yoga center.
Zen Beach
Zen Beach is located in the west coast of Koh Phangan, 10 minute drive from north Hin Kong Beach and 20 minute drive north of Thong Sala. It is a hippie style beach with crystal clear clean with fine white sand.
This beach is very crowded in the afternoon at sunset time. Lots of people are on the beach, partying, doing yoga, and enjoying the sunset. I recommend visiting during the day in the morning if you want to avoid crowds.
If you walk to the right end of the beach further away from Grasshopper Beach Bar, you will reach the nudist area of the beach and might encounter people who are nude on the beach.
To find this beach, you can put “Zen Beach Parking” on Google Maps and follow the sign at the parking lot to walk to the beach. The road near the park is dirt road and can be flooded at some sections after heavy rains.
The main road running through Zen Beach is also packed with tourist amenities such as hotels, healthy restaurants, convenient stores, and bars.
Lunch at Kopan House
On the way from Zen Beach to Bootle Beach Viewpoint, I stopped at Kopan House for lunch. This restaurant is located on the mountain, offering stunning views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. I had fried rice here. Food was okay but the price was quite expensive.
Bottle Beach Viewpoint
Bottle Beach Viewpoint is one of the top attractions in Koh Phangan. It has stunning views of Bottle Beach and a small climbing to the rocks for the views.
This viewpoint is located on the north coast of the island and the road to the viewpoint is mountainous and has lots of sharp turns. If you drive, be sure to drive slowly and wear the helmet.
I put “Bottle Beach Scooter Parking” on Google Map and parked my motorbike here. From this parking lot, I followed the sign to the viewpoint, and it took me 30 minutes walking through the forest to reach the final point.
At the end of the trail near the boulders, me and other people were confused about which way to go. Some people climbed through the hole in the middle of the boulders and struggled a bit. I and others on the left side of the steep boulders to get to the last bit. I think the left side is easier to climb.
The viewpoint has stunning views of Bottle Beach below. I spent 30 minutes here enjoying the views and taking photos.
Bottle Beach
From the Bottle Beach Viewpoint, I followed the sign to hike down to Bottle Beach. It was after the heavy rain, so there were lots of mosques in the jungle. The last part of the hike was through a stream, and my shoes got soaked. It took me 25 minutes to reach Bottle Beach 2 on the descent.
Bottle Beach 2 a quiet beach with just a few resorts and bungalows on the Beach. You can find a restaurant, bar, and waiting area where you can take a boat taxi to Haad Khom.
From the beach, I walked back to the Bottle Beach Scooter Parking area. It is around 45-60 minutes walk up and down the dirt road. If you don’t want to hike, you can call a taxi for 100 baht. I walked around 15 minutes, then a driver offered me a lift to the parking lot. He saved me lots of energy.
Night Market, Cafe ‘Vintage
Night Market, Cafe ‘Vintage is on my way when traveling from Bottle Beach back to Thong Sala. It is a small market with lots of western food options. The price here is high end for me. I just take a look around and continue driving back to my hostel.
Day 4: Khao Raa Hike, Than Sadet waterfall, Thong Nai Pan, Srithanu Beach sunset
On my 4th day in Koh Phangan, I hiked to the Khao Ra Viewpoint, visited Than Sadet waterfall, Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach, Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach, Srithanu Beach and Zen Beach for sunset.
Hike from Khao Raa Viewpoint
I like hiking, so I chose the hike to Khao Raa Viewpoint. You can put “Start of Khao Ra hiking trail” on Google Map to find the direction to the starting point of the trail. It is around 10 minutes drive from Thong Sala Town.
I visited in December and paid 40 baht at the entrance. I also signed my name and entrance time on the book at the shop. They have toilets, snacks and drinks that you can buy and bring with you.
I did the loop and followed the trail easily without the map. You can use Map.me for navigation. If you use it, I recommend downloading it before the hike, because the internet signal is not good in the jungle.
The Viewpoint is not breathtaking as the Bottle Beach Viewpoint but if you like hiking, it is worth it. It took me nearly 2 hours to reach the top and 1,2 hours to get down on the other route. The loop is a total of 3.2 hours.
Be careful if you are hiking after a heavy rainy day. Some parts of the trail is like a stream and I had to walk though it and wet shoes. I still see some blue dots and yellow fabric on the way to mark the path.
