If you can appreciate a good party but prefer less dense surrounding, I have good news for you: you can give up the Full Moon Party and choose the Half Moon Dance Festival instead. The Half Moon Dance Festival is held twice a month: one week before the FMP and one week after, in the Ban Thai Village. This party takes place in two dancing areas simultaneously: indoors and outdoors. The quality of decorations, equipment and DJ’s are just as superior as featured in the Full Moon Party.

Half Moon Dance Festival schedule, 2006:

Wednesday, 2.8.2006

Monday, 28.8.2006

Friday, 15.9.2006

Saturday, 30.9.2006

Sunday, 15.10.2006

Sunday, 29.10.2006

Monday, 13.11.2006

Tuesday, 28.11.2006

Wednesday, 13.12.2006

Thursday, 28.12.2006

Just as in the case of the FMP, the Half Moon Dance Festival schedules may vary depending on Buddhist Holidays.

The period from November to February is considered as the best time for visiting Thailand in general and Koh Phangan in particular.

Historical weather in Koh Phangan

Tip 1: Many people assume that the weather in Koh Phangan is always nice, and little rain makes it even more pleasant. Consider this fact while planning your trip to Phangan, since accommodation is much cheaper during the low season.

Tip 2: The seasons in Koh Phangan and neighboring islands are not the same as in the Southwest islands (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi),

1. Healthy food. In Thailand, solid balance between healthy and enjoyable food in unbelievably easy to achieve. Thai cuisine based on fresh ingredients, including an abundance of vegetables and herbs. Of course, there’s no cuisine in the entire world that offers nothing but healthy food; even so, Thai cuisine enables you to assemble a healthy menu, and probably make an exception once in a while for something especially delicious.

Well balanced diet based on whole foods, such as whole wheat, brown rice, , low starch vegetables etc. Some of these foods can be found in Thai cuisine. The list of healthy Thai dishes, available in Koh Phangan (in big urban centers like Bangkok you can always reach more), includes:

a. All kinds of vegetable soups: Tom Kha, Tom Yum etc. These soups can be made out of pure vegetables or they include fish, seafood or meat (the last choice is less recommended). If you are a strict vegetarian – be sure that your soup doesn’t include any fish sauce, a very popular adding in Thai cuisine.

b. Myriads of vegetable salads, including papaya salad, cashew salad, plain vegetable salad etc. If you are a vegetarian – make sure your salad doesn’t include any seafood additives (fish sauce, dried shrimp).

c. Cooked (but not fried) vegetables, such as oriental broccoli, carrot, green beans, spinach, cabbage eggplant; vegetable curries.

d. Usually, you can choose the main ingredient of your dish from the following : Chicken, Pork, Seafood or Vegetables. Of course, from a healthy point of view the best choices are seafood and vegetables…

e. Steamed fish. The fish in the island are usually fresh. From a healthy perspective, the steamed fish will is by far a better choice than the grilled fish, and the grilled fish is preferable over the fried version.

f. Fruit shakes that are made of fresh fruit and ice – with no sugar added.

There are also several dishes, which are neither healthy nor especially unhealthy. This category includes traditional Thai rice (in Thai restaurants is usually served white rice, which has no nutritional value. The more healthy brown rice is still considered in Thailand as a low quality food), and all kinds of noodles. By the way, vegetarians should be aware of the fact, that many noodle dishes include eggs in some form.

Finally, there’re some foods you should avoid if healthy food is your first preference:

a. Deep fried food – meat, seafood, fish, vegetables, egg rolls and so on;

b. If you can see an external ice stand with fish and seafood on it outside the restaurant – avoid it. Ice stands are not reliable means for keeping food properly cooled and fresh especially during tropical seasons.

c. Fatty food, such as pork, which is very popular in Thailand and usually served fried. It could be extremely delicious – but mostly hazardous to your health.

As for me, back home I strictly maintain a healthy lifestyle and a well balanced diet. Despite this principle, I can’t avoid deep investigating of local cuisine while traveling overseas. Consequently, I make an exception once in a while in favor of typically unhealthy but delicious foods.

