Getting to Koh Phangan by Bus

The Public Transportation Bus is the cheapest way to travel in Thailand. For instance, the one-way night ticket from Bangkok to Kon Phangan, including the bus and the ferry, will cost you as low as 650 baht. Usually, the shuttle bus is taking passengers from the pier in Surat Thani to the bus station and back.

The night bus departs from Bangkok at 7 pm and arrives at the early morning hours to Surat Thani. The first ferry will take you from Surat Thani to Thong Sala in Koh Phangan. The night bus from Kon Phangan to Bangkok leaves Surat Thani at the same time - 7 pm.

The main advantage of this route is the low cost, but it involves a certain inconvenience entailed with the timing of the trip.

Next option is the Government Bus, which takes its passengers directly to the pier and saves you some time and inconvenience. A ticket to the Government Bus will cost you about 1000 baht for the night trip.

Finally, the Lomprayah Company suggests a day trip: The trip includes the ferry, connecting Chumpon (on the mainland) to Koh Phangan (and Koh Tao and Koh Samui), and the bus connecting Chumpon to Bangkok. This service is rather expensive, and costs about 1150 baht. Unfortunately, I was forced to use this option due to the lack of available flight tickets from Koh Samui to Bangkok. Despite the price, I recommend it to anyone visiting Thailand for the first time. First, it is still much less expensive than a flight ticket. Second, you can see this trip as a kind of tour across Thailand. Third, the bus is well equipped and convenient.

I would take it again if only for the 20-minute break we had at the remote gas station. During this break, everyone was able to use a toilet with a banana drawn on the cell door (if he was a man) or couple of papayas (if she was a woman); to buy some unknown food suspected of being a fish (since the salesman performed swimming motions to explain what the food was); and finally feel like a local. Like you belonged.

Useful information

Government Bus Schedule: Bangkok - Koh Phangan

Departs from Raja Ferry Port, Thong Sala

Government Bus Schedule: Koh Phangan - Bangkok

Departs from Southern Bus Terminal, Bangkok

Government Bus
Tel. in Koh Phangan: 077-238507, 077-238762
Tel. in Bangkok: 02-4347192, 02-4355605

Bus and Ferry by Lomprayah Company: Bangkok - Koh Phangan

Bus and Ferry by Lomprayah Company: Koh Phangan - Bangkok

Lomprayah
Tel. 077-238412