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Ko Pha-ngan

Ko Pha-ngan (เกาะพะง้น,, pronounced KOH pa-NGan with NG as in bringing) is an island off the Central Gulf Coast of Southern Thailand and forms part of the Chumphon Archipelago. Halfway between the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Tao, it is known as a land of coconut trees and the world-famous Full Moon Party that have placed the island firmly on the Banana Pancake Trail.

Orientation

Places below are listed clockwise starting at Thong Sala:

 * — The island's "capital" and main ferry port.
 * — A quiet bay with a long white sandbar in front of it. It is the first bay to the north of Thong Sala (just 7 min walk) and one of the best areas for sailing, windsurfing or kayaking. This is due to its orientation to the wind all year long and the proximity of the two wild little islands, Ko Tae Nai and Ko Tae Nok (approximately 10 min paddling in a kayak to Tae Nai)
 * — A volcanic peninsula to the south of Haad Son and Haad Yao with bays and beaches.
 * — A small quiet beach on the western shore of Ko Pha-ngan. It has some resorts and bungalows offering budget rooms with full facilities. Has several beach bars and restaurants where you can have dinner and drink while the sun is setting. To go there from the main pier by taxi takes around 15 min and 20 min by motorbike. If you need a real escape, here it is.
 * — A beautiful bay with a beach.
 * — A long white sandy beach just north of Haad Chao Phao, slightly more developed with more beach bars, a 7-Eleven, ATMs, and restaurants, but clean nice sea and snorkelling further from the beach with accommodations from 150 baht. Maybe the best beach on the west coast.
 * — An idyllic cove with several high-end resorts on the northwest corner of the island.
 * — Wide sandy beach joined to Ko Maa, a national marine park, by a sand spit. Has some of the best diving and snorkelling on Pha-ngan. There is a small village and a variety of resorts, restaurants, and bars. Nice snorkelling: you'll need to go over the first, dead reef to see the coral. Make sure you get in and out during high tide as crossing the dead reef when the tide is receding can be difficult and painful. Not much else to do but snorkel here.
 * — Between Chalok Lam and Haad Mae Haad, this almost undiscovered bay offers a delightful and peaceful escape from the crowds.
 * — Fishing village with a picturesque beach in a long beautiful sandy bay at the northern tip of the island. Not touristy because of few boats making the trip, and the western part of the bay has some of the most beautiful waters off the island with a nice narrow beach under palm trees.
 * — 20-min walk east of Chalok Lam on a steep concrete road or a few minutes ride from Chalok Lam you will find a nice quiet beach with clean seas and soft white sand where you can relax and do some of the best snorkelling on the island. There are only around 5 accommodations with good prices (from 150-300 baht for a bungalow), so the beach is not crowded. Only the one closest to Chalok Lam, CBB, has 24-hr electricity, the others use diesel generators. Together with Bottle Beach and Chalok Lam Bay these are the best beaches on the northern coast and the entire island.
 * — Also called "Haad Khuat", one of the most isolated beaches on the island, on the north coast accessible by longtail boat from Chalok Lam (150 baht/person) or by a 2-3 hr long, tough hike from Haad Khom beach (this hike named the beach due to the use of plastic bottles to mark the trail). There is also the road option, on one of the worst roads on the island, but the taxi ride is so expensive that is always better go to Chalok Lam and take a longtail boat from there. Very relaxed quiet beach with few accommodations but very reasonable prices (from 250-300 baht/bungalow). Nice long and wide soft white sand beach and good clean water for swimming even during the dry season. There is only one disadvantage. Due to its isolation, there are no ATMs or 7-Elevens or local restaurants so you have to buy everything for inflated prices at your accommodations (e.g., 90 baht for fried noodles). But what you pay for meals you will save on accommodation and enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches on island.
 * — Scenic area on the northeast part of the island that includes the neighbouring beach resorts of Ao Thong Nai Pan Yai and Ao Thong Nai Pan Noi, twin bays with two fantastic beaches. Thong Nai Pan Yai is the bigger one. The area caters to families with children, and singles and couples who are looking for unspoiled beaches, tranquillity and peace. Here you get safe swimming all year except during the November monsoon which normally ends around the middle of December. Both beaches have a variety of restaurants ranging from inexpensive Thai to top international cuisine.
 * — Home of the Sanctuary Resort, a hip, up-scale resort with a nice vibe.
 * — A nice sandy beach on the southeast corner. A hop away from Haad Rin if you would like to get away from the party crowd.
 * — The most touristy/crowded village, with all the services any traveller needs and the home of the famous Full Moon Party. The biggest party scene on the island (along with Baan Tai). One of the few beaches during dry season where is possible to swim.
 * — Between Ban Tai and Haad Rin this beach offers an idyllic setting, just minutes from the Full Moon Party. Sea also quite dirty and very mountainous terrain.
 * — Facing Ko Samui, the longest stretch of uninterrupted beach on the entire island.

Climate
The best time to visit the island and also high season is Dec-Mar when the water is clean, and good for swimming. It's also not rainy and temperatures are pleasant. Another high season time is Jul-Aug after the dry season when the water is rising.

Get in

If travelling to Ko Pha-ngan during or near the time of the Full Moon Party, booking ferry transport to and from the island ahead of time is highly advised as the limited amount of ferries fill up quickly with the massive crowd coming in for the party.

By plane
Via Ko Samui Airport The closest airport is Ko Samui which has frequent flights from Bangkok and Phuket, daily flights from U-Tapao and Singapore, and several direct flights each week from Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Transportation to the ferry dock is easy to find at the airport. Ferries depart several times a day with the last one around dusk.

Via Surat Thani Airport The next nearest airport is Surat Thani on the mainland. Flights from Bangkok there are significantly cheaper (1,000-1,500 baht in advance, or 2,000-2,500 baht if booked same day, instead of 3,000-5,000 baht if flying to Samui), as there are low-cost carriers (Air Asia) flying there, and even Thai Airways charge 30-50% less than to Samui. However, you'll then need combined bus + boat travel to get to Ko Pha-ngan, which will surely take several hours. Air Asia uses Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, while Thai Airways uses Suvarnabhumi airport.

Nok Air sells a combined package ticket including airfare to Surat Thani, Chumphon, or Nakhon Si Thammarat, a bus ride to the pier, and a ticket on the Lomprayah. This should be simpler for travellers than arranging the individual segments separately. Nok Air uses Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.

Air Asia has a special “Island Transfer” offering that includes a flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat, surface transport to the port, and a ferry to Ko Pha-ngan.

One of the best options for travel to the island is via Chumphon Airport, 30 km north of Chumphon city in Pathio District (alternative spelling Pathiu). It has direct daily flights connections with Bangkok's two airports, Don Meueng (DMK) and Suvarnabhumi (BKK). There are also onward flights to Ranong Airport (UNN). Flights from Bangkok are around 60 minutes. High-speed Lomprayah catamarans depart from Chumphon to Ko Pha-ngan. Nok Air operates two daily flights between Don Mueang (DMK) and Chumphon Airport (CJM). Nok Air offer a combined flight and ferry ticket on their website. The Chumphon Airport has transit agents for onward connecting travel to the islands of the Chumphon Archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand and Ko Tao, Ko Pha-ngan. The TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) has an information counter at the airport.

By boat

Several types of ferries are available, of varying speed and quality. The Lomprayah catamaran is easily the best option for comfort and speed, although generally 100-150 baht more expensive than the other ferries, most travellers and locals, will happily pay the extra for the service.

From Ko Samui: There are at least 3 ferries a day from Ko Samui's "Big Buddha" pier directly to Haad Rin. Ferries also leave from Nathon and Mae Nam piers to Thong Sala several times a day.

Raja Ferry sails from Ko Samui to Thong Sala pier 3 times a day (09:00, 14:00, 18:00) for 150 baht. Lomprayah sails from Pralarn Pier 3 times a day as well (08:00, 12:30, 16:30) for 350 baht (May 2022). Tickets can be bought online.

Watch out for scammers at Ko Samui airport who try to sell you a bus/boat combo for an exorbitant price. Make sure to walk towards the exit of the airport where there is an Information counter and taxi stands.

From Ko Tao: there is fast Lomprayah catamaran operating twice a day to Ko Tao for 600 baht at 09:30 and 15:00. The ride between these islands takes 1¼ hours. A cheaper, but slower ferry operates from Ko Pha-ngan to Ko Tao by Songserm express and costs 300 baht, leaving Ko Pha-ngan at 12:30, and takes 2 hours. This ferry comes from Chumphon with flight, bus and train connections from Bangkok.

From Surat Thani: There are ferries throughout the day from Donsak pier, 65 km out of town. Lomprayah are fast ferries and they sell tickets including transport from the city centre for 550 baht.

Raja are slow ferries and combined bus and ferry tickets from the city or Surat Thani train station are available for 375 baht. There are six ferries a day, the timetable is available online. The tickets can be bought online as well.

A night ferry leaves at 23:00 from Surat Thani city (walking distance from bus stations Talat Kaset 1 and 2), arriving in Thong Sala (Ko Pha-ngan) at 06:00. It costs 400 baht for a space on a mattress on the boat. The night ferry leaves from Thong Sala (Ko Pha-ngan) for Surat Thani at 22:00 (400 baht) arriving around 05:00-06:00.

By bus and boat
The best way in by bus is by government bus (บขส) to the Na Dan ferry piers: these are the most direct, quickest, reliable, safest, and hassle-free services. Tickets for these services can be bought at Sai Tai Taling Chan (southern) government bus terminal in Bangkok.

Buses also arrive in Surat Thani, capital of Surat Thani Province. From here you can buy a ticket for a bus + boat ride for the slow ferry (320 baht for the 3-hour ferry and bus ticket to Don Sak) or the fast ferry (400 baht for the 2-hour ferry + transportation to Don Sak pier). Both ferries stop at Ko Samui first, and will drop you off at the pier of Thong Sala. Please note that both options will require you to change buses. This should be a quick and easy change over.

If there are no available options listed above (usually only if you've arrived to the bus terminal quite late in the evening before a weekend or holiday), you can also try a bus to Chumphon and board a ferry there, see "By train" below. You can buy a combo ticket on the bus station, it will cost same as if purchased separately (and the bus arrives 2–3 hours before ferry departure, so you shouldn't be late).

Buses originating from Khao San Rd (or other buses operated by travel agencies) are famous for thefts from passenger luggage. Under no circumstances should passengers on Khao San Rd buses leave valuables in bags that will go in the luggage storage areas, even if the bags can be locked. Consider it inevitable that every bag will be opened while the bus is in motion. Bus + boat joint ticket costs at the cheapest Israeli travel agencies at the west end of Khao San Rd (better said Chakrapong Rd) cost only 500-550 baht depending on whether it's before/after Full Moon Party and your bargaining skills, so if you are aware of risks using these buses and careful you can really save money instead of taking pricier government bus which does not leave from KSR but requires you to go to a bus terminal.

