The best things to do in Koh Phangan are the beaches, the jungle waterfalls, the night markets and the parties, in that order for most visitors. The island is known for the Full Moon Party, but Thai Holiday Guide counts 12 clean beaches and a long list of quieter plans away from Haad Rin.
This guide sorts the things to do in Koh Phangan by type and links to a full guide for each. It draws on Thai Holiday Guide's island overview, its pages for Than Sadet National Park, the Saturday Walking Street and the Half Moon Party, and the guides we wrote for each area.
- Nature
- Than Sadet National Park
- Beaches
- Thong Nai Pan, Haad Yuan
- Food
- Phantip and Walking Street markets
- Parties
- Full Moon, Half Moon, OXA
- A day out
- Shared road trip, Koh Tao tour
- Driest months
- January to September
What are the best things to do in Koh Phangan?
Swim at Thong Nai Pan or Haad Yuan, visit Than Sadet National Park and its waterfalls, eat at the Phantip night market or the Saturday Walking Street in Thong Sala, and join a party such as the Full Moon Party in Haad Rin or the ticketed Half Moon Party in Ban Tai. A tour by road or boat is the easiest way to see several places in one day.
Things to Do in Koh Phangan at a Glance
| Plan | Where | Good to know | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach day | Thong Nai Pan, Haad Yuan, Bottle Beach | Calm swimming on the east and north coasts | Best beaches |
| Waterfalls | Than Sadet National Park, Phaeng | 100 baht for foreign adults at Than Sadet, cash only | Waterfalls |
| Night markets | Thong Sala, Phantip | Walking Street Saturday 16:00 to 22:00, free entry | Night markets |
| Full Moon Party | Haad Rin | Around the full moon, free beach party | Full Moon guide |
| Half Moon Party | Ban Tai | Ticketed festival with fixed stages | Half Moon guide |
| Day tour | Island loop or Koh Tao | Pickup tours from about $58 | Day tours |
If you have not booked a place yet, our where to stay in Koh Phangan guide compares the areas, because the island is large and most things to do in Koh Phangan need a ride.
Beach Things to Do in Koh Phangan
The beaches are the easiest of the things to do in Koh Phangan, and they differ more than most islands. Thong Nai Pan is calm and has the most restaurants outside the towns, Bottle Beach is a quiet bay that needs a boat or a hike, and Haad Yuan has clear water that gets deep quickly. Our best beaches in Koh Phangan guide ranks them by what you want to do.
Waterfalls and Viewpoints: Things to Do in Koh Phangan Inland
Thai Holiday Guide describes Than Sadet National Park as a 2.5 km river through the jungle with several waterfalls and rock pools, open daily from 08:30 to 16:00. Foreign adults pay 100 baht, children 50 baht, and the park takes cash only. It recommends a weekday morning, before the organised ATV groups arrive. The park also has a carved boulder that local tradition links to King Chulalongkorn, who visited in 1888. See our Koh Phangan waterfalls guide for Phaeng, Paradise and the viewpoints.
Check the water before you go
Phaeng and Paradise carry little water outside the rainy season, according to Home Is Where Your Bag Is, so go to Than Sadet if you visit between January and September.
Temples and Quiet Spots: Things to Do in Koh Phangan Off the Beach
Thai Holiday Guide lists Wat Khao Tham and Wat Phu Khao Noi among the island's temples and viewpoints. Wat Khao Tham is near Ban Tai, a few minutes from the road toward Haad Rin, and sits on a hill inside its temple complex. Temples are quiet things to do in Koh Phangan when the beaches are busy. Dress modestly.
Evening Things to Do in Koh Phangan: Markets and Food
The Saturday Walking Street in Thong Sala, also called Chinese Street, runs from 16:00 to 22:00 and is free to enter, per Thai Holiday Guide. Bring cash. The Phantip night market runs nightly, with dishes at 40 to 80 baht, and Thai Holiday Guide suggests arriving by 6 pm. Our Koh Phangan night market guide covers both, and our Koh Phangan restaurants guide covers sit-down meals.
Parties: Full Moon, Half Moon and Jungle Things to Do in Koh Phangan
The Full Moon Party is a beach party at Haad Rin with a ฿200 cash entry fee, with many sound systems along the beach, and it is the best known of the things to do in Koh Phangan after dark. See our Full Moon Party guide for how it works. The Half Moon Party is a different format: Thai Holiday Guide describes a ticketed festival in Ban Tai, with fixed stages and advance tickets. Our Half Moon Festival guide and jungle party guide explain the choices, and our Koh Phangan nightlife guide compares them.
Tours and Day Trips: Things to Do in Koh Phangan With a Guide
A tour is the simplest way to see several places in a day when you do not want to arrange rides. These are the tours we would check first among the things to do in Koh Phangan, with the facts GetYourGuide lists today.
