Ferry to Koh Phangan - General Information

Since Koh Phangan is an island – using a ferry as part of your trip is unavoidable. Access to Koh Phangan by ferry is possible from Koh Samui, Chumphon and Surat Thani. Getting to Koh Samui, Chumphon or Surat Thani can be achieved by bus, by train or by flight.

1. The Ferry from Surat Thani. This service is provided by 4 companies:

Ferry to Koh Phangan - Songserm Ferry

a. Songserm Express Boat: leaves from Surat Thani jetty twice a day: at 8:00 and at 14:00. The trip to Koh Phangan (via Koh Samui) lasts about 4 hours.

Ferry to Koh Phangan - Raja Ferry

b. Raja Ferry: this car ferry leaves from Donsak (50 min. bus from Surat Thani) and goes directly to Koh Phangan. The trip takes 2.5 hours.

Ferry to Koh Phangan - Seatran Ferry

c. Seatran Ferry: leaves either from Donsak or from Surat Thani jetty. The trip to Koh Phangan (via Koh Samui) lasts 3 – 3.5 hours.

d. The Night Boat, which leaves at 11.00 pm from Surat Thani and arrives in Koh Phangan at 6:00.

Ferry to Koh Phangan - Lompraya Ferry

2. The Ferry from Chumphon. Lomprayah provides this service, and you can buy a joint bus ticket to Bangkok.

3. The Ferry from Koh Samui. 5 companies provide this service: Songserm Express Boat, Lomprayah, Phangan Cruiser, Seatran Ferry and Haad Rin Queen. Songserm Express Boat, Lomprayah, Phangan Cruiser and Seatran Ferry run to Thong Sala, while Haad Rin Queen operates the only ferry service direct to Haad Rin. The last ferry leaves Koh Samui at 17:30, but since it is not too far from Koh Phangan you can always take a private speedboat.

Before I finish, there’re two tips I like to share with people who suffer of seasickness:

1. The shortest ferry trip to Koh Phangan is from Koh Samui (50 min.). This is highly recommended.

2. Try to find a place on the deck, if it’s possible – on the front part of the deck, close to the bow. The boat is swaying less in this part.

Useful information

Bus and Ferry by Lomprayah Company: Bangkok - Koh Phangan

Koh Samui	Koh Phangan	Koh Tao	Chumphon	Hua Hin	Bahgkok
08:00	08:30	10:00	13:00	16:40	20:00
12:00	12:30	14:30	17:00	21:10	00:30

Bus and Ferry by Lomprayah Company: Koh Phangan - Bangkok

Bahgkok	Hua Hin	Chumphon	Koh Tao	Koh Phangan	Koh Samui
06:00	08:30	13:00	15:00	16:00	16:20
21:00	00:00	07:00	09:30	11:00	11:20

Lomprayah
Tel. 077-238412

Ferry by Raja Ferry: Donsak - Koh Phangan

Departure	Arrival
07:00	09:30
10:00	12:30
14:00	16:30
16:00	18:30
17:30	20:00

Ferry by Raja Ferry: Koh Phangan - Donsak

Departure	Arrival
06:00	08:30
07:00	09:30
10:00	12:30
13:00	15:30
17:00	19:30

Raja Ferry
Tel. in Donsak 077-471151, Tel. in Koh Phangan 077-377452

Ferry by Seatran Car Ferry to Koh Phangan

Surat Thani	Donsak	Koh Samui	Koh Phangan
08:00	09:30	11:30	12:30
15:30	17:00	18:30	19:30

Ferry by Seatran Car Ferry from Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan	Koh Samui	Donsak	Surat Thani
06:00	07:30	08:30	09:30
13:00	14:30	16:00	17:00

Seatran
Tel. 077-238129, 077-238079

Ferry by Songserm Express to Koh Phangan

Surat Thani	Koh Samui	Koh Phangan	Koh Tao
08:00	11:00	12:00	13:30
14:00	16:50	17:45

Ferry by Songserm Express from Koh Phangan

Koh Tao	Koh Phangan	Koh Samui	Surat Thani
	07:00	07:45	11:00
10:00	12:00	12:45	16:00

