Thailand - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 790

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
BY PLANE
Kan Airlines ( W kanairlines.com) are building an airport on
the island, currently scheduled to open in late 2014.

Same Same Above the south end of Sunrise at the start
of the road to Leela Beach T 077 375200, W same-same
.com A sociable and well-run Scandinavian guesthouse
offering good-value rooms, all en suite, colourful and
clean, some with a/c. There's a decent restaurant down-
stairs with a bar and a long li st of excuses t o par ty to a
mainstream soundtrack. Dorm B500 , double B550
Seaview Sunrise Northern end of Sunrise T 077
375160, W seaviewsunrise.com. On a big plot of shady,
flower-strewn land at the quieter end of the beach, this
clean, friendly, orderly old-timer with a good restaurant
offers more than forty bungalows and rooms. The
bungalows on the beachfront are all fan-cooled with hot
showers. Further back are a/c versions, as we ll as the
cheapest rooms with cold showers. Double B500
Sun Cliff High up on the tree-lined slope above the south
end of Sunset Beach T 077 375134 or T 077 375463,
E [e-mail]. Friendly, spacious place
with great views of the south coast and Ko Samui,
especially from its heart-shaped pool by the restaurant.
Among a wide range of bungalows that are a bit rough
around the edges, you'll find some quirky architectural
features such as rock-built bathrooms and fountains; some
have huge decks for partying. The more expensi ve a/c
rooms all have hot showers, fridges and TVs. Double B500
Thai Dee Garden Resort Northern transverse T 082
275 6199, W thaideegarden.com. Pleasant staff and a
range of smart concrete and white clapboard bungalows,
on a broad, grassy slope strewn with trees and plants and
set back from the road. Choose either fan and cold water or
a/c and hot. Not on the beach , so one of the last places to
fill at full moon. Double B400

BY BOAT
From Surat Thani A basic overnight boat, with
mattresses on the floor, leaves Ban Don pier in Surat Thani
at 11pm every night for Thong Sala (7hr; B450); tickets are
available from the pier on the day of departure. It returns
at 10pm from Thong Sala.
From Don Sak There are five Raja vehicle ferries daily
(at least 2hr 45min; B350, including transfer from Surat
Thani) and two Lomprayah catamaran sailings (via Ko
Samui; 3hr; B550, including transfer from Surat Thani).
From Ko Samui Lomprayah catamarans sail both from
Na Thon and from Wat Na Phra Larn at the west end of
Maenam to Thong Sala (both 2 daily 30min; B300). From
Bangrak (Big Buddha Beach), the Had Rin Queen has four
sailings a day to Hat Rin (50min; B200), while Seatran
Discovery sails twice a day to Thong Sala (30min; B300).
From Ko Tao Two Lomprayah catamarans a day (1hr
15min; B450) and two Seatran Discovery ferries (1hr
30min; B400) sail to Thong Sala.
From Chumphon Boat services also run from Chumphon
(see p.783).

10

INFORMATION
The free, regularly updated Phangan Info guide is available
at the pier and most travel agents. It has a good website,
W phangan.info, on which you can book accommodation.
The excellent English-Thai travel agency, Backpackers
Information Centre, towards the south end of Hat Rin
Sunrise ( T 085 784 0019) also has a very useful website
( W backpackersthailand.com).

THE EAST COAST
Many of the resorts here provide shuttles at B200/person
from or to Thong Sala Pier.
Baan Panburi Village Southern end of Thong Nai Pan
T 077 238599, W baanpanburivillage.com. Two rows of
well-designed bungalows with verandas and deckchairs
run down a slope dotted with wicker hammocks, either
side of a small, artificial waterfall. Choose between old-
style, thatched, wood-and-bamboo huts with mosquito
nets, fans and cold showers, and pricier, large, woode n, a/c
affairs with hot water and tiled floors. Double B500
★

ACCOMMODATION
HAT RIN
Beachside budget accommodation is gradually being
replaced by more upmarket resorts, but dormitory
guesthouses - most open only during full moon - are
found in the road network between the two beaches (as
well as in the village of Ban Tai to the west).
Lighthouse On the tip of the Hat Rin peninsula, beyond
Leela Beach T 077 375075, W lighthousebungalows.com.
At this friendly haven, fan-cooled wooden and concrete
en-suite bungalows, sturdily built into the rock to
withstand the wind, are priced according to size and
comfort; all have good-sized balconies with hammocks.
The restaurant food is varied and tasty. Phone for a pick-up
from Hat Rin or Thong Sala, or do the 30min walk from
Chicken Corner in the centre of Hat Rin, the last section
along a wo oden walkway over the rocky shoreline.
Double B600

Mai Pen Rai Bungalows Hat Sadet T 080 719 0700,
W thansadet.com. On the beach within a short walk of the
waterfalls, these basic but attractive fan bungalows, some
with big upstairs terraces, have a bohemian vibe. An easy
place to lose time. There's a 1pm taxi from the piers in
Thong Sala (B200/person). Double B500
★

The Sanctuary Hat Thian T 081 271 3614,
W thesanctuarythailand.com. This magical fairyland,
connected by a labyrinth of dirt paths, offers a huge range
of basic and luxury en-suite bungalows built into the