Koh Pha Ngan

  • Hot NewsRussian man arrested in Koh Pha Ngan for overstaying visa 993 days

    Russian man arrested in Koh Pha Ngan for overstaying visa 993 days

    An unidentified Russian man has reportedly been arrested on the island of Koh Pha Ngan for overstaying his visa by 993 days or over 2.5 years. According to TPN National, the 34 year old man was arrested and taken to the Koh Pha Ngan Police Station to face charges of overstaying and will be deported. The arrest followed the Surat…

  • Thailand NewsBurmese man stabs 4 Thais after being rejected by woman in Koh Pha Ngan

    Burmese man stabs 4 Thais after being rejected by woman in Koh Pha Ngan

    A Burmese man in Koh Pha Ngan was arrested yesterday evening after he used scissors to stab a Thai woman who rejected him and three of her friends. The Burmese man, 31 year old Aung Htwe Naing, stabbed 29 year old Sukanya in a laundry shop in Koh Pha Ngan, where they worked at 2.30pm on Saturday, March 11. Aung…

  • Crime NewsThai officials arrest overstaying French woman in Koh Pha Ngan

    Thai officials arrest overstaying French woman in Koh Pha Ngan

    Thai officials arrested an overstaying French woman in Koh Pha Ngan this week. Sura Thani Immigration officers said in a Facebook post that they arrested the woman on Monday in front of the Bounty Resort on 85/1 Moo 8. The woman, 36 year old Myriam Naima Bakhoury, overstayed her visa by six days, the officers said. She was taken to…

  • Visa InformationRussian arrested for 188-day overstay on Koh Pha Ngan

    Russian arrested for 188-day overstay on Koh Pha Ngan

    A Russian national has been arrested at Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani for overstaying his visa by a staggering 188 days. Surat Thani Immigration officers confirmed the arrest of 50 year old Leonid Toisloi. The Russian man was apprehended in front of a convenience store in the northern town of Chalok Lam earlier this week. The authorities have taken…

  • Thailand News‘Rave for Maddi’ raises £5000 for British woman after balcony fall in Thailand

    ‘Rave for Maddi’ raises £5000 for British woman after balcony fall in Thailand

    A charity fundraising event entitled ‘Rave for Maddi’ held in Coventry, England, raised 200,000 baht (£5000) to help the recovery of the young British woman who fell from a second-floor balcony in Koh Pha Ngan in southern Thailand on New Year’s Eve. A GoFundMe appeal raised over 3 million baht (£73,500) from over 1,400 donors to pay for 21 year old…

  • Thailand News‘Buy insurance’ urges English tourist who crashed moped through window in Thailand | Thaiger

    ‘Buy insurance’ urges English tourist who crashed moped through window in Thailand

    A young Englishwoman urges tourists to take out travel insurance after crashing a moped through a glass window in Koh Pha Ngan in southern Thailand. Emma Lewis, a 24 year old student from Basingstoke in Hampshire, was en route to go snorkelling on the island paradise when she lost control and crashed into a house window. The glass shattered around her…

  • Thailand NewsBody of German tourist who jumped from Koh Pha Ngan ferry found near Koh Tao

    Body of German tourist who jumped from Koh Pha Ngan ferry found near Koh Tao

    A body found floating in the sea near Koh Tao is believed to be the missing German tourist who jumped off a ferry shortly after it departed from Koh Pha Ngan in southern Thailand one week ago. At 4pm yesterday, the Kusol Sattha Rescue Foundation was informed that a tourist boat came across the body of a male tourist floating…

  • Tourism NewsBiggest crowd yet for Full Moon Party

    Biggest crowd yet for Full Moon Party

    Full Moon Party has completely returned to pre-Covid numbers, as tourists from around the world flocked to Haad Rin, Koh Pha Ngan for the massive knees-up. News reports estimated the crowd size to be anywhere between 20,000 to 50,000, and accommodations including hotels and hostels were almost fully booked at 99% capacity. The pier and boats were overwhelmed with large…

  • Thailand NewsThree foreign tourists rescued from Thai jungle

    Three foreign tourists rescued from Thai jungle

    National park officials rescued three foreign tourists who got lost in the jungle in Koh Pha Ngan, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, yesterday. All three are reportedly safe. At 5.30pm, the Chief of Than Sadet National Park, Tikamporn Phenchom, received a call that three foreign tourists were lost in the jungle on the Khao Ra mountain and needed help. Chief…

  • Tourism NewsThai island holds first Full Moon party of the year, draws 20,000 tourists

