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 massive. And within the Gulf of Thailand, a collection of three islands have made names for themselves.
Koh Samui, the biggest of the trio, is house to the massive identify resorts, busy roads, and the one airport within the area. Additional north, the smallest island, Koh Tao, provides unmatched diving situations 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. Eating places nonetheless cater to Westerners, however you will not discover any all-inclusive resorts right here. It is simpler to navigate than Koh Samui however solely a 30-minute boat trip away, a fraction of the space to Koh Tao.
And whereas Koh Phangan’s full moon events draw hole 12 months backpackers to its southern shores, its northern coast has turn out to be a vacation spot for a distinct type of traveler. The chaos of Haad Rin Seashore earned the island a spot on the notorious banana pancake backpacking path. However go northwest and you will virtually journey over yoga studios and vegan bakeries lining the nook of the island the place healers of every kind have arrange store.
Do yoga on the seaside, hike as much as a lookout level for a glimpse of the neighboring islands, or unwind with a sound bathtub or Ayurvedic therapeutic massage—Koh Phangan’s pure magnificence and neighborhood of wellness fans will go away you restored and able to plan your return.