2 days in Koh Phangan

Day by day

1. Day 1: Bottle Beach and Thong Nai Pan Noi and Yai

   Bottle Beach, Thong Nai Pan Noi and Yai, Than Sadet waterfall and beach and Phaeng Waterfall and Domsila viewpoint, then Full Moon Party at Haad Rin in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bottle Beach

      A long-tail boat from Chaloklum takes about 15–20 minutes and is the easiest way in; the bay has calm water outside the wetter months.

   2. Late morning

      Thong Nai Pan Noi and Yai

      Thong Nai Pan Noi has a small village of cafés and restaurants behind the beach, and the bays are among the best on the island for swimming.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Massaman curry

      Thai restaurants and the Thong Sala night market.

   4. Afternoon

      Than Sadet waterfall and beach

      The name means 'royal stream': King Rama V and later kings visited, and royal monograms are carved into the rocks along the river.

   5. Late afternoon

      Phaeng Waterfall and Domsila viewpoint

      Inside Than Sadet–Ko Pha-ngan National Park, a short trail leads to Phaeng Waterfall, then climbs through the forest for about 30 minutes to the Domsila viewpoint, a rocky outcrop with views over the west coast and towards Koh Samui.

   6. Evening

      Full Moon Party at Haad Rin

      Book accommodation weeks ahead, wear shoes on the sand to avoid broken glass, keep valuables at your hotel and stay out of the sea after drinking.

2. Day 2: Khao Ra hike and Koh Ma and Mae Haad

   Khao Ra hike, Koh Ma and Mae Haad, Haad Yao and Haad Salad, then Thong Sala Walking Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Khao Ra hike

      The summit looks over much of the island and the sea.

   2. Late morning

      Koh Ma and Mae Haad

      The reef around it is one of the island's best snorkelling spots, with corals and reef fish close to shore.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Southern sour curry

      Local restaurants in Thong Sala and Chaloklum serving southern Thai food.

   4. Afternoon

      Haad Yao

      Resorts and restaurants line the sand without crowding it.

   5. Late afternoon

      Haad Salad

      The name is said to come from pirates (salad in Thai) who once sheltered in the bay.

   6. Evening

      Thong Sala Walking Street

      Arrive hungry and graze from stall to stall; try grilled squid, sticky rice and fresh fruit shakes.

Before you go

• Full Moon Party at Haad Rin: Rooms in Haad Rin fill up around the full moon and many require minimum stays; book early and confirm the party date, which can move.

If it rains

• Swap in Wat Pho herbal sauna (Ban Tai and Ban Khai): Bring a sarong and towel and go in the late afternoon; take short sessions in the steam room and drink water between them.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 24–34 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.6 hours in January to 12.7 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Scooter. Scooters are the most common way to get around, but the island's roads are very steep in places, especially to Haad Rin, Thong Nai Pan and Bottle Beach.

More or fewer days

• One day in Koh Phangan
• 3 days in Koh Phangan
• 5 days in Koh Phangan

Questions travellers ask