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What are the BEST things to do in Koh Phangan with kids in 2024? Koh Phangan is a fantastic destination for families with kids. We have lived in Koh Phangan with our own kids and can’t stop coming back!
Koh Phangan is best known for its full moon beach parties. BUT in recent years Koh Phangan has attracted loads of families, expats, digital nomads. People are traveling slower in Koh Phangan and for good reason.
Koh Phangan is a beautiful island with jungle hills, waterfalls, temples, clean beaches and calm crystal clear waters (January – May is most likely to have the best water conditions). The locals are friendly and welcoming and the food is cheap and super tasty. What’s more, Koh Phangan has a good range of cafes, coffee shops and restaurants serving excellent food. Bars are widespread, reasonably priced and often have happy hours.
There are LOTS of things to do in Koh Phangan with kids. In this article we will review and recommend the best things to do in Koh Phangan with kids.
ALSO don’t miss our full guide to the best things to do in Thailand with kids.
Looking for somewhere to stay in Koh Phangan with kids?
Check out Red Pearl Resort and don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on THE BEST places to stay in Koh Phangan
Things to know about visiting Koh Phangan with kids
Here are a few things that you need to know about visiting Koh Phangan with kids:
- Baby chairs are rare – most restaurants and cafes do not have a baby chair
- Getting around can be tricky – with no taxi apps, there are small taxi buses. These don’t have seat belts.
- Seven Eleven and Big C are a good spot for nappies and baby milk. Packs of nappies cost around 70 – 100 baht for 13 nappies (this is roughly £1.40 – £2). If you’re travelling slow and need a large pack of nappies you can ask about online offers in 7 Eleven stores. They can order large packs for delivery – and they prices are often cheapest on the island!
- You can find plenty of kid-friendly food around the island (western options)
Map of things to do in Koh Phangan with kids
1 Grab a bite to eat at the Vintage Night Market
This is a great option if you’re looking for places to eat in Koh Phangan with kids. The Vintage Night Market opens every evening to serve a range of different types of food. It is not a normal night market where you can buy clothes and jewellery. Rather, there are lots of small food stalls. You can get Thai food, East Asian food, Middle Eastern food and even pizzas, kebabs and burgers.
The prices are very reasonable 50 baht – 250 baht for most dishes (£1 – £5 or $1.30 – $7) and you can find kid-friendly food here. Best of all there is a small play park with swings and a slide – and the play area has sand on the ground for safety. The Vintage Night Market is ideal for families with active kids under 10 years old. The space works very well for them to play whilst you take a moment to enjoy some of the great food available here. The Vintage Night Market is located in Ban Tai opposite to the Bandon International Hospital.
2 Take a boat to Bottle Beach
If you’re looking for adventurous activities in Koh Phangan with kids, consider taking a taxi boat from Haad Khom to bottle beach. This is a super fun way to see the island from a different perspective and visit a very beautiful family friendly beach. Taxi boats cost a fixed price of 150 baht (which is around £3 or $4). Boats run approximately every hour. They tend to wait at Bottle beach and stop at Haad Khom for a few minutes to drop off and pick up any passengers waiting for a boat.
Here are a couple of phone numbers for a boat driver: +66 62 4154328 and +66 93 6294725. The boat ride takes around 15 minutes. Once you’re at Bottle Beach there are a number of restaurants along the beachfront. The water is very nice for paddling and swimming. There are plenty of boats waiting on Bottle Beach to take passengers back to Haad Khom Beach. Oh yeah, and if you don’t want to take a boat to Bottle Beach, you can also trek there from the carpark on the road above Haad Khom beach.
Safety for families taking a taxi boat:
It is worth knowing that they do not have life jackets on the taxi boats. Although drivers are experienced on this route – everything you do at sea has an inherent risk and we recommend considering this carefully.
