Bangkok to Koh Phangan

Bangkok to Koh Phangan

Other Options

Bangkok to Koh Phangan Schedule

Bangkok to Koh Phangan Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
Thai AirAsia Economy 07:15 - 18:45฿ 1,161
Lomprayah Speedboat 08:00 - 08:30฿ 4,850
Lomprayah Speedboat 12:30 - 13:00฿ 4,850
Thai Railways Class II Sleeper AC 14:50 - 10:45฿ 2,459
Lomprayah Speedboat 16:30 - 17:00฿ 4,850
Thai Railways VIP Sleeper 19:30 - 11:45฿ 2,119
Lomprayah VIP 21:00 - 07:10฿ 1,550

How to get to Koh Phangan

What about

Say "Koh Phangan" and here you are in the middle of the partying crowd, old-school hippies and modern flashpackers, party animals and adventurous party goers from all over the world who come to the island to partake in a once in a lifetime celebration experience. Koh Phangan’s epic Full Moon, Black Moon and other ‘Moon’ parties rock the island creating an overwhelming atmosphere of freedom and happiness. If drinking and partying all night through is not your thing, it does not mean that Koh Phangan is a total no-no for you. A stunning island has much more to offer. When the parties are not raging, the island settles into a sleepy hippie town, perfect for the unconventional traveller who is looking for an organic experience. The terrain of the island is quite mountainous and provides a picturesque backdrop for white sand beaches and infinity pools in mushrooming luxury five star hotels and resorts which are consistently gentrifying the island, slowly transforming it from a budget destination to a Babylonian one.

Getting to Koh Phangan

The departure point for Koh Phangan is Donsak Pier in Suratthani. There are ferries linking Koh Phangan with its neighbours – Koh Samui and Koh Tao – and making island hopping as easy as it can be.

>From Bangkok via Chumphon/Suratthani bus + ferry

Buses to Chumphon/Suratthani leave from the Southern bus terminal in Bangkok. They take from 6½ hrs to 12 hrs to arrive. Buses depart regularly during the day, the majority reaching Suratthani between 1am and 5am, so be ready to while away some time before boarding your ferry to the island. There is a convenient bus+ferry option offered by Lomprayah company with buses leaving from their office in Khao San Road in Bangkok which is a good option if you are staying somewhere in the area. The bus brings you directly to the pier in Chumphon from where Lomprayah catamaran delivers you to Koh Phangan with two-or-three-hours transit at Koh Tao (no direct ferry to Koh Phangan) before proceeding further and terminating at Koh Samui as the last stop. Book a couple of days in advance. Opposite to all other ill-famed Khao San Road buses, there are no theft-related issues with this service.

>From Bangkok via Suratthani train + bus + ferry

You have a wide selection of trains heading down to the south from the capital, offering the full range of coaches, from the cheapest fan seats to the comfy AC 1st class sleepers leaving during the day. There is a very convenient #85 train departing from Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok at 7.30pm and arriving to Suratthani around 7am. Even the 2nd class sleeper gives you enough privacy with personal curtains; the 1st class sleeper is a more chic choice but costs nearly double.
Do not, thought, disregard the earlier trains as they give you an opportunity to soak up the scenery. Limestone cliffs, farmlands and epic jungles pop up throughout the journey, each more beautiful than the next.
If your book a joint ticket to Koh Phangan (which may work out cheaper than finding your own way), then you will be picked up at the station in Suratthani about one hour after your train arrives and transported directly to Donsak Pier for your 1½ hr journey to Thong Sala Pier on Koh Phangan.
Tip: The lower berths are the first to sell out. Book them as much in advance as possible. They are also considerably wider than the upper ones. If you are travelling with a baby, opt for the lower berths by all means.

>From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan lies within an easy reach from Koh Samui. Lomprayah and Seatran take sheer 20 minutes to get to the island; there are slower Songserm (30 min.) and Haad Rin Queen (50 min.) ferry boats, too. All the boats – except for Haad Rin Queen – arrive to Thong Sala Pier.

