Hello Steemians! 👋🏼

Welcome to the first post in my 'Twelve Hours In' series! Koh Phangan is my absolute favourite place in Thailand. It's the lesser known neighbour of Koh Samui, and is most famous for it's monthly Full Moon Party 🌚

My partner @michaelhebo and I spent six months on this luscious island. We found the relaxed vibe, cheap and tasty food, beaches, lush jungle and numerous friendly stray animals quite hard to leave.

The itinerary below is my ideal day on the island. It includes the super tasty food, both the beach and yoga scenes and plenty of active relaxation. So, let’s begin!

8:30am: Orion Café

If you’re an early riser, start the day before a 7am Ashtanga yoga class and watch as the sunrise spread pinks and blues over the still ocean horizon. Or, if you’re already on island time like I was 😏 head out at 8:30am to Orion for breakfast. Orion has very Instagrammable healthy food, and is also one of the prettiest eateries on the island.

Located on the beachfront in the hippy suburb of Sri Thanu, it has it’s own garden, yoga studio and detox centre, just being there will help you to start the day off feeling Zen. For breakfast I recommend trying out their luxurious smoothies and chia seed bowl.

10am: Mae Haad Beach

Once you’re well fed and ready for a day of adventure, it’s time for the beach 😎 You could go to a beach much closer to Orion, but Mae Haad is amazing because at lowtide you can walk across a sandbar to a little island called Koh Ma. I highly recommend you hire a scooter as the hills on Koh Phangan are no joke, and it will take you a lot longer to explore the island on a bicycle.

One day of hire won’t cost you more than 200 thb. Mae Haad Beach is sign posted but you should have the location saved on your phone, because it's not super easy to find the first time. Park your bike and head down the path to what is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. You will find white sand, palm trees, clear water, massages on request, and a restaurant with wifi.

If you go there later in the day, I recommend sampling their Som Tam (Papaya Salad) and Pineapple Shake 😋

1:30pm: Haad Rin

After hours of sunbathing and swimming, it’s time to drive all the way to the opposite side of the island. You’ll want to factor in about 30 to 45 minutes to take the trip. The beach at Haad Rin is where the Full Moon Party is held once a month, but during the day you can enjoy beach volleyball and great shopping.

This is arguably the best place to shop on the island as it has the most variety of products, although due to the high volume of tourists, it is a little pricier than other areas. One of my favourite places to eat lunch in Haad Rin is Paprika. They offer a 150 thb deal for falafel and a fruit shake. You will notice that many restaurants across Koh Phangan offer Israeli food. You can eat hummus, falafel, shakshuka and tabouli until your heart’s content.

You can also hire jet skis or, if you have plenty of time, take a taxi boat to some of the more remote areas of the island, which are not so accessible by road.

[NOTE! This yummy feast was eaten at Eat Co. in Sri Thanu, not Haad Rin]

4:00pm: Phaeng Waterfall

Now you’ve experienced both the yoga and beach scenes, it’s jungle time. Phaeng Waterfall is close to the middle of the island and if you climb the whole way up, you will be rewarded with a beautiful vista of the coconut palm packed island below. You might be expecting to see a lot of water, given the name, but both times I have been there it has been fairly dry. Nonetheless, the jungle walk is really beautiful and will definitely get your heart rate up. And, as a bonus you are guaranteed to see some of the local butterflies and lizards.

There are a few shops near the parking area, should you feel that you need to refuel before or after the climb.

6pm: Phantip Market

This small market has all the bustle and variety you could wish for from a South East Asian night market. It offers sushi, spring rolls, falafel, curries, pizza, salads, soups, noodles, mango sticky rice… you will be spoiled for choice. My personal favourite is the Burmese Tea Leaf Salad from Capana. The market is also home to several smoothie stands, which at only 30 baht each, are a must. They have an amazing variety of combinations, my favourite is a papaya and cantaloupe blend.

8pm: Massage

Thai Massage is world renowned for good reason and I think it is one of the most luxurious experiences you can have. Expect your limbs to be twisted, bent and pummelled while the candles flicker and local music plays gently in the background.

You will finish with a cup of hot tea feeling entirely unwound.

9:00pm: Moonlight Cinema

I saved the best for last! The Moonlight Cinema is a must do while on Koh Phangan. The gorgeous, mystical garden feel coupled with the friendly staff, great food and plush theatre will give you a truly unique experience. For only 150 baht per person you will receive a complimentary popcorn and a place in the modern, well-cushioned silent theatre. Everybody receives headphones before entering so you can adjust the volume to your own preference and enjoy the show.

Make sure you check out their Facebook page for the week’s show times. The cinema is open Tuesday to Sunday and offers chick flicks, blockbusters, movie marathons, kids movies and plenty of new releases.

All that’s left for you to do is lean back amongst the cushions, enjoy your popcorn, and unwind. You’ve just spent 12hrs in Koh Phangan! 💃🏼