3 Play at Messy House
This is the best place if you’re looking for custom made play places in Koh Phangan with kids. Messy House is a soft play center with toys, climbing nets, a slide, ball pit and more. Messy House is ideally suited for kids between 2 – 8 years old. Messy House is not a large venue but it is very well thought out. The play spaces are padded, safe and interesting. There are enough toys and activities to keep kids engaged and active for a long time here. As a play facility this is genuinely one of the best options on any of the islands in the region.
They have an outdoor yard (enclosed) and toilets with adaptations for little people. The staff are very kind and welcoming to children. Kids are allowed to borrow socks on arrival and are checked in by the staff. They charge a very reasonable hourly rate…
You can leave kids at Messy House to play under the supervision of the staff. The prices are very reasonable:
15 minutes 25 baht, 30 minutes 50 baht, 45 minutes 75 baht, 90 minutes 100 baht, 2 hours 150 baht, 2 hours 30minutes 200 baht. Day Pass 3-6 hours 250 baht.
4 Visit Retro Mountain
Retro mountain is a cafe, bar, viewpoint and venue for parties and events. Retro Mountain often run family friendly activities such as paddling pool parties, games and movie nights. They also host activities and parties at special times of the year (e.g. new years celebrations). Retro mountain is a very popular spot for families and expats living in Koh Phangan.
They have a small playground around the back and several seating areas to allow guests to enjoy the stunning views over the jungle and ocean. Retro mountain is located on the hilly road that leads into the Than Sadet National Park from Ban Tai. The easiest way to get to Retro mountain is to use a rented car or bike. You can also arrange taxi journeys here. Be aware that you will need to arrange a return journey – discuss this with your driver. The taxi apps do not work on Koh Phangan.
Safety advice for families visiting Retro Mountain:
Retro Mountain is a fantastic place for older kids. However we wouldn’t recommend this spot for families with younger kids (unless you supervise them closely). There are several places with drops – although they do have fences around the perimeters, we are not convinced that these are sufficient to stop a curious tot.
5 Go for a Sea Kayaking adventure
Kayaking is another great activity in Koh Phangan with kids. It is very easy and convenient to rent Kayaks around Koh Phangan. Many hotels, resorts and restaurants along the beaches have Kayaks available for rental. It normally costs around 100 – 200 baht per hour to rent a kayak (this is roughly £2 – £4 or $2.50 – $5). Renting a Kayak is a great way to enjoy the sunset (we recommend renting a Kayak at the Koh Ma Beach Resort to enjoy an amazing sunset.
Alternatively, you could rent a Kayak and row out to some beautiful snorkeling spots. You can find some beautiful snorkeling around Koh Ma and also along the north coast around Haad Khom. Kayaks are generally big enough for two people. Sea Kayaking is ideally suited to older kids who have a reasonable swimming ability.
Safety advice for families
Sea Kayaking is a risky activity better suited to families with experience and strong swimmers. Make sure that a life jacket is included with your Kayak rental and that someone knows where you plan to go. The safest way to enjoy sea kayaking is to stay close to the coast line and only kayak in calm still waters.
6 Jungle swimming at Paradise waterfall
Paradise waterfall is a great place to visit in Koh Phangan with kids. The waterfall itself is not very big or impressive. Paradise waterfall is special because of the large deep plunge pool – the perfect place for an intrepid jungle dip. This is a great activity in Koh Phangan with kids who are good swimmers. The pool is pretty deep in sections. You can visit Paradise Waterfall all year around (many of the waterfalls dry up in less rainy periods, especially January – July). Paradise waterfall is located on the road between Thong Sala and Chaloklum. Just before you get into Chaloklum there is a right turn (look out for the sign for Paradise waterfall). There is a rough unpaved road that leads up a steep hill for around 500m to a parking spot. From here it is a short walk up to the waterfall. It costs 30 baht to visit Paradise Waterfall (around £0.60 or $0.80). You can also grab an inflatable ring for the waterfall. It’s worth knowing there isn’t anywhere private to get changed, so bring a big towel or just rock up in your swimming kit.
