Wok Tum, Koh Phangan: A Neighbourhood Guide to Wok Tum and Srithanu
Where Wok Tum and Srithanu are, what they feel like, and the practical things you need to know before you arrive.
The short answer: Wok Tum, Koh Phangan, is a quiet, residential stretch of the island's west coast, the first big bay north of Thong Sala pier, running into Hin Kong and then the yoga village of Srithanu. Expect wide tidal flats, sunsets over the sea every evening, a long road of good restaurants, and everything practical (7-Elevens, ATMs, the island hospital, scooter hire) within a few minutes. Thong Sala, the main town, is about 8 minutes away.
We built our villas in Wok Tum, and we have spent a lot of time on these few kilometres of road. This is the neighbourhood guide we wish we had been given: where things are, what it feels like, and the practical details that make a stay easy.
Quick facts
| Where | West coast of Koh Phangan, north of Thong Sala |
| Order along the coast, south to north | Thong Sala, Wok Tum, Hin Kong, Srithanu, Haad Chao Phao, Haad Son, Haad Yao |
| To Thong Sala pier | About 8 minutes from central Wok Tum; 10 to 20 minutes from Srithanu |
| Beach type | Wide, shallow, reef-fringed bay with a large tidal range |
| Best for | Sunsets, food, yoga, families, remote work, long stays |
| Not for | Late-night parties, swimming straight off the sand at low tide |
| Nearest hospital | Koh Phangan Hospital (government), between Wok Tum and Srithanu |
| Emergency numbers | 1669 (ambulance), 1155 (tourist police) |
Where is Wok Tum, Koh Phangan?
Picture the west coast as one long road heading north from Thong Sala. Within a few minutes you round Cape Hin Nok and the coast opens into a broad bay: this is Wok Tum. It merges, with no real boundary, into Hin Kong, where the road runs right beside the sand for a couple of kilometres. At the far end of Hin Kong the land pushes out into a headland, and that headland and the village behind it is Srithanu (also spelt Sri Thanu or Si Thanu; the village temple is Wat Si Thanu).
Locals use the three names loosely, and addresses overlap. Our own address, for example, is 52/16 Wok Tum, and Hin Kong beach is 2 km, or about 4 minutes, from our gate.
The vibe
Wok Tum: residential and unhurried
Wok Tum feels like part of the island where people actually live. There are temples, small family resorts, a few beach restaurants, Thai homes and gardens, and one of the island's best-loved institutions, PACS (Phangan Animal Care for Strays), the animal hospital and charity at 14/1 Moo 4, Wok Tum, which welcomes volunteers. The bay itself is wide and shallow, with fine pale sand and a coral reef around 300 metres out. At low tide the sea pulls right back and the flats glow at sunset; at high tide it fills in and the water is calm.
Hin Kong: the sunset road
Hin Kong road is the social spine of the area. It runs parallel to the beach, never more than a few metres from it, lined with cafés, restaurants, small shops and bars that face the sunset. Low tide reveals a long expanse of sand and rock where locals collect shellfish; at high tide it is a calm, glassy bay. Our picks on and around this road include Rosy's Neapolitan pizza at La Terrazza (a 3-minute walk from the villas), Oyster Bar for French food (5 minutes on foot), NENA Locanda Italiana (7 minutes on foot), and Romanzo Tropicale, a beachfront Italian on Hin Kong that takes cash only. There is much more in our guide to where to eat on the west coast.
Srithanu: the wellness village
Srithanu has grown over the past twenty years into the centre of the island's yoga, retreat and conscious-living community. Expect yoga shalas and retreat centres (Samma Karuna and Agama among the best known), plant-based cafés and juice bars, organic shops, and a large population of long-stay visitors and remote workers. Two landmarks are worth knowing:
- Zen Beach, where people gather most evenings for an informal sunset drum circle, usually from around 17:30, with musicians, fire spinners and acro-yoga on the sand.
- Laem Son Lake, a freshwater lake in a former tin mine at the northern end of the area, ringed by palms.
Nightlife here means sunset drinks and dinner. Very few places stay open late, which is exactly the point.
Practicalities: what is where
Shops, 7-Eleven and markets
- 7-Eleven: there is one in Srithanu village and another at the end of Hin Kong beach, both useful for SIM top-ups, water, snacks, sun cream and basic pharmacy items. Thong Sala has several more.
- Local shops: small mini-marts, fruit stalls, organic and health-food shops along the main road, especially around Srithanu.
- Thong Sala markets: the island's big food markets are a short drive south. The Saturday Walking Street closes a street in Thong Sala's old town to traffic from about 16:00 to 22:00, and the Phantip night food market, a few hundred metres away, opens every evening from late afternoon (as of October 2026).
- Bigger shopping: Thong Sala has the larger supermarkets, banks, phone shops and pharmacies.
ATMs and money
There are ATMs at and around the 7-Elevens and along the main road in Srithanu, and many more in Thong Sala. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a flat fee on every withdrawal (typically a couple of hundred baht as of 2026), so take out larger amounts less often. Plenty of smaller restaurants, taxis and market stalls are cash only; Romanzo Tropicale is one of them.
Health: hospital, clinics and pharmacies
- Koh Phangan Hospital, the island's only government hospital, sits on the west coast between Wok Tum and Srithanu, a few minutes from either. It handles emergencies and everyday problems; facilities are more basic than the private hospitals and English varies.
