What is the population of Koh Phangan?

Koh Phangan has a population of approximately 15,254 residents according to GeoNames data. The island functions as a district within Surat Thani Province, with Thong Sala serving as its primary town and administrative center.

What are the driest months to visit Koh Phangan?

February and March are the driest months, with rainfall of 41mm and 33mm respectively. January also features relatively low precipitation at 112mm. These three months represent the optimal window for visitors seeking minimal rainfall and sunny conditions.

How many restaurants and accommodation options are available?

Within a 10-kilometer radius, Koh Phangan has 468 restaurants, 107 hotels, 128 guesthouses, and 77 hostels. This infrastructure supports diverse budgets and dining preferences across the island.

What is the nearest airport and how far is it?

Samui Airport (USM) is the nearest commercial airport, located approximately 23 kilometers away. Visitors typically arrive via this airport and then take ferry services to reach Koh Phangan.

What water sports and adventure activities are available?

Koh Phangan offers kiteboarding through the KBA Kiteboarding Centre, ziplining at Just For Fun, ATV rentals at ATV Speed Koh Phangan, jungle adventure parks, and elephant trekking. The island also features 6 beaches and 64 viewpoints within 10 kilometers.

What is the climate like year-round?

Koh Phangan maintains warm temperatures year-round, averaging between 23.6°C and 25.8°C. The island experiences a tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. October and November are the wettest months with over 250mm rainfall, while February and March are the driest.

Koh Phangan: Island District in Southern Thailand

Koh Phangan is an island district located in Surat Thani Province in the Gulf of Thailand's southern region. The island sits strategically between two sister islands: the larger Koh Samui to the south and the smaller Koh Tao to the north. With a population of approximately 15,254 residents, Koh Phangan serves as a distinct administrative district within the province. The main settlement is Thong Sala. The island experiences a tropical monsoon climate with temperatures averaging between 23.6°C and 25.8°C throughout the year. Precipitation is distributed across all twelve months, with October and November recording the highest rainfall at 256mm and 298mm respectively. The driest months occur between February and March, with precipitation dropping to 41mm and 33mm. Koh Phangan maintains consistent warmth year-round, making it accessible to visitors during most seasons, though the optimal travel window aligns with lower rainfall periods. The island hosts a variety of commercial facilities including 468 restaurants, 107 hotels, 128 guesthouses, and 77 hostels within a 10-kilometer radius. Samui Airport, the nearest commercial airport, is located approximately 23 kilometers away. The island's beaches, water sports facilities, and adventure activities contribute to its appeal as a regional destination.

Population: 15K
Climate: Tropical monsoon
Best months: Jan–Mar, Aug

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Updated 2026-05-03 · Source: GeoNames, Wikipedia

Image: Wikimedia Commons contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikipedia

Local currency

THB

Timezone

Asia/Bangkok

Koh Phangan: Island District in Southern Thailand: 9.749, 100.026Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

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Climate

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Monthly normals (10-year window). Bars show precipitation, lines show average and max temperature.

Best months to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Aug

What's around (within 10km, 1,239 POIs)

468
Restaurants
128
Guesthouses
112
Cafés
110
Bars
107
Hotels
89
ATMs
77
Hostels
64
Viewpoints
44
Attractions
19
Pharmacies
10
Temples
6
Beaches
4
Markets
1
Hospitals

Top landmarks

ATV Speed Koh Phangan Extreme Attractionsattraction
พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัวmemorial
KBA Kiteboarding Centre - Koh Phanganattraction
Wang Sai Waterfall Entrance (50 ฿)attraction
Baan Tai Cock Fighting Stadiumattraction
Jungle Flight Adventure Parkattraction
Baan Tai Elephant Trekkingattraction
Treehouse bar & restaurantviewpoint
Just For Fun Zipliningattraction
The Challenge Phanganattraction

Nearest airports

OpenFlights.org

Samui Airport
Ko Samui
USM23km

Quick facts

Koh Phangan is an island district in Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand, located in the Gulf of Thailand.
The island sits between two sister islands: the larger Koh Samui to the south and the smaller Koh Tao to the north.
Koh Phangan has a population of approximately 15,254 residents.
February and March are the driest months on Koh Phangan, with rainfall of 41mm and 33mm respectively.
November records the highest monthly rainfall on Koh Phangan at 298mm.
January average temperature on Koh Phangan is 23.6°C with an average high of 24.6°C.
Samui Airport is the nearest commercial airport to Koh Phangan, located approximately 23 kilometers away.
Within 10 kilometers of Koh Phangan, there are 468 restaurants serving the island and surrounding area.
Koh Phangan has 107 hotels, 128 guesthouses, and 77 hostels within a 10-kilometer radius.
The island maintains an average temperature range of 23.6°C to 25.8°C throughout all twelve months.
Koh Phangan has 6 beaches, 64 viewpoints, and 10 temples within a 10-kilometer radius.
October on Koh Phangan averages 256mm of rainfall over 27 rain days.
The island has 89 automated teller machines and 19 pharmacies within a 10-kilometer radius for visitor convenience.

Geography & Climate

Koh Phangan is situated in the Gulf of Thailand within Surat Thani Province's southern jurisdiction. The island maintains a tropical monsoon climate characterized by warm temperatures throughout the year. Monthly average temperatures range from 23.6°C in January to 25.8°C in May, with minimal seasonal variation. Precipitation patterns show distinct wet and dry seasons. February and March represent the driest months with 41mm and 33mm of rainfall respectively, while October and November are the wettest with 256mm and 298mm. The island receives rain on an average of 10 to 27 days per month depending on the season. The geographic coordinates place Koh Phangan at 9.7493900°N, 100.0264900°E. The island's topography and proximity to the mainland make it accessible via ferry services from multiple points in southern Thailand.