7 Have a family day at Mae Haad beach
No family holiday in Koh Phangan with kids would be complete without a chilled beach day. There are lots of great beaches around Koh Phangan. We particularly recommend a day at Mae Haad beach, the north west tip of the island. This is a lovely place for families with clean soft sand and relatively calm waters (seasonal). At low tide you can walk along the sand bar to Koh Ma (a small jungle island off the northwest coast of Koh Phangan). There are also several resorts along the beach where you can buy food and drinks.
8 Try out paddle boarding
Paddle boarding is a fun and enjoyable activity that you can do in Koh Phangan with kids. You can rent paddle boards from many resorts along the beaches of Koh Phangan. You try paddle boarding without any prior experience. It should normally cost around 100 baht per hour (roughly £2 or $2.50). If you’re struggling to find paddle board rental try the Shell Lounge on Ao Hin Kong beach. This is a lovely place to enjoy a beautiful tropical ocean sunset. They also offer paddle board rental. This is also a great spot to see another sandbar (located a short distance south of the Shell Lounge).
Safety advice for families
Paddle boarding is a risky activity better suited to families with experience and strong swimmers. Make sure that a life jacket is included with your rental. The safest way to enjoy paddle boarding is to stay close to the coast line and only kayak in calm still waters.
9 Dinner at the Koh Phangan food court
If you’re looking for good eating spots in Koh Phangan with kids – check out the Koh Phangan food court. This is conveniently located in Thong Sala (the main town) a short walk from the Pier. The food court has many small stalls serving a wide range of local and international dishes. You can find several stalls selling western food (burgers, pizzas, salads, wraps and more).
The Buddha Bowls are amazing if you like this type of food. The quality of the food is generally very good but some of the portions can be quite small. Just a head up. Due to the prime location, this place is very popular with tourists and expats. At busy times it can be hard to find a seat. The prices are also higher than local prices. Expect to pay around 100 – 250 baht per dish (this is roughly £2 – £5 or $2.50 – $7)
10 Soft Play at Big C
If you are traveling with young kids, we highly recommend checking out the soft play space at Big C. This is a fun and engaging play space ideal for kids between 2 – 6 years old. The play space itself is not very big; however, the space is very well used. It is great for every mood – whether your kids need to climb, slide, and leap around or whether they need a more calming and grounding experience.
This soft play space also allows you to leave kids (under their supervision) as long as they are able to play safely and independently. The soft play space is also great value for money: 30 minutes for 50 baht per child (around £1 or $1.20), 90 minutes for 100 baht per child (around £2 or $2.50), and 180 minutes for 200 baht per child (around £4 or $5). The play space at Big C is also excellently located in Thong Sala – there is a large supermarket and several other shops nearby.
11 We Love Honey – Honey Farm
If you are looking for small hidden gems for kids, check out the We Love Honey Farm. This is a small ethical family-run business, and they welcome visitors to come and learn about the process of bee farming and honey production. If you’re brave, you can even visit the bee hives which have Apis Andreniformis bees (a local bee species in the region).
The lovely owner is called Powin; he has plenty of knowledge and enthusiasm to share. The Honey Farm is relatively small and only takes around 20 minutes to visit. March to August is the high season for honey farming (they often have up to 30 boxes). No entry fees, but you can buy honey to support the project.
12 Visit the Weekend Night Market
If you are looking for fun, memorable, and cultural things to do in Koh Phangan with kids, then we highly recommend a visit to the weekend night market. There is a night market situated in the main town (Thong Sala) every Saturday night and then in Chaloklum every Sunday night. If you have the time and ability to travel, we strongly recommend a visit to the night market in Chaloklum.