    Thai island holds first Full Moon party of the year, draws 20,000 tourists

    Thailand’s island of Koh Pha Ngan welcomed its first Full Moon party of the year on Friday night, drawing 20,000 tourists, according to Surat Thani’s vice governor. The party experienced a bit of rain, but after the rain cleared, tourists were able to have a blast dancing on the beach. Vice Governor Choosak Rooying told The Phuket Express that so…

  • Thailand Weather Updates4-metre waves off Pha Ngan capsize tugboat, crew rescued

    4-metre waves off Pha Ngan capsize tugboat, crew rescued

    At 4am on Saturday, tens of thousands of tourists and partiers were dancing the night away at a Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Beach, Koh Pha Ngan. Just 37 kilometres away off the coast of the popular holiday island catastrophe struck as huge waves capsized a tugboat, tossing all the crew members overboard into the swelling seas. The crew of…

  • EventsKoh Pha Ngan packed with back to back parties

    Koh Pha Ngan packed with back to back parties

    Business in Koh Pha Ngan has been booming with the biggest New Year’s Eve Countdown party in three years followed by the first Full Moon Party of 2023. Tens of thousands of visitors flocked to the island to take part in the (nearly) all-night beach party last night. The event was a success, though not quite as big and rowdy…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Full Moon Party attracts 12,000 tourists

    Thailand’s Full Moon Party attracts 12,000 tourists

    At least 12,000 foreign and Thai tourists attended Thailand’s final Full Moon Party of the year last night on Koh Pha Ngan island in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. A downpour of rain didn’t stop revellers from singing, dancing, and drinking on the island’s Haad Rin Beach on the 15th lunar night of 2022. Koh Pha Ngan administrative officials, officers…

  • Crime NewsKuwaiti overstayer busted in Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

    Kuwaiti overstayer busted in Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

    Police busted a Kuwaiti overstayer on Thailand’s island of Koh Pha Ngan, as Thai cops continue to crack down on overstayers. The man, 56 year old Rashed Hea Juma, overstayed his visa by 16 days, according to police. Surat Thani Immigration officers arrested Rashed at a house in the Baan Tai sub-district earlier this week. Rashed was taken to the…

  • Tourism NewsThailand’s southern islands are reeling in tourists

    Thailand’s southern islands are reeling in tourists

    South Thailand’s holiday hotspot islands are reeling in tourists once again. The islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Pha Ngan have seen 2.3 million tourists arrive on their shores in the past 10 months, according to the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s office for the islands. This has generated over 40 billion baht in revenue.…

  • Visa InformationImmigration police round up visa overstayers in Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

    Immigration police round up visa overstayers in Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

    Koh Pha Ngan island in southern Thailand is so idyllic that some foreigners just can’t bear to leave, even when their visa runs out. Yesterday, Surat Thani Immigration Police, and Koh Pha Ngan Provincial Police went on a tour of Thailand’s fifth-biggest island on the hunt for visa overstayers in the kingdom. Three foreigners were arrested and detained at Koh…

  • South Thailand NewsWhale sharks spotted off Koh Pha Ngan in South Thailand

    Whale sharks spotted off Koh Pha Ngan in South Thailand

    Environmentalists spotted a pair of whale sharks off South Thailand’s island of Koh Pha Ngan. Members of the Phangan Sea Guardian Association had gone diving when they spotted two of the gentle giants. The association’s president said that one whale shark was four metres long, while the other was six metres long. The VP, Sittiroj Kaewnongsameta, told The Phuket Express… “This…

  • South Thailand NewsFrench tourist rescued after getting lost in Koh Pha Ngan forest

    French tourist rescued after getting lost in Koh Pha Ngan forest

    A young French tourist was rescued on Saturday after he got lost in a forest on Thailand’s island of Koh Pha Ngan. Police and officials found the man, 26 year old Marouan Rouatbi, after almost an hour of searching through the hilly forest when it was dark, in the main Koh Pha Ngan district. The group trekked through about three…

  • Tourism NewsAnother long weekend brings huge crowds to Surat Thani

    Another long weekend brings huge crowds to Surat Thani

    Another long holiday weekend has benefited tourism in southern Thailand, as the province of Surat Thani recorded over 57,000 visitors. Both domestic and foreign travellers made their way down to Surat’s popular islands for the three-day weekend. Data shared by the Surat Thani office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said that 24,639 foreigners made their way to one…

  • EventsTourism Minister visits Full Moon Party, supports later curfew

    Tourism Minister visits Full Moon Party, supports later curfew

    The Full Moon Party week is just wrapping on the island of Koh Pha Ngan, and while attendance was down, there was at least one special attendee that could influence the future of the party. Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn visited Haad Rin, home of the iconic party that draws tens of thousands of tourists to the island…

