Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Koh Phangan

The gorgeous Koh Phangan sits in the Gulf of Thailand, just north of Koh Samui. It’s the birthplace of Thailand’s original and wildly famous Full Moon Party. However, the island celebrates and hosts some or the other party on most days of the year. Albeit small, the gay scene in Koh Phangan is fast-growing, keeping in line with Thailand’s accepting and liberal culture. Today, there are more gay friendly hotels in Koh Phangan than we can count on our fingers. There’s even a lovely and secluded gay beach on the western side of the island, and you can see a young gay crowd. What’s more, it’s even a much-loved nudist spot!

Even though Koh Phangan’s gay scene isn’t as large as the neighboring Koh Samui‘s, it nevertheless makes for a fabulously languid gay beach destination. Moreover, Koh Phangan is also more than just a party destination. It’s home to lush tropical forests, an array of exotic flora and fauna, and stunning picturesque beaches. In fact, the Top 12 Things To Do In Koh Phangan include everything from hiking and scuba diving to exploring the island’s night markets and its many beaches. So, the island also draws ecologically-minded gay travelers as well as those looking to enjoy a laidback vacation. To that end, here are the top 11 gay friendly hotels in Koh Phangan.

Panviman Resort Koh Phangan

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There’s something about the Panviman Resort that says ‘welcoming seclusion,’ and how. The gay hotel in Koh Phangan lies on a headland between the crescent-shaped beaches of Thong Nai Pan Yai and Noi on the northeastern coast. With a lush jungle canopy in the background and the cerulean waters of the Gulf of Thailand out front, secluded serenity has never been better.

Panviman is the first property on Koh Phangan and features both Thai and modern touches since it was built in stages. The contemporary boutique hotel boasts a private northern stretch of beach, framed by the craggy headlands. So, you can rent kayaks and go off exploring on your own. The freeform infinity pool with loungers offers excellent sea views, as does the restaurant on the water’s edge. In fact, you can order both cocktails and snacks by the pool from the Pool Deck and Cool Sands bar. Located halfway up the hill, the six-room spa feels like a world away from the world. Moreover, the gym is small, but a compact one. If you’re staying during the Full Moon Party, the shuttle bus will wait for you until 2 a.m.

Featuring traditional Lanna architecture, the rooms and villas here are all modern but could be better. The best of the lot is the pool villas that face the Thong Nai Pan Yai beach, complete with whirlpool tubs and large balconies. Nevertheless, all rooms feature all the usual amenities, complete with Bose sound systems and iPod docking stations.

The Sunset Hill Resort

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Relax in splendid luxurious isolation at the Sunset Hill Resort, a fantastic gay friendly hotel in Koh Phangan on the western coast. The upscale, contemporary resort is perched on a hillside above Haad Chaophao, a scenic stretch of beach, and boasts one of the best views in Koh Phangan.

The resort with its tower-style structures feels like a swish European retirement home in the middle of Thailand. The Thai touches feel minimalist; think Buddhist carvings and statues around the buildings and in the garden. The highlight is definitely the infinity pool, followed by the lovely restaurant and poolside bar. In fact, you can even borrow books from the restaurant to read by the pool. Besides organized tours, the resort even has a shuttle that takes you to the serene Secret Beach as well as the Haad Yao village for free.

However, it’s the rooms and suites that are the focus here. You can spy 180-degree-views of the Gulf of Thailand from almost every balcony. Moreover, the rooms are all sprawling with high-tech amenities and spotless modern bathrooms.

Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas

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For a lavish, splurge-worthy LGBTQ stay, there’s no better gay hotel in Koh Phangan than Anantara Rasananda. The slick five-star resort is as opulent and grand as island living gets. It sits smack dab in the center of half-moon shaped and utterly swimmable Thong Nai Pan Noi beach on the northeastern end of the island. So, grab one of the free paddle boards and kayaks available, and explore the region to your heart’s content.

All structures at the resort are ensconced in lush tropical vegetation and are connected via narrow wooden bridges across beautiful waterways. The slightly unkempt wilderness and top-notch aesthetic standards make for one heady mixture, and you truly feel cut off from the world. There’s everything from complimentary yoga sessions to a decadent spa which has a separate sala just for manicures and pedicures! Dig into home-cooked food at the beachside bistro or head to the (rare) Japanese restaurant. If you’re here with your partner, then the resort even arranges for private dinners on the beach.

The best part about the rooms and villas is that they all have private plunge pools, making them the epitome of luxury. The contemporarily-designed Thai-style accommodations feature plush beds swathed in mosquito nets, comfy seating corners and all creature comforts of luxury hotels. The villa bathrooms even have outside showers.

Mad Monkey Hostel

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There are few Southeast Asian backpacker chains that are as famous and popular as Mad Monkey. And the gay friendly Mad Monkey Hostel Koh Phangan might just become your favorite hotel offering from the Mad Monkey fleet. One of the most popular party hostels in Southeast Asia, Mad Monkey ups the ante on backpacker living with a well-rounded experience. The hostel lies a mere five-minute walk from the Thongsala Pier and ‘makes’ the party atmosphere.

