Thong Nai Pan Yai, Ko Phangan (Lower Gulf)
Thong Nai Pan Yai is one of Ko Phangan’s nicer bays with a wide stretch of sand just south of Thong Nai Pan Noi. The beach is still not too crowded, and yet it is one of the more social beaches on the TreasureBeaches site. On this beach there is a mix of midrange hotels and higher-end accommodations
We love the Limelight Village, a boutique hotel with a small pool and only a few bungalows. But there are plenty of good alternatives, check the booking sites. In the small village, just 100 meters from the beach, you will also find more budget options. There is a good choice of restaurants on the beach or in the small village.
Ko Phangan is a nice surprise because while half of the island is very touristy (the kind of place we normally avoid), the other half has TreasureBeaches. It is probably better to avoid the island during the full moon party period, but otherwise it remains a nice place to go.
There are plenty of excursions to do in Ko Phangan, from scuba diving and snorkelling trips to visiting a coconut plantation or feeding elephants. You can take cooking classes and there are great hiking trails that take you to the island’s tropical rainforest. There are 3 kitesurfing spots on the south coast.
The most common way to reach Ko Phangan is by taking a flight, train, bus or minibus from Bangkok to Chumphon or Surat Thani. You can take different types of boat services to Ko Phangan from Dansok Pier at Surat Thani or from the pier at Chumphon.
When you enter the pier in Thong Sala, take a shared taxi or boat service to your beach. It is easy to rent a scooters on the island.