A very good option, a little pricier, is using the morning bus (06:00) and ferry combination from Lomprayah. A reputable company with an office near Khao San Rd and the option to book online through their website. The air-con bus is very new and the connection to the ferry gives the opportunity for a toilet break and to eat something. Leave early in the morning and arrive mid/late afternoon on the island. One way is 1,300 baht. They also have a night bus.

By train, boat, and bus
An overnight train from Bangkok is an interesting option. Trains arrive in Surat Thani or Chumphon, and from there you can transfer by bus and then boat. Chumphon is the option if you're planning to stop at Ko Tao, but if you're heading straight to Ko Pha-ngan, consider Surat Thani. Both stations are on the southbound Hat Yai line, but arrival times in Chumphon (when using night trains) are annoyingly early in the morning. For example, the (recommended) express train #85 arrives around 04:00 after which you'll wait about 3 hours for the ferry. On the other hand, if you continue down to Surat Thani you can sleep an extra 3–4 hours plus you will arrive in daylight. Considering the waiting time in Chumphon and the longer ferry trip you will eventually get to Ko Pha-ngan at about the same time.

Combined train-bus-boat tickets can be bought direct from the official Advance Booking Counter at Hualamphong station in Bangkok, although if your train is late, and your boat is already gone then you will have to pay extra for the next boat. Thus the joint ticket may not be the best choice.

If e-booking is not available or not suitable to you for some reason, train tickets may be reserved up to 60 days in advance and paid for by email. In reality, the Thai authorities are lax in returning emails and/or will give the runaround, or flat-out refuse to reserve seats for non-Thais during peak travel periods (Dec-Jan and the Songkran holiday in Apr). If your heart is set on going by train, start early, be persistent, and have a backup plan to go by bus or plane.

By motorbike
As many beaches and restaurants are located far from each other, a scooter is the way (and almost the only way) to get around the island. Be aware, outside of Thong Sala, most roads do not have any sidewalk, and walking along the road can be dangerous due to the constantly passing cars and scooters.

There are many rental locations all over the island. They have formed an association and all have the same prices, saying this should prevent the problems with the scams that many people complained about before. The advertised price is now 250 baht/day, can be bargained to 200 baht/day if renting for more days, but basically impossible to get anything cheaper. Do not rent from the rental shop across from Pha-ngan Cottage (tel 084-8510541) which charges only 200 baht for normal bike but takes passport and will scam for damages.

Some rental shops overcharge for every scratch or dent. They don't fix, but rather replace the whole part - so note damages to the bike on the rental contract. Your passport will be held until you pay the extortionate repair cost. You can negotiate the costs down from exorbitant to high, but keep your cool, don't yell and stay polite. This practice is very common all over the region. It's not unheard-of that you are asked to pay for damage you haven't done. In most cases, it's the combination of very bad & dangerous roads and inexperienced or intoxicated driving that causes accidents. Some good advice is to take pictures of your bike as you rent it, but if the guy has your passport, this won't do any good. If you don't know what you're doing, stay on the safe side and stick with songthaews.

Avoid riding at sundown, when the bugs are out en masse. Try not to go home with a "Thai tattoo", this can either result from your tender body sliding along a bitumen road at high speed with few clothes on, or from the inside of your leg touching a hot exhaust pipe. Also keep in mind that many, if not most, travel insurance policies will not cover motorcycle accidents, especially if you do not have a Thai drivers license.

Care is needed if attempting to go over the notorious Haad Rin hills, the roads on the east side of the island, and north of Haad Yao. Especially the "Hill of Tears" (first steep ascent from Thong Sala towards Haad Rin) needs caution. Use low gear only and have your passenger walk. This is still quite good concrete road where you need only use brakes compared to mud roads on the northeast part of the island to Bottle Beach, which are the worst on the island with many potholes.

Drunk driving in the West is illegal (not on Ko Pha-ngan, where police don't check). On Ko Pha-ngan it's suicidal. Better to sit in the back of a taxi than having a smash-up at night and ending up dead or in the hospital.

Wear a helmet. Police will fine you 200 baht for non-compliance and set up roadblocks occasionally (before noon in Thong Sala, for example). When driving, stay within your limits. The slower you drive, the less it's gonna hurt.

It is also possible to rent small Suzuki 4WDs for the same price as 2 scooters. This allows you to avoid many of the dangers on the roads. These 4WDs are manual only.

Petrol is quite overpriced at many places. One of the places selling it for reasonable price is the in Thong Sala, round the corner from Tesco on the road to Chalok Lam.

By songthaew
Songthaews criss-cross the island asking from 200-300 baht (per person, not per trip), though they may offer a slightly lower price if you share the taxi with other people. You can and should bargain for a lower price, especially if your destination isn't that far. The taxi driver cartel tries to fix prices at 200 baht a ride. Do not accept the price at the pier and walk rather 300 m to the roundabout in Thong Sala where there is a taxi station with normal prices. From Thong Sala to Baan Tai/Khai or Chalok Lam should be priced around 100 baht/person, Haad Rin 150 baht/person, Haad Yao/Salad 150 baht/person, Thong Nai Pan or Had Sadet 250 baht.

All taxi service on Ko Pha-ngan is provided by songthaew (pick-up truck), so the normal Grab taxis found in other cities or Ko Samui are not available there. Should you choose to go with a freelancer on a motorbike or in a pickup, make arrangements quickly, quietly and pay surreptitiously.

Usually is the best option to save money and be flexible and avoid using songthaews at all is to rent a motorbike after arriving in Thong Sala as you will be probably leaving from this pier. You can later return the motorbike here and it can save you a lot of money. If there are two of you and you pay 150 baht/person for one taxi ride, your total expenses to/from beach will be 600 baht. For that you can have a semi-auto motorbike rental for 6–7 days or a fully automatic for 4–5 days and you are free to ride anywhere between arrival and departure and it's also the best way when looking for accommodation instead of taking taxi and walking around with a lot of baggage.

By boat
Cruise the bays with your snorkelling gear until someplace takes your fancy. The round-the-island, all-day boat trip is a great way to see some of the best beaches in the island.

See

 * Than Sadet-Ko Pha Ngan National Park The park (100Baht, 20 Baht for Thai) is named after the river Than Sadet (literally, "Royal River"). The river forms the largest waterfall on the island, which was visited by several Thai kings. Don't expect much water during dry season. Meanwhile easy to reach on motorbike, even better than some other roads on island. Down at the sea at Than Sadet Beach, there are a few places to stay (fan only) and two restaurants.
 * Visit the beautiful waterfalls and lookouts in the interior of the island. The best lookouts are Domesila viewpoint, a 15-min hike from Phaeng waterfall in Phaeng National Park (100 THB at the entrance station). There is another waterfall viewpoint a 20-min walk from Phaeng waterfall. From Bottle Beach you can hike to the rocky viewpoint above valley with great views over northeast part of island, hiking to the top should take 30-45 min depending on your condition.
 * You can visit Wat Khao Tam viewpoint on the road between Thong Sala and Haad Rin which you can reach on motorbike and then it's easy walk for few minutes to the temple with viewpoint at Ko Samui and southern coast of Ko Pha-ngan. Another viewpoint is in Chalok Lam on the road to Haad Khom, it's well signposted from the main road.
 * Visit Ko Maa off the northwest coast of Ko Pha-ngan. It offers one of the best snorkelling places on the island. Other places to do snorkelling are Haad Khom beach (very shallow water on the coast during low tide, be careful) and Haad Yao.
 * On the road between Thong Sala and Chalok Lam is a beautiful Chinese Temple (free) overlooking Chalok Lam Bay.
 * There is an elephant camp on the way from Baan Tai to Thong Nai Pan (300 baht for a 30-min ride. Also one close to The Chinese temple on the road from Thong Sala to Chalok Lam (300 baht for 30-min ride. On the price list it's officially 500 baht). Very close is also an archery range.

Buy
Under Thai law, travel agents that offer ticket, tours, tourism services, hotel reservations in Thailand must be registered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to improve quality of service and help protect customers from fraud. Please check to make sure you are booking through a TAT registered travel agent.

In Thong Sala and Haad Rin vendors sell pretty much anything you can think of, and probably some things you don't need at all. You can try to bargain, but realistically, the prices are set. You may get a deal every now and again, but it's the exception to the rule. Remember that you're in a tourist area and that prices usually are above the level of Bangkok. The further you go from the ferry piers, the better your chance of haggling gets.

Main purchases you will find on Ko Pha-ngan include hammocks (check out "Hammock Home Gallery" in Thong Sala) and some of the local artists' works. Most of the clothing is of the variety that you will find in Bangkok, but generally it is a bit more expensive, as it has been imported to the island for sale.

Art galleries are considered to be a rising business on Ko Pha-ngan. Most of the places will offer variety works and services including custom orders and art reproductions. These galleries have reputations for affordable prices and fine quality artistic skills.

Eat

 * Individual listings can be found in Ko Pha-ngan's places articles

For the most part, this is not the place to come to experience Thai food or culture. For a slightly more authentic experience (and cheaper than the well-decorated cafe/restaurants by Haad Rin beach), patronise the more modest street carts where you might see some Thais eating.

The best area for cheap eats is definitely the food carts in Thong Sala, the main town on the island. In the evening you can eat at the night market (from 40 baht/meal (usually curried meat with rice or fried rice or pad Thai), soups from 30 baht, pancakes from 20-30 baht, meat on sticks 10-30 baht/stick.) Free Wi-Fi in a roofed hall. Across the road from 7-Eleven in Chalok Lam are also some Thai street stalls where you will find locals eating. In front of Tesco you can buy sticks with fried meatballs for 5 baht/stick and at the junction next to entrance to Tesco parking lot you can buy in the morning (07:00-09:00) sticky rice with pork/chicken/livers packed in banana leaves for 10 baht for a small portion. There are also a few street stalls. There is also a small market next to 7-Eleven in Thong Sala in the direction of Haad Rin (after Walking St traffic lights) with Thai meals for 30-50 baht.

Drink

 * Individual listings can be found in Ko Pha-ngan's places articles

Sleep

 * Individual listings can be found in Ko Pha-ngan's places articles

As a general guide: As further you walk along the beach to the last resort, the better and quieter the accommodation.

You can usually find accommodation at the pier when you arrive, many of resorts offers taxi service from pier for free. However, during the full moon period it is worth booking ahead unless you want to sleep on the beach or spend the night in one of the more expensive lodgings. If you are thinking of booking accommodation on-line before you arrive, make sure you book direct with the resort or a trustworthy booking site as there are numerous fake sites for several well-known Ko Pha-ngan resorts appearing on the Internet.