Average Temperature (Year-Round): 23.6–25.8°C
Wettest Month (Rainfall): November, 298mm
Driest Months: February–March, 33–41mm
Coordinates: 9.75°N, 100.03°E

Accommodation & Facilities

Koh Phangan offers diverse accommodation options distributed across the island. Within a 10-kilometer radius, there are 107 registered hotels, 128 guesthouses, and 77 hostels, providing choices across multiple price points and comfort levels. The island's hospitality infrastructure is supplemented by essential services including 89 automated teller machines, 19 pharmacies, and 1 hospital. Food and beverage establishments are well-represented with 468 restaurants, 112 cafes, and 110 bars. Commercial markets total 4 locations. The density and variety of facilities indicate developed tourism infrastructure capable of supporting varying visitor preferences and requirements.

Hotels (10km radius): 107
Guesthouses (10km radius): 128
Hostels (10km radius): 77
Restaurants (10km radius): 468
ATMs (10km radius): 89
Pharmacies (10km radius): 19

Activities & Attractions

Koh Phangan hosts a range of recreational activities and tourist attractions. Water sports facilities include the KBA Kiteboarding Centre. Adventure activities are available through multiple operators: Jungle Flight Adventure Park, Just For Fun Ziplining, and The Challenge Phangan offer adrenaline-based experiences. ATV Speed Koh Phangan Extreme Attractions provides off-road vehicle rentals. Elephant trekking is available at Baan Tai Elephant Trekking. Wang Sai Waterfall, accessible for a 50 Thai baht entrance fee, offers a natural attraction. The Treehouse bar and restaurant functions as a viewpoint location. Within 10 kilometers, there are 64 designated viewpoints, 10 temples, 6 beaches, and 44 classified attractions. The island's diverse activity portfolio accommodates both water-based and land-based visitor interests.

Beaches (10km radius): 6
Temples (10km radius): 10
Viewpoints (10km radius): 64
Classified Attractions (10km radius): 44

Getting There

Koh Phangan is accessed primarily via ferry services connecting to the mainland and nearby islands. Samui Airport (USM), the nearest commercial airport, is situated approximately 23 kilometers away. From Samui Airport, ground transportation and ferry connections provide access to Koh Phangan. Alternative transportation routes include ferry services from major mainland ports and connections to sister islands Koh Samui and Koh Tao. The island's main town, Thong Sala, functions as the primary port of entry and commercial hub. Ferry schedules operate year-round, though weather conditions during peak monsoon months may affect service frequency and duration.

Nearest Airport (Samui): 23km distance
Main Port Town: Thong Sala
Administrative Province: Surat Thani

Best Time to Visit

Optimal travel periods align with months featuring lower precipitation and comfortable temperatures. Data from climate normals indicates January, February, March, and August as months with reduced rainfall and stable warm conditions. January averages 23.6°C with 112mm precipitation over 12 rain days. February records the lowest precipitation at 41mm with 10 rain days. March continues the dry pattern with 33mm and 9 rain days. August maintains moderate precipitation at 98mm with 19 rain days, making it a secondary favorable period. October through December represent the transition into the wet season, with November and December recording elevated precipitation above 180mm. May through September experience higher rainfall, with October peaking at 256mm. Visitors preferring drier conditions should prioritize the January to March window, while August offers a brief respite during the otherwise wetter mid-year period.

Best Visit Months: January, February, March, August
January Rainfall: 112mm (12 days)
February Rainfall: 41mm (10 days)
March Rainfall: 33mm (9 days)

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Koh Phangan?: Koh Phangan has a population of approximately 15,254 residents according to GeoNames data. The island functions as a district within Surat Thani Province, with Thong Sala serving as its primary town and administrative center.
What are the driest months to visit Koh Phangan?: February and March are the driest months, with rainfall of 41mm and 33mm respectively. January also features relatively low precipitation at 112mm. These three months represent the optimal window for visitors seeking minimal rainfall and sunny conditions.
How many restaurants and accommodation options are available?: Within a 10-kilometer radius, Koh Phangan has 468 restaurants, 107 hotels, 128 guesthouses, and 77 hostels. This infrastructure supports diverse budgets and dining preferences across the island.
What is the nearest airport and how far is it?: Samui Airport (USM) is the nearest commercial airport, located approximately 23 kilometers away. Visitors typically arrive via this airport and then take ferry services to reach Koh Phangan.
What water sports and adventure activities are available?: Koh Phangan offers kiteboarding through the KBA Kiteboarding Centre, ziplining at Just For Fun, ATV rentals at ATV Speed Koh Phangan, jungle adventure parks, and elephant trekking. The island also features 6 beaches and 64 viewpoints within 10 kilometers.
What is the climate like year-round?: Koh Phangan maintains warm temperatures year-round, averaging between 23.6°C and 25.8°C. The island experiences a tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. October and November are the wettest months with over 250mm rainfall, while February and March are the driest.

More about Koh Phangan: Island District in Southern Thailand

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Sources & methodology

Geographic data from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Narrative sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and structured by Claude. Map by © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See the methodology and sources registry for full attribution and update cadence.

This page last refreshed 2026-05-03.