Songserm Express
Tel. 077-377704

Night Boat from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan

Surat Thani	Koh Phangan
23:00	6:00

Night Boat from Koh Phangan to Surat Thani

Koh Phangan	Surat Thani
22:00	4:00

Songserm Express
Tel. 077-377704

Boat by Seatran Discovery Boat: Koh Samui - Koh Phangan - Koh Tao

Koh Samui	Koh Phangan	Koh Tao
08:00	08:30	09:30
12:00	12:30	13:30

Boat by Seatran Discovery Boat: Koh Tao - Koh Phangan - Koh Samui

Koh Tao	Koh Phangan	Koh Samui
09:30	10:30	11:00
15:00	16:00	16:30

Seatran
Tel. 077-238129, 077-238079

Boat by Phangan Gruise: Koh Samui - Koh Phangan - Koh Tao

Koh Tao	Koh Phangan
09:20	10:50
15:30	17:30
Koh Tao	Koh Samui (Maeam Pier)
09:30	11:30
Koh Phangan	Koh Samui
11:00	11:30
Koh Samui (Maeam Pier)	Koh Phangan
12:00	12:30
Koh Samui (Maeam Pier)	Koh Tao
12:00	14:00
Koh Phangan	Koh Tao
12:30	14:00
11:30	13:30

Boat by Seatran Discovery Boat: Koh Tao - Koh Phangan - Koh Samui

Koh Tao	Koh Phangan	Koh Samui
09:30	10:30	11:00
15:00	16:00	16:30

Phangan Cruise
Tel. 077-238472, 077-377274

Ferry by Haad Rin Queen : Koh Samui - Koh Phangan (Haad Rin)

Departure	Arrival
10:30	11:20
13:00	13:50
16:00	16:50
18:30	19:20

Ferry by Haad Rin Queen : Koh Phangan (Haad Rin) - Koh Samui

Departure	Arrival
09:30	10:20
11:40	12:30
14:30	15:20
17:30	18:20

Raja Ferry
Tel. 077-375113

Except by bus or flight, is it also possible to get to Koh Phangan using a train. The State Railway of Thailand offers this service. The closest train station to Koh Phangan is Surat Thani, distant from Koh Phangan by 100 km. The railway trip from Bangkok to Surat Thani lasts 9 – 11 hours.

In order to get to Koh Phangan from Surat Thani, you must take the ferry. The last ferry to Koh Phangan leaves at 22:00. If you are planning to arrive in Surat Thani later, be prepared to spend the night in the town.

The train is comfortable and well equipped, and you can make a choice between 4 sorts of cars: Bogie Second Class Day and Night Coach (388 – 458 Baht per ticket), Air – Conditioned Second Class Diesel rail car (458 Baht per ticket), Air – Conditioned Second Class Day and Night Coach (558 – 688 Baht per ticket), and Air – Conditioned First Class Day and Night Coach (1119 – 1159 Baht per ticket). The lowest price is for the rapid train. The highest price is for the express.

Useful information

State Railway of Thailand - Schedule: Bangkok - Surat Thani

Departure	Arrival
07:45	16:20
14:45	01:31
15:15	02:12
17:05	03:57
17:35	04:44
18:20	05:54
19:15	06:40
22:50	08:00

State Railway of Thailand - Schedule: Surat Thani - Bangkok

Departure	Arrival
11:25	20:55
16:43	05:15
17:26	05:25
20:10	05:45
21:08	08:45
20:25	08:00
22:20	09:45
23:06	10:05

State Railway of Thailand, Bangkok
Tel: (66) 02-2204334

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

Departure	Arrival
17:00	06:00

Departs from Raja Ferry Port, Thong Sala

Government Bus Schedule: Koh Phangan - Bangkok

Departure	Arrival
19:00	09:30

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

Koh Samui	Koh Phangan	Koh Tao	Chumphon	Hua Hin	Bahgkok
08:00	08:30	10:00	13:00	16:40	20:00
12:00	12:30	14:30	17:00	21:10	00:30

Bus and Ferry by Lomprayah Company: Koh Phangan - Bangkok

Bahgkok	Hua Hin	Chumphon	Koh Tao	Koh Phangan	Koh Samui
06:00	08:30	13:00	15:00	16:00	16:20
21:00	00:00	07:00	09:30	11:00	11:20

Lomprayah
Tel. 077-238412

Basically, there are three ways to travel in Thailand: by flight, by ride (by bus or train), and by sail. Keep in mind that as part of your journey to Koh Phangan you’ll have to do some sailing, whereas getting from Bangkok to one of the seaports near Koh Phangan requires either plain or a bus. Although, I was lucky enough to try both, I do prefer to dedicate this post to my flying experience.

