Motorbiking Koh Phangan In One Day

Wednesday, October 11, 2017
With just a few days on our hands on Koh Phangan we decided to make the best of it. We actually arrived here to attend the infamous Full Moon Party, but sadly it was cancelled due to the cremation of the King who passed away last year. Instead we rented a couple of motorbikes to make our way around the island.

Phaeng Waterfall on Koh Phangan, Thailand
Our first stop were Phaeng Waterfall, entrance to the hiking routes was free. At the bottom of the path there's an artificial pool, which is perfect for a cool dip on the way down. The hike to the waterfall itself is not a challenge and can be done by almost everyone. Not the most beautiful waterfall you'll ever see, but considering it's on an island this small, I'd say it's worth the short hike.

Dome Sila View Point on Koh Phangan, Thailand
From Phaeng Waterfall there's about 300 meters more to hike if you wanna reach the Dome Sila View Point. Although 300 meters does not sound like a lot, it's quite the struggle. Hiking the route takes about 25 minutes - one way. At the top there's a pair of large rocks which makes the last part of the climb. If you hike the view point from the other side the climb is about 1,5 hour. Either way you'll be ready for a dip in the artificial pool, as you reach the bottom again.

Weibels Butterfly Fish at Haad Khom Beach on Koh Phangan, Thailand
Having just visited Koh Tao, which is famous for its marine life, we didn't expect much from snorkeling the shores of Koh Phangan. However, we decided the only way to know for sure was to get our snorkling gear wet. So we headed for Haad Khom Beach situated on Koh Phangan's north shore and went straight into the water. The snorkel was surprisingly good and the visibility greater than expected. We mostly stumbled upon the usual fish and corals of these waters. As we got out of the water, we wanted to change location and try our luck somewhere else.

Mae Haad Beach on Koh Phangan, Thailand
We drove further west to Mae Haad Beach, which took us quite a while to find. The beach itself was covered in white sand and palm trees. And it had a sand dune stretching into the water, connection Koh Phangan to the tiny Koh Ma. Beautiful place, even if you're more into tanning and having a dip, rather than snorkeling the reef.

A pair of Pickhandle Barracudas at Mae Haad Beach on Koh Phangan, Thailand
We snorkled most of the bay at Mae Haad Beach and out of nowhere we spotted two Pickhandle Barracudas on the bottom. We observed them for awhile before making the dive for a photo. They calmly swam off, as we got close enough to make them insecure about the situation. That's not something you see every day on a regular snorkel like this. One thing's for sure; I won't be forgetting this snorkel anytime soon.

We had set out sight on Secret Beach (aka. Haad Son Beach) further down the west coast of Koh Phangan for an epic sunset. The beach, which turned out to be not-so-secret, wasn't really what we've hoped for. Therefore, we headed back to Thongsala where our guesthouse was located. Luckily for us the sunset at our local beach near Aow Nai Nok was just as stunning as you could ask for.

Sunset at Aow Nai Nok on Koh Phangan, Thailand
After nightfall on Koh Phangan, there's really only one right place to go; Pantip Food Market. Booming with street food stalls selling fresh and delicious food at bargaining prices. Getting a full stomach here for less than a 100 Thai Baht is no challenge. Here you'll find chicken satay at 10 Thai Baht a piece. Sushi at the same price. A full plate of pork belly, rice and vegetables for a 100 Thai Baht. Pizza at 60 Thai Baht. Fried chicken and rice; 50 Thai Baht. And the list goes on. There's even stalls selling ice cream and freshly baked cakes. Trust me, resisting round two in this place is practical impossible.

Sushi stall at Pantip Food Market on Koh Phangan, Thailand

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