All the options in one table
| Destination | What you see | How long | Season | Who should skip it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Moon Party | an all-night party on Haad Rin Nok beach | a night from 21:00 to sunrise | once a month on the full moon night, dates move on Buddhist holidays | children, anyone seeking quiet |
| Bottle Beach | a quiet cove in the north, shallow water, snorkelling off the rocks | half a day or a day, boat about 30 minutes | year-round, drier February-April | anyone who needs ATMs and lifeguards |
| Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park | Phaeng and Than Sadet waterfalls, a nature trail | from Thong Sala pier 5.3 and 13.9 km by road | check whether it is open on the DNP portal | anyone not ready for trails |
The Full Moon Party and Bottle Beach: two opposites
Full Moon Party. An all-night party on Haad Rin Nok beach in the south-east of the island. The dates follow the full moon but move by a day when it coincides with a Buddhist holiday and alcohol sales are banned. The page has a table of dates to the end of 2027, the rules, safety, boats and where to stay.
Bottle Beach. A cove in the north of the island with no easy road. A longtail from Chaloklum takes about 30 minutes, and the walk from Haad Khom beach takes 1.5-3 hours. There are no ATMs or lifeguards on the beach, and everything is paid in cash.
What to see on the island without a tour
These places are not tied to a tour: you reach them by scooter or taxi. Road distances from OpenStreetMap, OSRM routing, from Thong Sala pier.
- Phaeng waterfall. In the centre of the island, 5.3 km and about 14 minutes. It is part of Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park
- Than Sadet waterfall. On the east coast, 13.9 km and about 24 minutes. DNP describes the park as mountains with valleys and bays, forest and waterfalls, the highest point 635 m
- Thong Nai Pan. A beach in the north-east, 17.7 km and about 27 minutes, the last stretch is mountainous
- Haad Salad. North-west, 11.3 km and 18 minutes, next to Srithanu
More about beaches and waterfalls in the Koh Phangan travel guide.
Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park fee
The park covers 26,866 rai (about 43 km²) and has two waterfalls and a nature trail. Under the DNP table (edition of 02.06.2023) a foreign adult pays 100 baht, a child 50 baht, and Thai citizens 20 and 10 baht. DNP asks visitors to keep the ticket and show it on inspection. According to DNP there are no shops or restaurants in the park, so bring water and food.
Bottle Beach (Haad Khuat) is not named on the park page and we found no fee for it. You pay the Haad Rin beach entrance to the party organisers. Details on the pages for those places.
When to go
TMD has no station on Phangan, so we use the Ko Samui normals, 20 km to the south, 1991-2020.
| Period | Rain per month | Rainy days | What to pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| February-April | 64-116 mm | 6-8 | any destination, the driest time |
| May-September | 102-134 mm | 13-15 | beaches and waterfalls, showers are short |
| October-December | 263-445 mm | 14-19 | rainy season, trails and roads are slippery, the party follows its calendar |
| January | 127 mm | 11 | transition month |
How to get to Koh Phangan
- From Samui. Lomprayah catamarans run from Bang Rak, Plai Laem and Nathon piers, 20-30 minutes, 8:00 to 17:30 under the 2026 timetable
- From Donsak. Raja Ferry ships run to Samui and Phangan, the schedule is on the carrier’s site
- To Haad Rin. Haadrin Queen boats run directly to Haad Rin pier, details on the Full Moon Party page
- To Koh Tao. Catamarans call at Phangan, details on the Koh Tao and Nang Yuan page
How to choose a trip
- Scooter or taxi. Roads to the north and east are mountainous, and map times are usually shorter than real ones. Dirt sections are dangerous after rain
- Boat. Longtails and catamarans depend on the waves, so in the rainy season leave a time buffer for the return sailing
- Cash. There are no ATMs on the northern beaches, and boats and bungalows take cash
- Party dates. Confirm the date first, then book the room and the boat
- Neighbouring destinations. Trips to Ang Thong and Koh Tao are covered on the Samui pages, so check closures and fees there
Safety
- Water. The UK FCDO advises choosing lifeguarded beaches where they exist and warns about strong currents in the rainy season and about jellyfish from May to October
- Parties. Rules, alcohol and drugs are covered on the Full Moon Party page
- Buying trips. For schemes when buying trips from street sellers see scams
- Insurance. Check that your policy covers scooters, boats and injuries while drinking
FAQ
What are the best-known trips on Koh Phangan?
The Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Nok once a month and Bottle Beach in the north of the island. Among places you can see without a tour, people go to the waterfalls of Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park and to Thong Nai Pan beach. Details and sources are on the separate pages.
When is the best time to go to Koh Phangan for trips?
February to April: under TMD normals (Ko Samui station) those months have 64-116 mm of rain and 6-8 rainy days. October-December are the wettest, with 445 mm in November. The party runs year-round, so the organisers' calendar decides the date.
Do you pay to enter the national park on Koh Phangan?
Yes, a foreign adult pays 100 baht and a child 50 baht for Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park under the DNP table (edition of 02.06.2023). Keep the ticket with you: DNP asks visitors to show it on inspection. Fees are revised, so check the current figure on site.
How do you get to Koh Phangan for a one-day trip?
From Samui by Lomprayah catamaran in 20-30 minutes from Bang Rak, Plai Laem or Nathon piers (2026 timetable). The Raja Ferry runs from Donsak and from Lipa Noi pier. If you go for the party or a remote beach, leave a time buffer for the return boat.
Can you do trips on Koh Phangan with children?
Bottle Beach works if you go by boat: the bay is calm and shallow near the shore, but there are no lifeguards. The Full Moon Party is not for children: music until dawn, alcohol and fire. For the national park waterfalls bring water and closed shoes.
Where can you go from Koh Phangan to the neighbouring islands?
Trips to Ang Thong National Marine Park and Koh Tao are covered on the Samui pages, and Lomprayah catamarans to Koh Tao call at Phangan. Check closures and fees on those pages.
Sources
- DNP. National park entrance fee table (dataset, edition of 02.06.2023)
- DNP. Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Ko Samui station
- Lomprayah. 2026 timetable
- Raja Ferry. Donsak-Samui-Phangan sailing schedule
- Thai Holiday Guide. Full Moon Party Koh Phangan 2026 (reviewed 28 Sep 2026)
- Thai Holiday Guide. Bottle Beach, Koh Phangan (updated July 2026)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Thong Sala pier to Phaeng waterfall
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Thong Sala pier to Than Sadet waterfall
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Thong Sala pier to Thong Nai Pan
- UK FCDO. Thailand: safety and security
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.