  • EventsKoh Pha Ngan springs back into gear with the July Full Moon Party

    Koh Pha Ngan springs back into gear with the July Full Moon Party

    This holiday weekend hosted the largest Full Moon Party since February of 2019 before the pandemic, with the biggest crowd the beach and venues of Haad Rin on Koh Pha Ngan have seen since the party restarted tentatively in November 2021. Some estimated as many as 20,000 people flooded the island to take part in the festivities – the first…

  • Thailand NewsHigh rankings for Thailand in tourism, food, economy and health

    High rankings for Thailand in tourism, food, economy and health

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced a variety of awards and high rankings number bestowed upon Thailand over the past year. They proudly proclaimed the kingdom’s favourable ratings in over 14 different categories and surveys on Thursday. The country itself won nods over the past year in tourism, livability, happiness, Covid-19 response, safety, and more. Bangkok received accolades for…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesStorms cancel ferry service for Koh Samui, Pha Ngan, and Tao

    Storms cancel ferry service for Koh Samui, Pha Ngan, and Tao

    While Surat Thani has been gearing up for a huge holiday weekend, the weather has other plans. Scattered storms with extremely high winds have disrupted power as well as ferry schedules, with Surat Thani Governor Wichawut Jinto ordering the cancellation of all ferry services today until at least tomorrow, including to the popular tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Pha…

  • Tourism NewsBuddha Days, Full Moon Party brings 5-day holiday surge to Surat

    Buddha Days, Full Moon Party brings 5-day holiday surge to Surat

    The Southern Thailand province of Surat Thani – home to Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao – is set to see a money-making surge of travellers during next week’s 5-day holiday. The Surat Thani office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand is estimating over 70,000 visitors generating about 833 million baht in tourism revenue for the province. The…

  • Tourism NewsFare hike on ferries to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan from July 1

    Fare hike on ferries to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan from July 1

    Surat Thani province in the south of Thailand announced that fares of ferry services to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan would increase from July 1 onwards due to the rising diesel price. The report revealed that fares had not been raised in more than 14 years. Following the meeting between Surat Thani officials and representatives from ferry businesses on…

  • South Thailand NewsFull Moon Party in Koh Pha Ngan sees double the tourists

    Full Moon Party in Koh Pha Ngan sees double the tourists

    The third Full Moon Party of the year on Koh Pha Ngan has drawn double the number of tourists to South Thailand’s Koh Pha Ngan since the first party back in April. Last night, about 20,000 visitors arrived on the shores of Haad Rin. The tourists passed through 5 checkpoints to be screened for weapons and drugs before they could…

  • Travel GuidesThe best resorts in Koh Pha Ngan for an amazing holiday

    The best resorts in Koh Pha Ngan for an amazing holiday

    Visitors to Koh Pha Ngan can easily locate wonderful coastal hotels that are reminiscent of jungle life thanks to the island’s legendary heritage. Here, backpackers have chosen this island in Surat Thani’s province, as one of their favourites to visit. The island’s yoga scene, holistic medicine, and meditation retreats make it a hippy haven with accommodations that match the vibe.…

  • South Thailand NewsSouthern Thailand province gets a wave of income from Full Moon Party, Songkran

    Southern Thailand province gets a wave of income from Full Moon Party, Songkran

    Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani saw a wave of tourism income generated during the Songkran holiday. Many tourists came to the province for the famous Full Moon Party on Kho Pha Ngan, among other tourist attractions. Tourism officials said the province gathered up a total of 895.7 million baht from 83,000 visitors between April 13-17. The income is up…

  • Thailand TravelOver 10,000 partiers at Thai island’s Full Moon Party

    Over 10,000 partiers at Thai island’s Full Moon Party

    The Thai island of Koh Pha Ngan drew 10,000+ tourists to the shores of Haad Rin for its Full Moon Party yesterday (Saturday… well sort of into Sunday too), which hadn’t been held in full since the Covid-19 pandemic first broke out two years ago. Historically, the party was held on the night of, before, or after every full moon.…

  • Phuket NewsThailand’s bars and beach parties remain strictly closed (cough)

    Thailand’s bars and beach parties remain strictly closed (cough)

    Will some of Thailand’s most popular hotspots ever come back to life? It appears that the bars and beach parties will never restart as these photos reveal darkened streets and deserted beaches. Last week’s Full Moon Party was curtailed after initially getting the go-ahead from Koh Pha Ngan police. It eventually went ahead but in a vastly reduced ‘covid-era’ form…