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Just 20 km north of
Ko Samui and a short boat trip away, Ko Pha-ngan
is a mountainous island ringed by secluded bays
and swaying coconut tress that offer ideal getaways. Its only town of any
size, Thong Sala, has a bank, post office,
supermarket and shops selling beach equipment
and souvenirs. Many of its beautiful beaches are
accessible only by boat, though pick-up trucks
and motorbikes also ply the island's rough
roads.
Its most famous
beach is Hat Rin beach, which is made up of Hat Rin
Nai beach and Hat Rin Nok beach, in the southeast corner of the
island, which is the location for the
world-famous full moon parties that attract
thousands of visitors each month to dance the
night away on the beach. The island's most
picturesque beach is Thong Nai Pan beach, a double bay
in the northeast of the island, which has good
swimming and snorkeling, as well as the island's
most comfortable accommodation as well as cheap
beachfront shacks. A little south
of Thong Nai Pan is Nam Tok Than Sadet (Than
Sadet Falls), the island's
most impressive waterfall, which was once a
favorite place of King Chulalongkorn.
Other beaches here
include Hat Yao beach, Ao Mae Hat beach, Ao Chalok Lam
beach and
Hat Khuat beach and for something different, visit the
Wat Khao Tham temple, which is located on the southwest
side of the island, for a Buddhist meditation
retreat.
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