>From Koh Tao to Koh Phangan

There are three ferry companies serving this direction with Lomprayah and Seatran offering the fastest service (80 min.). Songserm takes 1hr 50 min. for the route.

How long does my sea journey to Koh Phangan last?

Depending on the company you travel with, your journey to Koh Phangan from the mainland (Donsak Pier in Suratthani) may take from 1½ hr to tiring 6–7hrs.
Lomprayah – 1½ hr (twice a day in either direction)
Raja Ferry – 2½ hrs (four times a day in either direction)
Songserm – 3½ hrs (twice a day in either direction)
Night ferry – from 6 to 7 hrs departing at 10pm daily from Koh Phangan and at 11pm from Suratthani.

Besides Lomprayah (20 min. to Koh Samui, 80 min to Koh Tao, both 4 times a day) and Songserm (30 min. to Koh Samui, 1hr 50 min to Koh Tao, both twice a day), there are two more companies which connect Koh Phangan to Koh Samui and Koh Tao: Seatran (20 min. to Koh Samui, 80 min to Koh Tao, both twice a day) and Haad Rin Queen (50 min. to Koh Samui, 4 times a day).

Getting around

There are a few ways to get around the island which depend on your budget and your desire to explore or immerse yourself in the island experience.

Taxis, or songthaews, are pick-up truck which connect the busiest parts of the island. Depending on your destination they will cost between 100 THB and 200 THB per person. The prices are usually fixed and tend to double after the sunset. They are convenient, but limit your freedom to explore, and cost quite a bit when you add it up. They are however the best and safest option for full moon party goers – you know why.

Motorcycles can be rented from shops all over the island. They are a great way to admire the scenery on the coastal road which boasts awe inspiring views, quaint resorts and pit stops along the way. Fuel is cheap, and normally brought in whiskey bottles from local shops or from brightly coloured coin operated machines. Rental for motorcycles will cost around 150 THB per day and you're generally expected to give up your passport until you return the bike. So take photos and look after it. But above all drive carefully, you will undoubtedly see plenty of tourists walking around with bandages and scrapes, more often than not from motorcycle accidents.

Bicycles can be rented all over the island for about 50 THB a day. As usually, they are a great way to explore the island, but do not underestimate the tropical heat. Follow secret jungle trails or just move about the flatter parts of the island at a leisurely pace. Koh Phangan is very hot though, so keep plenty of drinking water at hand.

Long-tail boats are usually moored at the beaches and are an amazing addition to the island experience. With these you can cruise between the bays taking in rich scenery, including cliff formations which can only be accessed by a boat or by hiking. Besides that, they are probably the quickest way around the island. Prices are negotiated with the boats' owners, and usually works out quite well if you're in a group.

Where to stay

No matter which beach appeals to you most, if you come for the Full Moon Party, do arrive early. It means 4–5 days before the party hits the island; otherwise you risk counting the stars by night – literally. Almost all the guesthouses require the minimum stay of at least three nights, with some places not letting you in for less than a week. There is transportation to Haad Rin, where the Full Moon Parties are held, from all the beaches, so it is not so important where you finally settle down.
Families and those looking for some serenity and peacefulness should try the remote Haad Thong Nai Pan Noi with its elegant resorts which bring an air of Samui to Koh Phangan.
Tip: If you fail to find accommodation on Koh Phangan during the Full Moon period, consider staying on Koh Samui which is the closest option.

Activities

With the diving mecca of Koh Tao within an easy reach, there is no much sense in visiting much more modest diving sites of Koh Phangan. Still there are nice spots for snorkelling in the vicinity, including Koh Ma, and you may also sign up for a hiking and snorkelling adventure in the Ang Thong Marine National Park. Waterfalls and worthy trekking trails await those to venture to the island’s hinterland. Climb the highest island’s pick, a 630m Khao Ra, or hire a kayak and reach some hidden beaches and visit Saturday Walking Street market in Thong Sala (the best time to do so is between 6pm and 8pm) for local souvenirs and cheap tasty food.

