ISLAND GUIDE: SOUTH WEST, KOH PHANGAN, THAILAND


Weather Forecast

Thai Baht Exchange Rate

Thai Baht Converter

Koh Phangan -> Guide to South West -> Introduction

Introduction

The south west of Koh Phangan is the island's biggest lowland area and was the earliest settled with the frist main town in Wok Tum, not far from Thongsala where it is now. The inland areas are melting point of rivers and streams that spring from the surrounding mountains and the fertile plains are home to many small villages.

Thongsala became the island's capital around a hundred years ago and serves as Koh Phangan's main communication, services and transport centre. It has the islands main banking services, an excellent variety of cosmopolitan restaurants and some good bars. The shopping in Thongsala tends to be better value than neighbouring islands, where most shops have low fixed prices and there are also some good boutiques with interesting and unique clothes and crafts. Internet and telephone services are cheap, the main Post Office and Police Station are here and Thongsala has no less than three fresh markets, several decent supermarkets including Tesco Lotus, and more than ten ATM machines. The road network of the island meets in Thongsala, thus it provides easy access to virtually any point on Koh Phangan, by land or sea. It is the main taxi pick-up point and it has numerous guesthouse and two hotels, useful for overnight stays to meet travel connections.

The coastline takes on two different personas either side of Koh Tae Nok and Koh Tae Nai, the islands infront of Thongsala. Up the coast, strating at the northern end of Ao Nai Wok, there are steep hills and rounded volcanic boulders around the south-west's only mountain, Khao Hin Nok. The coast is broken up by rocky outcrops and the odd cluster of mangroves, with small coves and idyllic views over Ang Thong Marine Park.

South of Thongsala, the coastline is a lot straighter with an unbroken strecth of sand all the way up to the start of the Haad Rin hills. The surrounding flat land has all been used for coconut farming and long stretches of beach allow for a decent amount of space between the resorts, many offering high standards of accommodation.