Evolve Health Club

Evolve Health Club
Evolve Health Club is a professional gym in Koh Phangan. It is a large and professional outfit with a multi-discipline focus and a young dedicated team. The gym is well resourced and is offering casual drop-in sessions, personalised fitness regimes, training camps as well as regular drop-in classes.

The gym is located on the main beach road to Srithanu, between the Family Mart and Karma Kafe. See the map below for details:

The gym opened in 2016 and had a few good years of trading before the corona virus pandemic shook the world.
Evolve did have 5 trainers. It is hard to say how many will remain when the dust settles on the pandemic. The trainers encompass a range of skills from Muay Thai training, personal fitness instructor, yoga teacher and kettle bell instructor. The team are hugely experienced and motivated for all things fitness and health.

The gym itself has plenty of space for those who want to train by themselves as well as for those who wish to join a group lesson. It is all a short walk from the beach for those fitness fanatics who get antsy sitting on the beach all day with their partner. For those staying nearby in Srithanu it is worth enquiring at the reception about discounts either on rooms or health programs.

The Fitness Classes are run by a former athlete qualified in cross fit. Prices start at $49 for 15 to 30 sessions a month. The same person runs the yoga classes. There is a beginners’ class and a community class. The same prices apply as with the fitness classes. Finally, there are Olympic and power lifting regular sessions. They have plenty of weights and machines to build muscle, again prices start at $49 per month.

There is a small café in the reception area where they serve cold drinks and snacks.

The difference between Evolve Health Club and other gyms in Koh Phangan is that the focus is neither on Muay Thai or on yoga. Many of the gyms in Thongsala are primarily for people to learn how to fight, with a few just doing weights or cardio. Either that or the focus is on doing and teaching yoga. For those for whom Muay Thai and yoga are not the primary consideration should consider Evolve, especially if they are serious about getting into shape.
And as a final note, being ‘serious’ is very much the mood of the gym. The place has plenty of inspirational quotes on the walls, imploring participants not to cheat their fitness regimes, to push themselves. This is not a place to smoke a joint and sit on a cycle machine.

Contact Details

Address: 17-4 SeeThanu, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand
Telephone: +66 95 858 3810
Website: http://evolvegymkohphangan.com/

Tickets for Koh Phangan to Chumphon

Ferry Koh Phangan - Chumphon ฿ 1,100–1,250 3h 15m – 4h 30m
  •   Speedboat 08:30, 13:00

Tickets for Koh Phangan to Krabi

Bus Koh Phangan - Krabi ฿ 1,200 4h 30m
  •   Express 08:00, 11:00
Taxi Koh Phangan - Krabi ฿ 7,810–9,950 5h – 9h
  •   Comfort
  •   Luxury VIP Van
  •   Luxury SUV
  •   Van 9pax
  •   Economy
  •   SUV 4pax
Ferry Koh Phangan - Krabi ฿ 680–1,200 5h – 11h
  •   Express 05:00, 05:30, 11:00, 11:30
  •   Ferry 05:00, 08:00, 11:00
  •   Sleeper Boat + Van 22:00
  •   Speedboat + Express Bus 08:00
Van Koh Phangan - Krabi ฿ 940 9h
  •   Regional 14pax 05:00, 08:00

Krabi has been a backdrop in several films. The coastal scenery in Krabi is well worth a visit. It is a pleasant seaside town and a perennial favorite with tourists, offering good value accommodation and facilities.

It takes 8 hours or 8.5 hours to travel from Koh Phangan to Krabi. The journey starts at the Thongsala ports. The Raja Car Ferry offers joint ferry and bus tickets to Phuket. Departure times are 5 am, 8 am and 11 am. If you take the earliest ferry you can be in Krabi 1 pm. It is a very manageable journey that avoids an uncomfortable overnight experience. The cost per ticket is just 590 Thai Baht.