2. Healthy treatments. Recently, myriads of advanced healthy treatments became available in Koh Phangan. These treatments are provided by the Koh Phangan Sanctuary wellness center and include:

a. Fasting: complete or partial (refraining from eating solid foods). The fasting program can last 1 to 7 days- you choose.

b. Cleansing, including colon cleansing diets, parasite cleanse, kidney cleansing using natural methods etc.

c. Detox: removal of toxic substances from the body using a special diet, certain herbs, juice fasting and/or colonic irrigation.

d. You can add to the above treathments several highly indulging treatments, such as the traditional Thai body massage. These treatments are available everywhere in Koh Phangan, including Sanctuary, spas and massage centers.

3. Physical activities. Koh Phangan has the best selection of organized and/or guided activities: trekking, watersport, biking etc.

In this article, I would like to share some tips and conclusions I have gathered on my last trip to Thailand, including Koh Phangan, while making some unnecessary expenses.

1. Transportation. Your flight ticket to Thailand is expensive anyway, and there is nothing to do about it (except for choosing a budget air company – but it will be still expensive). On the other hand, getting around in Thailand can be quite cheap. A bus ticket costs much less that an air ticket, and a night bus is the cheapest way to get to your final destination from Bangkok. The easiest way to get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok is by flight to Koh Samui, and by taking a ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan. However, if you prefer to save your money, especially if your plane arrives at Bangkok’s International Airport in the evening - you can take the night bus, which will cost about 15% of a regular flight ticket. The night trip will save you accommodation expenses for the first night as well.

2. Taxi in Bangkok. If you use taxi services – be sure the driver turns the meter on. Avoid taking a taxi ride with no meter unless you’re not sure about the exact price. Taxi drivers in Bangkok are just as frugal as you are. Their initial price will never be nearly as close to the actual fair. For the same reason, if you’re not sure about the exact price – avoid using the motorbike taxies. They’re really cool – but don’t have a meter.

3. Taxi in Koh Phangan. In Koh Phangan there are no meters, and taxi rates are less or more stable (although depending on weather conditions and the time of day). In order to save your money, take a taxi along with other passengers; taking a taxi (whether a boat taxi or a regular taxi) will eventually be much more expensive. 

4. Accommodation. In Koh Phangan, accommodation rates can vary from 100 baht to 4000 baht per bungalow (the bungalow can usually be shared by two people), while suites, villas and other crazy things can be even more expensive. The price depends on the season (the high season is between December and February); location (Haad Rin and Leela beach are relatively expensive); and availability of air – conditioner, hot water and private bath. As for me, I can easily pass being in Koh Phangan during the high season (the weather conditions in Koh Phangan are never extremely bad). The availability of an air condition makes a huge difference in rates, and if you have a bug spray in your arsenal – the ventilator is probably enough to air the bungalow. As you choose a resort, remember that accessibility is an issue in Koh Phangan. Of course, this problem is not exclusive to Koh Phangan; but in Koh Phangan the taxi fares are comparable to the accommodation rates. For example, you can rent a bungalow in or Haad Yao for as low as 100 baht, but the long tail trip from there to will cost you 150 – 200 baht one way. Take this into account while choosing your accommodation.

5. Communication. It will probably not come as a complete shock to you, but the use of cellular phone is much more expensive than using the Telephone & Internet centers services. Mind you that the cost of these services can vary. As usual, if you’re calling overseas from your resort’s office – it will be more expensive than using a call center in Haad Rin or Thong Sala. The cheapest solution is giving your phone number (every call center has a phone number that can be used for calling back) to your friends or relatives overseas. Then average price for one-minute call overseas in 30 baht. If your home country’s tariff is less – go for it.

6. Food. The most simple and cheap restaurants in Koh Phangan are also the best ones. The fancy restaurants are irreplaceable as a choice for a romantic dinner – but the food will not necessary be of better quality or taste if you’ll pay more. Actually, many expensive restaurants in Thailand specialize on Western food; unfortunately, the food is never really “Western” and often disappointing. So my advice is to give up Thai Cordon Blue or Bolognese and let local chefs do their best – the wonderful Thai food. Try cheap restaurants, with plastic chairs and the locals having their meals there; it is usually both tasty and authentic. The street food in Thong Sala is always a splendid idea.

7. Price negotiation. In the neighboring Koh Samui price negotiation is a necessity, almost like breathing, unlike the smaller and less touristy Koh Phangan. Even so, in many shops in Haad Rin and Thong Sala main streets, price bargaining is accepted as well. Try it – in Thailand price negotiation isn’t considered an embarrassing behavior, so you have nothing to lose.

