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Koh Phangan
3 Days 2 Nights

Koh Phangan has a lot of different faces on one island. Down south at Haad Rin you get the party town that stays up all night; the east coast has Than Sadet Waterfall in the jungle, where King Rama V once travelled; and the north is all quiet beaches, clear water and the island's best snorkelling. This 3-day, 2-night plan helps you catch all three zones without wearing yourself out — timed by the hour, with real prices for boats, scooters and entry fees, plus the things you genuinely want to watch out for.

🌊 Haad Rin · Than Sadet · the North🛵 Self-drive🌙 Easy to shift for the Full Moon
Koh Phangan 3 Days 2 Nights

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Koh Phangan sits in the Gulf of Thailand off Surat Thani, between Koh Samui and Koh Tao. The island is a good size — you can ride a scooter all the way around in a day — but if you want to enjoy it without rushing, 3 days and 2 nights is the sweet spot, giving you the party beach, the natural beaches and a jungle waterfall. This plan starts from Thong Sala pier, the main port where most ferries arrive.

What does this 3-day trip look like

The idea is to split the island into three zones by direction and tackle them one at a time, so you're not riding back and forth. Day one you arrive at Thong Sala and head south to Haad Rin for Sunrise and Sunset beaches plus a night out. Day two you ride the east coast to Than Sadet Waterfall and Thong Nai Pan Bay. Day three you go north to Chaloklum and Koh Ma for snorkelling before catching your boat back. If you happen to be here on a Full Moon night, just shuffle the party night to the night you actually want it.

  • Day 1 — the south: Thong Sala → Haad Rin (Sunrise & Sunset beaches) → Haad Rin nightlife
  • Day 2 — the east: Than Sadet Waterfall → Thong Nai Pan Bay → Thong Sala night market in the evening
  • Day 3 — the north: Chaloklum → Mae Haad–Koh Ma snorkelling → back to the boat

Before you set off

Check the ferry schedule from Surat Thani or Koh Samui ahead of time, especially around the Full Moon when boats fill up fast and Haad Rin room rates spike. Booking your accommodation and ferry tickets in advance will save you a lot of stress.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Koh Phangan trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

🎟️ Top tours in Koh PhanganHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Koh Phangan attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from Koh PhanganOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Koh Phangan activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
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Day 1 — south to Haad Rin

Haad Rin sits at the southern tip of the island, about 11 kilometres from Thong Sala pier. It's a small village with two beaches back to back: Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise) on the side where the Full Moon Party happens, and Haad Rin Nai (Sunset), which is quieter. You can walk between them in a few minutes through a lane packed with bars, restaurants, swimwear shops and pharmacies.

Day 1

Thong Sala → Haad Rin

Midday
Arrive at Thong Sala pier, grab your bags, find a ride to Haad RinA songthaew from the pier to Haad Rin runs around 200 THB/person; if you rent a scooter yourself it's about 200–300 THB/day, but the road down to Haad Rin is very steep — beginners take care.
13:30
Check in, have lunch in Haad Rin villageRestaurants along the lane serve both Thai and Western food, around 80–200 THB a plate.
15:00
Relax on Sunrise beach, swim and sunbatheLong white-sand beach, clear water. The afternoon sun is strong, so bring sunscreen and an umbrella.
17:30
Walk over to Sunset beach for the sunsetThis side is quieter — good for a drink with a view before evening.
19:00
Dinner by the beach + a wander through the bar laneThere are several beachfront grilled-seafood spots — pick the busy ones with fresh catch on display.
21:00
Haad Rin nightlife — beach bars or the party lightsEven when it's not the Full Moon there are bars playing music every night. Drink in moderation, mind your valuables, and don't accept drinks from strangers.

On the party scene and staying safe

If your trip lands on a Full Moon night, the crowds get huge and Haad Rin room rates jump several times over, with some places forcing a multi-night minimum stay. Drink sensibly, wear shoes on the beach (there's broken glass), keep your phone and cash on you, and agree on a meeting spot with friends in case you get separated.

Day 2 — the east coast and Than Sadet Waterfall

Than Sadet Waterfall is on the east coast of the island, about 10 kilometres from Thong Sala, inside Than Sadet–Koh Phangan National Park. King Rama V is said to have travelled here and carved his royal initials into a rock by the stream. The trail leads up through several tiers of the falls; if you walk all the way to the Dom Sila viewpoint it takes about 2 hours round trip.

Day 2

Than Sadet → Thong Nai Pan → Thong Sala market

08:30
Leave Haad Rin, ride up the east coast to Than SadetThe park is open 08:30–16:00. The final stretch of road is narrow and steep, so ride slowly.
09:30
Walk the falls, take a dip in the poolsPark entry is around 100 THB/person for foreigners (cheaper for Thais). There's roadside parking.
11:00
Continue up to the viewpoint (if you're up for it) or rest by the streamAllow about 2 hours if you want to do the full walk. Wear shoes with good grip — the trail is slippery in the rainy season.
12:30
Ride up the coast to Thong Nai Pan Bay, lunch by the bayThong Nai Pan has two twin bays (Yai and Noi) with lovely beaches, clear water and a quiet feel — great for relaxing.
14:00
Laze on Thong Nai Pan beach, swim and sunbatheThis is the quiet upscale-resort zone, far from the buzz of Haad Rin.
17:00
Ride back to Thong SalaLeave extra time — the road is winding, and you shouldn't ride at night unless you're used to it.
18:00
Dinner at Thong Sala night market (Phantip Market)Open daily around 16:00–23:00. Cheap, tasty street food, around 40–120 THB a plate. On Saturdays there's a walking street too.

