The north coast of Koh Phangan holds some of the best beaches on the island. Although far from the main port town of Thong Sala in the south it is well worth making the journey to the other side of the island.

There are two main roads going north. One to the west that heads up to the fishing village of Chaloklum; and another to the east that ends at Thong Nai Pan. For years the Thong Nai Pan road was in poor condition, but recently a lot of the road has been paved. From Thong Nai Pan there is a rough road to Bottle Beach.

Bottle Beach for years was only accessible by boat and had to generate its own electricity. It is a beach that had a Robinson Crusoe feel to it. That feeling has somewhat diminished but the sand remains fine and the whole area is covered with thick jungle.

It is possible to walk from Bottle Beach to the lesser known beach of Haad Khom. The walk takes you over mountainous headland. Haad Khom is noteworthy for eschewing the development that much of the rest of the island has embraced. All the bungalows are basic and it is the norm to rent by the month. The other interesting thing about Haad Khom is that it has corals just off the coast where a variety of marine life can easily be spotted.

The road to Haad Khom is from the village of Chaloklum. This is the biggest village in the area. It has a few traditional Chinese style wooden fishermen’s homes still in use. It is a picturesque area that is similar to the popular Bophut area in Koh Samui in that it mixes boutique accommodation with traditional architecture.

Finally, in the north west corner of Koh Phangan there is Mae Haad and the small island of Koh Ma, the only marine park in the area. This is the best snorkeling spot on the island and the only place to spot sea turtles.

For those who like exploring, snorkeling and hiking the north coast of Koh Phangan is by far the best area.