There is more to Ko Pha-ngan than the Full Moon Party and Haad Rin, so don't be afraid to venture out to other beaches. You can still get to the party from just about everywhere.

The decent rooms tend to run out a few days before the Full Moon Party, and throughout the peak season (Dec-Feb). If you have a short vacation or like to have a soft landing, you might want to book a room in advance. This can be quite hard on the less accessible beaches, such as Haad Tien or Haad Yuan.

If you decide to test your luck, try to arrive as early in the day as possible (09:00 seems to be a good time) to have the most time and options for accommodations.

If you come in relatively low-season in Jul and Aug, it is a good idea to book a room in advance just for the first night and rent a motorbike to look around. Beaches differ a lot (some of them are good for diving/snorkelling, some are good for swimming), so do villages (some are really quiet, some are packed with bars). Motorbike trip by the seaside to Chalok Lam and all the places on the way, and to Haad Rin on the other end of the island. Should not be a problem even for less experienced riders and will help you to choose the perfect place which suits your preferences. More remote places are harder to get by motorbike, so if you are thinking about staying in Thong Nai Pan or Bottle Beach, you have to rely on reviews.

For a cheap bungalow, literally moments from white beaches (but no surf whatsoever), turn left from Thong Sala and you will pass strings of quiet bays, each with one or more resorts, featuring a bar, a restaurant, rooms and bungalows, and a few dozen laid back tourists for company. Try Haad Yao, Haad Son, Haad Salad or any of the others along the same strip.

For the north of the island, Chalok Lam, Ko Ma/Haad Mae Haad, Haad Khom & Bottle Beach are popular.

For long-term stay, you can rent whole house (1 bedroom, small kitchen, bath, Wi-Fi, electricity/water included) for 5-6,000 baht/month, not on the beach. Bigger houses with 2 bedrooms from 10-12,000 baht/month. For a 2 week booking, don't expect half of the monthly price. Two weeks in a 2 bedroom house costs a minimum of 7-9,000 baht, 1 bedroom 3-4,000 baht.

Stay safe
Emergency contacts

 * Fire: dial 199
 * Police: dial 191 (077 377 114)
 * Tourist Police: dial 1155 (this supersedes the old "1699" number)
 * Pha-ngan Rescue Centre: dial 077 377 118

Yes, the Full Moon Party (as well as others) is full of drugs, but these days it's also full of plain clothed policemen out to bust you. Be very careful if you intend to consume illicit drugs. Roadblocks are common, particularly in the week before the FMP between Thong Sala and Haad Rin. Thai police have also been known to force urine tests. Remember that the Thais have harsh penalties for drug offences and the police are working to meet their "quota". Be aware that you may not be able to bail yourself out of trouble, especially if you get transferred to Surat Thani - and that bribing Thai police will at least cut a deep hole into your travel budget, if it is possible at all. Do not keep drugs on you, in your room, or in your vehicle. If you plan to drink at a party, make sure you have reliable transportation set up beforehand. The roads here are hazardous, and too many people try to drive home because they don't have a taxi waiting. If nothing else, find a safe corner and sleep it off before you head home.

It's not a good idea to accept drinks or food from strangers; there are reported incidents of spiked drinks (from both locals and "fellow" travellers). There have been reports of LSD buckets foisted upon unsuspecting partyers in Haad Rin. Drugged drinks are often and unfortunately followed up by robbery, sexual harassment, or even (gang) rapes. The best idea is to take your own drinks and stay with your friends. On closer inspection of the buckets sold, most liquor bottles are unsealed, so there is uncertainty about the true contents of every bottle. This may be why so many people get sick.

However a local club owner states "we use the small bottles for the buckets and it is cheaper and easier for us to re-use the small bottles. The local stockists always run out of small bottles so we often replace the contents with that from a larger bottle of the same liquor (some clubs use cheaper liquor. Ask politely at the bar for original liquor and be prepared to pay more for original liquor).

Hangovers come from dehydration. Most kids drink buckets all night, then party in the morning sun on alcohol. Best advice is to drink water regularly, even at night as it's hot and sweaty.

Before buying a bucket, check the seal of the bottle and politely ask what's in it if you are worried. Apart from that, remember the fact that buckets can be very strong and unpredictable. If you intend to drink a lot, try to have solid food beforehand, or you might "lose it" very fast.

It's advisable to leave all valuables in a safety deposit box or in your guest house owner's hands instead of taking them to the party.

Wear shoes or sandals to avoid injury from broken bottles or burning cigarettes.

If you're averse to getting knocked on the head with flaming batons, then don't venture too close to the fire poi swingers on the beach, as skillful as they may be, the fire sometimes gets out of hand and hits nearby tourists. "Fire Skipping Rope/Jump through Fire Hoop" are dangerous games provided by a few of the beach bars. Take care when participating in these games, especially if you are drunk.

If you plan to leave the island the day after the Full Moon Party, be aware that the boats are usually packed with other tourists who have the same idea. Make sure you're not getting on an overloaded boat. The same applies to taxi-boats before and after the FMP. Thais frequently overload their longtail boats and lost luggage is at your own expense. Better to get off, reclaim your money and wait for the next one.

There are many good places to stay in Ko Pha-ngan. If you want to stay close to the action, but not too close, you may choose the resorts on the "sunset side" of Haad Rin. You can stay just about anywhere on the island and still get to the Full Moon Party, so don't be afraid to venture away from Haad Rin, which is the most developed and least Thai beach of them all. There are over 30 coves and beaches on the island, each with its own distinct qualities. Check out local information to find which beach suits you.

Walk away from every potential conflict with locals. You will stand no chance and it's a surefire way to get hospitalized. Do not get inappropriately rowdy or swear at the beach bar staff. In April 2007 an Israeli tourist got stabbed to death on the dance floor in one of the bars on Haad Rin beach. Violence is frequent. Locals will not help you in a fight and will in fact gang up on you whether you are right or wrong, and "fellow" travellers will do their best to stay out of it. If you find yourself targeted, leave the place immediately and don't come back that night.

Compared to most of Thailand (and especially the north), citizens of Ko Pha-ngan are generally aggressive, rude, and unfriendly. Don't expect to be treated as much more than a human ATM. Beware also of other travellers who can also be pretty aggressive when drunk, male or female.

If you walk on some of the smaller backroads of the island, dogs can be a real danger. Many of the dogs you encounter will be highly territorial and unfriendly (barking, baring their teeth, getting very close), especially if it is a group of dogs. Getting bitten means an urgent flight to Bangkok to get rabies treatment, so this is important to avoid. Do not stare directly at the dogs (but do look at them every once in a while as it seems to deter them somewhat), and do not run. Try talking to them continuously in a calm and friendly voice ("what a good dog", etc.) and move slowly but surely, either away from the dog, or, if it's critical for you to pass, then as far away as possible from the dog's "home territory" (e.g., if it ran out of a house on the left side of the road, move along the right side). In an emergency, remember that they're probably as scared of you as you are of them, so any violent motion (like throwing something) will likely send them running back, but only temporarily. Do this only as a last resort.

Connect
Internet cafes are plentiful and typically also offer international calls, fax services, and flight confirmation. The connection and speed is generally good. Expect to pay 1 baht/min for Internet in central locations. One baht per minute is typical for predominantly tourist-oriented shops, many of which also offer lower rates for pre-paid blocks of time. In travel agency Tan Tour (50 m to west of 7-Eleven next to the pier) the friendly owner Tomas is famous for not taking charging customers very seriously, so if you stay only a short time you can usually use the Internet for free, or for a longer time you will usually end up paying only 20 baht/hr instead of 40-60 baht.

Next door to the 7-Eleven in Thong Sala at the pier there is free (open) Wi-Fi for everyone in Sweet Cafe, so if you don't mind sitting in the sun you can use it for free. Also in the food court in the Thong Sala night market (actually open all day) there is free Wi-Fi for everyone. It's not difficult to find well-equipped, quiet, air-con Internet cafés that charge 60 baht/hr. Shops that can accommodate users who want to hook up their own laptops can easily be found. Printing (black/white) is usually 10 baht/page (30 baht/page for colour).

When you venture away from the more developed beaches, expect to pay up to 3 baht a minute. It can be cheaper just for staying in touch (Skype/Facebook) to buy a SIM card with a 1GB data package for 1 month for 214 baht (AIS/DTAC), which is enough for mobile Internet, but be aware some beaches do not have a 3G signal (Haad Yuan/Haad Tien, for example).

Mobile phone/SIM cards can be bought and topped-up all around island in many 7-Elevens. Mobile signal strength for DTAC (Happy) or AIS (1-2-Call) is good all around the island. Avoid using the TrueMove network which has very bad coverage.

Some places try to sell overpriced "internet" SIM cards for prices like 100 baht for the SIM card + 230 baht for the data. It's a rip off and there's no need to waste money for those; normal SIM card costs 50 baht, and e.g. 600 MB/7 days data package (dtac) is 79 baht. Refer to Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki - Thailand for the details about the packages available and current pricing.

Overseas calls can be made from many agencies and Internet shops, as well as guesthouses/hotels and the like. Most advertise a rate of 15 baht/minute (or 25 baht/minute to mobile phones). Pretty much every Internet place will have headsets for Skype use, which will be free if you don't have to call to a telephone.

Go next

 * Ang Thong National Marine Park — 2 hours away by boat and a great place for a day-trip only (snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, viewpoint over 42 islands) through travel agencies, not on your own. There are huts and tents available. The main highlight when staying on Ko Pha-ngan.
 * Bangkok — easily reachable by boat + bus (from 750 baht) or boat + train (1,000-1,250 baht from the island to BKK via air conditioned sleeper train).
 * Ko Samui — the biggest and most touristy island (on the east coast) of Thailand, many boats departing for there from 250 baht.
 * Ko Tao — "the biggest dive school on the planet" (Songserm express ferry leaving Thong Sala at 12:30 for 250 baht).
 * Surat Thani — closest city on the mainland.

title: Ko Pha-ngan


text:
Ko Phayam

Ko Phayam is a beautiful, lightly-developed island in Ranong Province, Thailand. It is the second-largest Thai island in the Andaman Sea.

Understand
Ko Phayam is off the coast of Ranong Province (Ko Chang, about 4 km distant, is the largest). It lies about 33 km from the mouth of the Ranong River. It is inhabited by about 160 families. For those who want to get away from it all, Ko Phayam is reminiscent of what Ko Samui was like 30 years ago before the airport and hotel developments. Ao Yai is the largest bay on the west coast, about 3 km long and 300 m wide, with a grey sand beach.