This market is situated close to the main pier in town, and there are tables and chairs set out on the pier so you can eat food as you watch the sunset over the beautiful jungle mountains. They also have canvas painting and pottery painting for kids at the end of the pier. A visit to the Sunday night market is likely to be a very memorable highlight of your time in Koh Phangan. They have an excellent variety of food, and dishes are very affordable at this night market. They also have plenty of kid-friendly food options, including french fries, pizza, fried chicken, and even burgers. If you are looking for more healthy international options, they have sushi and plenty of seafood available.
13 Visit the Friendship Milk Cafe
If you’re looking for unique hidden gems in Koh Phangan with kids, then check out the Friendship Milk Cafe, situated around 10 minutes from Thong Sala (central town area). This lovely little cafe is a great spot for active kids who love to play outside.
They have an outdoor play park and a collection of small animals. The cafe itself serves a range of hot and cold drinks, and they also have a food menu too. This is a great place for families with younger kids, and this cafe is rarely full.
14 Phaeng Noi Waterfall walk
If you are looking for fun, adventurous, and intrepid nature-based activities with kids, we highly recommend a visit to the beautiful Phaeng Noi Waterfall. This is an impressive multi-level waterfall situated in the central hilly region of Koh Phangan. The trails in this area are well-worn and easy to follow, and this walk is suitable for families with kids of all ages. However, it is important to be aware that this route is not a pram-friendly route; there are steps in the area which would be very challenging for a pram.
As you go further up the waterfall, the trail does get more challenging, and you can reach a very beautiful viewpoint towards the top of the waterfalls. Younger kids may find the gradient and terrain more challenging further up this route. You can turn back at any point, and there is also an animal cafe situated close to the bottom of the waterfall. Phaeng Noi Waterfall is situated in a national park, so you do need to pay an entry fee of 100 baht (£2 or $2.50).
15 Visit sunset walk
This is another great spot for families with kids in Koh Phangan. Sunset walk has a skate park and a small play park with climbing frames and swings. They have some small kids bikes here and they can also rent skating equipment. There is a cafe here serving a range of food and drinks. It is worth noting that they often don’t have many boards to rent here.
They have a strict minimum age of 7 years old for the skate park, but the play park is suitable for kids of all ages. Some of the staff can also be pretty rude a times. Still this is a good place for kids to play so we wanted to throw out a recommendation. Sunset walk opens daily at around 11am. 100 baht entrance (spend 150 baht in the cafe and you do not need to pay the entrance fee).
Is Koh Phangan safe for families with kids?
There are risks anywhere you go in the world. Here are a few of the risks that are particular to this part of the world:
Waves and ocean currents:
Many of the beaches around Koh Phangan have calm clear waters (especially between January and June).
- During stormy periods the sea can be rough at some of the beaches around Koh Phangan. Haad Khom, Chaloklum and Haad Yao tend to be more sheltered.
- There may also be strong rip currents. If you do get caught in a rip current always swim parallel with the beach (sideways and not with or against the rip current)
- Assess the water carefully before swimming, avoid swimming out of your depth and never swim if red flags are displayed on the beach. Always supervise kids carefully in the water.
Jellyfish:
- Occasionally some pretty nasty beasts show up in the waters around Koh Phangan (including box jellyfish and Portuguese Man O’war jellyfish). Whenever you step in the water you do so at your own risk. We generally try to book places with swimming pools and avoid ocean swimming in this area.
- The risk of encountering a jellyfish is lower in clear calm water and during the hotter parts of the day. You are more likely to encounter jelly fish in the water during rainy weather.
- If you are stung by a jellyfish pour vinegar over the sting as quickly as possible. Remove the barbs using a rigid object like a bank card. Seek medical help as soon as possible.
We don’t want to scare you off. Koh Phangan is genuinely one of the most stunning tropical islands you can visit. It is important that you are aware of some of the risks around Koh Phangan. Every year many travelers enjoy the sea around Koh Phangan without any problems.
AND FINALLY… if you’re travelling on to Koh Tao with kids, don’t miss these AMAZING things to do in Koh Tao with kids
