Category Archive

GENERAL INFO

Classes are continuing on Koh Phangan through mid-May, possibly longer, at the usual time and place as written below..

WHERE: HAD TIEN, KOH PHANGAN, THAILAND

WHEN: classes start early March and will continue through all of April

FEES: 10 Euros per class ( 50 Euros each week) 160 Euros one month

We also accept Thai Baht. Please keep in mind that there are no banks/ATMs/money-changers in the area. The bungalows and cafes do not accept credit cards either, so be sure to bring Baht along. The last ATM/bank is in Had Rin

Mitchell is also a long-time practitioner of Structural Integration ( “Rolfing”) and will be available for sessions.

TO KOH PHANGAN

By Air: look online (Bangkokairways) for flights going to Koh Samui. These range in price from 2,000-3,000 baht/$50-90 US one-way. There are flights every hour. The first and last flight each day are the cheapest. The flight takes about an hour. From the airport, take a shuttle to the Big Buddha pier (5 mins drive). There are ferries going to Had Rin on Koh Phangan at 10 am/1 pm/4pm. The fare is 150 Baht and it takes 50 mins to Had Rin. By Train: there are clean and comfortable sleeper (sleeping berth) trains leaving at around 6 pm from Bangkok’s Hualompong train station. You will arrive in Surat Thani about 12 hours later, and be put on a bus to the 8 am Koh Phangan ferry. The ferry arrives in Tong Sala on Koh Phangan around midday/1 pm. The train/bus/ferry ticket costs about 850 baht to Tong Sala, and can be arranged at most travel agencies in Bangkok one or two days ahead. From Tong Sala, you will take a ’songthaew’ through to Had Rin (100 baht/45 mins ride).By Bus: Buses go from Bangkok every evening, and the ticket price (400-600 Baht) includes the ferry through to Koh Phangan. You will arrive in Tong Sala on the same schedule as the train (see “By Train”). WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE BUSES. Nearly everyone who takes a bus has their luggage looked through and valuables stolen. You will not sleep much or well. It is worth spending the extra money on the train!

Had Rin Note: this is the last place to go to the ATM/bank. No atm or moneychanger on Had Tien..

FROM HAD RIN to HAD TIEN: you will take a long-tail taxi boat to your last stop Had Tien. These are always waiting next to where the Samui ferry drops you off, called “sunset beach”. The fare is 150 baht and the ride is 20-30 minutes.If the weather is bad or the waves are big, both the fare and time will be more.The last boat to Had Tien leaves at about 5 pm, before it gets dark. IF the weather is stormy, it is better to stay a night in Had Rin and wait until the morning. In any case, be sure to wrap your valuables and luggage in plastic rubbish bags, as they will usually get wet at this time of year. If the sea is flat like glass, you don’t need to cover them. You can expect to get a little wet as well. “Dry Bags”can be bought in Bangkok or Had Rin if you have a laptop or other valuables. ‘Best not to wear your best clothes for the last part of the journey. You will be dropped off on Had Tien Beach, and that means on the beach, so you will be carrying your own luggage. If you travel with alot of luggage, you might consider leaving some things in Bangkok (many hotels offer left-luggage facilities) or Samui. Students have often been surprised to arrive wet and with alot of luggage to carry themselves along the beach, so keep this in mind! Apparently, there is now a road from Baan Tai (between Tong Sala and Had Rin) to Had Tien. As it was just built, we have no information about it, but perhaps this is an alternative when the boats don’t go.

Getting to the Yoga Terrace:

A few important notes: we are NOT at the Sanctuary, and they will not help direct you to our classes either, so use these directions or just ask for Why Nam Beach, a 5 minute walk from Had Tien. Classes are no longer at the Had Tien house where Kirsten and Rolf first taught .                                                                                                                                                From Had Tien Beach, you will walk along the path going through the coconuts away from the Sanctuary, parallel to the sea and the sea on your right. Walk for a few minutes, go up the hill toward Why Nam Beach (you will see signs). Once you are at the top/there will be steps going down to Why Nam. You will see the Yoga Terrace on the cliffs to your right. If it’s raining/windy, keep going down the steps to the beach and you will see a yellow space just left of the restaurant. Otherwise, class is in the space on the cliffs.

Most of the accomodation in the Had Tien/Had Yuan/Had Why Nam area is ‘bungalows’, which usually have a double bed, mosquito net, toilet/shower and balcony. These range from 300-600 baht per night, less if you stay longer-term. Most visitors will arrive on Had Tien, leave their bags for an hour at a restaurant, and look around on foot for whatever is available.

Why Nam: quiet, low-key beach. nice bungalows with good views of the sea. 400-500 baht. They do require that you eat minimum one meal per day at the restaurant (not included in the price of course).

Had Tien: Beam Bungalows, on the far side from the Sanctuary, close to Why Nam. They have a range of bungalows, basic to bigger 300-700 baht. They are closest to where the longtail boat drops you off, so many people try here first. Walk straight ahead from the boat drop-off through the coconut grove for 2 mins. “World Nature” has simple, quiet bungalows set back in a garden (250-400 baht). To find them, walk away from Had Tien Beach with the Sanctuary area on your left. Keep following the path and you will see signs on your left. Here you will also find the  ”Family Bungalows”, same price range, nice bungalows. We DO NOT recommend “Love-Lip” Bungalows, which are near to Family and World Nature. The Had Tien Resort just next to the Sanctuary has some nice bungalows and some very run-down ones as well; they are popular so they’re often full, but it’s worth seeing what they have. They will let you keep your bag there for 1-2 hrs to look for something else if they’re full..

