After living in Koh Phangan for 4 months, we realized that there is no shortage of best things to do in Koh Phangan. Koh Phangan might be a small island. But there are a lot of activities that you can experience as a digital nomad or tourist.
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Hiking
Hiking the waterfalls is a very popular activity in this region. There are a couple of waterfalls that are popular. These include Than Sadet and Than Prawet Waterfalls that are located very close to Thong Nai Pan Beaches, there is also the Paradise Waterfall close to Chaloklum Bay and finally, the Than Praphet Waterfall that leads directly to the sea southeast coast of the island at the waterfall beach. So if you are up for the challenge, then visit any of these waterfalls and do your stuff.
Relax with Yoga and Meditation
There are a lot of yoga centers on the island where you can relax. This activity is very popular on the island. It combines physical and spiritual exercises – resembling meditation – to positively impacts your mind and body. Popular yoga centers include Orion Healing Centre and Agama Yoga Retreat located in Sri Thanu, and the Blooming Lotus Yoga located northeast of Haad Rin. You can make bookings for single sessions or join ongoing retreats.
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Enjoy Beautiful Sunsets in Koh Phangan
You can experience the beautiful view of the island from its mountain tops and also get to watch the beautiful sunrise and sunsets. The highest point on the mountain is Khao Ra, a mountain that is located north-central of the city. It stands at 627m tall. You can get to the summit in about an hour and a half. There are also other good viewpoints on the island. While you need a bit of effort to get to some, some are just there at your reach.
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Things to do in Koh Phangan (Pre-COVID): Music and Parties
You get to dance to good music at parties which are a regular activity in the region. The most popular of these types of parties are the famous Full moon parties, which occur monthly. The full moon parties take place on the Haad Rin beach and are the best in Thailand. The half-moon and black moon parties have grown in popularity over the years (pre COVID).
Explore the magic of the Island
Yes, you can decide to explore the island by moving around its beaches. Beach-hopping is a great way to see everything in Koh Phangan. The island is about 40km which is not very big but it has a total of 30 beaches with their distinct shapes and sizes. You can hire a bike between 200 and 300 baht for a day and go on your exploration. However, some beaches can’t easily be reached by road, such as Haad Nam Tok beach.
Learn to Dive in Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan Island has very good snorkeling and diving sites surrounding it. You can explore the underwater world at nearly all the beaches along the north and west coasts. You will find the best points close to the ends of the beaches. For the best experience, take an organized diving trip to Koh Tao (regarded as the Mecca of submarine activities in the Gulf of Thailand. The most beautiful diving location I’d say is the Sail Rock 15km north of Koh Phangan.
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Visit the Challenge Phangan Park
You can find this water park on the island’s west coast between Chao Phao and Sri Thanu bays at the Sweet Water Lake. Here you can experience an exciting water obstacle course challenge that you must complete in a short time. This course features monkey bars, rolling barrels, stepping stones, swinging shapes, rope swing, balance beams, and lots more. They are open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
Learn How to Cook Delicious Thai food
No doubt Thailand cuisines are very popular and it can be a very good souvenir to take home with you or take with you on your digital nomad journey. There are a couple of good cooking schools on the island offering teaching lessons on Thai special cuisines. There are schools like the “Phangan Cooking Class” and “My Wok and Me” both in Thong Sala and the Sri Thanu C&M Culture Centre. You can learn how to prepare dishes like Tom Kha Kai and Pad Thaiuse and impress your family and friends. You can even become a Thai chef.
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