Thong Sala

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Thong Sala ("Tong saLaah") is the principal town and administrative centre of Ko Pha Ngan, an island in the Gulf of Thailand. While Haad Rin hosts the Full Moon Party and attracts many of the island's more hedonistic visitors, Thong Sala is mostly used by tourists as a ferry terminal and jumping off point rather than a destination in itself.

The port area has three main piers, one of which is able to handle medium to large sized container and passenger craft while the others deal with the smaller passenger and dive boats that flit between the islands of Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Samui and Ko Tao, and the mainland ports at Surat Thani and Chumphon, the latter connecting with the daily bus service to Bangkok.

All roads on the island lead to Thong Sala and anyone planning on visiting the south, west and north coasts of the island - basically anywhere other than Haad Rin - would be well advised to head for Thong Sala and avoid the rollercoaster jeep-taxi ride from Haad Rin to the main part of the island. Motorbike rental is available at many of the guesthouses in the town, which largely cater to those waiting for early boats or arriving on late ones. There is not much of a "scene" for backpackers or bungalow joints in the town itself but a few pubs have popped up and the signs advertising Premiership football and English breakfasts are visible enough on several sidestreets. The town is also the best place on the island to find banking / currency services, pharmacies and assistance from the authorities.