![Seaview from north east Koh Phangan Foto- Erik Lindner](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Seaview_from_north_east_Koh_Phangan_Foto-_Erik_Lindner.jpg)
Ko Pha-ngan ( th, เกาะพะงัน, , ) is an
island
An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
in the
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand, also known as the Gulf of Siam, is a shallow inlet in the southwestern South China Sea, bounded between the southwestern shores of the Indochinese Peninsula and the northern half of the Malay Peninsula. It is around in l ...
in
Surat Thani Province of
southern Thailand
Southern Thailand, Southern Siam or Tambralinga is a southernmost cultural region of Thailand, separated from Central Thailand region by the Kra Isthmus.
Geography
Southern Thailand is on the Malay Peninsula, with an area of around , bounded ...
.
Ko Pha-ngan is best known for its
Full Moon Party
The Full Moon Party (Thai: ฟูลมูนปาร์ตี้) is an all-night beach party that originated in Hat Rin on the island of Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand in 1985. The party takes place on the night of, before, or after every full moon. ...
at
Hat Rin Beach. Ko Pha-ngan has two sister islands: the larger
Ko Samui
Ko Samui (or Koh Samui, also often locally shortened to Samui; th, เกาะสมุย, ) is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Ko ...
to the south and the smaller
Ko Tao
Ko Tao ( th, เกาะเต่า, , ) is an island in Thailand and is part of the Chumphon Archipelago on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. It covers an area of about 21 km2 (8 sq mi). Administratively it is a subdistrict ('' ...
to the north.
* Estimated perimeter: (estimated 10 hr average walking time)
* From mainland: about
* From Ko Samui: about
* From Ko Tao: about
* Main town:
Thong Sala
* Highest Point: Khao Ra,
History
The name Ko Pha-ngan derives from the word "ngan", meaning 'sand bar' in
southern Thai
Southern Thailand, Southern Siam or Tambralinga is a southernmost cultural region of Thailand, separated from Central Thailand region by the Kra Isthmus.
Geography
Southern Thailand is on the Malay Peninsula, with an area of around , bounded t ...
, for there are many sand bars offshore.
Ko Pha-ngan has been a longtime favorite of past kings of Thailand. Rama V, or
Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
, for example, visited Ko Pha-ngan 14 times during his reign.
The Bronze Drum of Dongson Culture (500–100 BCE) that was found on
Ko Samui
Ko Samui (or Koh Samui, also often locally shortened to Samui; th, เกาะสมุย, ) is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Ko ...
in 1977 is evidence that there were settlements of people on Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and their islets more than two thousand years ago. Some historians and archaeologists believe that the first group who migrated to Ko Pha-ngan were
Austronesian peoples
The Austronesian peoples, sometimes referred to as Austronesian-speaking peoples, are a large group of peoples in Taiwan, Maritime Southeast Asia, Micronesia, coastal New Guinea, Island Melanesia, Polynesia, and Madagascar that speak Austro ...
who travelled by boat from the
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula (Malay: ''Semenanjung Tanah Melayu'') is a peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The area ...
.
Over the last century the island's population has steadily expanded, first living off the sea and the land and farming coconuts. Later, tin mining became part of the economy. In the 1970s the mining industry faltered and finally petered out. Over the next decade, tourism took hold and now it is primarily a tourist destination. Fishing and coconut farming remain important to the local economy.
Due to its topography, the population hugs the coastline. The mountainous interior is generally inaccessible. More than half the island designated as national park and Ko Pha-ngan has more than of relatively unspoiled rain forest with diverse flora and fauna. It is also considered a spiritual place, with numerous Buddhist temples around the island and a thriving spa, retreat, and meditation industry.
