Five Reasons to Pick Phangan as Your Vacation Destination

The islands in the south of Thailand are widely considered to be "Island paradise". Their beautiful beaches, moderate tropical climate and unique, extremely relaxing lifestyle account for this reputation. Travelers from all over the planet come to these southern Thailand islands to experience the well known transition to another dimension, as they gradually soak up the incredible calm and heavenly separation from the dynamic and stressful modern life style.

At first look those planning their trip to Thailand for the first time might feel like all of the islands in the south of Thailand are the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. While they may share a likeness in that each has a wonderful tropical weather and picturesque backdrops, there are also abundant differences to each island. One might say that each island has a different personality, just as each traveler has a different personality. When it comes right down to it, there is a perfect island for every traveler, from the budget seeker to the luxury traveler and from the adventure junkie to the chilled out relaxation seeker.

Having researched the vast differences of each island in southern Thailand, I’ve come to the conclusion that the ideal Thai island for nearly any vacation has to be Phangan. I say this because Phangan Thailand has the amazing ability to shape itself to the needs of almost every visitor. Excepting city life (Koh Phangan Thailand is an island after all), you can find almost any activity you want to experience on your vacation. Below you can find the top 5 things that make Koh Phangan the ideal vacation choice.

1 – If you desire good value for your dollars then Koh Phangan Thailand can’t be beat. Because it has the reputation of the island that money conscious backpackers have gravitated towards, the costs of various of the hotels, bars, restaurants and bungalows have stayed quite reasonable. Koh Phangan is one of the few locations in Thailand where it is still possible to have a typically European style experience without the western style prices. While there are now luxury resorts popping up on the island, in general you’ll find great prices and good deals.

2 – Koh Phangan is one of the few Thai islands to still maintain the island paradise atmosphere of decades ago. When foreigners first started traveling to Thailand’s islands it was because they were unspoiled, serene and undiscovered. Unfortunately commercialization has caught up with most of the islands in Thailand, however Koh Phangan yet keeps its the old world feel. Quite a few of the beaches are quite isolated and it is yet possible to find a solitary beach to call your own on Phangan. Beachside bungalows blend into the jungle making you feel like the Swiss Family Robinson.

3 – If you adore the ocean then you will discover Koh Phangan Thailand has many of the most breathtaking dive sites in Thailand and in truth on the planet. Much of this is because of the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the large diversity of underwater life. In past years many real divers would skip Koh Phangan Thailand in favor of more pristine dive locations like Koh Ma, however recently Koh Phangan has seen an increase in the reputation it enjoys as a top scuba diving destination. It’s not only the scuba diving in Phangan that is pulling in the scuba diving set; no end of divers come because it is a good jumping off spot for other dive spots in the region such as the Ang Thong National Marine Park, Koh Ma and Koh Tao.

4 – Koh Phangan’s Full Moon Party, which is the largest party of its kind, not just in Thailand, but in the world. The Full Moon Party started in 1989 as a small monthly beach party and has exploded to the point where it now attracts as many as 30,000 partiers each month. Even if you are not usually a partier, the Full Moon Party is an unforgettable experience and one that can’t be skipped.

5. To experience radically different travel activities. Koh Phangan Thailand is quite a small sized island (about 170 km2), however it offers a widest variety of activities. You can arrive on a Sunday, as a backpacker to Sunrise Beach, become a certified scuba diver on Monday in Koh Ma and turn into a veteran partygoer on Tuesday as you take part in the over the top full moon party. If you're able to get out of bed on Wednesday morning, you can talk with local people in the fishermen's village Chaloklum. Additionally, you can join forces with your sportsperson alter ego and go jungle trekking on Thursday; and then Friday you'll have the once in a lifetime opportunity to pretend you are an ancient Thai warrior riding an elephant's back in Phangan Safari. On Saturday, you can try life as a sheikh in a 5 star resort with a spa...and possibly have the opportunity to pen a short story about the seven most unforgettable days of your life.