Ko Pha-ngan

Ko Pha-ngan (เกาะพะงัน,, ) is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in Surat Thani Province of southern Thailand. Ko Pha-ngan has two sister islands: the larger Ko Samui to the south and the smaller Ko Tao to the north.


 * Estimated perimeter: 40 km (estimated 10 hr average walking time)
 * From mainland: about 55 km
 * From Ko Samui: about 15 km
 * From Ko Tao: about 35 km
 * Main town: Thong Sala
 * Highest Point: Khao Ra, 630 m

History
The name Ko Pha-ngan derives from the word "ngan", meaning "sandbar" in southern Thai. There are many sandbars offshore.

Ko Pha-ngan has been a longtime favorite of past kings of Thailand. King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) visited Ko Pha-ngan 14 times during his reign.

The Bronze Drum of Dongson Culture (500–100 BCE) that was found on Ko Samui in 1977 is evidence that there were settlements of people on Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and their islets more than 2,000 years ago. Some historians and archaeologists believe that the first group to migrate to Ko Pha-ngan were Austronesian peoples who traveled by boat from the Malay Peninsula.

Over the last century the island's population has steadily expanded, first living off the sea and the land and farming coconuts. Later, tin mining became part of the economy. In the 1970s the mining industry faltered and finally petered out. Over the next decade, tourism took hold and now it is primarily a tourist destination. Fishing and coconut farming remain important to the local economy.

Due to its topography, the population hugs the coastline. The mountainous interior is generally inaccessible. More than half the island is designated as a national park and Ko Pha-ngan has more than 80 km2 of relatively unspoiled rain forest with diverse flora and fauna.

Ko Pha-ngan is also considered a spiritual place, with numerous Buddhist temples and a thriving spa, retreat, and meditation industry.

Transport
Visitors can reach the island by commercial boats from the mainland from three ports in Samui, three in Surat Thani, and one in Chumphon. The main boat transport companies are Seatran Discovery, Lomprayah, Raja Ferry, Hadrin Queen, Nighboat, and Songserm.

There used to be an option to reach Ko Pha-ngan by car ferry from Ko Samui (Raja Ferry Port, which is 9 km from Ko Pha-ngan) and from Donsak on the mainland.

Since 2012 Kannithi Aviation (Kan Air) has attempted to construct an airport on the island. Kan Air has spent 500 million baht to acquire about 32 ha of land to build a passenger terminal capable of handling 1,000 passengers a day and a 1095 m runway to accommodate turboprop aircraft such as Kan Air's ATR 72-600 series. The project, originally estimated at 900 million baht, now estimated to cost two billion baht, has faced inflated costs, delays resulting from the yet-to-be-issued environmental impact assessment, and other complications, which pushed back initial plans to open in 2014.

Central administration
Ko Pha-ngan together with Ko Tao and a few minor islands forms the district (amphoe) Ko Pha-ngan (148 km2). The district is divided into three subdistricts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 17 administrative villages (mubans).

Local administration
The district has four subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambons):
 * Ko Pha-ngan (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลเกาะพะงัน) consisting of parts of subdistricts Ko Pha-ngan and Ban Tai.
 * Phet Pha-ngan (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลเพชรพะงัน) consisting of parts of subdistrict Ko Pha-ngan.
 * Ban Tai (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลบ้านใต้) consisting of parts of subdistrict Ban Tai.
 * Ko Tao (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลเกาะเต่า) consisting of subdistrict Ko Tao.

History
Originally the island was administered by Ko Samui District. The minor district (king amphoe) Ko Pha-ngan was established on 1 October 1970, then consisting of the two tambons, Ko Pha-ngan and Ban Tai. It was upgraded to a full district on 12 April 1977. Ko Tao subdistrict was established on 15 August 1982 by splitting off the three administrative villages on Ko Tao Island from Ko Phangan subdistrict.

Environmental issues
the island receives about 458,000 visitors per year. They and the island residents generate about 7,300 tonnes of solid waste per year. Untreated wastewater discharges and ongoing coral bleaching are also issues.

The Thai government, the local government, local nonprofit organizations such as EcoThailand Foundation and Trash Hero, local businesses such as the Sea Flower Bungalows, Sarikantang Resort, and locals, both Thai citizens and expatriates, have worked for years to preserve, clean, and restore Koh Phangan, which is unique in the Gulf of Thailand.

On May 2014, The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep) declared Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan districts in Surat Thani province part of an environmentally protected zone after nine years of efforts to regulate commercial development on the islands.

The Onep declaration, which came into force on May 30, means commercial activity on Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and 39 other islands in those districts will be restricted to preserve the environment. Onep deputy secretary-general Noppadol Thiyajai said: "We hope the declaration will at least help maintain the environment on the islands. We understand the measure may not result in significant environmental improvements, but it is better than having nothing."

The TAT has helped the island to be promoted as a Green Island following the strong will of its inhabitants.

The fauna and flora of the island of Koh Phangan is exceptional, rare pink dolphins are even spotted its waters.

The island is regularly under the spotlights for its remarkable community involving both Thai and Foreigners working more and more together for a sustainable and socially fair tourism benefiting directly the local community.

The island is also strongly engaged in organic sustainable farming producing and produces a large amount of organic fruits, vegetables, fertilisers and insect repellents. The Raitiaviset farm is a perfect example of this success.

In popular culture
Ko Pha-ngan featured prominently in Alex Garland's 1996 novel The Beach and is also mentioned in the 2006 song Magick by the new rave band Klaxons (but probably more as a reference to the 1996 novel The Beach than the island itself).

The Full Moon Party is a monthly dance music festival set on Hat Rin Nok Beach scheduled every month at full moon. The event primarily features electronic music and attracts around 30,000 party-goers in a normal month. Steps are being taken to make Ko Pha-ngan a more family-friendly tourist destination, promoting the island's natural attractions and also stepping up the police presence; road blocks with stop and search procedures are commonplace and undercover police also patrol parties.

The song "Vision in Blue" on the album The Golden Ratio by Ace of Base mentions Ko Pha-ngan.

DJ/producer Ashley Wallbridge titled his 2012 song "Kopanang", an anglicized version of Ko Pha-ngan.

The British psychedelic rock band Ozric Tentacles featured a song called Ko Pha-ngan on their 1989 album The Bits Between The Bits.

In 2016, Infected Mushroom collaborated with Hatikva 6 to release a song called "Hotel Koh Phangan."

Drain Gang collaborative album Trash Island was created on Ko Pha-ngan, with most of its tracks being recorded in a vacation home on the island, and a set of individual covers of each song also shot on various points on the island. The album cover is a picture of a trash fire occurring on the island at the time.

Thai schools
There are about 10 Thai governmental schools for children on Koh Phangan. The education is free, but the learners are required to speak and write in Thai Language.

Schools for foreigners
There are some private educational institutions following the national curriculum of England.

Nurseries
The Learning Tree Nursery & Kindergarten was opened in 2008 for children 2 to 7 years old.

Seeds of Phangan Kindergarten ages 2-5.

Babelikoh nursery was opened in 2022 for toddlers from 1 to 3 years old.

Primary
Si Ri Panya International School opened in 2012 provides education for children 5 to 11 years old (Key stages 1 & 3).

Secondary
Si Ri Panya International School provides education for children ages 11–16 (Key stage 3) following the British National Curriculum and the Cambridge Curriculum.

Tutorial & vocational
Wisdom College Tutorial and Vocational school starts Forest Schools primary programme for children 7-9 years old.

Wisdom College Tutorial and Vocational School mirrors the Cambridge curriculum for children 10 to 18 years old (Key stage 3).