Conclusion: Koh Phangan or Koh Samui?

Koh Phangan or Koh Samui?
First of all, I would like to say that I am a very positive traveler and would describe both islands as a beautiful destination. Therefore, I always mention the points that I noticed negatively in my conclusion. Of course, some things impress me more than others. However, I think there is something for everyone.
I really liked the 'island atmosphere' on Ko Phangan. The streets were small and there was a lot of nature. We chose a nice accommodation and enjoyed a very pleasant atmosphere there. The beach at our accommodation was not suitable for swimming as the water was always very shallow. If you like to party, the Full Moon Parties are just right for you. Unfortunately, as I mentioned before, it was not my kind of music, but that is a matter of taste. However, I still found the atmosphere good and the fire shows very spectacular. Overall, I thought the experience was cool to have a party right on the beach. It is clear that there is a lot of alcohol and other things flowing. A major drawback of this is that people eventually start peeing in the sea and the beach quickly turns into a trash heap. Well, I assume that will be cleaned up the next day. But overall, great experience!
I liked the beaches on Koh Samui much better. The beach at our accommodation Crystal Bay and Chaweng Noi Beach were the best. Just relaxing on the beach under a palm tree, gaining some tan, and going for a swim in the sea from time to time, that's what we wished for and found on Koh Samui. Of course, you won't find peace and quiet everywhere, but if you look, you will find it. We really relaxed a lot here on Koh Samui. We took small trips with the scooter and ate well. It was just right for that. We mostly avoided the busy areas with one bar after another and the red light district. Instead, we visited two beautiful temples. (Bis Buddha Temple and Plai Laem)
As often happens, tourism is booming here too. Koh Samui is bustling. What we didn't like at all was the big main road that goes around the island. For such a small island, it was too much traffic and too noisy for us. However, you have the possibility to take small roads to get more into nature, which we found much more enjoyable with the scooter. As is probably the case everywhere in Thailand, you can find great and delicious food on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. We particularly liked the night markets. I will miss the fruit shakes! I will also miss the vegetation. Palms and banana trees are just beautiful to me. So, I liked both islands. It was the perfect relaxation for us, if you can call it that. In the last countries, we traveled further every day, sat in the car every day, and saw something new every day. That's why it was a nice change for us to stay in one place longer and explore the islands in small steps. There were also days when we spent all day at the beach, and if I'm honest, it was good for us. That way, you could sort your thoughts and all the impressions of the last few months. There was also plenty of time for a few yoga sessions on the beach. In the evening, it was a particularly wonderful experience. It was a great stay here in Thailand for us. If we were to come back, I would still choose a different island or the mainland. But that also depends on the fact that I just like to explore new things. We chose the islands in the south because the weather is supposed to be better at this time of year. I have heard from many people that Koh Samui has changed a lot in recent years. I can imagine that, as tourism changes a lot. But when I hear especially from Germans that everything was better before. 30 years ago, it was still the 'real Thailand'. Then I am happy for the people who were lucky enough to experience it that way. But it doesn't do anything for me because, unfortunately, I cannot beam myself into the past. I live in the now, I am 24 years old, and I am still happy to have explored these islands as they are now. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, for us, it was a little paradise. And yet, I am looking forward to life in a camper again and also to cooking for ourselves. That is simply my preferred way of traveling. At least for now. But everything has its pros and cons. Oh, and by the way, our little highlight at the end of our trip was feeding elephants. There are several elephant sanctuaries on Koh Samui. Here, elephants that have had an unfair life are rescued and taken in, whether as riding and entertainment animals or animals that have been mistreated until they obey their owners, etc. Here in the sanctuary, the animals find a peaceful life and are nursed back to health. We did a lot of research on which sanctuary to go to and whether we should go at all. After all, we are very critical when it comes to such things. In the end, we decided on one facility. You can spend a whole day with the elephants or just come to feed them. We decided to only do the feeding. I really hope that the facts are true and that the animals really have enough space. Our impression was good though. The animals were treated well. I am aware that it cannot be compared to being in nature. The property was naturally separated by a fence, which also served as safety during feeding. But the property made a big impression on us or we couldn't see all of it. But on Google Maps, the area looked very large. After feeding, the animals went back into the forest. We talked to the founder of the organization. He has always wanted to rescue animals from bad conditions and believes that the animals have enough space here. However, he would like to have even more space, which is difficult because houses are being built all around the property. So not that great... In any case, we had a great experience with the elephants. We were allowed to prepare and feed them food. Elephants eat a tremendous amount, 18 hours a day! Such large creatures! I personally think elephants are great. Despite their size, they are somehow elegant. See you!