Comparison · Koh Phangan vs Phuket · Thailand
Koh Phangan vs Phuket
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Koh Phangan for Full Moon Party, Haad Rin and lower day-to-day costs; choose Phuket for Beaches and Phang Nga Bay. Koh Phangan is generally less expensive, and the two are about 272 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 272 km
- Less expensive
- Koh Phangan
- Best time for Koh Phangan
- February–April and July–August
- Best time for Phuket
- December–March
Side by side
| Koh Phangan | Phuket | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Thailand | Thailand |
| Known for | Full Moon Party, Haad Rin and Yoga retreats | Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi Islands day trips |
| Best time to visit | February–April and July–August | December–March |
| Ideal stay | 6 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $70–$150 | $90–$200 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 33°C (91°F) | March, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 28°C (82°F) | September, 31°C (88°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 6 |
| Beaches | Thong Nai Pan Noi | Kata Beach |
| Airports | USM, URT | HKT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Koh Phangan for…
Full Moon Party, Haad Rin and lower day-to-day costs. Koh Phangan is a hilly, jungle-covered island in the Gulf of Thailand, about 15 km north of Koh Samui. It is famous for the Full Moon Party on Haad Rin's Sunrise Beach, but most of the island is far quieter: the west coast around Srithanu is a hub for yoga…
Choose Phuket for…
Beaches and Phang Nga Bay. Thailand's largest island, about 50 km long, lines its west coast with sandy bays from lively Patong to calmer Kata, Kamala and Nai Harn, all facing the Andaman Sea. Inland, rubber plantations and forested hills hide the Big Buddha and waterfalls, while…
Top sights compared
| # | Koh Phangan | Phuket |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Moon Party at Haad Rin | Big Buddha |
| 2 | Bottle Beach | Old Phuket Town |
| 3 | Thong Nai Pan Noi and Yai | Wat Chalong |
| 4 | Than Sadet waterfall and beach | Promthep Cape |
| 5 | Phaeng Waterfall and Domsila viewpoint | Karon Viewpoint |
Food compared
| Koh Phangan | Phuket |
|---|---|
| Massaman curry | Phuket Hokkien noodles |
| Southern sour curry | Moo hong |
| Pad thai | Khanom jeen |
| Som tam | Phuket dim sum |
Which is cheaper?
Koh Phangan is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $70–$150 per person there, against $90–$200 in Phuket (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Koh Phangan on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Koh Phangan and Phuket are about 272 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 6 days in Koh Phangan and 7 in Phuket.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Koh Phangan or Phuket cheaper?
Koh Phangan is usually less expensive: about $70–$150 a day mid-range against $90–$200 (estimates).
+Is Koh Phangan or Phuket better for a first trip?
Pick Koh Phangan for Full Moon Party, Haad Rin and lower day-to-day costs, or Phuket for Beaches and Phang Nga Bay.
+How far is Koh Phangan from Phuket?
About 272 km in a straight line.