Khao Raa Waterfall
When you go down to Khao Raa Terrace, you can have a drink here such as fresh coconut and bring it to Khao Ra Waterfall. It is a 5 minute walk from the cafe to the waterfall.
There are several pool areas at the waterfall where you can swim and just chill at the rocks under the shade and listen to the waterfall sound. I visited in late December, after heavy rain, and it was full of water.
Than Sadet waterfall
The Than Sadet waterfall is one of the top waterfalls on Koh Phangan. You can put “Blind Guy Food and Drink Shop” to have free access to the waterfall. From the shop, you can walk 100 m to reach the waterfall. You can support the old man by buying drinks or snacks from his shop.
If you continue driving down the curvy road toward Haad Sadet Beach, you’ll see a few other waterfalls along the road such as Phu Dang Waterfall. If you want to go to Haad Sadet Beach, you’ll need to pay 100 baht at the entrance. I skipped this beach.
Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach
Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach is a nice quiet beach located on the north east coast of the island. It is easily accessible by scooter. I accessed this beach through Dreamland Resort. This beach is lined with several resorts, restaurants and bars. Good for relaxing, swimming, and sunbathing.
Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach
Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach is a separated beach with Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach, located 6 minutes drive away. This beach has more tourist facilities than Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach. There is a range of restaurants, bars, massage shops, hotels, and travel agencies on the road near the beach.
See more: Stay in Thong Nai Pan Noi or Yai?
Srithanu Beach and Zen Beach for sunset
I wanted to reach Srithanu Beach around 5.50pm to see the sunset but Google Maps showed the road to the beach passing through The Beach Bungalows, where the owner charges 20 baht to get to the beach. I didn’t want to pay and skipped this one.
I ended up watching the sunset at a nearby place near Srithanu Pier and Orion Cafe. It is magnificent. Just a few people sitting in the park and at the small beach watching sunset.
You can reach Sithanu Beach by putting “Flamingo Beach Bar&Restaurant” or “Laemson Resort” on Google Maps. It is on the same road to Zen Beach. You can even walk from Srithanu Beach to Zen Beach during low tide.
Day 5: Haad Rin Hike to Haad Yuan, Chaloklum, and Mae Haad.
On my 5th day on Koh Samui, I explored the Haad Rin area with the hike to Haad Yuan Viewpoint and Haad Yuan Beach. I visited Haad Rin Beach, Baan Tai Beach, Phaeng Noi Waterfall, Chaloklum Beach, and Mae Haad.
Breakfast at Jah Pong’s Duck Rice
I have my breakfast at local restaurants called Jah Pong’s Duck Rice in Thong Sala. The food is delicious and popular with locals. Price is reasonable only 60 baht.
Haad Rin Hike to Haad Yuan Viewpoint and Haad Yuan Beach
Haad Rin is a popular town located in the south of Koh Phangan, located a 20 minute drive from Thong Sala. The road near Haad Rin is very hilly with lots of sharp turns. This town is known for its party vibes, beaches, and good hiking trails.
Hike from Haad Rin to Haad Yuan Viewpoint
I like hiking so I planned to take the hiking route first when I reach Haad Rin. I stopped at 7-11 and parked my motorbike there to start the trail. You can find the address here.
I bought a bottle of water and some snacks from 7-11 to bring with me. I walked toward Ban Naa Rak and found the trail between two houses, near the red and white traffic barrier. I followed the trail and reached the viewpoint within 1 hour.
There are lots of steep inclines at the beginning of the trail, then it gets easier at the top. You can use Map.me for navigation. I recommend downloading it beforehand. I followed the trail by intuition, using Map.me, the fabric ribbons and blue water pipes as a guide.
The trail has lots of mosquitoes, bring insect repellent with you. I met several locals and expats doing their run along this route. You’ll likely have the whole viewpoint for yourself.
Hike from Haad Yuan Viewpoint to Haad Yuan Beach
From Haad Yuan Viewpoint, I walked back and followed the trail with the orange ribbon to get to Haad Yuan Beach. It took me 45 minutes to hike down the mountains and get out of the jungle to see the first sign to get to Haad Yuan Beach.
From this sign, I walked on a dirt road for another 20 minutes to reach the beach. Haad Yuan Beach is a nice quiet beach with Eden Bar on one side of the beach and the long bridge on the other side.
There are just a couple of accommodations on the beachfront. You can find restaurants, bars here as well as a convenient store where you can catch a taxi back to Haad Rin.
