Paddling adventure around Koh Phangan
Since I have been living on the island, I’ve dreamed of paddling around it on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP). However, I would never embark on such a journey alone. I waited to meet the right partner, and he finally arrived. Yossi came to visit the island, and we connected. We decided to set out on the journey, knowing that we would paddle from point to point based on the sea conditions.
On Monday at 6:30 AM, we gathered at the starting point—Zen Beach. Yossi was organized with a waterproof bag, spare clothes, bananas, water, a hat, and his laptop to work on during breaks along the way. On the other hand, I didn’t believe that this whole journey was really starting, so I only equipped myself with long pants to avoid chafing, a hat, water, and a phone—that’s all.
We set out for a peaceful paddle at 7 AM, enjoying stunning views towards Koma beach. After about an hour, we reached our destination, not expecting it to be so easy. We took a break with a pineapple and coconut shake and decided to continue to the next beach—Chaloklum Bay. The tailwind helped us progress, with amazing views, flying birds, pleasant sunshine, and gentle waves. As we reached Chaloklum Bay, the wind shifted against us, so we had to paddle faster to make progress. Battling the wind and currents, we decided not to stop at the bay and continue to the next beach.
We were both pleased with the pace of our progress and couldn’t believe we completed this section in such a short time—just 3 hours including the break. Now, we needed to decide whether to continue to the next point or stop and continue tomorrow. The sea conditions were good, with a light headwind and reasonable heat, so we decided to proceed to Bottle Beach. We paddled, accompanied by the magic of nature, arriving at a channel, cliffs, and places where nature is at its peak without human touch. At Bottle Beach, I told Yossi, “Let’s not stop here; let’s move on to the next destination,” and Yossi agreed. We continued to Thong Nai Pan, a bay just a few kilometers away. We paddled for our enjoyment, Yossi and I, with no other people in the water. The view of the island from the water is breathtaking, making you want to just look around, smile, breathe, and enjoy the silence.
When we arrived at Thong Nai Pan Bay, you probably know me by now—I immediately suggested to Yossi, “Let’s not stop here; let’s continue to the next bay, Than Sadet.” Yossi went along with it. It was noon, and it was starting to get hot. We remembered to drink and kept paddling. The path became a bit harder this time. The scenery was spectacular, with views of wild nature, which made it easier to continue paddling despite the increasing difficulty. We were on the water for over 4 hours. It was hot, and fatigue began to show. We encouraged each other, saying we’d probably arrive after the next cliff, after the next mountain, after the next big rock… and the path continued, and we still hadn’t reached our destination. Along the way, we saw a small, amazing island and huge rocks in the water, feeling grateful to witness the scenery. Suddenly, the bay we aimed to reach appeared—a tremendous sense of relief. We arrived at Than Sadet, joy and smiles reaching the sky—we couldn’t believe we were here after 5 hours of paddling. Yossi decided to sleep in a bungalow on the beach that night, and I decided to return home with my SUP. The fatigue was immense.
The next morning, I decided not to join the continuation and instructed Yossi to pay attention to the wind conditions, as the forecast predicted a side wind that could make paddling challenging. Yossi went on alone, and I felt disappointed in myself for not continuing. I decided that the following day, I would continue paddling with Yossi.
We set a meeting point, and by 7 AM, I was already on the water waiting. It was going to be a long day until we finished the final leg, and the excitement was at its peak. Along Ban Tai Beach, the water was very shallow, and the wind was strong, creating poor conditions for paddling. We paddled while sitting, and at times, we even carried our boards by hand. Passing the port was also challenging because there was no way through the water, so we had to carry our boards up the stairs and walk with them for dozens of meters—let’s not forget how hot it is in Thailand. Afterward, we stopped at a café for a refreshment break. Then, we set out for the final paddle, roughly 5 kilometers to the finish point. The adrenaline was at its peak, and the feeling was amazing. The scenery was beautiful, the sea was calm, and the water colors were stunning. We made it; we arrived.