Koh Phangan can be easily reached from Koh Samui Island, which serves as an air link from Bangkok to Koh Phangan. A ferry from Koh Samui (Buddha Pier) takes you to Koh Phangan in less than one hour. Bangkok Airways is the sole company, which operates daily flights to Koh Samui (has more than 30 flights per day to Koh Samui from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Krabi and Phuket). A ticket from Bangkok to Koh Samui had cost me about 3700 baht.

It is also possible to use the “One-to-go” service offered by the Orient Thai Airlines, which operates daily flights to Surat Thani for 1850 baht only. Note that this saving may be unworthy, since the ferry and taxi fares from Surat Thani are usually high.

Some tips I would like to share regarding getting to Koh Phangan by flight:

1. After landing at Bangkok’s International Airport, I would recommend taking the free shuttle bus to the local flights’ terminal.

2. Although Bangkok Airways operates flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui in a once an hour frequency (the last plan departures at 22.00) - you should consider ordering your ticket in advance. The reason is that sometimes tickets simply run out for the day. On the other hand, in the case of a delay in your flight to Bangkok you can miss the flight to Koh Samui. So it’s your call. My sister and I have ordered the tickets to the 7 p.m. flight in advance (we have arrived to Bangkok’s International Airport at 3.30 p.m and our stay in the airport was long enough for me to almost lose my handbag). Our friends arrived at the same time, but were forced to stay in the airport till the 9.30 p.m. flight, because there were no available flight tickets to Koh Samui.

3. The last ferry to Koh Phangan leaves the Buddha Pier at 6.30 p.m. (except of the Fool Moon Party, during which you have ferries all night). So if your flight arrives at Koh Samui later than 5 p.m., you should consider staying at Koh Samui for the night.

4. No matter which ferry you use (either from Koh Samui or Surat Thani) – taking a big suitcase with you is not something I would recommend. The platforms in all the piers are extremely narrow and occasionally unstable. So if you’re really lucky – your big suitcase will be safe. If you’re a little bit less lucky – it can fall into the water. If you’re not lucky at all – you can fall into the water together with your suitcase. I seriously think a back bag would be your best bet.

Useful information

Bangkok Airways - Flight Schedule: Bangkok - Samui

Day	Departure	Arrival
MTWQFJS	06:00	07:00
MTWQFJS	06:05	07:35
MWQFJ	07:00	08:00
MTWQFJS	07:20	08:50
MTWQFJS	08:00	09:30
MTWQFJS	09:40	10:40
MTQJS	10:40	12:10
TQS	11:00	12:00
MTWQFJS	13:20	14:20
MTQJS	13:40	14:40
MTWQFJS	14:30	16:00
TQS	14:40	15:40
MTWQFJS	15:20	16:20
TQJ	16:00	17:30
MTWQFJS	16:50	17:50
MWF	17:00	18:30
MTWQFJS	18:10	19:40
MTWQ	19:00	20:00
FJS	19:00	20:30
MTWQFJS	20:20	21:20
MTWQFJS	20:00	21:30
MTWQFJS	21:00	22:00

Bangkok Airways - Flight Schedule: Samui - Bangkok

Day	Departure	Arrival
MTWQFJS	06:00	07:10
MTWQFJS	06:30	08:00
MTQJS	07:30	08:40
Q	08:00	09:10
WFS	08:40	10:10
MTWQFJS	09:10	10:40
TQS	09:10	10:20
MTWQFJS	09:30	11:00
T	09:30	10:40
Q	11:10	12:20
MTQJS	11:30	12:40
TQS	12:40	13:50
MWFS	12:40	14:10
TQ	13:00	14:10
MTWQFJS	15:00	16:10
TQJS	15:20	16:30
T	16:10	17:20
MWFS	16:40	18:10
MTWQFJS	16:50	18:00
MTWQFJS	16:50	18:00
MTWQFJS	17:40	19:10
MTWQFJS	18:00	19:30
MTWQFJS	18:30	19:40
MTWQFJS	18:50	20:20
MTWQFJS	20:10	21:40
MWFS	21:10	22:40
WQFJS	21:35	22:35
MTWQFJS	21:40	23:10
MTWQFJS	22:00	23:10

Bangkok Airways - Head Office, Bangkok
Address: 99 Mu 14, Vibhavadirangsit Rd., Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok
Tel: (66) 02-2655678
Fax: (66) 02-2655500
Ticket/Reservation: (66) 02-2655555
Reservation Center: 1771
Fax (Reservation): (66) 02-2655556
Fax (Sale): (66) 02-2655522