Koh Phangan is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand for sun seeking. The surroundings of the island also offer natural treasures and are worth visiting during your journey to the Full Moon Party Island. You can take a number of great day trips from Koh Phangan by joining some of the best tours.
Below you will find tips for the best day trips from Koh Phangan to get the most out of your visit to the island.
Koh Phangan Day Trips
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is one of Thailand's most visited islands and is ideal for those who are traveling to Thailand for the first time. Koh Samui is the most developed island in the region, where you will find the best resorts. There is a wide range of accommodation from hostels to a large number of 5-star resorts. You cannot miss its beaches, its temples and Big Buddha, Laem So Pagoda and Na Muang waterfall. The eastern part of the island, especially the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai, are the most popular. If you are adventurous, it is the perfect island to rent a motorcycle and explore it.
You can get to the neighboring island of Koh Samui by boat. The trip between Koh Phangan and Koh Samui can take only 30 minutes on a high-speed catamaran from Lomprayah that can be booked here: Ferry Ticket between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Lomprayah is a local operator in Thailand that's known for their dependable ferry transfer services and you can choose from several departure times, as well as your pick up/drop off point in Koh Samui (either Maenam Pier or Na Thon Pier) depending on your travel needs.
Koh Tao
The island of Koh Tao, the "Turtle Island", is another destination that can be easily reached on a day trip from Koh Phangan. Koh Tao is one of the Samui Archipelago islands, located 35 km from Koh Phangan. Koh Tao is a very small island (only 7.6 km long and 3.4 wide) which lives mainly from tourism. Often considered a paradise for divers, Koh Tao is a real gem of nature. The most famous beach on Koh Tao is Sairee Beach, which is especially popular with backpackers as parties are held here regularly. You can take a dip in spectacular beaches, such as Freedom Beach or Tanote Bay. In fact, it is possible to snorkel and see the fish in almost all the bays on the island.
If you do not have a diving certificate, you can get your diving training and certificate at affordable price by training for 3-4 days. There are dive centers on every street corner that can get you to the famous spots of Southwest Pinnacle and Sail Rock. The ideal time for divers, in particular, is between April and October, because then the underwater world shows its most beautiful side.
We strongly advise you to spend at least 1 night there in order to be able to visit Koh Tao as it should be. To get there, you can travel between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan on a great value ferry transfer by booking it here: Ferry Ticket between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan by Lomprayah. You can enjoy daily departures from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan with several departure times - perfect for those looking for a more flexible travel schedule.
Koh Nang Yuan
Koh Nang Yuan (Nang Yuan Island), located northwest of Koh Tao, is probably one of the most famous offshore islands. It is also a popular day trip that can be visited from Koh Phangan. However, during the day it can get very crowded due to the many visitors who come by speedboats from Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan. You may know pictures of the island from countless Thailand travel advertisements and magazines. Koh Nang Yuan is actually a small island of its own, which is only connected to another small island by small sandbank. The island is a great diving destination. It will be interesting for both professional and novice divers. The depth of the bay in this area ranges from five to eighteen meters. This island also offers a beautiful beach with a magnificent viewpoint.
Snorkeling Adventures in Koh Tao and Nang Yuan offer you to explore the best snorkeling sites in Thailand as you visit in between Ko Tao and Nang Yuan. You will witness the vibrant colors of unique underwater creatures and tropical coral reefs as you go snorkeling in five different locations and visit Koh Nang Yuan, one of the world's most beautiful islands and ready yourself for an exciting island expedition.
Koh Nang Yuan is privately owned so the entrance fee of 200 THB per person is required. The most favorable time to visit the island starts in April and lasts until October as there are practically no tropical rains.
There is a single cozy accommodation on the island, the Nangyuan Island Dive Resort, but a short boat trip makes a trip to Koh Nang Yuan a perfect day trip.
Ang Thong National Marine Park (Mu Koh Ang Thong)
One of the highlights of day trips from Koh Phangan is a visit to the Ang Thong National Marine Park. A trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park is popular in the region for day trippers and one of the most popular attractions in the Koh Phangan area.
The "Golden Bowl" - as the name of the park is translated, founded in 1980, is located about 30 kilometers west of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui and covers an area of around 102 km² with a group of 42 islands. The national park consists of beautiful beaches, dense jungle and limestone rocks. This national park has become known as the setting for the novel The Beach.
The organized tours to the Ang Thong Marine National Park usually include stops for snorkeling and kayaking, also lunch in one of the villages. In addition to fantastic beaches and a colorful underwater world, you have a wonderful view from the viewpoint on Koh Wua Talap, the second largest island in the national park, and visit the beautiful Taleh Nai lagoon on Koh Mae Ko.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to visit it independently. You will therefore have to rely on one of the numerous tour operators or your hotel on the island who organize day trips to the park. The tour is not cheap, usually the price starts from 1,800-3,000 THB per person. The package, however, includes pick-up from the hotel, entrance to the park, snorkeling equipment, meals and drinks throughout the day. If you are going to Koh Phangan in high season, you need to book similar activities at least a few days in advance.
We recommend joining Ang Thong National Park Day Tour by Speedboat, to spend a day around the beautiful Ang Thong National Park, a protected area home to exotic marine life and snorkel deep into the sea and witness the stunning ocean life all around you.
Where to stay in Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan has accommodations of all types and price ranges, from simple hostels and budget hotels, mid-range resorts to luxury resorts and villas on the hill overlooking the sea.
You can find the cheapest hotels in Koh Phangan that will allow you to enjoy a pleasant stay at the best price. If you want the real comfort on your vacation, take a look at the best luxury hotels in Koh Phangan.
To help you find the perfect accommodation on this island, we have prepared a guide to the best areas to stay in Koh Phangan. Here you will find best areas to stay on the island and our hotel recommendations for individual beaches and bays area.
How to get to Koh Phangan
Due to the lack of airport and mainland connection, Koh Phangan can only be reached by boat. To make your journey easier, we have prepared several tips on how to get to Koh Phangan easily and safely from different parts of Thailand.
If you want to get an overview of all travel options, we recommend using this search form.
For more information on travel options check here:
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
How to get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan (and vice versa)
Tips
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are located next to each other, which is why it makes very good sense to combine the three islands into one trip - it is quite easy to get from island to island by boat.
If you visit Koh Phangan for party, you should check detailed information about Full Moon Party beforehand. Be noted that at this time, ferries and accommodations are often fully booked, especially in the high season.
Koh Phangan is an ideal alternative for holidaymakers who are looking for peace on the beach. We have summarized the best beaches on the island in this detailed article: Most Beautiful Beaches in Koh Phangan.