8. Psychology. In Thailand everything is supposed to be cheaper than in your home country. Don’t be foolish by these low prices and control your expenses, since buying an enormous amount of inexpensive things can be, in total, a quite expensive experience.

Since Koh Phangan is an island – using a ferry as part of your trip is unavoidable. Access to Koh Phangan by ferry is possible from Koh Samui, Chumphon and Surat Thani. Getting to Koh Samui, Chumphon or Surat Thani can be achieved by bus, by train or by flight.

1. The Ferry from Surat Thani. This service is provided by 4 companies:

Ferry to Koh Phangan - Songserm Ferry

a. Songserm Express Boat: leaves from Surat Thani jetty twice a day: at 8:00 and at 14:00. The trip to Koh Phangan (via Koh Samui) lasts about 4 hours.

Ferry to Koh Phangan - Raja Ferry

b. Raja Ferry: this car ferry leaves from Donsak (50 min. bus from Surat Thani) and goes directly to Koh Phangan. The trip takes 2.5 hours.

Ferry to Koh Phangan - Seatran Ferry

c. Seatran Ferry: leaves either from Donsak or from Surat Thani jetty. The trip to Koh Phangan (via Koh Samui) lasts 3 – 3.5 hours.

d. The Night Boat, which leaves at 11.00 pm from Surat Thani and arrives in Koh Phangan at 6:00.

Ferry to Koh Phangan - Lompraya Ferry

2. The Ferry from Chumphon. Lomprayah provides this service, and you can buy a joint bus ticket to Bangkok.

3. The Ferry from Koh Samui. 5 companies provide this service: Songserm Express Boat, Lomprayah, Phangan Cruiser, Seatran Ferry and Haad Rin Queen. Songserm Express Boat, Lomprayah, Phangan Cruiser and Seatran Ferry run to Thong Sala, while Haad Rin Queen operates the only ferry service direct to Haad Rin. The last ferry leaves Koh Samui at 17:30, but since it is not too far from Koh Phangan you can always take a private speedboat.

Before I finish, there’re two tips I like to share with people who suffer of seasickness:

1. The shortest ferry trip to Koh Phangan is from Koh Samui (50 min.). This is highly recommended.

2. Try to find a place on the deck, if it’s possible – on the front part of the deck, close to the bow. The boat is swaying less in this part.

Useful information

Bus and Ferry by Lomprayah Company: Bangkok - Koh Phangan

Bus and Ferry by Lomprayah Company: Koh Phangan - Bangkok

Lomprayah
Tel. 077-238412

Ferry by Raja Ferry: Donsak - Koh Phangan

Ferry by Raja Ferry: Koh Phangan - Donsak

Raja Ferry
Tel. in Donsak 077-471151, Tel. in Koh Phangan 077-377452

Ferry by Seatran Car Ferry to Koh Phangan

Ferry by Seatran Car Ferry from Koh Phangan

Seatran
Tel. 077-238129, 077-238079

Ferry by Songserm Express to Koh Phangan

Ferry by Songserm Express from Koh Phangan

Songserm Express
Tel. 077-377704

Night Boat from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan

Night Boat from Koh Phangan to Surat Thani

Songserm Express
Tel. 077-377704

Boat by Seatran Discovery Boat: Koh Samui - Koh Phangan - Koh Tao

Boat by Seatran Discovery Boat: Koh Tao - Koh Phangan - Koh Samui

Seatran
Tel. 077-238129, 077-238079

Boat by Phangan Gruise: Koh Samui - Koh Phangan - Koh Tao

Boat by Seatran Discovery Boat: Koh Tao - Koh Phangan - Koh Samui

Phangan Cruise
Tel. 077-238472, 077-377274

Ferry by Haad Rin Queen : Koh Samui - Koh Phangan (Haad Rin)

Ferry by Haad Rin Queen : Koh Phangan (Haad Rin) - Koh Samui

Raja Ferry
Tel. 077-375113

In order to get to Koh Phangan from Surat Thani, you must take the ferry. The last ferry to Koh Phangan leaves at 22:00. If you are planning to arrive in Surat Thani later, be prepared to spend the night in the town.