Transport
Visitors can reach the island by fast passager's commercial boats from the mainland from three ports in Samui, three ports in
Surat Thani
Surat Thani ( th, สุราษฎร์ธานี, ) is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. It lies south of Bangkok. It is the capital of Surat Thani Province. The city has a population of 1 ...
and one in
Chumphon
Chumphon ( th, ชุมพร, ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of the Chumphon Province and Mueang Chumphon District. The city is about 463 kilometers (288 miles) from Bangkok. As of 2005 it had a population of ...
.
The main boat transport companies ar
Seatran DiscoveryLomprayahRaja Ferry Hadrin Queen, Nighboat an
Songserm
There is an option to reach Ko Pha-ngan by car ferry from Ko Samui (Raja Ferry Port, which is from Ko Pha-ngan) and from Donsak on the mainland.
Since 2012 Kannithi Aviation (
Kan Air
Kannithi Aviation Co. Ltd, operated as Kan Air, was a small airline with its hub at Chiang Mai Airport. Kan Air operated charter and scheduled services in Thailand. As of September 2016, Kan Air flew nine routes. Flights from Chiang Mai were ...
) has attempted to construct an airport on the island. Kan Air has spent some 500 million
baht
The baht (; th, บาท, ; currency sign, sign: ฿; ISO 4217, code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand. Society for Worldw ...
to acquire about of land to build a passenger terminal capable of handling 1,000 passengers a day and a runway to accommodate turboprop aircraft such as Kan Air's
ATR 72-600
The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop, short-haul regional airliner developed and produced in France and Italy by aircraft manufacturer ATR (french: Avions de transport régional or it, Aerei da Trasporto Regionale), a joint venture formed by ...
series. The project, originally estimated at 900 million baht—now estimated to cost two billion baht—has faced inflated costs, delays resulting from the yet-to-be-issued
environmental impact assessment
Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) is the assessment of the environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. In this context, the term "environmental imp ...
and other complications, which pushed back initial plans to open in 2014. Kan Air's president claimed the airport would be open by the end of 2017.
Administration
Central administration
Ko Pha-ngan together with Ko Tao and a few minor islands forms the district (''
amphoe
An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', th, อำเภอ, )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the provinces, and are analogous to countie ...
'') Ko Pha-ngan (). The district is divided into three subdistricts (''
tambon
''Tambon'' ( th, ตำบล, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province (''changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 ''khwaeng'' ...
s''), which are further subdivided into 17 administrative villages (''
muban
Muban ( th, หมู่บ้าน; , ) is the lowest administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). , there were 74,944 administrative mu ...
s'').
Local administration
There are four subdistrict municipalities (''
thesaban tambon
Thesaban ( th, เทศบาล, , ) are the municipalities of Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities: city, town, and sub-district. Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities not included in the ''thesaban'' system.
The mu ...
s'') in the district:
* Ko Pha-ngan (Thai: ) consisting of parts of subdistricts Ko Pha-ngan and Ban Tai.
* Phet Pha-ngan (Thai: ) consisting of parts of subdistrict Ko Pha-ngan.
* Ban Tai (Thai: ) consisting of parts of subdistrict Ban Tai.
* Ko Tao (Thai: ) consisting of subdistrict Ko Tao.
History
Originally the island was administered from
Ko Samui District. The minor district (''
king amphoe
An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', th, อำเภอ, )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the provinces, and are analogous to countie ...
'') Ko Pha-ngan was established on 1 October 1970, then consisting of the two ''tambons'', Ko Pha-ngan and Ban Tai. It was upgraded to a full district on 12 April 1977. Ko Tao subdistrict was established on 15 August 1982 by splitting off the three administrative villages on
Ko Tao
Ko Tao ( th, เกาะเต่า, , ) is an island in Thailand and is part of the Chumphon Archipelago on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. It covers an area of about 21 km2 (8 sq mi). Administratively it is a subdistrict ('' ...
Island from Ko Pha-ngan subdistrict.