- Private hospitals aimed at visitors, with English-speaking staff, are in Thong Sala, including Phangan International Hospital and First Western Hospital. Serious cases can be transferred to Koh Samui or the mainland.
- Pharmacies are easy to find in Thong Sala and along the main road.
- Emergencies: call 1669 for an ambulance anywhere in Thailand, and 1155 for the tourist police. Make sure your travel insurance covers medical evacuation.
Scooter rental and taxis
Scooter rental shops cluster around Thong Sala pier and along the west-coast road, and many hosts can arrange a bike delivered to you. Prices vary by bike and season; check the bike over, photograph any damage, and never hand over your passport as a deposit if you can avoid it.
The legal side matters: you need a motorcycle category on your own licence plus an International Driving Permit, and a helmet for rider and passenger. Police checkpoints are common on the island, and fines for missing paperwork or helmets typically run from 500 to 2,000 baht (as of October 2026). Riding without the right licence can also void your travel insurance.
If you would rather not ride, shared songthaews meet the boats at Thong Sala and charge around 200 baht per person to Srithanu (as of 2026). Grab and Bolt did not operate on Koh Phangan at the time of writing, so save the WhatsApp numbers of a couple of private drivers; we give ours to every guest. Getting here in the first place is covered in our how to get to Koh Phangan guide.
Working remotely
Srithanu is one of the island's remote-work hubs. Inner Space Coworking is near Srithanu, and BeacHub is a beachfront coworking space in Srithanu itself, reached by turning off the main road about 300 metres after the Srithanu 7-Eleven. Most cafés along Hin Kong road and in Srithanu have usable Wi-Fi too. Our breakfast and coffee guide lists the cafés we work from, including Indigo Specialty Coffee Bakery and Common Grounds, both about 5 minutes away.
Thong Sala: your nearby town
Thong Sala is the island's main town and ferry port, and from Wok Tum it is close enough to pop in for an errand. It is where you will find the pier, the banks, the private hospitals, the larger supermarkets and the markets. Balance Specialty Coffee, near Thong Sala, is one of our breakfast picks, about 6 minutes from the villas. Phaeng Waterfall and the Domsila viewpoint, in Than Sadet National Park, are about 4 km inland from town.
Things to do within 15 minutes
- Sunset drinks: Amsterdam Bar on the hill (3 min), Bluerama (3 min), Charlie's (3 min) and Alcove (4 min). See the best sunset spots in Koh Phangan.
- Swim: Haad Son (12 min) and Haad Yao (16 min) are the nearest beaches with proper swimming water. More in the best beaches on the west coast.
- Train and recover: Xantiva (5 min) and Orion Healing (7 min). Our wellness, spa and gym guide has more.
- Play padel: RTF Padel is 3 minutes away; see our padel guide.
- Hike Khao Ra: at 627 m, the island's highest point. The trail starts in Ban Madua Wan, inland from Srithanu; it is steep all the way, so go early with water and proper shoes.
- Visit PACS: the animal charity in Wok Tum takes volunteers; check its website for current hours before you go.
Staying in Wok Tum
Wok Tum suits people who want to be close to everything without being in the middle of it: couples, families, friends travelling together and anyone staying long enough to settle into a routine. Our villas are here for that reason. Each Mira villa has two bedrooms, a private pool, a covered terrace and sun deck, a tropical garden and no shared spaces, 4 minutes from Hin Kong beach and 8 from Thong Sala pier. If it fits your trip, see availability and book direct.
For the wider picture of the coast, from Srithanu to Chaloklum, read our Koh Phangan west coast guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Wok Tum on Koh Phangan?
Wok Tum is on the west coast, the first wide bay north of Thong Sala, the island's main town and ferry pier. It runs into Hin Kong to the north, and Srithanu is on the next headland beyond. Thong Sala pier is about 8 minutes away by road.
Is Wok Tum a good area to stay in Koh Phangan?
It is a good base if you want quiet evenings, sunsets and easy access to Thong Sala, Srithanu and the north-west beaches. It is not a party area, and the bay is shallow and tidal, so for swimming you drive 10 to 15 minutes north to Haad Son or Haad Yao.
Is there a hospital near Wok Tum?
Yes. Koh Phangan Hospital, the island's government hospital, is on the west coast between Wok Tum and Srithanu. Private hospitals with English-speaking staff are in Thong Sala, a short drive south. In an emergency in Thailand, call 1669 for an ambulance.
Are there ATMs and a 7-Eleven in Srithanu and Hin Kong?
Yes. There is a 7-Eleven in Srithanu and another at the end of Hin Kong beach, and ATMs along the main road. Thong Sala has banks, more ATMs and larger shops.
Can you swim at Wok Tum and Srithanu?
Only at high tide, and even then the water is shallow. A reef sits a few hundred metres offshore and the tide range is large, so at low tide the sea pulls far back. For a proper swim, locals drive 10 to 15 minutes north to Haad Son or Haad Yao.
What is the difference between Wok Tum and Srithanu?
Wok Tum and Hin Kong are quieter and more residential, close to Thong Sala, with a long strip of sunset restaurants and bars on Hin Kong road. Srithanu, one headland north, is the island's yoga and wellness village, with retreat centres, plant-based cafés, coworking and the Zen Beach sunset gathering.
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