Information: Thong Nai Pan Noi and Thong Nai Pan Yai are twin coves that form a scenic double bay and are the most popular beaches in the east and sunrise side of the island. Both beaches are the image of paradise with softly curved white sand bays surrounded by mountains covered in rich tropical rainforest. The surrounding mountains make these beaches fairly inaccessible with a steep and rutted dirt road the only overland option; though road works have commenced to make it a dual lane concrete road, another way to get to there is by boat from Had Rin or Chaloklum.

There is no coral reef on the east coast of the island, and it is possible to swim at both beaches all year round, though Thong Nai Pan Noi is the best as it's the deepest bay. There is little to see in the way of marine life, but there are some decent waves for body surfing. Thong Nai Pan Noi is the most popular of the two beaches with a bohemian vibe and has a small village with some cool bars and restaurants. People get up early for sunrise and long-termers patiently wait to graduate to the coolest of bungalows, beachfront space is premium.

Thong Nai Pan Yai is the longer of the two beaches, the resorts are more spaced out and it has no village, as a result it is quieter than its counterpart. There are numerous trails to walk and waterfalls to visit, and Thong Nai Pan Yai also has a decent set of rocks for experienced climbers. This side of the island is still pretty wild, and the surrounding jungle is haven for many exotic tropical creatures. Giant water monitor lizards, "Takuad" in Thai, can be seen feeding outside the Panviman Resort at sunset and small wildcats have even been spotted deep in the trails.

Information: Haad Rin is the most popular spot on Koh Phangan, largely for its thriving nightlife, with a long strip of clubs along Sunrise Beach that pump out the techno jams for drunken tourists to dance until dawn every night. This is also the home of the infamous Full Moon Party held once a month on or around the full moon. Tranquility-seekers are advised to stay in town or on Sunset Beach, or better still on a different beach altogether.

Haad Rin remains one of the best-known beaches in Thailand - with a long, wide swath of squeaky white sand and sea deep enough for good swimming even during lower tides, there's many reasons to come here apart from the party.

In season, Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach) is packed much of time by jet skis and hundreds of sunbathers, volleyballers and various other fun-seekers and sun-worshippers. Haad Rin Nai (Sunset Beach) is more peaceful and the resorts more reasonably priced, but the beach is not anywhere near as pretty. The much longer and narrower strip of sand is generally rougher, and the water is much shallower - really too shallow to swim in the lower tidal seasons (May to July).

Don't expect an authentic Thai experience here, but rather hordes of young western backpackers crowding the streets, watching movies and sitcoms in the restaurants by day and partying till they drop come the evening.

Information: Koh Ma is a small island off the north west coast of Koh Phangan. The tiny island is accessable from Mae Haad Beach by a sandy causeway at low tide, and with a bit wet feet a high tide too.

The beaches are excellent for sunbathers and swimmers. This is one the best places for snorkeling on Koh Phangan, where you can experience a wide variety of tropical fishes and live corrals.

Information: Sri Thanu Beach offers a chance to see Koh Phangan as it once was. Being the hub for tin mining before the island turned to tourism there is interesting spots to visit including Laem Son Lake.

There is a also a number of small fishing vessels catching squid from the beach and the are lots of small eateries, food stalls and excellent restaurants in the area.

The village of Baan Sri Thanu is a quiet little town that maintains a more Thai feel than other more developed areas on Koh Phangan but offers a good selection of shops and restaurants and more services than many lower key spots.

Half of the beach here has been developed into a small anchorage for the local fishing fleet, which has had a detrimental effect on the beach and the water quality toward the middle and southern end of the beach. A good deal of noise can be expected as boats come and go, but this is luckily not an all day phenomenon. Despite this, the northern end still has reasonable swimming and sunbathing, and a nearby coral reef is a convenient spot to do some snorkelling. Much of this wide sandy beach is unshaded, so pack plenty of sunblock and a hat.

The northern end of the bay is more popular with a good mix of budget accommodations, some of which are divided by an often nasty river as you get further toward the middle of the beach. At the southern end of the bay there is a small cluster of places, some on the bay shore but mostly up on the headland. This southern area is quieter and more low key, and while the views are quite nice, the beach is not.