Day 3 — north to Chaloklum and Koh Ma

The north of the island is the quiet zone where nature is still intact. Chaloklum is a fishing village in a wide bay, about 25 minutes from Thong Sala. West of there is Mae Haad beach, which has a sandbar connecting to Koh Ma, a tiny uninhabited island — the best and most accessible snorkelling spot on Koh Phangan.

Day 3

Chaloklum → Mae Haad–Koh Ma → back to the boat

08:30
Check out, leave your bags at the hotel/pier, ride northIf your boat back is in the afternoon or evening, you have plenty of time to explore the north.
09:15
Stop at Chaloklum fishing village, coffee/breakfast by the bayMellow fishing-village vibe — good for photos and seafood.
10:00
Head to Mae Haad beach, walk the sandbar across to Koh MaThe sandbar surfaces clearly at low tide — check the tide table first.
10:30
Snorkel around Koh Ma, see the coral and fishIt's a conservation zone with clear water and shallow coral. You can rent a mask and fins near the beach. Don't step on or touch the coral.
12:30
Lunch by Mae Haad / ChaloklumFresh seafood at better prices than Haad Rin.
14:00
Ride back to Thong Sala, return the scooter, catch the boatLeave time to return the scooter and check your bags — get to the pier at least 45 minutes before departure.

Snorkelling Koh Ma safely

Watch the currents and don't swim out far on your own. Wear a life vest if you're not a strong swimmer. Koh Ma is a coral conservation zone — never step on or break the coral. Using reef-safe sunscreen helps protect the reef.

Getting around the island and what it costs

On Koh Phangan you have two main options: rent a scooter and ride yourself, or take a songthaew/taxi. If you can ride and have an international licence, self-driving is the most convenient and cheapest. But many roads are steep and very twisty, especially down to Haad Rin and up the hills on the north and east coasts. If you're not confident, a songthaew is the safer call.

  • Scooter rental: 200–300 THB/day (automatic 110–125cc). Always wear a helmet and photograph the bike's condition before you take it.
  • Songthaew, Thong Sala–Haad Rin: around 200 THB/person
  • Songthaew, Thong Sala–Chaloklum/Haad Salad: around 200 THB/person
  • Songthaew, Thong Sala–Thong Nai Pan: around 500 THB/person (far, rough road)
  • Pier transfer: usually offered around 150 THB/person, cheaper than hiring a taxi at the pier

Riding the steep roads in one piece

The hill down to Haad Rin has caught a lot of people out. Going downhill, use a low gear to brake with the engine, and don't grab the front brake hard when it's slippery. Wear closed shoes and long sleeves to save your skin if you go down, and check whether your travel insurance covers riding.

Where to eat during the trip

Food on the island ranges from beachfront seafood and street food in the market to cafés and the healthy/vegan spots Koh Phangan is known for. Each zone has its own specialities, but the Thong Sala night market is the tastiest and best value for dinner.

  • Thong Sala night market (Phantip): the full spread of Thai street food — curries, roti, seafood, fruit smoothies. Open daily from the afternoon.
  • Saturday walking street, Thong Sala: every Saturday 17:00–22:00, with food, crafts and clothes stretching down to the waterfront.
  • Chaloklum–Mae Haad seafood: fishing villages with fresh catch at better prices than Haad Rin.
  • Healthy/vegan spots: Koh Phangan has plenty of vegan restaurants and health cafés — good if you eat clean.

When to go, money, and rooms

The clearest water and best weather are roughly December to April — open skies, calm seas, great for both snorkelling at Koh Ma and swimming at Haad Rin. That's also high season, so it's busier and pricier. Haad Rin room rates swing wildly with the season and the Full Moon — a normal night might be a few hundred to a thousand baht, but Full Moon nights jump several times over and often force a multi-night minimum. Plan early to get a better rate.

  • Clear-water season: Dec–Apr, calm seas, great for snorkelling, but busy and pricey
  • Full Moon nights: Haad Rin rooms are expensive and fill fast, often with a multi-night minimum — book ahead
  • Want quiet and cheaper: avoid the Full Moon, stay in the north or east and ride in to explore

Want a well-priced Koh Phangan stay in a good spot? See the ones we've picked.

See the Top 10 Koh Phangan stays →

FAQ

Is 3 days and 2 nights enough for Koh Phangan?

It's enough to catch the main highlights across all three zones: Haad Rin in the south, Than Sadet Waterfall and Thong Nai Pan in the east, and Chaloklum–Koh Ma in the north. If you want a more relaxed pace or to add other snorkelling spots or waterfalls, stretch it to 4 days and 3 nights.

If I'm not here for the Full Moon, is Haad Rin still fun?

Yes. Haad Rin has lovely white-sand beaches on both the Sunrise and Sunset sides, and you can swim all day. At night there are bars playing music even when it's not the Full Moon. Some people actually prefer a normal night because there are fewer crowds and it's more relaxed.

Is there an entry fee for Than Sadet Waterfall?

It's inside a national park, so there's an entry fee of around 100 THB/person for foreigners (cheaper for Thais). The park is open roughly 08:30–16:00, so go in the morning to leave time for walking up the waterfall tiers and the viewpoint.

Do I need a tour to snorkel at Koh Ma?

Not necessarily. At low tide you can walk the sandbar from Mae Haad beach across to Koh Ma yourself, rent a mask and fins near the beach, and snorkel around the island. Just check the tide table and watch the currents to stay safe.

Should I rent a scooter or take a songthaew?

If you can ride and have a licence, renting a scooter (200–300 THB/day) is the most convenient and cheapest. But the roads down to Haad Rin and up the hills on the north and east coasts are very steep, so for beginners a songthaew is the safer choice.

Related

🗺️ Koh Phangan Travel Guide🏨 Top 10 Koh Phangan Stays💦 Than Sadet Waterfall, Koh Phangan

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