Environmental issues
the island receives about 458,000 visitors per year. They and the island residents generate about 7,300
tonne
The tonne ( or ; symbol: t) is a unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. It is a non-SI unit accepted for use with SI. It is also referred to as a metric ton to distinguish it from the non-metric units of the short ton ( United State ...
s of solid waste per year. Untreated wastewater discharges and on-going coral bleaching are also issues.
The
Thai government
The Government of Thailand, or formally the Royal Thai Government ( Abrv: RTG; th, รัฐบาลไทย, , ), is the unitary government of the Kingdom of Thailand. The country emerged as a modern nation state after the foundation of t ...
, the local government as well as local non profit organisations such a
EcoThailand Foundationo
Trash Hero local businesses such as th
Sea Flower BungalowsSarikantang Resortbut mainly locals both Thai citizens and foreigner's expatriates work for many years to continue the preservation, cleaning and restoration of the Green Island of Koh Phangan which is unique in the Gulf of Thailand.
O
May 2014 The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep) has declared Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan districts in Surat Thani province part of an environmentally-protected zone after nine years of efforts to regulate commercial development on the islands.
The Onep declaration, which came into force on May 30, means all commercial activities on Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and 39 other islands in those districts will be restricted to preserve the environment, said Onep deputy secretary-general Noppadol Thiyajai. “We hope the declaration will at least help maintain the environment on the islands. We understand the measure may not result in significant environmental improvements, but it is better than having nothing,” Mr Noppadol said.
The
TAT has helped the island to be promoted as
Green Islandfollowing the strong will of its inhabitants.
The fauna and flora of the island of Koh Phangan is exceptional, rar
pink dolphinsare even spotted its waters.
The island is regularly under the spotlights for its remarkable community involving both Thai and Foreigners working more and more together for a sustainable and socially fair tourism benefiting directly the local community.
Beach cleaning operations have been done for years and are gainin
popularity
In 2020 the Island standing out with its ne
social actionsduring the COVID-19 crisis with food distributions, food banks, free community gardens showing above words that this community is about actions. A group of volunteers consisting of islanders and expats formed a group calle
Forward Phanganto focus on sustainability and improving the image of the island.
The island is also strongly engaged in organic sustainable farming producing and produces a large amount of organic fruits, vegetables, fertilisers, insect repellents and more. Th
Raitiaviset farmis a perfect example of this success.
Refill shops are blooming following this philosophy such a
Unpacked
Mr Pirat Promcharoe
says"We'd like to turn the tourism industry into a more sustainable community-oriented affair" illustrating this will of the island inhabitants to turn towards a more high-en
quieterand sustainable economy aiming at protecting the landscape, the Nature and most of all the unusual vibe of this famous Phangan hippie trail community.
In popular culture
Ko Pha-ngan featured prominently in
Alex Garland's 1996 novel ''
The Beach'' and is also mentioned in the 2006 song
Magick by the
new rave
New rave (also typeset as nu-rave, nu rave or neu rave) is a genre of music described by ''The Guardian'' as "an in-yer-face, DIY disco riposte to the sensitive indie rock touted by bands like Bloc Party." It is most commonly applied to a British ...
band
Klaxons
Klaxons were an English rock band, based in London. Following the release of several 7-inch singles on different independent record labels, as well as the success of previous singles " Magick" and " Golden Skans", the band released their debu ...
(but probably more as a reference to the 1996 novel
The Beach than the island itself).
The
Full Moon Party
The Full Moon Party (Thai: ฟูลมูนปาร์ตี้) is an all-night beach party that originated in Hat Rin on the island of Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand in 1985. The party takes place on the night of, before, or after every full moon. ...
is a monthly dance music festival set on Hat Rin Nok Beach scheduled every month at full moon. The event primarily features electronic music and attracts around 30,000 party-goers in a normal month.
Steps are being taken to make Ko Pha-ngan a more family-friendly
tourist
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mo ...
destination, promoting the island's natural attractions and also stepping up the police presence; road blocks with stop and search procedures are commonplace and undercover police also patrol parties.
