Koh Phangan is probably our favorite Thai island. No, not because the island is famous for being one of the main party islands of South East Asia 🙂 Party enthusiasts from all corners of the world come to the full moon and half moon parties when the southern part of the island gets packed. However, people don’t know that the rest of the island is surprisingly quiet and has really stunning beaches.
The great thing about Koh Phangan is that it is fairly large giving you enough space to find your perfect spot. After experiencing the busy crowds of Ao Nang and Railay Beach we wanted some peaceful and remote beaches ourselves and changed plans. Initially the plan was to go to Koh Phi Phi after the Krabi area but I’m so happy we decided to go to Koh Phangan instead!
Our short but sweet stay on this homy and beautiful island was all about discovering beautiful beaches, capturing scenic views and enjoying delicious Koh Phangan’s vegan food.
We came to Koh Phangan because of its beautiful beaches. Tides are strong in Koh Phangan hence the parties dedicated to the moon. The point is that beaches can have a very different feel in low / high tide.
These are our favorites:
The island has terrific landscapes that can be seen from the bendy road. For the most scenic views we recommend you take the eastern route connecting the North and the South.
For the ultimate sunset drive along the Hin Kong Road and pass the famous palm tree by JJ restaurant.
We were also surprised! Not sure why the Koh Phangan vegan scene is so strong, but hey, we’re not complaining 🙂 There are 2 main restaurants areas with many pure vegan and vegetarian restaurants, both are on the West coast. One is by the near port near the market (Art of Juice and Soul Organics), the other is by the Sweet Water Lake. Eat.Co is our favorite choice and the good news is that it has restaurants in both areas. Their hummus is out of this world and we also loved their smoothie bowls; especially the Tropical bowl with yummy homemade coconut yoghurt. For lunch our top pick is Bean me up; delicious and full of protein. For lunch you can also try Pure Vegan Heaven restaurant which is just a few steps away.
The East side of the island does not have any good options though so plan in advance when hitting the Eastern beaches.
Make sure to plan at least 3 nights in Koh Phangan. But I’m pretty sure you’d wish you would have planned more!
Check out our other adventures in Thailand where we visited the vibrant Krabi area, the palm trees of Koh Samui and found of the best views ever at Ang Thong National Park.
As in the past summers when we went summer hiking in the Slovenian Alps and…
Veliko vas sprašuje kako planirati potovanje in kako sama doloÄŤava najine destinacije. Skupaj sva obiskala…
After enjoying Australia’s remoteness and lonely beaches in the Tropical North and having experienced the…
Australia's always been a dream and the land down under clearly lived up to its…
If you're a fan of natural wonders and dreamy beaches, Fraser island is a must…
The Great Barrier reef has always been a dream to visit and it was one…