Pha Ngan is smaller and more quiet than Koh Samui in terms of buldings, hustle and bustle. There is no airport of Koh Pha Ngan so the easiest way to reach the Island from mainland Thailand is via ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui and then a boat to Koh Pha Ngan.

Full Moon Party on Koh Pha Ngan Despite its small size and relatively under developed tourist infrastructure, Koh Pha Ngan attracts your party goers from all over the world in their hundreds of thousands every year. This is because Koh Pha Ngan is where the Full Moon Party is held each month which holds legendary status among backpackers the world over. Once a month during the full moon, Haad Rin beach is populated with tens of thousands of young party goers who walk between dozens of bars filled with dance crazy revellers. Although generally safe, there are a lot of recreational drugs consumed at this party and there have been reports of increasing amounts of theft in recent years so be on guard.

Beaches at Koh Pha Ngan The real treasure in Koh Pha Ngan lies precisely in its underdeveloped nature and the fact that the nature, including the many idyllic beaches, can be enjoyed fully here. Perhaps here more than anywhere else in Thailand you are able to find beautiful beaches that are usually very quiet. The island has beaches along every coast, each with its own unique, atmosphere, geography and views. A full list of the beaches is available here.

Meditation on Koh Pha Ngan Koh Pha Ngan has always been popular with the hippy crowd who are in search of something different. It is apt then that there are a few educational centres on the Island catering for such needs. Meditation courses are available on Koh Pha Ngan and can run from anywhere between 10 days and 3 months depending on how much time you have. There are meditation centres run by private business and the local temples sometimes offer participation in meditation activity.

Yoga on Koh Pha Ngan Koh Pha Ngan is also home to a few yoga schools where you can go to relax and revitalize your body with this ancient Indian method of exercise. Depending on how much time you have and how serious you are you can go for a single lesson or stay there for six months learning to be a yoga instructor.

Health Spas There are several detoxifying health spas that will use techniques such as colonic irrigation and diet control to purge the toxins that have invaded your body. Sounds fantastic.

Elephant Trekking On the north of the island in Chalok Lam where Fantasea Resort is based you will find an Elephant training camp that offers jungle treks across the island. It is a small camp unlike the huge pars to be found in Chiang Mai but still offers an excellent place to interact with these magnificent creatures.

Diving There are many diving schools across the island that offer training for beginners and diving expeditions for the experienced. The courses are very cheap compared to the western world and so many tourists pick up their PADI training whilst on vacation.

Trekking Koh Phangan is filled with waterfalls, forest, flora and fauna and attracts travellers from across the world that wish to simply explore the nature of the island. Than Sadet national park is a destination that the King of Siam would visit on his holidays and his signature is to be found carved into the rock on the waterfalls of Than Sadet. Than Sadet is not an easy place to get to as the road is steep on the downward trail but this simply adds to the adventure.

Bars and Nightlife Each beach tends to have its own variety of night life in the form of beach bars or restaurants. Haad Rin is the main party place with bars where you can dance to your hearts content. There are night-clubs in Thongsala the main port and the road to Haad Rin is filling up with new bars and clubs all the time.