Things to Do in Koh Phangan: 13 Activities & Excursions

The Coolest Activities on Koh Phangan

Besides the classic sightseeing on Koh Phangan, there’s so much more to experience on the island – whether you’re after something active, creative, or totally laid-back. Here are 9 great things to do on Koh Phangan that go beyond the usual tourist trail.

Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan

What to expect: The Full Moon Party is THE party on Koh Phangan. Once a month, Haad Rin Beach transforms into one of the most legendary party destinations in the world. Think colorful body painting, way too much alcohol, pounding dance music, and thousands of party-hungry travelers all in one place.

Is it worth it? Absolutely! As long as you’re in Thailand to party, that is. The Full Moon Party blows everything else out of the water – better than the parties in Bangkok, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, or Koh Samui!

Activity location: Haad Rin Beach in the southeastern part of the island

Our tip: Even outside of the Full Moon Party, there are regular events on Koh Phangan – like the Half Moon Party or the Waterfall Party. They’re not quite as massive, but they can be a seriously good time too!

Our hotel tip: During the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, hotels – especially in Haad Rin – get booked up months in advance and prices go through the roof. If you missed your chance to book early, check out the Vannee Golden Sands Beachfront Resort – you can sometimes still find available rooms here. Bonus: it’s one of our top picks for places to stay on Koh Phangan.

Relaxing in Bars on Koh Phangan

What to expect: The more laid-back alternative to the party scene on Koh Phangan is an evening out at a bar. You can choose between the bars in Thong Sala, a cool beach bar, or somewhere with a view of the ocean. There’s often live music, and if you’re lucky, a happy hour too.

Is it worth it? An evening at a bar is one of our favorite things to do on Koh Phangan. You can usually get a beer for around $3 and a cocktail for about $5. Many bars also serve great food, making it the perfect place to just kick back and unwind.
Cool spots on Koh Phangan:
C2 Bar: Our favorite bar on Koh Phangan, with a breathtaking view of Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach. It’s especially relaxed in the afternoon before the crowds arrive. Make sure to try the Thai iced tea here – so good!

Top Rock Bar: A small, laid-back bar in the western part of the island. The atmosphere is super chill and the floor cushions give it great hippie vibes. From here you have a fantastic view of the ocean.

Bars on the main street in Thong Sala: A popular spot for travelers. You’ll find bars with pool tables and cool Irish pubs. Pretty much every bar has a happy hour in the late afternoon or early evening.

Beach bars at Haad Rin Beach: Even without the Full Moon Party, there’s something happening here in the evenings. You’ll mostly find young travelers sipping a beer on colorful floor cushions and listening to house music.

Our tip: The C2 Bar and Top Rock Bar are especially stunning at sunset. Just make sure to arrive early to grab a good spot.

Massage on Koh Phangan

What to expect: Pure relaxation! With a traditional Thai massage, you wear special clothing and your body is mostly stretched and manipulated. If you prefer something gentler, we’d recommend booking an aroma massage – that’s where therapists combine an oil massage with just a few light stretches.

Is it worth it? We love Thai massages! They loosen up your muscles and help you relax incredibly well. And they’re super affordable – a classic Thai massage runs just 350 baht for one hour.

Activity location: The best massage we’ve had on Koh Phangan was at Kanda Massage (Google Maps). We can also recommend the Pure Relax massage salon (Google Maps).

Yoga Classes and Retreats on Koh Phangan

What to expect: Yoga – especially a full retreat – is a hugely popular activity on Koh Phangan, and honestly the most extreme contrast to the Full Moon Party you can find. You’ll unwind with daily yoga and meditation sessions, get tips on healthy eating, and many retreats also encourage a digital detox.

Is it worth it? We haven’t done a yoga retreat ourselves, but we find the whole concept really appealing. We know plenty of people who have done yoga classes or retreats on Koh Phangan and were absolutely thrilled. Our take: give it a try if that’s your kind of thing – you won’t regret it.
Cool spots for yoga classes or retreats on Koh Phangan
V Yoga Shala (Google Maps): A relaxed yoga studio in the town of Chaloklum. You can drop in for a class without booking in advance.

Wonderland Healing Center: A beautiful yoga retreat right in the middle of the jungle, offering a wide range of classes and workshops. The minimum stay is four nights, and an all-inclusive package is included when you book.

Our tip: Most yoga studios are in the western part of the island. If you haven’t booked a retreat and just want to drop in for a class here and there, we’d suggest booking your hotel near Salad Beach, Haad Yao, or Zen Beach.

Thai Cooking Class on Koh Phangan

What to expect: Can’t get enough of the food in Thailand? Then you’re going to love a cooking class. You’ll learn how to recreate pad thai, tom kha gai, or spicy papaya salad at home – your instructor will share all the tips and tricks of Thai cuisine.

Is it worth it? For us, a cooking class is a must on any trip to Thailand. We did our first one in Chiang Mai and our most recent one in Khao Lak. Both were absolutely fantastic! So we’re confident the cooking classes on Koh Phangan are just as good.

Activity location: On Koh Phangan, we’d book a cooking class at Muai’s Thai Traditional Cooking Academy (Google Maps).

Our tip: A cooking class is also a great option on Koh Phangan if you’re not visiting during the best time to visit Thailand and the weather turns rainy.

Snorkeling on Koh Phangan

What to expect: Snorkeling in Thailand is something we seriously can’t get enough of. Even without a guide, you can discover colorful fish, beautiful coral reefs, and other amazing sea creatures. Koh Phangan has some truly spectacular snorkeling spots – especially in the northwestern part of the island!

