Rates, Getting to Koh Phangan, Lodging

FEES

Keeping class fees relatively low and quality of attention high, by ashtanga standards
 For 2024, yoga rates are close to the 2016-2019 prices, although all other costs have increased in SE Asia!

– One month (Bali only) : 230 Euro/ $250 usd

– 2 weeks (10x class) : 5000 Baht €130/ $140 us

– 1 week (5x) : 3000 Baht € 78/ $85 us

– Drop-in : 650 Baht € 17/ $18 us

Beginners Intro  (5 x classes, must be paid on the first day) : 3500 Baht

I sometimes create a work/study/sliding-scale arrangement for those who would like to study/practice a daily basis, but are truly restricted financially. 

  Koh Phangan : Getting There
(this information is from 2016. Please check all sites for updated information)

 Air

 From Bangkok: Look online (Bangkokairways) for flights going to Koh Samui. There are flights every hour. The first and last flight each day are the cheapest. The flight takes about an hour. From the airport, take a shuttle to the Big Buddha pier (10 mins drive). There are ferries going to Had Rin on Koh Phangan at 10 am/1 pm/4pm. It takes 50 mins to Had Rin. You can also look at 1-2-3-Fly, which fly to Surat Thani from the Don Muang airport, then put you on the shuttle and ferry to Tong Sala. 
From Kuala Lumpur:  KL to Samui twice/week on Firefly Airlines.

Train

There are clean and comfortable sleeper (sleeping berth) trains leaving at around 6 pm from Bangkok’s Hualompong train station. You will arrive in Surat Thani about 12 hours later, and be put on a bus to the 8 am Koh Phangan ferry. The ferry arrives in Tong Sala on Koh Phangan around midday/1 pm. Tickets can be arranged at most travel agencies in Bangkok one or two days ahead. From Tong Sala, you will take a ‘songthaew’ through to Had Rin (45 mins ride).By Bus: Buses go from Bangkok every evening, and the ticket price and includes the ferry through to Koh Phangan. You will arrive in Tong Sala on the same schedule as the train (see “By Train”). WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE BUSES. Nearly everyone who takes a bus has their luggage picked through and valuables stolen. It is worth spending the extra money on the train!

FROM HAD RIN to HAD TIEN:

Had Rin Note: This is the last place to go to the ATM/bank. No atm or moneychanger on Had Tien.

Long-tail Taxiboat: These are always waiting next to where the Samui ferry drops you off, called “sunset beach”. The ride is 20-30 minutes. If the weather is bad or the waves are big, both the fare and time will be more. The last boat to Had Tien leaves at about 5 pm, before it gets dark. IF the weather is stormy, it is better to stay a night in Had Rin and wait until the morning. In any case, be sure to wrap your valuables and luggage in plastic rubbish bags, as they will usually get wet at this time of year. If the sea is flat like glass, you don’t need to cover them. You can expect to get a little wet as well. “Dry Bags”can be bought in Bangkok or Had Rin if you have a laptop or other valuables (recommend this) . Do not to wear your best clothes for the last part of the journey. You will be dropped off on Had Tien Beach, directly onto the beach and will have to carry your own luggage. . Students have often been surprised to arrive wet and with alot of luggage to carry themselves along the beach, it can be heavy.

Truck: There is now a road from Baan Tai (between Tong Sala and Had Rin) to Had Tien. This is an alternative when the boats don’t go or when the waves are big. If they are driving, you can find them at the Had Rin ferry dock around when the ferries (Had Rin Queen) arrive. Be prepared for a fairly rough ride. They will drop you off in front of the Sanctuary in Had Tien.

From Had Tien to the Yoga Terrace: 

Important notes: We are NOT at the Sanctuary, so use these directions below!  Ask for Why Nam Beach, a 5-10 minute walk from Had Tien.

From Had Tien Beach, you will walk along the path going through the coconut grove away from the Sanctuary, parallel to the sea, which should be on your right. Walk for a few minutes, follow the path up the hill toward Why Nam Beach (you will see signs). Once you are at the top/there will be steps going down to Why Nam. You will see the Yoga Terrace halfway down the steps to your right, on the cliffs.

 Koh Phangan Accommodation

This information is from 2016. I’ve left it as a guideline and is probably very outdated.
I don’t do bookings or travel arrangements. 
Note that it's difficult to find accommodation around the full moon.

 Had Tien
Walk away from Had Tien Beach with the Sanctuary area on your left. Keep following the path and you will see signs on ahead. Here you will find “Family” and “Love-Lip” Bungalows; both have basic bungalows set back on a hillside walk. Love-lip also has a dormitory . Beam Bungalows toward the far back of the coconut grove (on the way to Why Nam) has overpriced bungalows and a dormitory; be forewarned that you’ll have the nearby Friday night music all night since it’s closest to the party site. (Do not pay Beam in advance, by the way! ) The Had Tien Resort just next to the Sanctuary has decidedly basic bungalows and some very run-down ones as well; they are popular so they’re often full. They will let you keep your bag there for 1-2 hrs to look for something else if they’re full. The Sanctuary itself has the best amenities and style in the area, but is also the most expensive “Spice” has rather nice bungalows, usually booked.

                             Why Nam
Nice bungalows with a sea view, 2000-3000 baht. Under new management, updated.

Haad Yuan   
“Bambú” is set in a nice garden and on the rocks, under new management in 2024.
Follow the wooden walkway toward Had Yuan. Once you’re on Had Yuan beach, you have “Big Blue” Bungalows, which are well-kept
and have a range of accomodation from standard bungalows to a 2-rm house. Further down the beach is a relatively new resort,”Pariya”
with nicer amenities and a pool  (info/booking available online.. Past the resort is “Barcelona”, which has the most spacious bungalows of all the
beaches, most are standard but there are fancier ones as well, nice views Finally, there is another wooden walkway with 3 different groups of
bungalows on the beach.
“Eden” on the path between Had Tien and Had Yuan (10 mins walk) has simple bungalows, not recommended (poor condition, party/drinking vibe)