General activities

Watersports are the main pastime along Ko Pha Ngan's north coast, be it diving, snorkelling or just laying around on the beach.

Aside from the beach there is not a lot going on in the sleepy fishing village of Chaloklum, but the maritime roots have spawned a couple of PADI certification and scuba dive centres, Chaloklum Diving (http://www.chaloklum-diving.com)The Dive Inn (http://www.the-diveinn.com) and Lotus Diving (http://www.lotusdiving.com). Otherwise, the swimming conditions are good at high tide away from the central fishing pier, and flopping in the sun is always a viable option.

A unique local offering is the Chinese Temple just outside town to the south. A quick motorbike ride leads you to the beautifully decorated temple with some great Buddha images and a whole lot of eye-popping colourful style. Look for the archway entry up the hill to your right as you head south.

The primary activities on Haad Khom include sunbathing and swimming, and locals boast the best snorkelling on Ko Pha Ngan can be found along Haad Khom's nearby coral reef. Snorkels can be rented at most bungalow setups for about 50B/day.

For the more adventurous traveller, take a hike to Bottle Beach. The mountainous jungle trek takes about two hours each way, but the trail is poorly maintained and provides more of a challenge than you may expect. Take plenty of water and proper shoes, and leave plenty of time for the return trip. Night-time treks through the dark jungle might make for a good story later but are not the best way to spend an evening. If you're heading the other way, the trailhead is located near Smile Beach Bungalow — you'll probably need to ask the staff to help you find it..

The swimming on Bottle Beach is excellent in the deep, clear water, and the soft sand on this wide beach lends itself to sunbathing. Beach volleyball nets are strung at Bottle Beach and Bottle Beach 2. Kayaks can also be rented (100-120B/hour) at Haad Khuad Bungalow for exploring around the bay and the undeveloped coast surrounding it.