Get in
The only flights to Ranong Airport are from Bangkok Don Mueang  with Nok Air and Thai AirAsia.

Ko Phayam is just over 30 km from Ranong, about 2 hours from the mainland's Phayam Pier by slow boat, 30-40 minutes by speed boat. The slow boat leaves at 09:00 and 14:00 from the mainland and the same on the return journey. Speed boats depart at different and more frequent schedules (not in low season).

Ferries
From Ranong to Ko Phayam:
 * Slow boat: 09:30, 14:00 (200 baht)
 * Speed boat: 10:00, 14:30 (350 baht)

From Ko Phayam to Ranong:
 * Slow boat: 08:30, 14:00 (200 baht)
 * Speed boat: 09:00, 10:00, 13:30 (350 baht)

Get around
Ko Phayam has no roads suitable for automobiles, thus motorbikes are the chief means of transport. Tourists hire motorbikes at the pier and ride along the road to the resorts. No cars on this island. Motorbikes and scooters can be rented at Phayam Cottage Internet Shop near the main arrival ferry pier as well as many other places. The price is roughly 150-200 baht per day unless heavily booked. Petrol costs 40-50 baht per litre. If you rent a motorbike don't drive it on the beach. There are rumours that you can get fined 5,000 baht because of fine print on the rental agreement. It is also environmentally irresponsible.

Motorbike taxi drivers will be waiting as you step off the pier and can be found around the island, differentiated by their blue or red vests. Maps of the island near the pier are colour coded, showing you what the fixed price is to get to certain areas. 70 baht from the pier to Ao Yai. Ask your guesthouse to call a taxi bike if you are at the quieter end of the island; otherwise, you may wait longer than you would wish.

See
There two major beaches/bays, Ao Yai and Ao Kao Kwai (Buffalo Bay). There are many other beautiful beaches, some of them long like Ao Yai, the largest. The ferry pier area is vibrant with restaurants, a few Internet and other shops, and places to settle into a lounge chair or hammock and enjoy a cold drink or two.

Do
In the northwest is Ao Kao Kwai, a quieter beach where the sea is a bit clearer and less polluted. The beach has a more intimate feel, unlike the larger beaches which have more people and more activity although these are still relatively tranquil.

Take yoga or batik courses at PP Land Beach Resort or visit the art shop at Heaven Beach Resort & Art.

If you feel like exploring underwater, a few boats offer dive and snorkelling cruises around the infamous Richelieu Rock, Surin islands and Similan islands, and will pick you up at The Smiling Seahorse. Aladdin Dive Safari offers liveaboard diving from Ko Phayam to the Surin- and Similan Islands and to the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar (Burma). You can also join a round trip starting from Ko Phayam and dive all the whole west coast up to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang in southern Thailand. Check out as well the diving and snorkeling day trips from Aladdin Dive Safari to Richelieu Rock and the Surin Islands, with pickup at Ko Phayam.

Buy
Locally-grown cashew nuts.

Drink
There are many bars and restaurants on the island with quite a few German-speaking guests. Now Scandinavians are starting to discover Ko Phayam.

The island's official drink is Thai Sangsom rum with fresh Ko Phayam coconut milk.

Some places refill water bottles (roughly 5 baht per litre) which is preferable to buying water in new plastic bottles.

The local village is generally a quiet area, but has a couple of late-night bars.

Go next

 * Boats go from Ko Phayam to Ko Chang some weekdays at 16:00. Boats do not sail on weekends
 * Buses from Ranong bus station to Chumphon, Khao Lak, and Phuket, seven times a day. (Phuket Town: ~6 hours, 240 baht)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ko Phayam


text:
Ko Phi Phi

Ko Phi Phi (หมู่เกาะพีพี) is a small archipelago in Krabi Province, Southern Thailand.

Understand

The named islands are:

Most of the development of Phi Phi Don is in or around Ton Sai Village, which is on the low, sandy isthmus that joins the two hilly spurs that comprise the rest of the island. There are also other, quieter resorts on Long Beach, Laem (Cape) Thong, and at other less accessible areas of the island.

Ko Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, when the island's entire infrastructure was nearly wiped out. Redevelopment was, however, swift, and building regulations in place to limit the height of new buildings to preserve the island's stunning views.

While very laid back, many of the local islanders are Muslim. You will lose considerable respect if you walk around town in your skimpies (this applies to Buddhist areas of Thailand too!). While many thoughtless tourists do parade down Main Street in their Speedos or thong bikinis, to avoid offending your hosts, it's best just to throw on a pair of shorts or a sarong. Similarly, going topless on the beach, while grudgingly tolerated by most locals, is also best avoided.

Climate
Weather in the region is tropical. There are only two seasons: the hot season from Jan-Apr, and the rainy season from May-Dec. Temperatures during the year average 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 89.6°F) and the yearly rainfall averages 2569 mm. Unlike in, say, Europe, the rain in this region comes down heavily over short periods.

History
From archaeological evidence, it is believed that the area was one of the oldest communities in Thailand, dating back to the prehistoric period. It is believed that this province may have taken its name after the meaning of "Krabi", which means "sword". This may have arisen from a legend that an ancient sword was unearthed prior to the city’s founding.

The name Phi Phi (pronounced "pee pee") originates from Malay, the original name for the islands were "Pulao Pi ah Pi". The name refers to the mangrove wood found here.

Geography
Ko Phi Phi is considered to be one of the most naturally beautiful islands in the world (in fact, there are six islands in Phi Phi). They lie 50 km southeast of Phuket and are part of Had Nopparattara-Ko Phi Phi National Park which is home to an abundance of corals and amazing marine life. There are limestone mountains with cliffs, caves and long white sandy beaches. The national park covers a total area of 242,437 rai (about 39,000 hectares; 97,000 acres).

Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le are the largest and most well-known islands. The islands are surrounded by the Andaman Sea.

There are two villages on Ko Phi Phi under the administration of Ao Nang sub-district, Muang district, Krabi Province.

By plane
International Airport''', or , is about 10 km from the city limits, 15 km from the city centre, 40 km from Ao Nang, and 23 km from Had Yao.

Thai Airways operates daily direct flights from Bangkok, likewise Air Asia from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Bangkok Airways flies direct from Krabi and Ko Samui nearly every day of the week. Nok Air operates daily flights to Krabi from Bangkok (Don Mueang).

Air Asia has a special “Island Transfer” offering that includes a flight from Bangkok to Phuket, surface transport, and a ferry to Ko Phi Phi. It can be booked at their website.

 * Air Asia,.
 * Bangkok Airways,,.
 * Nok Air, or {{phone|+66 2 6271318.
 * Thai Airways, {{phone|+66 2 2800060}}, {{phone|+66 2 6282000}}, {{phone|+66 2 3561111}}, {{phone|+66 75 701591}}.

The international departure tax surcharge is 700 baht but is included in most ticket prices. Domestic departure tax is included in the price of the flight.

National Car Rental and Budget Car Rental have branches at the airport. Motorcycle taxis are available outside the terminal.

Krabi Limousine ({{phone|+66 75 692073}}) has a desk inside the terminal and provides "limousine taxi" (using large air-conditioned sedans) transport to Krabi for 500 baht, Phuket for 2,500 baht.

Air-conditioned airport bus service is 90 baht to Krabi. The bus service meets all incoming flights and serves most outgoing flights. A songthaew to Krabi town is 40 baht from the road near the airport. Going to the airport they will drop you right at the departure terminal.

By boat
Travelling to Ko Phi Phi by boat is how almost everyone arrives. Ferries leave from Phuket and Mainland Krabi daily (from Krabi, two ferries a day, 09:00, and 14:30, and from Phuket at 09:00, 11:00, and 14:30 (11:00 during high season only). Sailing time from Phuket or Krabi is 1.5-2 hours. Tickets can be purchased on the dock, from tourist offices, most local guesthouses and hotels or online at Phi Phi Ferry, Phi Phi Island Ferry. There is a 20-baht per person fee on the pier for "keeping Ko Phi Phi clean". There is still plenty of rubbish on the beaches.

Ticket prices:
 * From Ko Lanta: 350 baht.
 * From Krabi Town: 300 baht from PP Family, office right by the pier in town. Includes songthaew to the pier outside town. The normal passenger ferry does not leave from the centre of town any more, but from a new passenger port (Klong Jilard Pier ) about 3 km outside Krabi Town. Free taxi transfer to the pier should be included in the price of your ticket. Many times they'll take you to a travel agent near the Chao Fah Pier and sell you additional accommodations or services. Only ever buy the ticket you need. Additional ferries are added during peak season.
 * From Ao Nang: 400 baht one way (including transfer from hotel to Noppharat Peir) 0930 and 1530.
 * From Phuket Airport: To Rassada Pier (Phuket) by meter taxi for around 500 baht. It's about a 30 km drive and takes 45 minutes depending on traffic and weather.
 * From Phuket Pier (Rassada): 600 baht one-way/1,000 baht round trip when bought at the pier. It's possible to get 300-350 baht one-way tickets as part of a deal with a guesthouse stay.

Ferries are all not of equal quality. Despite reports to the contrary, Andaman Wave Master will no longer take you for free to north Ko Phi Phi after the stop at Ton Sai pier (expect another 200 baht per person). Andaman Wave Master's customer service has decreased significantly. Watch out for their Krabi representatives, who will offer to sell round-trip tickets at a discount with the option of changing the return destination to Phuket if you decide to take a different way back to the mainland. Representatives at both Ko Phi Phi and Phuket will refuse to refund or alter the tickets.

The Sea Angel ferries are quite nice with big flat screen TVs and refreshments. These are sold online as first class ferries.

The ferries run by Chao Koh group, particularly the smallest "Pichamon IV" are often overcrowded and appear to be very poorly maintained, which does not inspire confidence. The ferries run by PP Family are larger and seem more suited to the task.

The ferries run by Phi Phi Cruiser may take a little longer but they include a movie, complimentary breakfast (if taking the morning crossing) and complimentary beverage service. For an additional fee, you can purchase a "VIP ticket" which also includes snorkelling and a buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don.

Other tour vessels visit the island from several Phuket-based resorts, usually on day trips. The price for a speedboat from Rawai Beach was quoted at 15,000 baht return (or one way) for up to 6 people. There are many speedboats operating directly from the beach but it may be best to book the day before as most seem to be away on trips during the day. Speedboats can also be chartered from other nearby locations, but at a very high price.

By all-inclusive tours from Phi Phi Island
There are many speedboat tours of Phi Phi island for people staying on Phi Phi Island. Speedboats are generally small for groups of 4-12 people. They can be more flexible with the time you wish to depart and also the length of time you can take. Organised tours usually cover mask, snorkel, fins, life jacket, tour guide, Coke, water, lunch, fruit. Small speedboats from 1,600 baht per person.

