Koh Pha-Ngan is an island just north of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand (east of the peninsula) and is just as developed for tourism. It's something of a backpacker hangout, and the age of most visitors is under 30. Reef snorkeling is popular, and you can make a day trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park for more snorkeling and relaxation amid beautiful islets.
The northeast end of the island, Bottle Beach, offers a quiet place to stay and opportunities to trek to a beautiful waterfall. In the south, life can get quite a bit more crowded—every month welcomes a full-moon festival and thousands of visitors. The island is about 280 mi/450 km south of Bangkok.
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