Tickets for Koh Phangan to Koh Tao

Ferry Koh Phangan - Koh Tao ฿ 500–600 1h – 2h
  •   High Speed Ferry 12:30
  •   Speedboat 08:30, 15:00
  •   Catamaran 13:00, 16:00

Tickets for Koh Phangan to Koh Samui

Ferry Koh Phangan - Koh Samui ฿ 250–20,800 30m – 2h 30m
  •   High Speed Ferry 08:00, 10:30, 12:00, 16:00
  •   Speedboat 08:00, 11:00, 12:30, 15:30, 16:30
  •   Ferry 09:30, 16:00
  •   Taxi + Private Speedboat 4 Pax + Taxi 00:00
  •   Taxi + Private Speedboat 10 Pax + Taxi 00:00
  •   Taxi + Private Speedboat 20 Pax + Taxi 00:00
  •   Private Speedboat + Taxi 00:00
  •   Express 08:00, 12:00
  •   Private Speedboat 4pax 00:00
  •   Private Speedboat 10pax 00:00
  •   Private Speedboat 20pax 00:00

Tickets for Koh Phangan to Hat Yai

Bus Koh Phangan - Hat Yai ฿ 690 10h
  •   Express 05:00
Ferry Koh Phangan - Hat Yai ฿ 680–1,150 9h 30m – 13h
  •   Express 05:30
  •   Sleeper Night Boat + Van 22:00

Tickets for Koh Phangan to Hua Hin

Bus Koh Phangan - Hua Hin ฿ 1,350 8h 45m
  •   Express 13:00
Taxi Koh Phangan - Hua Hin ฿ 11,375–12,500 10h
  •   Comfort
  •   Luxury VIP Van
  •   Luxury SUV
Ferry Koh Phangan - Hua Hin ฿ 1,650 8h 45m – 9h 30m
  •   VIP 08:30, 13:00

Tickets for Koh Phangan to Phuket

Bus Koh Phangan - Phuket ฿ 1,400 7h 30m
  •   Express 11:00
Taxi Koh Phangan - Phuket ฿ 7,260–9,950 9h – 12h
  •   Comfort
  •   Luxury VIP Van
  •   Luxury SUV
  •   Van 9pax
  •   Economy
  •   SUV 4pax
Ferry Koh Phangan - Phuket ฿ 710–1,060 7h 30m – 15h
  •   Ferry 05:00, 08:00, 11:00
  •   Express 08:00, 11:00
  •   Sleeper Night Boat + Van 22:00

One of the highlights of a visit to Thailand is indubitably Phuket. The beaches are gorgeous, the scenery like a film backdrop, and eye watering prices to match. Yes, Phuket is the most expensive place in Thailand, but it is also a place of stunning natural beauty.

Phuket is located on the west coast of Thailand, just south of Koh Phangan. It doesn’t look far away on a map, but the journey takes 10 hours with the Raja Ferry or 9.5 hours with the Phantip Travel company. Both these options involve a ferry followed by a bus journey. They both drop passengers at Phuket Bus Terminal 2.

There aren’t any train lines going from Surat Thani to Phuket. It is possible to get a airplane from Surat Thani to Phuket.

The start of the journey in Koh Phangan is Thongsala. Ferries leave at 5 am, 8 am and 11 am.

Tickets for Koh Phangan to Bangkok

Bus Koh Phangan - Bangkok ฿ 1,180–1,435 11h 45m – 18h 30m
  •   VIP 24 11:00
  •   VIP 32 11:00
  •   Ferry + Van + Bus 14:00
  •   Express 13:00, 14:30
Taxi Koh Phangan - Bangkok ฿ 13,500–19,500 11h
  •   Comfort
  •   Luxury VIP Van
  •   Luxury SUV
Ferry Koh Phangan - Bangkok ฿ 1,650 11h 45m – 12h
  •   VIP 08:30, 13:00
Taxi Koh Phangan - Suvarnabhumi Airport ฿ 13,500–19,500 11h
  •   Comfort
  •   Luxury VIP Van
  •   Luxury SUV
Taxi Koh Phangan - Don Mueang Airport ฿ 13,500–19,500 11h
  •   Comfort
  •   Luxury VIP Van
  •   Luxury SUV

There are plenty of options for getting from Koh Phangan to Bangkok. Unless you take an airplane, the journey involves overnight travel. The cheap ferry and bus options all start in the morning and get you to Bangkok the following evening.