To begin with, there’s a large, buzzing pool that’s the perfect place to cool down and for meet-cutes. Guzzle a beer or two while swapping travel stories with fellow travelers. The hostel also offers a ton of tours, both party and non-party ones. Moreover, the in-house restaurant and bar serve excellent fare along with lots of cheap drink specials every night. When it comes to accommodations, you can choose from dorms with shared bathrooms and private rooms with ensuite ones. For a budget stay, the rooms feature a slew of facilities including a TV and a fridge, and even a tea/coffee maker!

So, if you’re looking for something one-of-a-kind rather than the run-of-the-mill, then Mad Monkey is, undoubtedly, the best place to be.

The Coast Resort

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LGBTQ party monsters, The Coast Resort is for you. This fabulous, adults-only gay hotel in Koh Phangan lies on the southern end of the island, a stone’s throw from the site of the Full Moon Parties. It lies on a quiet-ish stretch of the beach, which is close to and yet far enough from all-night entertainment and music for a fitful sleep.

The contemporarily-designed resort boasts a striking orange-and-grey palette, complete with tropical gardens and uncluttered walkways. The gorgeous infinity-esque pool with orange sun loungers, beach bags, and parasols and a swim-to bar is a great place to lounge. The alfresco restaurant right beside it serves everything from Western to local Thai fare. Besides a gym, the resort even has afternoon yoga classes daily. Plus, the beach is right there, and you can even borrow free kayaks from the resort. If you’re staying here during the Full Moon Party week, then you need to book a minimum of four-five nights. That said, you have access to sunset warm-up parties cheap drinks, and DJs.

All rooms are expansive with balconies and a bevy of modern creature comforts including a minibar. Some bathrooms even have bathtubs, of which a few lie hedonistically on the balcony.

Loyfa Natural Resort

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Are you looking for a wellness-focused gay friendly hotel in Koh Phangan that features barefoot luxury? There’s no place better than Loyfa Natural Resort on Koh Phangan’s quiet western coast. In fact, the resort blends in beautifully among the wellness, mindfulness, and yoga centers around and boasts its own private beach. The best part? It’s owned by a Buddhist monk who offers meditation retreats at a temple nearby!

With 52 simple yet elegant rooms and bungalows spread across a rocky, lush hillside, Loyfa oozes a beguiling simplicity. Pastel-green structures are peppered with traditional Thai décor and silk tapestries that lend a luxurious look. The two pools, one saltwater, take center stage and offer sweeping views of the beach too. The spa, albeit small, is an open-air one right by the water and is an unmissable experience. If you’re all about the beach, then there’s free kayaks and even a volleyball net. Plus, the in-house travel agency even rents cars and motorbikes and organizes farm, scuba diving, and snorkeling tours. The owner, who was ordained as a Buddhist monk, now conducts Vipassana retreats at a small Buddhist temple nearby. Wrapping up the facilities is the poolside restaurant that even offers a nightly seafood barbeque.

Despite being a budget resort, all rooms, bungalows, and poolside suites are spacious, have spotless bathrooms, and plush beds. Moreover, they come with all mod-cons plus a few frills like free Wi-Fi, minibars, and more.

Buri Rasa Village Koh Phangan

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How’d you like to live in a gay hotel in Koh Phangan that’s designed like a small village? Welcome to Buri Rasa Village on the northeastern edge of the island, a luxurious resort with European-style structures with Thai touches. The rainforest rising behind the resort gives it a lingering sense of isolation. Plus, you can put the free kayaks and paddleboards to good use, with the Thong Nai Pan Noi beach right out front. What’s more, you can even arrive here directly by speedboat from Koh Samui.

‘Local’ is the running theme at the resort, which not only uses reclaimed wood from traditional Thai houses but also features artwork by a local artist. Even then, these unique aspects feel quite at home in the luxurious ambiance, complete with refined and personal service. Lounge on the daybeds under the yellow umbrellas at the free-form pool, after which a visit to the lovely open spa is a must. The on-site restaurant and bar are perfect for everything from breakfast to sundowner cocktails to dinners. Finally, the resort even dishes out a bunch of complimentary classes including Thai language and head massage ones.

The rooms are nothing short of perfect with oversized beds, a flourish of modern amenities, and smart Thai touches. The ground-floor rooms have patios facing either the garden or the beach. The ones upstairs, on the other hand, have huge balconies that make you linger sans making any effort.

Salad Buri Resort & Spa

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The gay friendly Salad Buri Resort & Spa hotel offers quieter beachside luxury at a wallet-friendly price in Koh Phangan. It lies on the serene white sands of the Haad Salad Beach on the northwestern side of the island, with stunning views of the Gulf of Thailand.

