Is Chaloklum good for diving?

Yes, it's the best base on the island for it. Chaloklum sits closest to Sail Rock, Koh Phangan's top dive site, and boats leave straight from the village, with the crossing to Sail Rock — which sits midway toward Koh Tao — taking around an hour or more. Several well-rated dive centres run daily trips and courses from here, so you can stay and dive without travelling across the island.

Is there nightlife in Chaloklum?

Not really, and that's the appeal. It's a laid-back fishing village with relaxed harbourside restaurants and bars rather than parties or clubs. If you want the Full Moon scene, that's down at Haad Rin in the south; Chaloklum is where people go to wind down.

What's the nearest beach and is it good for swimming?

The main Chaloklum bay beach is calm and shallow but more of a working harbour than a swimming beach. For clearer water and sand, head to nearby Haad Khom (Coral Bay) or Malibu Beach just a few minutes away, both quiet and good for a relaxed swim.

How do I get around from Chaloklum?

Chaloklum is in the far north, so most people rent a scooter to reach the rest of the island. Taxis (shared songthaew pickups) also run to Thong Sala, the main town and ferry pier. Roads in the north are hilly in places, so ride carefully if you're not experienced.

Koh Phangan · neighbourhood

Chaloklum

Chaloklum is Koh Phangan's working fishing village, tucked into a wide semicircular bay at the northern tip of the island. Wooden longtail boats still bob off the pier, racks of squid dry in the sun, and the seafood served at the harbourfront restaurants often came in that morning. It is also the island's diving capital: Chaloklum is the closest launch point for Sail Rock, the famous offshore pinnacle out toward Koh Tao, roughly an hour or more away by boat, so the village is home to several of Phangan's most respected dive centres.

The mood here is slow and genuinely local. There are no full-moon crowds and very little nightlife, just a string of small restaurants and burger joints, a couple of guesthouses, a Muay Thai gym, traditional Thai cooking classes, and beach massage. The main bay beach is calm and shallow rather than postcard-white, but quiet sandy coves like Haad Khom and Malibu Beach sit just minutes away. If the south end of the island is the party and the centre is the convenience, Chaloklum is where you come to dive, eat well, and watch fishing life carry on at its own pace.

Best for Divers, seafood lovers, and travellers wanting a quiet, authentic fishing-village base away from the party scene.

37 rated places in Chaloklum.

In-depth area guide · 6 min read

Chaloklum, Koh Phangan: Complete Area Guide

Chaloklum is Koh Phangan's working fishing village and diving capital — the closest point on the island to Sail Rock, with longtail boats to Bottle Beach and a genuinely local harbour atmosphere far from the party scene.

Chaloklum

Hotels & Stays · 14

Tours & Activities · 17

Wellness & Retreats · 2

Restaurants · 4

Chaloklum, answered

Guides to plan your stay

Chaloklum, Koh Phangan: Complete Area Guide

Diving & Snorkelling on Koh Phangan

Getting Around Koh Phangan

Beaches around Chaloklum

Bottle Beach

Chaloklum Beach

Haad Khom

Malibu Beach

Other areas