Legal issues

If you are going to the Full Moon Party not just to party and drink, but to take drugs as well, remember that drugs are completely illegal in Thailand and punishment is severe. To get inspired, watch Bangkok-Hilton and think twice.

Transportation from Bangkok to Koh Phangan

Bangkok to Koh Phangan Destination Reviews

RK
Bag was raided and stuff stolen from putting it under the bus, I’ve travelled south east Asia for 6 months and been on many many bus and boat trips, this is the first experience I’ve had. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND
Ferry Express, Montanatip (Montanatip), Mar 25, 2023
LW
This was far better than expected. We were provided a small bottle of water a snack and a very comfy blanket. A lot of spacee (comming from someone who is over 6 feet tall) Slept amazing (like 9 hours :)). Had a break at 12am and were divided into different busses at 6am. Arrived right on time on the island.
Ferry Express, Montanatip (Montanatip), Mar 16, 2023
นก
Is so good 👍 every thing
Ferry Express, Montanatip (Montanatip), Feb 27, 2023
JR
Bring extra 600mL water & snacks. Bus stopped after midnight to eat and bathroom break. Seating made for Asian height, taller people have to twist body & legs. Bus driver hurrying people off at 5am. Company at the shuttle bus switch were unprepared for the number of people.. they had to call multiple shuttles and it was a hectic scramble. No other options, just preparing you for what to expect.
Ferry Express, Montanatip (Montanatip), Jan 25, 2023
AL
The operators were not very clear on which buses were for who at the start of the journey. Also the toilet onboard was extremely smelly and we had to endure this for.10 hours. Ultimately they got us to our destination on time but not before trying to sell us additional services. Definitely.wasnt the smoothest experience but reflective of the price.
Ferry Express, Montanatip (Montanatip), Jan 7, 2023
CV
This was a wonderful local experience! Of course, if people expects a luxury bus, van & ferry, this not the option, this is Thailand after all, not France or Austria. All the Thai staff was extremely nice and even funny (for example, when the driver woke everyone up when we arrive to Sura Thani haha), I love that they give you free water in the bus (very important detail in my opinion), the "van" (local bus) towards the Ferry Port it's not ideal, but like I said, everything is local, so it's was fine. I loved the staff there as well! They had such a nice energy in the morning, the driver and his companion were listening to very nice Thai music, and they were always smiling and sometimes singing to themselves, I loved the energy! The Ferry port is excellent and the Ferry as well. All the way to the Island (Ko Phangan) it's absolutely beautiful. The only thing that I would recommend is, instead of calling and asking to the people where are they going (in Sura Thani stop), they can have some Signs with them, so the tourists don't feel so confused on where to go and wait for the "Van", everything else was amazing.
Ferry Express, Montanatip (Montanatip), Dec 12, 2022
AS
It was very very cold. Some ppl ask attendant to make it less cold but nothing changed. To go to koh phangan you have: sleeping bus, then you change for a normal bus, and then you have something like tuk tuk at the end.
Bus VIP 24, Krungsiam Tour (กรุงสยามทัวร์), Nov 6, 2022
GA
The bus and the boat were both on time. The bus is extremely comfortable but the trip is overall very long, with a lot of waiting (for the bot once you reach the pier and then in Koh Thao to board other passengers).
Ferry VIP, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Oct 15, 2022
RM
The actual travel experience was very good considering the price - transport was on time and the coach was very comfortable. Seats were reclinable and the A/C worked (and was at a suitable temperature). 12GOs support however was average (very little information provided on the tickets regarding times/schedule etc) and had to look elsewhere for information. Overall, very good experience though.
Ferry VIP, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Oct 10, 2022
MW
One of two chairs were broken ( not possibile to loft legs). Besides that all was just perfect
Bus VIP 24, Krungsiam Tour (กรุงสยามทัวร์), Oct 1, 2022
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