The lovely resort features low-lying white villas with pagoda-style roofs centered around a charming lagoon with a bridge. Traditional Thai touches like satin fabrics, carved wood details, and wicker furniture lend charm to the place. Of all the facilities, the teal-hued, three-tiered infinity pool is the perfect, fringed by loungers and sun umbrellas. Although the beach here has no sunbeds, it’s a pretty and quiet place to chill. The on-site restaurant serves excellent local and international fare, while you can even enjoy a traditional Thai massage in the rooms or by the beach.

All 48 appealing rooms and villas feature all standard and elevated mod-cons, but the bathrooms are the best facet. The upgraded rooms, especially, feature terraces with hot tubs and stunning ocean views. The best of the lot is the Lagoon Pool Villas and Private Pool Villas, both of which have private pools.

Kupu Kupu Phangan

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Are you on your honeymoon or a romantic getaway on Koh Phangan? Then we’d highly suggest that you look no further than the utterly romantic Kupu Kupu, one of the most sensually beautiful gay hotels in Koh Phangan. The resort sits on the quiet Nai Wok beach on the uncrowded southwestern edge of the island. It boasts a mesmerizing collection of Balinese-style beach villas set in a tropical garden and overlooking the beach. The best part? Most of the lavish villas have their own pools!

Kupu Kupu is a welcome departure from the usual Thai beach resorts, with the villas arranged alongside a rectangular pool that’s further lined by salas perfect for a siesta. Or, you could grab one of the kayaks and head to the tranquil beach. The atmospheric spa is one perfect place to unwind, while the small but compact gym is perfect for working out. Moreover, there are even Thai cooking classes, a two-hour sunset cruise, and a three-hour snorkeling cruise on the offer. The restaurant is superb, and you can even book romantic dinners in a gazebo on the beach or in the salas by the poolside.

Most of the suites and villas have dreamy tropical private pools, besides romantic four-poster beds, moody lighting, and all other usual amenities. Moreover, the immaculate bathrooms even spot gorgeous freestanding marble tubs large enough for two.

Hotel Secret Garden

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If you want to stay in a budget gay friendly hotel in Koh Phangan close to the capital Thongsala, then head to the Secret Garden. The bare-boned, but beautifully landscaped resort comprises a bunch of guest houses and villas at a very wallet-friendly price. The best part? The town center of Thongsala is a 10-minute walk, including the fabulous gay bar of For You. Even though it’s a budget place, Secret Garden features a stunning, spotless blue pool lined by beach bags and sun loungers, It’s surrounded by lush island vegetation and is one cozy little place to lounge. The bar is perfect for light meals and cocktails, perfect for beginning your evening revelries in town.

All villas here feature kitchens, which is a blessing if you’re on a tighter budget. So, you can whip up cheap meals right within your villa. What’s more, every villa has a cozy front porch, making it the perfect place for a cup of tea or glass of wine in the evening.

Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa

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The gorgeous Santhiya Resort & Spa just north of the Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach is one of the top gay hotels in Koh Phangan. The quiet hillside location plays a huge part in its appeal, as do the sweeping views and the striking architecture and facilities around the resort. What’s more, you arrive here in the resort’s private speedboat!

Exquisite woodwork and cravings are defining characteristics of Santhiya, whose owner is something of an art devotee. So, you’ll see the detailed wood design and carvings in refinished and reclaimed wood, right from tables to Ramayana scenes on the lobby columns. The standout facility is the beachside pool, complete with a faux cascading waterfall as the backdrop. Moreover, there’s an even prettier ocean-view infinity pool with floating boat-shaped loungers uphill. Both restaurants boast amazing sea views as well as excellent food and poolside services. Plus, there’s also a small spa, a Muay Thai boxing area, a yoga room, and a fitness center, apart from a roster of organized activities.

Thoughtful details like fresh-smelling Eucalyptus salts, beach bags, and water bottles in tiny Thai outfits are what elevates the experience at Santhiya. Plush beds and a flourish of high-tech amenities aside, it’s the roomy bathrooms with bathtubs that are the highlight. What’s more, all rooms have outdoor spaces, while the pool villa suites have private plunge pools.

Get Some Culture in Koh Phangan:

• Full Moon Party – This is ‘the’ event that’s single-handedly made Koh Phangan famous! The all-night beach party takes place on the night after, before, or of every full moon and is extremely LGBT friendly. 

Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Koh Phangan:

• For You Guesthouse – An amazing B&B (red bed and bar) right in the middle of Koh Phangan. It’s gay-owned and extremely gay friendly, and the cocktail bar is all about delicious foods and drinks. 
• Alcove Koh Phangan – This gay-owned bistro is the best choice for a date place or meeting place for gay travelers.

Best Gay Saunas in Koh Phangan:

• There isn’t a gay sauna in Koh Phangan. However, who needs a sauna when the whole island is one amazing sauna?