The taxi boat costs 300 baht per person, and the shop’s owner told me that you have to wait until it’s full to depart. I had the boat ticket to Koh Samui in the afternoon, so I didn’t want to wait for an uncertain amount of time. I hiked back to Haad Rin where I parked my scooter. At least I know it will take around 1 hour.
Hike from Haad Yuan Beach to Haad Rin
Now I know the route, I hike straight from Haad Yuan Beach to Haad Rin for 1.5 hours. It’s an uphill hike from Haad Yuan Beach to the viewpoint, and a downhill hike from the viewpoint to Haad Rin.
Haad Rin Beach
Haad Rin Beach is a busy beach, packed with people. It is a long clean beach with fine white sand. There are lots of hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, shops on the beach and on the roads near the beach. The Full Moon Party is held here.
Haad Rin Noi Beach
Haad Rin Noi Beach is another beautiful beach located 5 minutes drive from Haad Rin Beach through the town center. This beach has white fine sand crystal clear water and is also packed with people. You can access this beach through resorts, and there are bars and restaurants on the beach.
Baan Tai Beach
Baan Tai Beach is a long quiet beach, located 20 minutes drive north of Haad Rin Beach. I reached this beach through a resort. There is a kiteboarding and surf club on the beach.
Phaeng Noi Waterfall
Phaeng Noi Waterfall is one of the top waterfalls on Koh Phangan. It is located 5 km north east of Thong Sala Town. This is a good place for swimming, hiking, and enjoying a nice viewpoint. The waterfall is open everyday from 8am to 4m. The entrance is 100 baht. There are toilets onsite.
If you like hiking and have time, you can do the long loop route, passing all the waterfalls in the area. This route is around 1-1.5 hours. I did the short hike from the parking lot to Phaeng Noi Waterfall, Phaeng Yai Waterfall, and Dom Sila Viewpoint.
The hike is a moderate ascent with rope along the way to support you. It took me one hour just to do the short hike to Dom Sila Viewpoint and come back. I did not swim, but stopped along the way for photos.
Chaloklum Beach
Chaloklum Beach is a very long nice beach in the northern part of Koh Phangan. I drove to this beach passing Chaloklum Temple. It was quite difficult to access this beach with a scooter (for me as a first-timer) because it was mostly blocked with private property.
This beach is a great place for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and relaxing. There are beach bars, restaurants, and resorts lining the beach.
Mae Haad Beach and Koh Ma Sandbank
Mae Haad Beach is a long beach on the north coast of Koh Phangan, 15 km north of Thong Sala Town. This is a beautiful place at sunset, and at low tide, you can walk on the sandbank to Koh Ma island.
There are several resorts, restaurants, and bars on Mae Haad Beach. You can find sun loungers and bed chairs here. You can have a relaxing massage on the beach.
420 Club Phangan
420 Club Phangan is a popular place to visit especially at sunset. It has good views of the beaches and Koh Ma island. If you want a good spot, you need to reserve the seats in advance. There is a second floor, but the best view is on the first floor.
Drink is quite expensive but it comes with the views, so it is fine for me. It is located at the top of the hill with sharp turns, so be careful driving up and avoid driving in the dark. I followed google map directions but you can head to Utopia Resort and follow the road from there which is easier than Map’s direction.
Haad Yao Beach
Haad Yao Beach is a quiet beach located south of Mae Haad Beach, 5km away. I walked to this beach from Haad Yao See Through resort. There are restaurants and bars on the beach with tables, chairs, and bean bags set out on the sand.
Boat to Koh Samui
It was December, and all accommodations on Koh Phangan were booked out. The rest is super expensive. I found one available hostel in Koh Samui and decided to leave Koh Phangan. I booked the last boat to Koh Samui with Lomprayah.
I returned to Thong Sala around 5.30pm, went back to my hostel, took my suitcase, and walked to the pier for the boat. Thong Sala Pier is also one of the great places to watch the sunset. I reached Koh Samui around 7.30pm after a nice ride on the big ferry.
See more:
So, you have it, my itinerary on how to spend 3-5 days in Koh Phangan. In my opinion, 3-5 days is a great amount of time to explore most sights on the island comfortably. This time frame will allow you to see famous beaches, viewpoints, waterfalls, do some shopping, and enjoy the nightlife.
If you have extra days, you can enjoy the beaches at a slower pace. Additionally, you can have a day tour to Koh Tao for snorkeling and diving and a tour to Ang Thong National Marine Park.