Koh Phangan Shared Road Trip by Mingalaba road trip
A shared road trip around the island, described by the operator as visiting beaches, a natural swimming pool and a snorkelling stop. It is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 304 reviews and priced from $58 per person when we checked on 6 November 2026.
Check on the listing before you book
- The stop list and the pickup area
- What you need to bring for the swimming stops
- The cut-off: it must be booked at least 10 hours ahead
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
Koh Phangan: Koh Tao & Nang Yuan Day Tour w/ Snorkel & Lunch
A speedboat day trip to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, with snorkelling and a beachside buffet lunch according to the operator. It is rated 4.4 out of 5 from 560 reviews and priced from $76 per person when we checked on 6 November 2026.
Check on the listing before you book
- The departure pier and time
- Whether the sea conditions can change the plan
- What the lunch and snorkel gear include
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
Coming from Samui instead? Our Koh Phangan day trip from Koh Samui guide covers the ferry and tour options, and our Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferry guide has the timetable. For a longer boat day, our Ang Thong Marine Park guide covers the national park trips.
Classes and Wellness: Things to Do in Koh Phangan Beyond the Party
Thai Holiday Guide calls Sri Thanu the island's yoga and wellness corner, with yoga studios, wellness stays and kitchen bungalows, quiet nights and few bars. For something more active, GetYourGuide lists a cooking class and a Muay Thai session.
Koh Phangan: The Best Authentic Thai Cooking Class
A small-group Thai cooking class where you cook the dishes yourself. It is rated 5.0 out of 5 from 132 reviews and priced from $76 per person when we checked on 6 November 2026.
Check on the listing before you book
- The menu and what you cook
- Whether the venue suits wheelchair users (it is listed as accessible)
- The cut-off: free cancellation up to 1 hour before
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
Ko Pha-ngan: 1 Muay Thai Training Session at Venom Muay Thai
A single training session with a trainer, covering punches, kicks, elbows and knees on heavy bags. It is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 11 reviews and priced from $14 per person when we checked on 6 November 2026.
Check on the listing before you book
- The level required and what to wear
- The session times
- It has only a few reviews so far, so read them closely
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
Best Time for Things to Do in Koh Phangan
| Months | Conditions | Per Thai Holiday Guide |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Driest, cool calm seas | Good for beaches on every coast |
| March to May | Shoulder season | Hot, in the low to mid 30s |
| June to September | Calm Gulf waters | Dry enough for beach days and waterfalls |
| October to December | Rainy season | Seas roughen and some beach bars close; November is the wettest month |
Month-by-month detail for the south is in our Haad Rin weather guide. In the rainy season, the markets, temples and classes still work, and the best things to do in Koh Phangan shift from the sea to the land.
Things to Do in Koh Phangan FAQ
What are the top things to do in Koh Phangan besides the Full Moon Party?
Swim at the beaches, visit Than Sadet National Park, eat at the night markets and take a day tour. Thai Holiday Guide also points to Sri Thanu for yoga and wellness.
How many days do you need for the things to do in Koh Phangan?
Three days covers a beach, a waterfall and the markets. Add days for the parties and for slower stays on the east and north coasts.
Are there things to do in Koh Phangan on a rainy day?
Yes. Markets, temples, cooking classes and Muay Thai sessions do not depend on the sea. Rough seas in the rainy season can affect boat trips and beach bars.
Is Than Sadet National Park free?
No. Thai Holiday Guide lists 100 baht for foreign adults and 50 baht for children, cash only, with daily opening from 08:30 to 16:00.
Where are the things to do in Koh Phangan at night?
Haad Rin for the Full Moon Party, Ban Tai for the Half Moon Party and the markets in Thong Sala and Phantip. See our nightlife guide for the full list.
Can I do the things to do in Koh Phangan as a day trip from Koh Samui?
Yes, by ferry or speedboat, and a pickup tour is easier than arranging rides. A day is enough for one beach and one inland stop, not the whole island.
Want to see the island without arranging rides?
Check the stops, pickup area and recent reviews of the shared road trip before you book your things to do in Koh Phangan.
Photo credits: Koh Phangan coastline by Visions of Domino (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Thong Nai Pan beach by kallerna (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Than Sadet waterfall by Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Wat Khao Tham by Леонид Каратасков (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons). Tour photos: GetYourGuide.
Disclosure: InsideSamui may earn a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Hotel links lead to Agoda, ferry links to 12Go Asia and tour links to GetYourGuide. This guide is compiled from published information from operators, parks and travelers, checked on 6 November 2026. We have not run these trips ourselves for this page. Prices, schedules, fees and rules around Koh Phangan change often, so confirm them with the provider before you travel. Tour bookings are handled by GetYourGuide, hotel searches by Agoda and ferry searches by 12Go Asia.