Major city · Thailand
Ban Kai
Skip Ban Kai as a base unless you want to be 10 min from the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin and 5 min from the Half Moon Party at Ban Tai; otherwise stay in quieter parts of Ko Pha-ngan.
Ban Kai is a strip of bungalows and beach bars on the southwest coast of Ko Pha-ngan, close to the island's two biggest party beaches. It has no major sights of its own — you come here for the party proximity, not the beach. Most visitors stay 1–3 nights around a Full Moon or Half Moon event, then move to a quieter bay.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Feb–Sep (dry season on the Gulf coast)
- avoid Nov–Jan (rainy season, though parties still run)
- Airport
- USM
- Nights
- 1–3
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ban Kai191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ban Kai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyBan Kai is generally safe, but party nights attract theft and scams.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 ambulance · 1155 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportUSM Samui Airport (On Ko Samui; then a ferry to Ko Pha-ngan (Thong Sala pier), about 30 min by taxi + 30 min ferry).
- Getting aroundWalking covers the beachfront; a rented scooter (about ฿250–400 (≈ US$8–13)/day) is the best way to reach Haad Rin, Ban Tai or Thong Sala.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- USM Samui Airport (On Ko Samui; then a ferry to Ko Pha-ngan (Thong Sala pier), about 30 min by taxi + 30 min ferry)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Feb–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C) low), wettest Oct (17 rain days), driest Feb (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Ban Kai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
6 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
3 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
4 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
7 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walking covers the beachfront; a rented scooter (about ฿250–400/day) is the best way to reach Haad Rin, Ban Tai or Thong Sala. Taxis (songthaews) cost ฿100–200 for short hops.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 10–15 min
Walk or scooter, about 10 min
Full Moon Party beach; also has daytime swimming and restaurants.
Door to door: 5–10 min
Walk or scooter, about 5 min
Half Moon Party location; quieter during the day.
Thong Sala
goDoor to door: 15–20 min
Scooter or taxi, about 15 min
Main pier, market, ATMs and ferry connections.
Bottle Beach
cautionDoor to door: 45 min–1 h
Taxi to Chalok Lam then longtail boat, or scooter via dirt road
Secluded beach; rough road in wet season.
Door to door: 30–40 min
Scooter or taxi, about 30 min
Two beautiful bays with upscale resorts and good snorkelling.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Ban Kai beachfront
Bungalows directly on the sand; closest to the party action, but noise can be high.
Inland Ban Kai
Quieter and cheaper; a 5–10 min walk or scooter ride to the beach.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ฿800–1,500 (≈ US$25–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- ฿1,500–3,000 (≈ US$50–95) excl. bed
- High
- ฿3,000 (≈ US$95)+ excl. bed
Watch out
Safety
- Full Moon and Half Moon weeks: book accommodation months ahead; prices double or triple.
- Theft from bungalows is common during party nights; use a safety deposit box with your own padlock.
- Police station queues the morning after a Full Moon Party can be hours long if you need a theft report for insurance.
- Scooter rental scams: take photos of the bike before riding, and keep your passport elsewhere.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance
- 1669
- Tourist police
- 1155
Pocket card
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Ban KaiBan Kai
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ไปที่อยู่นี้ครับ/ค่ะTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance1669
- Tourist police1155
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Scooter rental per day: ฿250–400 (≈ US$8–13) (check)
- Taxi Ban Kai → Haad Rin: ฿100–200 (≈ US$4–7) (check)
- Ferry Ko Samui → Ko Pha-ngan: ฿300–600 (≈ US$10–19) (check)
Say or show
- สวัสดี — Hello (sà-wàt-dee)
- ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khàawp-khun)
- เท่าไหร่ — How much? (thâo-rài)
- แพงไป — Too expensive (phaaeng bpai)
- ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the toilet? (hâwng náam yùu thîi-nǎi)
- ไม่เข้าใจ — I don't understand (mâi khâo-jai)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ban Kai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Feb–Sep (dry season on the Gulf coast) · avoid Nov–Jan (rainy season, though parties still run) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Ban Kai
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