Natural Tourist Sites in Koh Phangan The fascinating natural beauty of the beaches around Koh Phangan causes it, the “Land of the Coconut”, to be visited by tourists incessantly from every corner of the world. The beaches range from the tranquil to the more populated and active. The northernmost as well as the southernmost beaches are acclaimed for their natural beauty and peacefulness while the eastern and southeastern coasts are more colorful with activities and tourisits. Thong Sala Gulf Up the coast to the port town of Thong Sala you will find the largest village on Koh Phangan. It is compared to “the front” of Koh Phangan because it is the business center, government departments and the place to do the traditional activities of the villagers. Moreover, it is the transportation center. There are piers that can take you to other near islands such as Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. Most of other idyllic beaches can be reached by boat which can be hired in this port town. Close to the piers, there are restaurants, hotels, other accommodations and a number of travel agencies. The local car and motorbike are at the service to take the journey around Koh Phangan. Other rental car services are next to the piers. Location & Getting There:The Gulf is to the west of Koh Phangan. There is a ferry from Koh Samui to the piers of Thong Sala taking 1 hour. There is also Lomprayah High Speed Ferry from Bophut, Koh Samui to the piers of Thong Sala taking 30 minutes. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Ban Tai Beach Ban Tai beach stretches across the southwest border line of Koh Phangan. It is the longest beach on Koh Phangan. From here you can see the beautiful Koh Samui. The ancient community here was Muslims who came from Nakorn Sri Thammarat and Pattani. They earn their living by fishing like their ancestors did. At the south end of the beach there is a pier where many people gather in the morning to buy and sell fresh food from the sea at a reasonable price. Location & Getting There: Ban Tai beach is located in the southwest of Koh Phangan and about 2 kilometers from Thong Sala and public transportation is every day at service. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Rin Beach (Haad Rin) This wide sandy beach in the south of Koh Phangan is one of the most beautiful ones. Haad Rin is actually comprised of two popular beaches; Rin Nai beach on the west side of the peninsula and Rin Nok beach on the east side. From Rin Nai beach the picture of Koh Samui comes very clear to your eyes. This is also a great point to catch the sunset. On this beach, a small pier is carrying a lot of passengers to/from Big Buddha pier, Koh Samui everyday. Rin Nok beach is well known among Thai and foreign tourists for its Full Moon Party.This spot is ranked as the third most beautiful spot in the world to view the full moon. That is why a great number of tourists from all over the world flock here to take part in the famous celebration every full moon night. Location & Getting There: Haad Rin is located on the southwestern tip of Koh Phangan and 12 kilometers south from Thong Sala. You can catch a local bus from Thong Sala to the beach or take a ferry directly from Big Buddha pier, Koh Samui to get here. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Chaloklum Bay It is a good place for the fishermen to bring their boats alongside this wharf because the water here is so deep. It is also a good place to tie up to when the winds get too strong. This deep seaport serves as a place where the fishermen stop during their transfer of fresh water to the other neighboring islands. Moreover, it is the biggest site where the fishermen of the island live. Besides fresh seafood, the villagers sell dried squid which is their most famous product. Here, you can enjoy the colorful and lively scene of the fishermen’s lifestyle. Many snorkelling shops are available. Sightseeing around the island, snorkelling and fishing squids during the night are interesting activities among the tourists. Location & Getting There: The beach is located on the north side of Koh Phangan and about 15 kilometers from Thong Sala. Local buses are available daily to/from the beach. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Thansadej Beach The beach here is not quite long but beautiful and tranquil. The water is clear and not so deep that it is a great place for a swim. The beach is very close to the Thansadej Potection Unit where the Thansadej Waterfall (link to Thansadej Waterfall) is located. This waterfall is considered one of the most important sites to visit on Koh Phangan. Location and Getting There: Thansadej beach is on the east side of Koh Phangan and about 13 kilometers from Thong Sala. You can catch a local bus from the port of Thong Sala. From Koh Samui, you can take a rapid speed boat or a longtail boat to get there and back. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Mae Haad Beach This northwestern beach still maintains its transquililty. During periods of low tide, the water is shallow enough to walk across to the island named “Ma”, which is also another most beautiful beach on Koh Phangan. Location & Getting There: The beach is located on the northwest side of Koh Phangan, near Salad beach. It is about 15 kilometers by a local bus from Thong Sala. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Thongnaipan Bay This beach with its fine white sand, peaceful and natural atmosphere still is unspoiled because it is located far from the city. There is also another beautiful and peaceful beach just north of here named Thongnaipannoi. It is worthwhile to pay a visit here for those who love to snorkel in shallow water. Location & Getting There: It is located on the west side of Koh Phangan and about 25 kilometers from Thong Sala. Traveling by land is not recommended, especially during the rainy season because some parts of the route are very hard to pass through. The best way to access to the beach is by water. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Sri Thanu Beach This transquil beach is on the west side of Koh Phangan. This is another great spot for those who like peace and quiet and to just relax surrounded by nature. The water here is clean, limpid, and not too deep to have a swim. However, it must be careful during the monsoon season because of the strong wave and wind. Location & Getting There: It is located the west side of Koh Phangan and about 12 kilometers by local buses to the beach from Thong Sala port. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Yaw Beach The length of this beach is about 1 kilometer. It is the beautiful place for snorkelling and having a swim. Here, the tourists can enjoy the beauty of the sunset. Location & Getting There: The beach is located on the west side of koh Phangan and about 13 kilometers from Thong Sala. Local buses are available to the beach. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Tae Nai Island This small island is just 400 meters from Thong Sala Bay. You can hire a boat to take you around this island. There are a beautiful sandy beach called “Chan Siaw” as well as other places of interest such as Phra Cave and Talu Cave. Moreover, around the area of Taykho cliff on the back part of the island is a great place to take a sunset at the end of the day. Location & Getting There: Koh Tae Nai is only 10 minutes by boat from Thong Sala port. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Phaeng Waterfall National Forest Park This set has been proclaimed the national park in 1977. The waterfall runs down from the high hill and hits the hillocks, causing the white and small bubbles of water. During the rainy season, the steam is strong and abundant. The villagers utilise its water in the agriculture, farms and other utilities. This pleasant and beautiful waterfall attracts many tourists. Location & Getting There: The waterfall is located on the east side of Koh Phangan and about 5 kilometers from Thong Sala. Local buses are available daily. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Thansadej Waterfall It is the biggest waterfall of Koh Phangan. His majesty the kings of the Chakri dynasty such as King the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the ninth and Queen Rampaipannee have visited this waterfall and have given the name to the waterfall. They have also inscribed their abbreviated titles and date which they have visited on the stone near the waterfall. King Chulalongkorn (King the fifth) has been to this waterfall for 14 times. Near the waterfall, there is a rest pavillion which the Department of Fine Arts has then repaired and has registered it as an ancient place. The waterfall originates from the stream of water running down from the mountain over the lowered rocks. Its restful atmosphere is good for taking a rest. The Royal Forest Department has proclaimed this waterfall the national park because of its variety of the forest nature. The tourists should not miss to visit this place. Location & Getting There: The waterfall is located on the east side of Koh Phangan and about 15 kilometers from Thong Sala. You can access the place both by land and by water. However, using land conveyances is not recommended as the route is tough and steep. Local buses from Thong Sala port are available two times a day. During the rainy season, the route by water is not recommended. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Paradise Waterfall This small waterfall on the north side of Koh Phangan originates from the peak of the high mountain of the island. There is a big shallow lake downstairs where you can have a swim. Its atmosphere is tranquil and pleasant. Location & Getting There: It is located on the north side of the island. Local buses are available everyday from Thong Sala port. The entrance of the waterfall is about 3 kilometers before the Chaloklum Village, then, walk up to the hill about 200 meters. From Haad Yuan, please contact our tour counter service. Beyond Koh Phangan Koh Samui Koh Samui is the idyllic tropical island located in the Gulf of Thailand. This emerald island has been charming its visitors ever since the first tourists arrived in the early of 1970's. Those who experience Koh Samui are rewarded with an idyllic tropical retreat with little traffic, white-sand beaches, a sapphire-blue sea, an abundance of tantalizing Thai cuisine and unusually warm and friendly people. Koh Samui is gifted with such an incredibly rich variety of beaches and bays, capes and coves, which it seems like several islands rolled into one. This Thailand's third largest island also consists of forest hills of limestone and granite, and the shoreline is made up of countless coconut palm-fringed beaches and bays. Despite the mass of resort development, Koh Samui still maintains the classic image of a tropical beach fringed by coconut palms. To go there from Koh Phangan, you can take daily ferry boat from Haad Rin to Big Buddha pier. There are four times a day and it takes about 45 minutes from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui. For more information, please contact our tour counter service. Look for our accommodation in Samui Koh Tao KohTao or Turtle island is the largest dive training center in Southeast Asia. It offers ideal conditions to learn diving for those who have never dived before. Koh Tao is shaped like a kidney bean. Most of the island is mountainous, surrounded by coconut plams and huge boulders. This, therefore; is a perfect place for those who want to get away from the crowded, blastling cities. Please contact our tour counter service for information or booking a trip to Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan. Koh Nang Yuan Lying 1 kilometer off the northwest coast of Koh Tao is Koh Nang Yuan, a spectacular little island. It consists of three small islets that are connected by a strip of beach. This very clean and peaceful beach is about 50 meters long that you can walk over. There is only one resort on this island and near it is a viewpoint where you can get a look at the impressive scenery around Koh Nang Yuan. Since there is almost no infrastructure, the resort requests that you do not bring plastic bottles or other items to the island that will be difficult to dispose of. This island is also famous for its underwater world. These are why it is a perfect place for honeymooners, scuba divers and snorkellers. Please contact our tour counter service for information of a trip to Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan or diving courses/trips. Ang Thong National Marine Park "The Golden Bowl of the Gulf of Thailand" is 25 kilomaters west of Koh Samui. It has been enlisted as the second national marine park since 1980. The park is composed of 42 islands which Koh Pa Luay, Koh Wua Taa Lub, Koh Mae Kon, Koh Hin Dub, Koh Nai Put, and Koh Tai Plao are parts of. The archipelago consists of tropical rainforests, wildlife, deserted beaches and massive rock formations. There is a good snorkelling, diving, hiking and even camping on some of the islands. Many people regard sea kayaking as the best way to explore the area. You can contact our tour counter service for information and booking a trip.   Yuan Beach, Ban Tai, Koh Phangan, Suratthani Tel: 66 (0) 81 8951337, 66 (0) 87 2824646 contact: contact@pariyahaadyuan.com, web site: www.pariyahaadyuan.com Koh Samui Office: First Bungalow Beach Resort 4/6 Moo 3, Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320, Thailand Tel 66 (0)77230414 to 5, 66 (0)77422327 Fax: 66 (0)77422243