There are also a Half Moon Party and Jungle Experience Party held every month. They take places in the jungle inland from Ban Tai requiring tuk-tuk, taxi or bike transport to and from.
Koh Pha-ngan's nightlife had a strong influence on the development to tourist industry by regular parties with local and International guest DJ's:
* Techno and House music: LightHouse and Loi Lay Floating Bar.
* Psytrance music: Ban Sabai Party.
The song "Vision in Blue" on the album
The Golden Ratio
In mathematics, two quantities are in the golden ratio if their ratio is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities. Expressed algebraically, for quantities a and b with a > b > 0,
where the Greek letter phi ( ...
by
Ace of Base mentions Ko Pha-ngan.
DJ/producer Ashley Wallbridge titled his 2012 song "Kopanang", an anglicized version of Ko Pha-ngan.
The British psychedelic rock band
Ozric Tentacles
Ozric Tentacles are an English instrumental rock band, whose music incorporates elements from a diverse range of genres, including psychedelic rock, progressive rock, space rock, jazz fusion, electronic music, dub music, world music, and ambi ...
featured a song called Ko Pha-ngan on their 1989 album ''The Bits Between The Bits''.
In 2016,
Infected Mushroom
Infected Mushroom is an Israeli musical duo formed in Haifa in 1996 by producers Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani. They produce and perform psytrance, electronica, dream trance and psychedelic music. They are one of the best-selling groups in Isra ...
collaborated with
Hatikva 6
Hatikva 6 ( he, התקווה 6, lit=Hope 6) is an Israeli reggae band started in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. Hatikva 6 plays dancehall and roots styles with Hebrew, English, and French lyrics. While reggae in Israel is a fairly young industry, Hatikv ...
to release a song called "Hotel Koh Phangan."
Education
Thai schools
There are about 10 Thai governmental schools for children on Koh Phangan. The education is free, but the learners are required to speak and write in Thai Language.
Schools for foreigners
There are some private educational institutions following the national curriculum of England:
Nurseries
The Learning Tree Nursery & Kindergarten was opened in 2008 for children 2 to 7 years old.
Primary
Si Ri Panya International School opened in 2012 provides education for children 5 to 11 years old (Key stages 1 & 2).
Wisdom College Tutorial and Vocational school starts Forest Schools primary programme for children 7-9 years old in September 2022.
Secondary
Si Ri Panya International School provides education for children ages 12–13 (Key stage 3) with admission open for the secondary age year 7 class in September 2022 with planned expansion into year 8.
Wisdom College Tutorial and Vocational School mirrors the Cambridge curriculum for children 10 to 18 years old (Stage 7-12). The learners can graduate with an academic diploma, recognized by universities worldwide. The school also practices outdoor learning to find a balance between children's academic progress and joy.
See also
*
List of islands of Thailand
This is a list of islands of Thailand.
Thailand has hundreds of islands both in the Gulf of Thailand and in the Andaman Sea. The islands of the central Gulf of Thailand are mostly located near the coast. Formerly most of the islands in Thailan ...
*
Banana Pancake Trail
"Banana Pancake Trail" or "Banana Pancake Circuit" is the name given to growing routes around Southeast Asia, and to some extent South Asia, travelled by backpackers and other tourists. The Trail has no clear geographical definition, but is used ...
*
Half Moon Festival
The Half Moon Festival is an outdoor dance music ( rave) event on the island of Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand held on the half moon, one week before and one week after the full moon. The promoters mainly employ local DJs using CD decks rather than vinyl ...
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Ko Pha-ngan
Ko Pha-ngan ( th, เกาะพะงัน, , ) is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in Surat Thani Province of southern Thailand. Ko Pha-ngan is best known for its Full Moon Party at Hat Rin, Hat Rin Beach. Ko Pha-ngan has two sister isla ...
Pha-ngan
Islands of the Gulf of Thailand