Tucked away in southeastern Thailand is the little island of Ko Pha Ngan. Ko Pha Ngan is a little known place except for the fame it has gained from the monthly ‘Full Moon Party’. The wild, massive spectacle which takes place on Hat Rin sees a staggering thirty thousand people crammed onto one beach for one night. Afterwards, sunrise takes the party goers away and the general state of serenity returns. Despite this reputation, the island has much to offer travelers seeking a slower pace, perhaps in the way of a luxury hotel; Koh Phangan is being upgraded to appeal to a more upscale clientele. There is plenty of unexplored jungle and a number of untouched bays to give the sensation of being on one’s own private island. For a contemporary yet uniquely Thai experience of sophisticated elegance, look up the Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas.
Ang Thong National Marine Park is a two hundred and fifty square kilometer area of which fifty square kilometers make up a nature reserve that stretches across forty small islands. Only one of the forty islands, Koh Paluay, is inhabited. Its inhabitants, referred to as ‘sea gypsies’ still earn a living from fishing in the surrounding waters.
The islands vary in size, some are pristine little islands with secluded beaches and shady palms, while others are merely large rocks. Book a speedboat and visit the location where the movie ‘The Beach’, starring Leonardo Di Caprio, was filmed. The waters around the islands are ideal for snorkeling and swimming. There are jungles to trek through, interesting limestone rock formations to marvel at, caves and hidden lagoons to explore. Secret caves, hidden lagoons and isolated beaches await discovery. There is wildlife both beneath the ocean’s surface and above. Smaller creatures inhabit the jungles, mainly, reptiles and birds.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