Is it worth it? 100%! Snorkeling is right at the top of our list of favorite activities. We’ve even started bringing our own snorkel masks so we can jump straight in without renting on-site. It’s also a perfect activity to do with kids.
The best snorkeling spots on Koh Phangan:
Mae Haad Beach and Koh Ma Island: The most popular and arguably the best spot on the island. You’ll find colorful corals, small fish, and plenty of other marine life right away.

Haad Salad, Haad Yao, and Haad Chao Pao: All three beaches sit just below Mae Haad Beach. About 100 meters offshore, there’s a large, beautiful coral reef.

Haad Khom: East of the village of Chaloklum lies Haad Khom Beach, with a small coral reef in the bay. Bonus: very few tourists make it out here.

Our tip: If you’d rather not snorkel on your own, we recommend a guided tour to Ang Thong National Park. It’s located about 30 kilometers northwest of Koh Phangan and covers 41 islands. We’ve snorkeled there too and it was absolutely incredible! More details on that tour in excursion tip number 10.

Kayaking Around Koh Phangan

What to expect: With a kayak, you get to see Koh Phangan from a completely different perspective. The island looks truly stunning from the water – and with a kayak, you can really soak up that panorama at your own pace, unlike from the deck of a fast ferry.

Is it worth it? Kayaking has two great advantages for us: it’s a solid workout (your arms will definitely feel it the next day) and the waterscape in Thailand is absolutely breathtaking. Plus, you can paddle out much farther than you’d ever swim.

Activity location: We recommend renting kayaks at Haad Salad Beach. You might have to track down the owner, as the kayaks are usually just left on the beach – but kayaks are also available at other larger beaches around the island.

Our tip: A kayak ride is also included on the excursion to Ang Thong National Park. That’s pretty much all the reason you need to book that trip!

Zipline Tour on Koh Phangan

What to expect: In the mood for something adventurous? How about an exhilarating zipline tour over the jungle? Depending on the option you choose, you’ll also climb a 30-meter-high climbing wall and walk across a sky bridge.

Is it worth it? We did our first zipline tour over Costa Rica’s cloud forest in Monteverde and then again near Luang Prabang in Laos. We can’t get enough! Ziplining is pure adrenaline, and the jungle on Koh Phangan makes it even better.

Activity location: In the northwestern part of the island, near Mae Haad Beach.

Zipline Tour on Koh Phangan

Off-Road Tour on a Quad Through the Jungle

What to expect: Want even more adrenaline? You’ll get it on an off-road quad tour! You’ll ride through adventurous jungle trails, past large plantations and farms, and make a stop on a hilltop where you’ll be treated to a one-of-a-kind vista over Haad Sadet Beach.

Is it worth it? Cruising through the jungle and along gravel roads on a quad is just an absolute blast – even if the guide sets the pace up front. It’s definitely one of the most unique things to do on Koh Phangan.

Activity location: The starting point is 10 kilometers northeast of Thong Sala (about 20 minutes by scooter). You can also arrange a hotel pickup for an additional fee.

Cool Off-Road Adventure on a Quad

Special Excursions from Koh Phangan

Spending several days on Koh Phangan as part of your road trip through Thailand and have time to spare? Then you should seriously consider a day trip from Koh Phangan.

Boat Tour to Ang Thong National Park

What to expect: Ang Thong National Park is mostly water, spread across 42 islands. A boat tour here promises a seriously exciting day – you’ll cruise by boat, snorkel in the open sea, kayak along rocky coastlines, and make a stop on one of the islands with breathtaking views.

Is it worth it? The tour to Ang Thong National Park is still one of our most unforgettable experiences in Thailand. On top of all the activities, the day trip includes a really fantastic lunch – often with fresh fish. Delicious! We did the tour from Koh Samui, but there are great options departing from Koh Phangan too.

Activity location: Hotel pickup; Ang Thong National Park is located right off the shores of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.

Day Trip to Ang Thong National Park

Day Trip from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao

What to expect: To the north of Koh Phangan lies Koh Tao, one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand. If you’re not planning to stay overnight, you can do a day trip from Koh Phangan instead. You’ll get to snorkel and enjoy the stunning panorama of Nang Yuan Island.

Is it worth it? We love Koh Tao. If your schedule allows, we’d recommend booking a hotel on Koh Tao for at least two nights. But if that’s not possible, the day trip from Koh Phangan is still well worth it – you get a great first taste of this stunning island, and a delicious lunch is included.

Activity location: Hotel pickup, then off to Koh Tao by boat

Day Trip to Koh Tao with Snorkeling and Lunch

Diving Course from Koh Phangan

What to expect: Sail Rock, the best dive site in the Gulf of Thailand, sits right between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan – and that’s exactly where a diving course takes you. You’ll learn the basics of scuba diving first, then head out to sea for two dives. The course is perfect for complete beginners!

Is it worth it? Have you always wanted to try scuba diving? We did our very first diving course right here – a one-day introductory dive – and we absolutely loved it. What was really cool: no pool practice, just straight into the ocean. On our very first attempt we dove down nine meters and spotted all kinds of fish, plus a sea turtle. Highly recommended!

Activity location: Hotel pickup, then out to sea

Full-Day Introductory Diving Course for Beginners

Sightseeing Road Trip on Koh Phangan

What to expect: Want a day out but prefer to stay on Koh Phangan? Join a sightseeing road trip in a small group. You’ll discover popular highlights on Koh Phangan like Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach, go snorkeling, and relax together at a bar.

Is it worth it? This trip is perfect if you want to explore Koh Phangan without navigating on a scooter by yourself. A big bonus: a guide is with you the whole time and shares interesting facts about the island. With snorkeling and a bar stop included, this tour packs in many of our favorite Koh Phangan activities in one day.

Activity location: Hotel pickup, then you’ll explore mainly the northwestern and southeastern parts of the island.

Sightseeing Road Trip in a Small Group on Koh Phangan