Haad Yuan: This is where most people like to stay so the bungalows are often full. “Eden” on the path between Had Tien and Had Yuan (10 mins walk) has simple bungalows (200-400 baht). It’s more of a party atmosphere, loud music, a rougher vibe. “Bamboo Hut” is the favorite for bungalows and food. Nearly always full (350-450 baht). Set in a nice garden. Run by the hospitable “Mr. T”. Worth checking,  just in case. From the Bamboo Hut,  follow the wooden walkway toward Had Yuan and you will see ”Pirate’s Cove” bungalows (300-400 bt) on the cliffs.  Once you’re on Had Yuan beach, you have “Big Blue” Bungalows, which are well-kept (300-1000 bt) and have a range of accomodation from standard bungalows to a 2-rm house. Further down the beach is a new resort, with modern amenities and a pool (Pariya Resort, info/booking available online. $100-250 US) . Past the resort is “Barcelona”, which has the most spacious bungalows of all the beaches, most are standard but there are fancier ones as well, nice views (300- 600 bt). Finally, there is another wooden walkway with 3 different groups of bungalows on the rocks and up the hill that are simple but decent (200-300 bt) and certainly have the nicest views. 

There are three beaches in our area, Had Yuan, Had Tien in the middle, and Had Why Nam .Most visitors just arrive and leave their bags at one of the cafes ,then walk around to see what’s available. The only bungalow that takes reservations is the Sanctuary on Had Tien. Had Why Nam is where the classes are held.  If you stay for a month, most bungalows will negotiate a discount of 50 baht less per night. 

 Had Yuan : the widest beach and most options.The favorites are Bamboo Hut on the rocks on the far right (your back to the sea).Close by and down on the beach  are the Big Blue Bungalows.Barcelona on the left.These are all in the 300-600 baht range for a bungalow with private bathroom.If you follow the wooden path along the rocks past Barcelona you will find simple bungalows w/bath for 150-300 baht.These are rustic but do have the best views.

Had Tien: the Sanctuary is the only place in the area that offers reservations (online)  as well as A/C .Nice bungalows,higher prices.”Beam” Bungalows on the far right range from 300-600 baht,but keep in mind that there is an all-night party nearby on Fridays.World Nature on the Sanctuary side of the coconut grove also has simple huts. Family Bungalows are well-kept. Avoid LoveLip Bungalows. Had Tien Resort also has bungalows close to Why Nam from 200-300 baht.

Why Nam: this is where class is held.  Small, laid-back beach. Bungalows with pretty views range 350-450 baht. To stay here, management requests that you eat at least one meal per day in the restaurant..

To the “shala” once you’ve arrived:  from Had Tien,walk over the ridge to Why Nam,the last small beach.  Take the steps down, and you will see the yoga terrace on your right.  If it’s windy or raining, take the steps down to the beach and look to your left; you will see the other yoga terrace just across from the restaurant.

To Koh Phangan and Had Tien from Bangkok ( by air/ train/ bus)

Air:  go online to www.bangkokair.com     the flight to Samui is 45 minutes. Fares range from 2000 -3800 baht, depending on the time of day. From the Samui airport,you take a shuttle to Big Buddha Pier,5 minutes away. The ticket is 190 Baht and includes the ferry.Ferries to Had Rin (on Koh Phangan) leave at 10:30 am,1 pm and 4pm. The ferry goes to “sunset beach” on Had Rin. This is where to catch the  taxiboats to Had Tien. The boat drivers are usually waiting and you will see the colourful wooden longtail boats to the left. The last boat leaves before sunset, at around 5 pm. 150-200 baht in good weather, 50 baht more when the sea is choppy. If there are waves, then the boats will only go to Had Tien or Had Why Nam.There are also fiberglass motorboats that leave from “sunrise” beach in Had Rin, and these go to Had Yuan (150 baht). Wait if it’s dark or rainy, even if it means staying the night in Had Rin. If it’s a bit rough, we recommend putting your luggage in plastic bags. You can get these at the shop at the pier.     The boats drop you off leg-deep on the beach, so don’t wear your fine shoes or clothes for this  part of the journey !

Train:  there is a 6:30 pm overnight train,clean and comfortable, that leaves from Bangkok’s Hualomphong Station. You can buy a train + ferry ticket package a day in advance(approx.800 baht) from travel agencies on Kao San Rd. You will arrive at 6 am in Surat Thani and catch a connecting bus to the ferry which leaves 8-9 am. You  arrive in Tong Sala on Koh Phangan at 12-1 pm. From here, take a “songthaew”/truck to Had Rin. This is a 45 minute ride and 100 baht.Go to “sunset beach”. From here follow the directions to get to Had Tien as written above (in the ‘air’ section)

Bus: there are cheap overnight bus +ferry combo tickets that take you to Tong Sala on KP, but we recommend that you take the train instead. If you do take the bus , keep your valuables with you on the bus and not in the luggage that goes below. Lots of theft. Take the train!