Private companies providing small group tours are few:

By all-inclusive tour from Phuket
Agencies selling all-inclusive day trips from Phuket are all over Patong town, and most everywhere else on Phuket Island. Typical is a lengthier "half-day" hour tour via speedboat negotiated to 1,400 baht/person (down from the pamphlet's printed price of 3,000 baht). The tour includes 6 stops, a buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don, snorkel usage, and minibus transport to and from the Patong Beach hotel. This offering seems incredibly common, and one should be able to find similar deals sold anywhere on Phuket that tourists frequent.

Things to keep in mind:

 * The lower end priced speedboat tours (what most people book, including the above description) take approximately 30-35 passengers per 2 engine speedboat and 50-60 passengers on 3 engine speedboats.
 * The higher-end tours take up to 18 passengers on 2 engine speedboats.
 * Tour desks will tell you anything to get your money. It would be best to contact the tour company directly to check prices/services, though 99.9% of tourists go through agencies.

Private companies providing small group tours are few:

By bus
As Ko Phi Phi is an island, the bus will get you close but you'll still need to cross by boat or plane at the end. Buses from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal to Krabi take about 12 hours and depart as follows:

 * VIP bus: 07:20 (1,055 baht)
 * First class bus: 19:00 (680 baht)
 * Second class bus: 07:30, 19:00, 19:30, 21:00 (378 baht)

Shuttle buses run between Krabi airport and Phuket airport several times a day. There are also regular buses that make the 2 hour run.

There are buses to Krabi from every provincial town in the south.

By car
From Bangkok:

 * Take Hwy 4, passing Phetchaburi–Prachuap Khiri Khan–Chumphon–Ranong–Phang Nga-Krabi. The total distance is 946 km.
 * Travel Hwy 4 to Hwy 41 at Chumphon via Lang Suan-Chaiya-Surat Thani. Proceed towards Wiang Sa, change to Hwy 4035 for Baan Ao Luek, and switch back to Hwy 4 again to Krabi. This route is 814 km.
 * From Phuket: Take Hwy 402 and Hwy 4. The total distance is 176 km.

By train
The nearest train station to Krabi is in Surat Thani Province which is a 1 hour drive east of Krabi. This may be a useful connection if you intend to travel north to Chumphon, Hua Hin, or Bangkok, or south to Hat Yai or Malaysia.

Get around
Phi Phi is supposed to have no motorised transport, though there are a few motorcycles with sidecars, usually used for goods and construction material transport. Transport on land is by foot or bicycle, but in the populated areas of Ton Sai, nowhere is more than about a ten minutes walk from anywhere else. Longtail boats sail between all beaches. On Phi Phi Don, you can also walk to any beach. From Ton Sai to Long Beach, expect to pay 40 baht/person in the afternoon, at least 80 baht at night. To have a complete boat to yourself, expect to pay at least 100 baht.

Wheelbarrows are used to transport goods, including your luggage if you like. Expect free transport from the pier to your room, but not necessarily in the opposite direction.

The most common ways to get around on Ko Phi Phi are by foot and by longtail. As with most everything in an area like this, the price for longtail boats is a negotiation. Take some foam earplugs for the longtail boat rides. It's a fun ride but the engines are loud and after 45 minutes it can get to you. Negotiating for longtail boats is usually done according to where you want to go and how many hours you want the trip to last. As an example, 1,200 baht for a 6-hour outing to Ko Phi Phi Leh and Ton Sai Bay from the Holiday Inn Resort.

Phi Phi Don

This island is the largest of the 6 Phi Phi islands and consists of two main sections. It is on Ton Sai where the original inhabitants settled and is now the site of most accommodations. Phi Phi Don is quite stunning and has earned the title of one of the most fantastic islands in the world. Nowadays though, with development, the beaches have paid the price, so they're not quite as spectacular as they were in the past.

Phi Phi Leh
The second largest of the Phi Phi Islands is extremely beautiful, and near-pristine, but is uninhabited because it is a national park.

Diving
There are many dive shops on Ton Sai Bay within walking distance of each other. They can organize all diving and accommodations. Expect to pay the same everywhere. A PADI open water course is 13,800 baht, with SSI being 900 baht less. There are a few different trips offered by Phi Phi dive operators, the typical trip is a two-tank local dive in the Phi Phi Marine Park which will run about 2,500 baht, or 2,000 baht if you bring your own gear. They also do 2-3 tank trips to the King Cruiser wreck with your follow-up dives at both Shark Point and Anemone Reef. This trip usually runs between 3,200-3,900 baht depending on the number of dives you do. Further away, Hin Daeng has some of the steepest drops in Thailand (over 60 m) as well as being the place you are most likely to see manta rays and whale sharks, and can be a great dive trip, but it only runs if sea conditions are good.

Dive sites

 * Anemone Reef Between Ko Phi Phi and Phuket, a massive limestone pinnacle which soars 30 m from the seabed to just 4 m beneath the surface. The site is well known for the abundance of anemones that cling to every surface while attracting enormous schools of fish. Different types of fish to be seen include: tropicals, snappers, groupers and colorful clown fish, along with larger game-fish like tuna and barracuda as well as the occasional leopard shark.
 * Garang Heng Garang Heng is a small submerged reef just east of Phi Phi Leh. A healthy reef with anemones, soft corals, and an abundance of leopard sharks.
 * Hin Daeng and Hin Muang From Ko Phi Phi, it is possible to dive Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, world-class dive sites, for around 5,500 baht. See Diving in Thailand.
 * Hin Dot These submerged pinnacles, often called Chimney Rock, are just to the south of Phi Phi Don. The formation drops to a depth of 30 m and has several coral shelves for exploration upon your gradual ascent. Nurse sharks can occasionally be found here.
 * Hin Pae This is a relatively shallow dive site, 10–15 m deep. Its shallow depth offers excellent snorkelling. Its soft and hard coral provide shelter for a rich variety of coral fish. Crabs, lobsters, angelfish, groupers, snappers, and surgeon fish are also residents of this area.
 * King Cruiser Wreck A popular site off Ko Phi Phi and Phuket is King Cruiser, remnants of a passenger ship which sunk in 1997 after it hit the Anemone Reef.
 * Ko Bida Nai Just up from Bida Nok is Bida Nai. Like its sister island, it is a good place for diving with good chance of black tip reef sharks sighting.
 * Ko Bida Nok Besides an abundance of pretty coral, this island is home to plentiful marine life including: leopard sharks, turtles and moray eels. This island is popular with divers.
 * Shark Point (Hin Bida) Shark Point is a marine sanctuary with a reef that made up of three pinnacles, the largest of which actually breaks the surface, appearing as a barren rock outcropping. The reef is home to a delightful abundance of tropical, colourful soft corals and vibrant sea fans that decorate the limestone pinnacles.
 * Shark Point Phuket Another submerged reef very close to Anemone Reef and often dived together with Anemone Reef and King Cruiser Wreck as part of a 3 dive package from Ko Phi Phi.
 * Wang Long This site is well known for its underwater cave systems and is only recommended for experienced divers. The caves tunnel into the rock face in two places and open out into a larger cave where surfacing is possible.
 * Loh Samah Bay The bay is popular for night-time divers. It has a sandy bottom with oysters and clams and patches of brain coral for nocturnal reef critters to hide amongst. There is a spectacular 15 m deep canyon just wide enough for single file swimming on the east side.

Sailing and cruising
Krabi has plenty of anchorages, usually deserted and all so beautiful. There are many charter sailing boats available and some even offer "join-in" day trips for two or more people. Phi Phi offers a variety of ways for sailing and cruising. Longtails can be hired for sunset tours and island excursions. They can be found on any beach.

Snorkelling
There are two rocks within swimming distance of Long Beach known as "Shark Point" where harmless blacktip reef sharks can be seen. Many dive schools take snorkellers on their dive boats, but expect to see only a hint of the underwater marvels visible to scuba divers. The snorkelling off Bamboo and Mosquito Islands is quite good although the reefs are a long way below you at high tide. If you arrive on Bamboo Island in a longtail boat you will be asked to pay 200 baht/person to stay on the beach, or 400 baht/person to stay on the beach and further afield. Always ask for the ticket. With it, you do not have to pay 400 baht/person, just the 200 baht/person.

Buy
Most stuff is brought in by boat, so most things are less original and more expensive than on the mainland. However, there are a few shops that manufacture their goods on the island. Prices for commodities vary widely between shops.

Most of the items sold here are either made by local fishermen or they are brought to the island from Phuket town. Rising commercialization and inflow of tourists throughout the year seems to be a big bonus for these locals. Remember to haggle.

Eat
In general, Southern Thai food is known for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (khanom jeen) and chicken with yellow rice.

Drink
Ton Sai Bay has a variety of nightlife, something for everyone’s taste. Jazz, blues, and classics can be found at the leading hotels. Or, if it's romance you're after, you and your loved one can relax in one of the outside hotel bars and sip a cocktail under the stars. Regulations on the island force all bars and clubs to close at 01:00. Local bars owners are petitioning to extend the closing time until 02:00. Until then, there is a silent disco on Loh Dalum Bay from 01:00 until 04:00 each morning.

Sleep
Accommodation is relatively expensive. Doubles range from 400 baht up into the thousands the closer you get to the beach. If you are on a budget expect to work hard to find a decent price. If you get really desperate, a couple of places rent out tents for about 200–300 baht. Prices double during the high season of Oct/Nov-May. Other times of the year you can find relatively cheap accommodation for around 200-300 baht.

To have the best choice for accommodation, arrive on Phi Phi just before the full moon party, when most people will be on Ko Pha Ngan. Since a lot of people move from Ko Pha Ngan to Ko Phi Phi after the party, accommodation may be very hard to find on Phi Phi around this time. It is not uncommon to see people arrive on the morning ferry only to leave in the afternoon because they have been unsuccessful in finding accommodation.

Backpackers need only to look further east on the main street for relatively cheap accommodation. Certain guesthouses have dorms, and some have reputations for being good sources of camaraderie and parties. Compare. All the dorms are different.

Stay healthy
Ko Phi Phi has a couple of pharmacies and a hospital. For serious illnesses, go back to Krabi or even better, Phuket.

Go next

 * Ao Nang
 * Krabi Town
 * Phuket
 * Rai Leh

title: Ko Phi Phi


text:
Ko Por

Ko Por is an island in Krabi Province.

Understand
Ko Por is a tiny island of about 1.6 sq km, in front of the Ko Lanta Yai Old Pier. The majority of the 500 residents of the island are Muslims who support themselves through agriculture and fishing. It has a primary school, a mosque, and a nursery. There are about three beaches and the biggest one is on the southwest of the island, near the pier.