All departures for Bangkok start in Thongsala. Arrange a taxi the night before.

Lomprayah offer a good value joint ticket using its high speed catamaran and a large bus with air-con and sometimes videos. The journey time is 12 hours.

Seatran has a medium-sized boat. They offer a similar service to Lomprayah but slightly cheaper and slight longer (14 hours).

When all services are available, there is also the train option. A bus takes people to the station in Phun Phin (Suratthani). Second or first class sleeper tickets are available. The train option allows for a better night’s sleep but the train journey really drags as Bangkok approaches. The joint ferry/bus/train ticket is a little more expensive than the ferry+bus option.

Most of the joint tickets drop the passengers at the top of Khao San Road.

Remember to keep your valuables with you and not in your main luggage in the hold.

Coronavirus Update for Koh Phangan

Those who spend a lot of time on Koh Phangan or frequently visit the island used to tell anyone who cared to listen that Koh Phangan was a place that prided itself on being a law unto itself. Throughout the years the central authority in Bangkok has been making decrees affecting the island. And the take up has always been patchy.

The notion is that the Thais (aided and abetted by foreigners), especially Southerners in Thaksin supporting areas, often ignored regulations from the government. Parties need licenses – yeah whatever; bars need to shut at midnight – yeah whatever; the consumption of marijuana must be pro-actively discouraged – yeah whatever.

For years local residents have petitioned the authorities on curbing the proliferation of parties in the Bantai area. They are given lip service; and little more.

So, it might have come as a shock when on 26th January police raided the 63 Bar in Koh Phangan that was holding a party. They arrested 89 foreigners of which 6 were British. 22 Thai were also arrested. Everyone caught were given small fines and suspended prison sentences.

Normally the police raid a bar, and most people slip away via the many exits usually available, with an unlucky couple of foreigners being taken away in handcuffs, and the Thais milling around like butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths. Not this time.

As it stands bars and restaurants are open in Koh Phangan. They have to stop selling alcohol by 24.00. Hotels, gyms, spas and massage parlours are open but operate under Covid safety rules. These rules include wearing masks in certain situations.

The reality on the ground is that Thailand closed its airports to international travellers early on in the pandemic in 2020. These rules have now been eased but visitors are made to provide negative covid-19 tests and to spend 14 days in a quarantine hotel, the costs of which fall upon the traveller. These restrictions have deterred all but the most determined and the most idly rich from visiting Koh Phangan.

The foreigners arrested at 63 Bar will have mostly been long stay residents, probably with some financial stake in the island – such as divers, small business owners etc.

The bars, restaurants, gyms, spas and hotels on the island are desperate for the tourists to return to the island. They are also desperate for the Full Moon Party and all the other parties start up again (they were closed in March 2020). Without the monthly influxes of people, rents and salaries cannot be paid. The huge grey and black markets have been decimated.

Expect as 2021 progresses and more people around the world are vaccinated, and somewhat ignorantly consider themselves safe, the clamour will increase for the removal of the quarantine hotel restriction and the return of the parties (with passing nods to social distancing). People will attempt land crossings, illegal parties and the such like to reignite the good times in one of the world’s most famous good time locations.

Currently UK citizens are not allowed to travel abroad except for work, study or emergency reasons. Ministers have indicated that it is too early to book summer holidays. You would be foolish at this stage (February 2021) to book flights to Thailand and hotels in Thailand.

The Thai government has ordered 63 million doses of coronavirus vaccine, much of them either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Chinese Sinovac vaccine. The roll out of the vaccination program will be a challenge to the health infrastructure of the country, not least because access to some island and rural communities is problematic, and because many inhabitants of the Kingdom simply go unregistered.

The land of the free, the land of smiles and the land of whatever you want has long been a mecca for libertarians keen to eschew the shackles of laws that don’t fit with their notions of fun. The problem is that now those fun activities are the most likely to spread the virus and cause death, even for the young and supposedly immune.

Sources:

TAT

Bloomberg News

Sky News