For a tropical trip east of the Atlantic, the Thai islands have lengthy held a sure attract. Visions of lengthy tail boat rides and elephant sanctuaries loom giant. And within the Gulf of Thailand, a sequence of three islands have made names for themselves.
Koh Samui, the most important of the trio, is dwelling to the massive identify inns, busy roads, and the one airport within the area. Further north, the smallest island, Koh Tao, presents unmatched diving circumstances however restricted lodging. Between the 2 lies the true Goldilocks of Thai islands: Koh Phangan.
With all of the white sand seashores and limestone archipelagoes that made Phuket and the Phi Phi islands well-known, Koh Phangan suffers far fewer crowds. Restaurants nonetheless cater to Westerners, however you will not discover any all-inclusive resorts right here. It’s simpler to navigate than Koh Samui however solely a 30-minute boat experience away, a fraction of the space to Koh Tao.
And whereas Koh Phangan’s full moon events draw hole yr backpackers to its southern shores, its northern coast has grow to be a vacation spot for a distinct type of traveler. The chaos of Haad Rin Beach earned the island a spot on the notorious banana pancake backpacking path. But go northwest and you may virtually journey over yoga studios and vegan bakeries lining the nook of the island the place healers of all types have arrange store.
Do yoga on the seashore, hike as much as a lookout level for a glimpse of the neighboring islands, or unwind with a sound tub or Ayurvedic therapeutic massage—Koh Phangan’s pure magnificence and group of wellness fanatics will go away you restored and able to plan your return.