Chalok Lam Bay is an extremely beautiful location on the Northern most tip of Koh Phangan. The area is very under developed and is dominated by Mountains with tropical jungle, coconut and palm trees. The villagers of Chalok Lam are very friendly and cheerful. The shoreline stretches for some 3 kilometres and the mountains frame the bay for its entirety. This was once a fishing village where industry dominated the seafront and activity until just a few years ago when the rows of drying squid were removed from the beaches to allow tourism to flourish. There are many Thai style restaurants and some new funkier bars in the village seafront with bungalows across the bay also offering food and drink. There is still a fishing industry (in the background these days) so the fresh fish available is superb.

There is an elephant trekking camp just south of the village near the Thai (Wat Pra Sanctum) and Chinese Temples. A diving school in the village offers pursuits for the aqua challenged and there are plenty of long tail boats for hire to tour the island or simply go fishing. A cooking school is also available just outside the village near the elephant training camp.

The bay in general is much more laid back than other parts of the island and traditionally people party in the south at the full moon party and then chill out in Chalok Lam. The villagers are helpful and there is a fantastic cool vibe to the place.

Watersports are now featuring in the bay with para-gliding from the bay centre as just one example. Koh Tao is visible in the distance and looks amazing when the storms hit with lightening strikes illuminating the horizon.

The taxi boat service to Bottle beach operates from the centre of the beach when the weather is good (Bottle Beach is only reached by boat).

The accommodation is plentiful and will suit most budgets with a range of different styles of bungalow from backpacker style to much more upmarket accommodation including a new hotel on the seafront in the village.

There is another Thai temple in the village and ceremonies are held each day at 7.30 am with all welcome. This is very much a working temple and the villagers fill the place each day as the tourists sleep. A very interesting experience and everyone is welcome to participate. Be respectable in your clothing and behaviour that is all that is asked. You can bring food to be offered to the monks or just put some money in envelopes – this is used to pay for the Monks daily needs so it does not have to be a large amount.

At Wat Pra Sanctum the head monk Pra Adjan speaks very good English and is very willing to include tourists within the meditation that he leads for the Monks in the afternoons and early evenings. The temple is a training centre for both locals and for Mainland Thais that come to learn in this peaceful sanctuary. The Wat Pra Sanctum temple is just below the Chinese temple set into the mountain on the road from Thongsala to Chalok Lam – a new road that is just being completed.