Get in

 * From Ko Lanta Yai, in the Old District Pier, you can find a longtail taxi boat. It takes about 10 minutes to reach Ko Por.

Get around
You can easily walk around the island.

See
Ko Por is a good place for people looking for different travel experience. You can discover the local flora, fauna and Thai rural culture.

Do
In Ko Por there is enough to do for 3-4 days but not for a long stay. Some villagers can show you how to cut a rubber tree, take you fishing, or for a trip on a longtail boat. Hiking on the island is also very nice. It's also fun to be on the beach in the evening, when there may be hundreds of little crabs scurrying out of the water and across the sand.

Buy
There are no shops on the island, so if you need something, get it on Ko Lanta.

Eat
Local food, composed mostly of seafood and local fruit.

Sleep
There are some home stays where you can live with a Thai family. Ask the villagers to know more.

Go next
The home stay or guest house can arrange for you to go back at Ko Lanta Yai.

Respect
To respect the Muslims on the island, who might consider it inappropriate for a woman to be seen wearing a bathing suit, it may be best to swim on the beach in the northwest of the island, because a Buddhist family lives there. It would also be respectful to refrain from drinking alcohol among Muslims.

title: Ko Por


text:
North Holland Peninsula

The North Holland Peninsula is a region within the province of North Holland in the Netherlands.

Cities

 * — the cheese market and picturesque historic centre
 * - a typical West Frisian rural community, on the dike
 * — artist village at the beach and the Schoorlse Duinen
 * — the Museum Broeker Veiling is notably interesting
 * — has a nice beach, the lake of Alkmaar-Uitgeest and the dunes
 * — home to the country's main naval base and the ferry to Texel
 * — historic town with the Zuiderzeemuseum, a large open-air museum about the Netherlands in the period 1850-1950
 * — built around a white church, this town expanded rapidly due to an influx of inhabitants from Amsterdam
 * — stunning historic centre with a cozy atmosphere
 * — small village that has a rich history with many old buildings, castles and monuments
 * — historic town centre and the Schager Wiel nature area

Definition
The northern Dutch Peninsula can be divided in three regions. The most urbanized region is Groot Alkmaar(Greater Alkmaar) with about 308,000 inhabitants. It is a weakly defined region with no definitive name and it overlaps with other regions. Some proposed names for this region include West-Friesland-West and North-Kennemerland, although only a small part of the region actually forms a part of West-Friesland and it has no connection with the historical county of Kennemerland.

West-Friesland is a culturally distinct area encircled by the Westfriese Omringdijk (West Frisian ring dyke). The West Frisian dialect belongs to the Hollandic dialect group of the Dutch language, but it is related to the West Frisian language as spoken in the province of Friesland. North of it is the "Kop van Noord-Holland" (the head of North Holland), a sparse region outside of the ring dyke where West Frisian is also spoken. The island of Texel is culturally a part of this region, but geographically an island in the Wadden Sea.

Talk
The Hollandic Dutch dialect of West Frisian is spoken in West Friesland and the head of North-Holland. This is not to be confused with the language of West Frisian as spoken in the province of Friesland, even though both languages are related to each other.

Get in
NS railways are usually your best bet of getting to various towns from major cities south. Trains usually run every 30 minutes to and from most major cities and some major towns.

Get around
Overal operates some local bus routes in the area.

Go next

 * Friesland
 * Lelystad
 * Texel

title: North Holland Peninsula


text:
Ko Racha

Ko Racha Yai (เกาะราชาใหญ่) and Ko Racha Noi (เกาะราชาน้อย), also known as Ko Raya Yai and Ko Raya Noi, are twin islands off the south coast of Ko Phuket. Racha Yai lies about 8 km due south of the Laem Prom Thep. Racha Noi is about 5 km SSW of Racha Yai. Known for their crystal clear blue waters these islands have been an almost exclusive paradise for divers for years. With Racha Yai's white sand beaches and expanding accommodations, Racha Yai is growing in popularity.

Get in
Ko Racha Yai with its gleaming beaches can be reached by chartered boat from Ao Chalong and Rawai. Travelling time varies by type of boat:
 * Speedboats make the journey in about 20-25 minutes.
 * Dive boats, fishing boats, and large boats travel time is about 1 1/2 - 3 hours depending on the season (longer in the Summer Season).
 * Longtail boats can be chartered when the winds and waves are mild. Travel time in a longtail is over 2 hours in calm seas. Caution should be taken when chartering a longtail - if the weather turns you may become stranded overnight on the island or the boat may capsize.

Sightseeing and snorkelling services are available from tour operators in town. Accommodation is available. A hilltop viewpoint on the bay's south offers a magnificent view of the whole island.

Ko Racha Noi, 10 km from Raya Yai, is the result of coral reef build up, and there are more rocks than beaches. In a small bay on the west is a boat anchorage. The waters at Raya Noi are emerald green, and the fishing there is famous, but swimming is not recommended.

Racha Yai is a travel and tour option year round. When the seas and winds are too strong, boats will cancel their trips for safety reasons. During the summer season this only occurs a few times.

Get around
Once at Racha Yai your feet become your carriage. The island has a small network of dirt paths that link all of the beaches and resorts. You can easily walk from Bungalow Bay to Siam Beach and back again. It takes about 10-12 min to walk to the beaches on the other side of the island. Longtail boats are sometimes available for rent to visit other beaches if you are not inclined to walk. Motorbikes can be rented also, but distances are short.

See
Looking back towards Phuket from Siam Beach is one of the best things to do. Most visitors to Racha Yai come to escape the noise and distractions of Phuket and Coral Island.

Walking around some of the island's pathways you will be treated to views of wonderful coconut groves and the occasional water buffalo grazing nearby.

Relaxing
Racha Yai is one of the nicest islands to simply get away from everything and relax. Less boats and tourists visit this island and Jet Skis & Para sailing are officially banned.

The beaches are white powdery sand with plenty of space to spread out. The sun lounge chairs for rent are spaced a good distance apart from each other and there is only one row unlike the crowded beaches of Phuket and Coral Island where the chairs are sometimes 5-6 deep.

Chairs are also available at Lah Bay on the other side of the island, with a restaurant only a few metres from the water.

Scuba diving
Racha Yai is Phuket's best-known scuba diving site, with its sloping rocky reefs and its many solid coral forests. There is also Ter Bay where there is an exciting wreck at the depth of 25-35 m. The area south Racha Yai, Racha Noi, is a haven for experienced divers as the depths are greater and the currents stronger. The overall topography is strikingly different from Racha Yai with huge granite boulders. The diving in Racha Noi compared to Racha Yai is definitely more challenging, but the rewards are greater.

Snorkelling & SCUBA diving
The snorkelling here is fantastic and you won't have to share the islands with too many other tourists. The layout of Racha Yai offers places to snorkel no matter what time of year it is. Even on days when there are large waves, there will be a protected cove to snorkel in.

Water clarity and visibility is some of the best in Phuket. The water has a turquoise colour and a lot of marine life. The depths range from a few meters to deeper. Most snorkelling is done from speedboats or from the shore in Batok Bay and Raya Bay. Walk across the island to less crowded Lah Bay, or to Kon Kare Bay.

Swimming
The waters around Racha Yai and Noi are crystal clear and turquoise, the water is warm and inviting. Bungalow Bay has an area sectioned off for swimming. Use caution when swimming outside of designated swimming areas off shore as there are a number of dive boats and speedboats that come in and out of the bays. Currents inside the sheltered bays are usually not and issue, but use caution when swimming out further from shore. Ask a dive operator or instructor for advice on the current conditions.

Buy
There isn't much to purchase on Racha Yai. There is a little shop on the side of Bungalow Bay that has miscellaneous sundries. If your child has forgotten their swimsuit they even have swimsuits for sale.

There is a small village in the centre of the island, with a couple of restaurants, and the nearby Father Resort has a general store. This village also has a Dive Centre - prices are cheaper here.

Ban Raya and The Racha Resort have small mini-marts for juices, water and snacks.

Eat

 * For a high-end dining experience, the Racha Resort offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
 * Ban Raya has a very nice upscale restaurant set on a small hill surrounded by coconut palms and a view of the Andaman Sea.
 * Siam Beach has several small bungalow-style restaurants that offer Thai food and drinks right on the beach.
 * Village in centre of island (6-8 minutes walk) has two restaurants.
 * Father Resort in centre of island has a restaurant, and at night a roadside cart.

Drink

 * Several small bungalows on Siam Beach offer cold beverages and beach chairs.

Sleep
Only Ko Racha Yai offers accommodation.

Connect
Mobile phones work on Racha Yai. Internet is available at Ban Raya and the Racha Resort.

title: Ko Racha


text:
Koraput

Koraput is a city in the state of Odisha (formerly Orissa), near the borders of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states. It has enchanting hills, verdant forests, winding streams, exotic wildlife and a rich tribal way of life.

Understand
It is the commercial nerve centre of the region. The aircraft engine plant of Hindustan Aeronatics Limited (HAL) is at Sunabeda about 20 km from Koraput. National Aluminium Corporation (Nalco) operates at Damanjodi nearby.

By plane
There are three airports in the area - one at Visakhapatnam which is 5 hours by road, the second one is Raipur which is 7 hour to Koraput. The third one is Jeypore airstrip, which has some air connections with Bhubaneswar (IndiaOne Air).

By train
Koraput is connected to Vishakapatnam by a day train and Bhubaneswar by a night train. The Hirakand Express (train number 18447) leaves from Bhubaneswar at night (7:35PM), and reaches Koraput, the next morning (9:15AM). Most of the people get down at Vizianagaram at around 2AM (tell the TTE to wake you up) and catch share taxis for Koraput, Sunabeda or Jeypore - it takes around 3 hours and costs ₹350-400 per person. A passenger train (Visakhapatnam-Kirandaul Passenger, Train Number 1VK) leaves from Vishakapatnam in the morning (6:50AM), and reaches Koraput by evening (1:20PM). The journey through the scenic Araku Valley is breathtaking and attracts many tourists.

Samleshwri Express has two sleeper, one AC three tire and some general coaches for Koraput. It leaves Howrah at 9:35PM daily and takes almost 24 hours to reach Koraput via Rourkela, Sambalpur and Rayagada. From Kolkata you can take the Howrah-Koraput express. Another way is to take a train on the Howrah-Chennai route, get down at Vizianagaram (50 km before Visakhapatnam from Kolkata side) and catch share taxis to Koraput which takes 3 hours and costs ₹350-400 per person.

By road
Koraput on the hills can be reached from most places in either Odisha or Andhra Pradesh by travelling up a heavily forested winding road (also called a ghat road), with many sharp hair-pin bends. The road trip from either state is quite scenic. It is the most travelled and well maintained. If travelling in the early morning or late evening, you definitely will spot wildlife feeding along the road, or even spot the odd carnivore. There are forests of sandalwood trees all the way.

