Koh Phangan - Anyone Been?

[phuketbound]

Hi, I'm planning a trip to Koh Phangan and possibly scuba diving in Koh Tao.

Does anyone have any recommendations on places to stay, and beaches to stay on? (not haad rin) I had looked into staying at 'The Sanctuary' which is a spa/holistic resort, but it looks really pricey. I'm looking to spend around 800-1500 baht. I am looking on some websites, but any personal rec's could be good.

How is the scuba diving in Koh Phangan? I was hoping to do the scuba on Koh Tao, as I heard it is better than on KP.

Thanks

[The Fresh Prince]

My favorite place on Koh Phangan is Tong Nai Pan Yai and I always stay at Central Cottage Huts. The beach there is awesome and its quite off the beaten track. The road that you go down is a load of crap so it stays pretty quite on the beach and after a couple of days you know pretty much everyone thats staying there. There are some nice restaurants including a steak house, the people are friendly and the milkshakes and 'herbal tea's' go down a treat. The rooms I think are under a 1000bt

I've never been diving there but I can definatly recomend the diving in Koh Tao, well i've only been snorkling but I could tell the diving would be good.

[jandajoy]

I'm planning a trip to Koh Phangan

I went to the monastery there to buy a book. Hated the island and the people that went there.

We made the mistake of doing the "VIP" bus. Shocking.
Boat = shocking.

Hated it.

But thats us.

[The Fresh Prince]

You've gotta fly and then get a boat, the bus journey is a nightmare. At the very least get the train over the bus, at least you get a bed and there's a beer carriage that turns into a disco after 8pm.

[dirtydog]

https://teakdoor.com/thailands-beache...few-other.html (My month on Koh Phangan (and a few other places))

[SEA Traveler]

Been to Kho Tao several times for scuba diving. Scuba Diving is the primary reason for being on Kho Tao and the local industry has the movement of perps from dock to lodging area as well as the daily dive boat activity down to a science. Night life can be found in one of the techo night clubs and plenty of good restaurants. Well worth the effort going to Koh Tao for the diving. Many dive sites to choose from and many dive companies/boats.

[phuketbound]

^Yes, thanks. Can you or anyone else recommend a scuba diving place to do my PADI at in Koh Tao? There are so many to choose from?

Thanks, Fresh Prince. I will look into those cottages, and the beach sounds lovely too. What side of the island is it on?

Cheers, DD for the link. I missed that one.

[The Fresh Prince]

Its on the north east of the island. Just googled it and they have a website.

Thong Nai Pan / Koh Phangan / en

And I found a few pics.









Central Cottage Resort / en

The last hut on the end is the one they always give me when I go there. Takes about 15sec's to get to the sea in the morning with a sore head.

Looking at their site it seams to have been renovated a lot since I was last there. They've even got a pool and higher end rooms. Damn I miss that place. Must get back this year.

[terry57]

[quote=The Fresh Prince;900096

]My favorite place on Koh Phangan is Tong Nai Pan Yai and I always stay at Central Cottage Huts. The beach there is awesome and its quite off the beaten track. [quote]



Yep, I lived here in the late 80's when this bay was just getting there first backpacker, stunning bay in an incredible setting.

Very developed these days but ain't every where in Thailand the same ? A big step down from Samui though and if you hit it out of season can be quite quiet.

Diving on Phan Gan is crap compared to Tao so save your money for there.

Have a good trip.

[Loombucket]

We stayed at 'Sanctuary' in Had Tsian on KPG a few years ago. It has evolved from a backpackers haven to more of a healing centre these days. The bungalows are a bit pricey and the connecting, uphill paths can be a bit difficult to navigate when you have had a skinfull.

Further up the beach, to the right, are the 'Mother Earth bungalows'. They are cheaper, just as well equiped and you don't find yourself listening to 'Blur's greatest hits' in the bar area. The downside is they don't speak a lot of English but you can point to the pictures on the menu.

At the top of the hill, there is a jungle path to the next village, although this requires a degree of stamina, decent shoes and someone to carry your water. Other than that, the only way in is by boat and it can prolong your stay, if the sea is a little rough.

[phuketbound]

^Can you tell me more about your experience? Did you do any of the yoga, fasting, or try out the spa? How was the beach? Thanks!

^^^That beach looks really lovely. The cottages also look right up my alley. Is the beach quite busy? Great pics, and information.

^^Have any recommendations on places to stay or diving outfitters, Terry57? Cheers!

[The Fresh Prince]

I've only seen the beach busy once and that was only for a few days, but that's what I like about the place. You become incredibly lazy after just a couple of days.

I was there once with a mate and on the last day we were too lazy to pack in time for the taxi. We were sat on the beach havin a few beers and more and more people came to join us. In the end there were about 14 people and it was 8,000bt to hire a speed boat to pick us up from our beach and take us to Koh Samui. Everyone was havin such a laugh that all 14 people wanted to catch the boat back with us and have a few more beers on Samui before our plane went. It was cool coz we all split the cost of the boat and it cut out the whole taxi/ferry/taxi ride which can take some time and we both got back to Samui for 500bt each.

They all caught the boat back for free coz it was going anyway and they all got free beach stuff that we couldn't be bothered to pack.

[Loombucket]

^Can you tell me more about your experience? Did you do any of the yoga, fasting, or try out the spa? How was the beach? Thanks!

No, I haven't tried any of the complicated stuff although I know of a few people who have. They all said that it was good, clean, professionally done and the muti national staff knew what they were doing. No one, that I know, has been there recently but thery are always trying to make it better. I think that they have, or had, a website if you want to get the latest in what they can offer.

I went there with a mate, but we were just checking on some work that had been done there. We stayed in one of the highest bungalows, just for the one night. The Bathroom was half rock and half cement with real tiles, and there are western style toilets with hot water showers. The room itself was a wooden floor thing with a double and single beds, a balcony with chairs, a table and views to die for. I remember a fan and lots of light switches but not much else. Some of the familly rooms have satalite TV and all the beds have mozzie nets.

The beach is quite steep and not much difference between high and low tide. Rocks go down both sides of the bay and there is a pontoon with chairs and a hammock, moored out in the deeper water. There is a lot of sand, everywhere, but some sharp stuff in the shallows. Broken shell, I think.

There is a 'track' and steps cut into the hill at the back of the bay before the mountain proper. There you will find an excellent bar/club with room to dance and a decent sound system. They do all the usuall stuff at the bar, including a mushroom shake, a very brown muffin and some wicked cocktails. The owner usually has a wood fire out the back and there is, usually, some interesting people worth talking to. There is a modern toilet block at the back of his land, just away from the main throng.

The generators all stop around 12-2 AM so take a good, wind-up, torch. Needless to say, the nearest ATM is a boat ride away. Oh, and mark your flip-flops or put them in a bag, especially if you have big feet.

[phuketbound]

^Thanks, Loombucket. I've see the website, and the hill looks a bit steep, and hopefully it is well lit. They have a number of different accomodations to suit different budgets. Still haven't decided on it yet.

[thrilled]

I was there dec of 09,I stayed at morning star resort.It has A website.I don't know about snorkeling there.It's right on the water.It's on the west side.Between had rin and tong sala,nice place,good restaurant.