Hidden Gems on Koh Phangan
Most of this island never makes it onto an itinerary. Eight places worth the detour, and how to reach each one.
Koh Phangan is about 125 square kilometres and roughly seventy per cent of it is jungle interior. Almost all the visitor traffic moves along a thin ring of coast road between Thong Sala, Srithanu and Haad Rin. Step off that ring by ten minutes in any direction and the island empties out.
These are the eight places we send people when they have already done the obvious ones and want something quieter. Two rules make all of them better: go early, and check the tide.
The list
Koh Ma sandbar
Sandbar & snorkellingMae Haad, north-westEasy — but tide-dependent
A ribbon of sand appears at lower tides and walks you out to the little island of Koh Ma. The coral either side is the best snorkelling on Koh Phangan. Check a tide table before you ride over; at high water it is a swim instead, which is its own kind of good.
Wat Pho herbal sauna
Temple saunaBan TaiEasy
A wood-fired herbal steam house run by the temple, for a donation of around 100฿. Locals, long-stayers and the occasional bewildered tourist sit together in the dark breathing lemongrass. Open afternoons. Bring a sarong.
Guan Yin Chinese Temple
TempleAbove ChaloklumEasy — drive up
An ornate Chinese temple set into the hillside with a wide view over Chaloklum bay, and almost always empty. Worth going late in the afternoon when the light comes in sideways across the water.
Than Prawet waterfall
WaterfallEast coast, near Thong Nai PanModerate — rough track
The quietest of the island waterfalls, because reaching it means a rough track most rental scooters would rather you walked. Best in and just after the wet season, when there is enough water to swim under.
Laem Son Lake
Freshwater lakeBetween Ban Tai and Ban KaiEasy
A palm-fringed freshwater lake a few minutes inland from the south coast, with a couple of low-key cafés on the bank. Locals fish it in the early morning. Almost nobody who comes for the beaches ever sees it.
Ao Thong Reng
BeachEast coast, past Haad RinHard — boat or steep trail
A small east-coast bay reached by longtail or a genuinely steep path over the headland. No road, no shops, and often nobody else. Go with water and go early.
Chaloklum morning pier
Working harbourChaloklum, northEasy — but early
Not a sight so much as a scene. Get to the pier around seven and the night boats are landing. It is the clearest look you will get at how the island actually feeds itself — see our seafood guide for what comes in and when.
Domsila viewpoint trail
Jungle viewpointCentral interior, above Thong SalaModerate
A marked trail through the interior forest to a rock outcrop looking across the whole south of the island. Quiet on weekdays. Continue past it and the path eventually joins the Khao Ra route.
Getting to them
Almost everything here needs a scooter or a taxi arranged ahead. The main coast road is straightforward; the tracks inland and to the east are steeper and rougher, and a few of them are concrete at gradients that catch people out. Our guide to getting around covers what to expect and where to take it slowly.
Go in the morning wherever you can. The light is better, the roads are quieter, and by midday the interior gets genuinely hot with no shade on the tracks. Take more water than you think you need.
Where to eat around them
Most of these sit a long way from anywhere serving food, so plan the meal separately rather than hoping. The north pairs well with Chaloklum for lunch; the interior and the south work around Thong Sala. Our restaurant guide sorts the island by area, and the beach guide covers the coast in more detail.
One more, and it is ours
We sit up in that same interior, above Ban Tai, and the trail up to us runs through the jungle for twenty-odd minutes before the whole coastline opens out. It is the one on this list with a kitchen at the end of it — Open daily, 12:00 – 21:00, adults only. The jungle viewpoints guide covers the high ground properly, and directions are here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the hidden gems on Koh Phangan?
The Koh Ma sandbar at low tide, the herbal sauna at Wat Pho, the Guan Yin temple above Chaloklum, Than Prawet waterfall, Laem Son Lake, Ao Thong Reng, the Chaloklum morning pier and the Domsila viewpoint trail.
How do I get off the tourist trail here?
Head inland and go early. Seventy per cent of the island is jungle interior that most visitors never enter, and even the busy beaches are quiet before nine.
Is the Koh Ma sandbar always there?
It appears at lower tides and disappears at high water, so check a tide table for Mae Haad first. At high tide it is a short swim instead, and the snorkelling either side is the best on the island.
When should I visit the waterfalls?
October to January, during and just after the wet season, when there is enough water to swim under them.
More guides
Must-See Jungle & Mountain Viewpoints on Koh Phangan
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