There are 2 ways to get to Koraput from Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram:

 * 1) The route from Visakhapatnam traverses along Pendurthi, Kottavalsa, Srugaravarapu Kota (S.Kota), Araku, Araku Valley and Koraput. This route is a bit long and is well paved till at least the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border. As Araku Valley is a hill station and major tourist attraction in the northern parts of Andhra Pradesh one can get decent accommodation in one of the 3 Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department operated resorts or private hotels at Araku Valley. And from there one can travel to Koraput after a refreshing night in the laps of nature. The road from S.Kota to Araku Valley is a ghat section or a winding mountain road which has 9 hair pin binds on route 1.
 * 2) The other route to Koraput from Visakhapatnam goes via Vizianagaram, Gajapathinagaram, Rambhdhrapuram, Salur, Pottangi, Simliguda, Sunabeda (HAL) and Koraput. From Vizianagaram the trip to Koraput is around 150 km and the journey time is usually 4-6 hr depending on the road conditions, traffic conditions and the weather. The road till the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha border is well maintained on the Andhra Pradesh side.

The journey to Koraput is scenic and as mentioned above and one will definitely see wolves, foxes, and if one is lucky enough hyenas and bears on the roads. Coming to the scenic part, it is a very scenic to watch but really dangerous for the inexperienced driver who never drove earlier on winding ghat roads (mountain roads), especially trying to avoid ditches, potholes and all other obstacles

Get around
There is a Government of Odisha Tourist Office at Koraput Club, Telephone: +91 6852-250318.

Eat

 * Raj Residency (see "Sleep" below) serves good food.

Drink
Please drink bottled mineral water. It is also available locally.

Mid-range
Koraput

Budget
Damanjodi

Gupteswar

Koraput

Semiliguda

Sunabeda

Nearby

Go next

 * Araku Valley
 * Bhubaneswar
 * Brahmapur
 * Jeypore
 * Sambalpur
 * Visakhapatnam

title: Koraput


text:
Koravangala

Koravangala in Karnataka has the Buchishwara temple built by Hoyasalas. The temple is in good condition.

Get in
Bangalore to Hasan from there 12 km on Arisikere road.

See
Suitable for a day trip. There are two temples Buchishwara temple built by the Hoysalas which is in good condition and other one built by the Cholas in ruins.

Do
Pl go there by your own vehicle and you can visit Mosale also which is about 20 KM from this place where Nageshwara and Soumyakeshava temples are situated.

Drink
Nearest place to find food is Hasan

Sleep
Nearest place to find lodging would be Hasan.

title: Koravangala


text:
Korba

Korba is a city in Chhattisgarh. Korba is the power capital of Chhattisgarh. The district comes under Bilaspur division and is inhabited mainly by tribals including the protected tribe Korwas (Pahadi Korwa). Korba is blessed with lush green forest cover, where a sizable number of tribal population is found. The Adivaisis in the forest areas live in harmony with the environment and have retained their distinctive cultural characteristics and traditional observances.

By car
Korba is well connected with Bilaspur and Champa. Bilaspur at a distance of 150 km and Champa at 40 km. Bus service at regular interval operate throughout the day.

By train
Korba is at a distance of 40 km from Champa juntion on Mumbai Howrah line. Besides direct train to Raipur, Nagpur, Vishakapatnam, weekly trains to Bangalore and Trivandrum make the city easily accessible by rail.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Raipur, which is 200 km from Korba.

title: Korba


text:
Korčula

Korčula (pronounced 'KOR-chu-la') is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in Southern Dalmatia, near Dubrovnik. According to some sources, Marco Polo may have been born here.

Understand
Korčula is also the name of the eastern-most town on the island. Another town is Vela Luka, 43 km in the west, from where many ferries go. There are many small villages, including Blato, Smokvica, Čara, Pupnat, Žrnovo, Lumbarda and Račišće all worth visiting if you have more time to spend.

Korčula is the most populated island in the Adriatic. It has very good facilities for cycling with lots of small tracks with spectacular view. Cycling on Korčula is developing fast since the island has a very mild winter therefore all seasons are ideal for cycling.

Talk
Croatian is the local language, but English is spoken at most restaurants, internet cafes, tourist information centers and travel agencies. Italian is also widely understood, especially among the elderly. Some people also speak German.

By car

 * From Dubrovnik: Follow the coastal road (E65/D8) in direction Split. Then you drive on the peninsula Pelješac until Orebić. In Orebić you either take the ferry to Dominče (3 km east of Korčula town) or leave your car and take a passenger-only ferry to Korčula itself. The ferry goes every hour, except in the night between 00:00-04:00.
 * From Split: Follow the coastal road (E65/D8) in direction Dubrovnik about 100 km. In Drvenik you take the ferry to Korčula (it goes at 08:30 and at 17:30 costs: per person /car, /motorcycle, /camping-bus ). The camp is situated 500 m from there. Alternatively you can take the A1 to Ploče, the D8 to Mali Ston and then cross Pelješac to Orebić.

By ferry
Passenger ferry, which leaves you directly at Korčula old town. , 20 minutes, roughly hourly departures.
 * from Split: Take the Jadrolinija ferry to Vela Luka ( per person; this ferry also takes cars), then take a bus to Korčula Town. Alternatively, take the Jadrolinija catamaran directly to Korčula town (one daily service leaving Split at 17:00 and arriving in Korčula Town at 20:00, per person).
 * from Dubrovnik: Take the Marko Polo (Jadrolinja) ferry to Korčula.
 * from Dubrovnik: Libertas bus to Orebić (14:15 every day except Sunday) then passenger ferry from Orebić to Korčula.
 * from Rijeka: 10 hours, overnight (Marko Polo ferry),
 * from Bari, Italy: 12 hours, (Marko Polo ferry)
 * from Hvar:Take the Jadrolinija catamaran to Korčula town (one daily service leaving Hvar at 18:45 and arriving in Korčula Town at 20:00, per person, tickets available at the 'Pelegrini' travel agency in Hvar next to the pier).  (As of June 5, 2019, there are four services daily between Hvar and Korčula, each direction.)
 * from Orebić:Take the car ferry, which also takes foot passengers, and leaves you at port Dominče, approximately 3-4 km from Korčula old town - this is more suited to motorists/cyclists.

By water taxi
If arriving on Orebić you can get yourself a ride on one of the water taxis, or order a speed taxi boat that will get you across the canal in under 7 minutes (Water express - water taxi service) 098 757043

By bus

 * From Zagreb: There is a direct bus to Korčula, which takes 10 hours.
 * From Dubrovnik: There is a daily coach which takes around 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a minibus which takes around 2 hours ( per person) and picks you up directly from where you are staying in Dubrovnik. The minibus can take you from Dubrovnik Airport to Korčula for per person. Korkyra can arrange a private transfer between Dubrovnik and Korčula if you prefer at  (per vehicle) and can organise a stop en route on the Pelješac peninsula at a winery in Potomje, a seafood restaurant or Ston, the site of the second longest wall in the world after the Great Wall of China.
 * From Belgrade: There is a direct service all the way from the capital of Serbia, normally three times a week, during the summer season (late June–early September).
 * From Sarajevo: The Bosnian capital also has buses to Korčula.

Get around
Korčula town is small enough to walk everywhere. The layout of the town is quite simple, with a single avenue as the spine bisecting the old town, and smaller roads branching from this central avenue toward the sea. A pedestrian avenue circles the old town as well.

It is possible to travel between towns on the island by bus, car or taxi, and some taxi drivers will give guided tours of the island.

There are a couple internal bus routes connecting Korčula town to other towns on Korčula island. The Korčula town bus station is at the southeast corner of the Old Town.
 * to Zrnovo, Pupnat, Blato and Vela Luka — Buses depart Korčula town bus station between 06:45 to 20:00: M–Sa 6—8 times daily (depending on season), just 3 times on Sunday. Check schedule for date-specific schedule. Takes 1 hour and costs to cross the entire island to Vela Luka.
 * to Lombarda or Car Ferry Terminal,  (approximately hourly from 07:00–18:45 M–Sa, just 4 times from 10:00–18:45 on Sunday. Check schedule for date-specific schedule.  Takes 15 minutes.

Bike and scooter rentals are available in the old town. If you intend to ride between towns, ask for route recommendations: they may recommend lesser-known Napoleonic roads and other trails that are both easier and safer for bikers than the main trans-island highway.

If visiting coastal villages it's best done with a water-taxi since Korčula has a big archipelago with many small islands well worth seeing (Water-express water taxi service 098 757043).

Korčula Old Town
Korčula's Old Town is small and can be seen pretty thoroughly in a few hours.

Beaches & nature
If you are the relaxed traveller looking for a quiet getaway, it's possible to soak up the sun on some of Croatia's most beautiful beaches. Some of the beaches on the island are quite liberal, with fully nude sunbathers.

Most of Croatia's beaches are quite rocky, so it is imperative to wear the correct footwear. If you plan to swim, wear shoes or swim fins in the water—there are many sea urchins!

The beaches on Korčula offer gorgeous views of the karstic coastal ranges. One can also see the nearby coastal village of Orebić.

There are two sandy beaches on Korčula, just to the east of the village of Lumbarda, one on the north coast and one on the south coast at the narrowest point on the island.

 * Rent a kayak (there's a booth at the beach on the west side of old town)
 * Rent or buy a snorkel, mask, and swim fins and go snorkeling around the island. Or, rent the kayak and snorkel set and go paddle to some of the islands around Korčula and snorkel there! Recommended is the southeast coast of —there is a nice small beach for your kayak and some lovely snorkeling.
 * Local shops offer bike rentals (/day) if you choose to ride around the island.

Culture

 * There are two nightclubs.

Eat
There are plenty of restaurants on the island, ranging from traditional Adriatic fare to Italian influences.

Don't leave Korčula without trying local dishes such as brodet (fish stew), pašticada (Dalmatian stewed beef), žrnovski makaruni (beef with thin, long pieces of pasta) and pogačice (baked scones). In addition, peka is a delicious Dalmatian dish of meat and vegetables slow-cooked in the fireplace; you can find it at local restaurants, but you usually must call in the order a day in advance since it takes a long time to prepare.

Local desserts include klašun (shortbread pastry filled with chopped nuts), cukarin (cookies), and prikle (deep-fried dough, popular throughout southern Dalmatia).

