Koh Phangan : Guide to South West : Introduction

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.