The train is comfortable and well equipped, and you can make a choice between 4 sorts of cars: Bogie Second Class Day and Night Coach (388 – 458 Baht per ticket), Air – Conditioned Second Class Diesel rail car (458 Baht per ticket), Air – Conditioned Second Class Day and Night Coach (558 – 688 Baht per ticket), and Air – Conditioned First Class Day and Night Coach (1119 – 1159 Baht per ticket). The lowest price is for the rapid train. The highest price is for the express.

Useful information

State Railway of Thailand - Schedule: Bangkok - Surat Thani

State Railway of Thailand - Schedule: Surat Thani - Bangkok

State Railway of Thailand, Bangkok
Tel: (66) 02-2204334

Koh Phangan attracts foreign investors due to the high property prices in Koh Samui. Prices for popular beach sites in Thong Nai Pan, Ban Khai and Haad Rin had risen twice to eight million bath per rai (2.5 rai = 1 acre).

The Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) can be easily found everywhere in Haad Rin and in Thong Sala main streets. Most of them accept prevalent credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB and Diners Club. Exchange offices can be easily found as well in both Settlements.

Advanced banking services are available, of course, in a bank. There are seven Licensed banks (Public Companies) in Thailand: Bangkok Bank, Bank of Ayudhya (Krunsri Bank), Kasikornbank (Farmers Bank), Krung Thai Bank, Siam City Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, and Thai Military Bank. All of the above have branches in Koh Samui, and three of them (the Bank of Ayudhya, Siam City Bank and Siam Commercial Bank) can be found in Thong Sala.

Useful Information

Financial Services

Bank of Ayuddhya
Thong Sala, tel. 077-377044
Siam City Bank
Thong Sala, tel. 077-377051
Siam Commercial Bank
Thong Sala, tel. 077-377111
Safe Storage
Tel. 09-6505603, 09-9908313

If you’d lost your credit card – you can report the loss dialing the following numbers:
Visa, Mastercard (Bangkok)
Tel. 02-299 1990
American Express (Bangkok)
Tel. 02-273 0020

Bear in mind that in most cases turning to the Police Station in Koh Phangan can be easily avoided in one takes the necessary precautions. The two most common crimes in Koh Phangan are drug use and theft from open bungalows and bike baskets. As for drug use, the local police are extremely enthusiastic when it comes to enforcing it in the island as part of their campaign to make Koh Phangan’s reputation as a place with extreme drug use intolerance … so make your own conclusions. At least, don’t stand with a homemade cigarette at the Chicken Corner.

As for theft, yours truly left all her money and credit cards in the bungalow and survived. Even so, there is a common belief that leaving your valuables in the bungalow is probably not the best and safest idea. On the other hand, you can leave it in the safe of your resort, or use the safe storage service in Koh Phangan.

Useful Information

Emergency
Tel. 191
Koh Phangan Police Station
Tel. 077-377114
Tourist Police (Koh Samui)
Tel. 077-421281
Fire Brigade
Tel. 077 272400
Safe Storage
Tel. 09-6505603, 09-9908313

The Koh Phangan Hospital. The hospital located in Baan Tai beach, between Thong Sala (a few kilometers outside the town) and Haad Rin. The Hospital offers an emergency 24 hours service, dental care, trauma center and a family doctor.
Tel. 077-377034

In the main streets of Haad Rin Nai, Haad Rin Nok and Thong Sala, Pharmacies and Nursing Services by an authorized nurse can be easily found. Number of private clinics that offer elementary help and consultancy can also be found in Thong Sala.

Rescue 24 hours service. The service offers a variety of treatments, including occurrences of medical emergency such as trauma due to car/ motorbike accident.
Tel. 077 - 377500, 077 - 377194.

For serious medical problems and injuries, admitting to Samui International Hospital or Bandon International Hospital in Koh Samui is highly recommended.

Samui International Hospital
Address: Northern Chaweng Beach Road, 90/2 Moo 2, Bophut, Koh Samui
Tel. 077-230781-2, 077-422272, 077-411349

Bandon International Hospital
Address: 123/1 Moo1, T-Bophut, Koh Samui
Tel. 077-245236

The veterinary clinic PAC (Phangan Animal Care) that is run by volunteers offers emergency relief and nursing care for all minor animal illnesses and injuries.

Phangan Animal Care
Address: Koh Phangan Suksa School, Baan Tai, Koh PhaNgan.
Tel. 077-238375.