Korčula Old Town
The East side of town has a row of restaurants right by the sea and offering gorgeous views.
 * Konoba Marinero, Korčula Old Town
 * Konoba Mareta, Korčula Old Town
 * Restaurant Kanavelić, Korčula Old Town - Sveta Barbara 12, tel: (020) 711800, 711078
 * Restaurant Kanavelić, Korčula Old Town - Sveta Barbara 12, tel: (020) 711800, 711078

Rest of Korčula island

 * Restaurant Fresh - Kod Kina Liburna
 * Restaurant Grubinjac - Grubinjac, Zrnovo, Island of Korčula
 * Konoba Malta - Sveti Antun
 * Restoran Planjak, Korčula - Plokata 19. travnja 1921 tel: (020) 711015, 711202
 * Marco Polo Mistique, Restaurant and Cafe, Nova Riva
 * Buffet Tramonto, Korčula - Ismaelli 12, tel : 098 1921048
 * Konoba Mate, Pupnat. Friendly family service, outdoor tables and local ingredients for local fares.
 * Buffet Tramonto, Korčula - Ismaelli 12, tel : 098 1921048
 * Konoba Mate, Pupnat. Friendly family service, outdoor tables and local ingredients for local fares.

Drink
Korčula is best known for its two dry white wines, grk and pošip, which are not grown anywhere else in the world:

 * Pošip is a light-bodied dry white wine from Smokvica and Čara in the middle of the island.
 * Grk is only grown and made around Lumbarda (a village 7 km from Korčula Town). You won't find it in stores; nicer restaurants will have it. Otherwise, your best bet is to follow signs for any of the "Grk" vineyards on the main road on either side of Lumbarda. Pride in this local grape is so intense that all the winemakers here produce quality wine. It's worth the hunt!

Because the grk vine has only female flowers, the plavac mali grape (literally, "little blue") is usually planted nearby to pollinate nearby grk. Although the adjacent Pelješac Peninsula is more famous for plavac mali, Korčula vineyards produce good plavac mali red wines too.

Sleep

 * Hostel Dragan's Den is located 10–15 minutes from Korčula town centre and a short walk away from sandy beaches. The hotel is well-suited for a couple or a larger group. Equipped with en-suite bathrooms and kitchens. There is free Internet access as well and a swimming pool. The owner, Dragan, offers frequent free lifts in his minibus if you want to travel to Korčula town, cliff jumping, or the beach.
 * Maria's Place is right in the center of town, steps from the cathedral. It has three double rooms with ensuite bathrooms, wifi, and a refrigerator. It is a good, nice, clean, quiet place for the budget traveler. Rooms from /person/night, depending on the season.
 * Hostel Dragan's Den is located 10–15 minutes from Korčula town centre and a short walk away from sandy beaches. The hotel is well-suited for a couple or a larger group. Equipped with en-suite bathrooms and kitchens. There is free Internet access as well and a swimming pool. The owner, Dragan, offers frequent free lifts in his minibus if you want to travel to Korčula town, cliff jumping, or the beach.
 * Maria's Place is right in the center of town, steps from the cathedral. It has three double rooms with ensuite bathrooms, wifi, and a refrigerator. It is a good, nice, clean, quiet place for the budget traveler. Rooms from /person/night, depending on the season.

Stay safe
Be very cautious about renting boats if you would like to spend time travelling between the small islands around the coast. Some of these boats are not well maintained and if you have little experience, you could easily suffer an engine failure. In this case you will need to be rescued by the company and this may take a long time, wasting your time and potentially putting you in danger as you drift! At least one of these companies (Korkyra Info) will not refund you fully in the case that this happens, despite the fact that this is a relatively common occurrence.

Go next

 * Mljet (pronounced 'mil-yet') is one of nine Croatian National Parks. It is the greenest island in the Adriatic, with two salt lakes and a small island with a monastery on the big lake. A perfect getaway to get in touch with nature, Mljet is a must see if you visit the Dubrovnik county. Day trip excursions to Mljet from Korčula are organised by many travel agencies.
 * Orebić (pronounced 'O-re-bich') is a 20-minute ferry ride away. The ferry Harbour is a few kilometers east of town towards Lumbarda. Orebic is a picturesque coastal village with lovely beaches and fantastic views of the Adriatic. Ferries depart Korčula Town multiple times per day, depending on season. In Orebić, you can sample local crafts and Adriatic cuisine.  The restaurants offer a seafront atmosphere and the best octopus salad you ever tasted!
 * Split- at least two connections daily at 1 and 6:30pm (3hrs, ). You can buy your tickets in advance from 5 to 7pm at the little booth on the western port.

title: Korčula


text:
Korçë

Korçë (Korça) is the principal city and an important cultural and industrial centre in the district of Korçë in Southeastern Albania.

Understand
175 km from Tirana and approximately 40 km from Pogradec, Korça is the eighth most populated city in Albania. It is located in the south-eastern Albania and it stands 850 m above the sea level. It is full of life during the summer when you can find couples and families strolling through the city's main park, Parku Rinia. Besides strolling around the great city full of history and cultural sites, you can also hike to the top of the beautiful mountain Morava and view the city and its surrounding landscape.

By train
An interesting, though slow, way to get to Korça from Tirana is to take the train. The train leaves at 06:00 from Tiranë. Because the train makes a big detour via Durrës, it arrives no less than four hours later at Elbasan, about 35 km from Tiranë, so it should be possible to make a shortcut. The price is very favourable (295 lek). The second-hand German carriages are OK, though for some unclear reason all windows are damaged, apparently by bullets. The scenery is beautiful, and until October it is possible to have the window wide open.

By bus
Vans (furgons) to Tiranë depart every 20-30 min from the fork of the main road on the north.

Furgons to Voskopojë depart at 07:30, 10:00, 13:00, 15:00 from the fire station.

Buses going to Sarandë depart early in the morning from the, across from bazaar.

From Korçë to Pogradec, it is a short trip by furgon. There is also a bus connection with Berat.

By car
The easiest way to arrive to Korça is by car. If you depart from Tirana, you can choose between 2 different ways, the old road and the new one, from the Elbasan Highway.

Get around
Korçë is surrounded by mountains and nearby natural parks.

You can go by furgons around. But the easiest way is by car.

Urban buses are available but the city is walkable and renting a bicycle is also possible and you can go throughout the city and see lots of places.

Even though there are a lot of possibilities to visit the city and the places nearby, most preferable is strolling around the city by foot. This way you can visit a lot of churches, historical and cultural places that are close to each-other. You can use car and buses to go in different parks and villages that are close to the city of Korça (Voskopoja 21 km from Korça, Dardhë 18 km from Korça and Morava Mountain 18 km from the city.)

See
In the city:

 * Mosque
 * Archaeological Museum of Korça 01.jpg library and Art Gallery
 * Mosque
 * Archaeological Museum of Korça 01.jpg library and Art Gallery
 * Mosque
 * Archaeological Museum of Korça 01.jpg library and Art Gallery
 * Mosque
 * Archaeological Museum of Korça 01.jpg library and Art Gallery
 * Mosque
 * Archaeological Museum of Korça 01.jpg library and Art Gallery
 * Mosque
 * Archaeological Museum of Korça 01.jpg library and Art Gallery

Nearby the city:

 * Pustec is home to Prespa National Park and multiple medieval cave churches.
 * Small Prespa lake and Trenit cave
 * Pogradec
 * Voskopoja (Moscopole) - village remnants of a 17th city of large cultural importance in Albania
 * Historic and alpine villages of Dardhë, Boboshticë, and Vithkuq.

Do

 * Football: KF Skënderbeu play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the top tier. Their Stadiumi Skënderbeu (capacity 12,300) is 1 km north of town centre.
 * Visit GADK - The Gallery of Dixhital Art an Immersive experience
 * Take part in the Byrek Day (Festa e Lakrorit) showcasing local delicacies
 * Go for a walk in the evening as part of the traditional Xhiro (walkabout)
 * Go for a hike in the Morava Mountains
 * Visit the.
 * Celebrate Earth Day Festival in Dardha village.
 * Attend the carneval (Karnavalet e Korçës) in June
 * Beer Fest, week-long event in early August with many concerts and visitors from across Albania and beyond

Buy
The famous has been renovated. You can find souvenirs shops there, along with fruits and vegetables market every day (until 13:00).

You can also have a walk on the pedestrian street or on the main street (Republic boulevard).

Eat

 * Try Lakror, a type of byrek with spinach, onions and tomatoes or lakror with pumpkin.

Kërnacka, are some types of Albanian croquettes made with different types of meat. If you visit Korça, you should definitely try them out with a bottle of beer.

Drink

 * Raki from mulberry fruit.
 * Birra Korça local beer.

Sleep

 * Hotel Roberto Rruga Teli Samsuri (1.9 km from the center)
 * Hotel Bujtina e Bardhe (Hotel White Inn) Rruga Spiro Ballkameni, Mbrapa Katedrales. (350m from the center). Free parking available at the hotel. Hotel Bujtina e Bardhe in Korçë features a bar and a shared lounge. The air-conditioned rooms provide a mountain view and come with a wardrobe and free WiFi.
 * Hotel Roberto Rruga Teli Samsuri (1.9 km from the center)
 * Hotel Bujtina e Bardhe (Hotel White Inn) Rruga Spiro Ballkameni, Mbrapa Katedrales. (350m from the center). Free parking available at the hotel. Hotel Bujtina e Bardhe in Korçë features a bar and a shared lounge. The air-conditioned rooms provide a mountain view and come with a wardrobe and free WiFi.
 * Hotel Bujtina e Bardhe (Hotel White Inn) Rruga Spiro Ballkameni, Mbrapa Katedrales. (350m from the center). Free parking available at the hotel. Hotel Bujtina e Bardhe in Korçë features a bar and a shared lounge. The air-conditioned rooms provide a mountain view and come with a wardrobe and free WiFi.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * Dardha - this mountainous village lies 20 km from Korça at an altitude of 1,344m ASL. Dardha is a village located in southeastern Albania, nestled in the picturesque region of the Korca County. It is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, especially during the winter months when it becomes a popular destination for skiing and other winter sports enthusiasts. The village offers a serene and charming atmosphere,with traditional stone houses,cobblestone streets,and breathtaking mountain scenery. Dardha is also known for its delicious local cuisine and warm hospitality, making it a favorite destination for both domestic and international tourists seeking a tranquil retreat in the Albanian countryside. Dardha is a popular tourist destination throughout the year.
 * Historic and alpine villages of Dardhe, Moscopole (Voskopoje in Albanian), Boboshtice, and Vithkuq
 * Pogradec - overshadowed by its glitzy neighbours on the Macedonian side of the lake, the town of Pogradec has experienced a revival.
 * Pustec is home to Prespa National Park and multiple medieval cave churches.
 * Kastoria, Greece
 * Kozani, Greece
 * Ohrid, Makedonia
 * Ohrid, Makedonia

title: Korçë