In the biting summer heat, a cool dip in the turquoise waters of Koh Phangan will drive all your fatigue away.
If your kids are all up for adventure and can handle the wild, then Koh Phangan is the treasure island worth exploring. From scenic beauty to ancient serenity, you will find everything in this jewel of the Thai Gulf.
The island is connected to the mainland via ferries, and thus to reach the place, hopping on a ferry is necessary.
So without further delay, let’s start our journey to Koh Phangan!
In this guide, you can find out how to:
- Get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
- Get from Phuket to Koh Phangan
- Get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan
- Get from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan
How To Get To Koh Phangan From Bangkok
If you’re done exploring the wonders of the Thai capital city, then it’s time to head south now! Koh Phangan is located at a distance of around 770 km from Bangkok. But this distance can be conveniently shortened if you fly to destinations close to Koh Phangan.
To reach Koh Phangan, you can travel by land or air (though a ferry ride is a must in all cases). Based on your convenience, you can choose either of the options.
Now let’s get you to Koh Phangan from Bangkok!
1. By Air + Ferry
If money is not a question to you and you wish to get to the island as quickly as possible, then traveling by air is the most convenient option. However, you need to know that Koh Phangan doesn’t have an airport.
Thus, to reach Koh Phangan by air, you must book a flight to Surat Thani or Koh Samui to reach the island sooner.
1a) Fly to Surat Thani + Ferry to Koh Phangan
Surat Thani is located on the western shores of the Gulf of Thailand and lies close to Koh Phangan. You can board a flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Surat Thani.
Click here to book your ticket from Bangkok to Surat Thani.
Next, you will have to grab a transfer from the airport to Donsak where you will have to catch a ferry.
The ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan will only take 2 hours. However, you need to allow around 3 hours and 15 min for the whole journey from the airport to the island.
Click here to book your airport transfer plus ferry combo ticket.
1b) Fly to Koh Samui + Ferry to Koh Phangan
Koh Samui is the neighboring island of Koh Phangan and offers the fastest route to your travel destination. Your entire journey will only take a couple of hours as Koh Samui airport is the nearest airport to Koh Phangan.
Traveling via Koh Samui can push your budget a bit higher, but when have convenience and effectiveness been affordable?
So if money isn’t a problem, board a 1-hour flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui and hop on a 30-minute ferry to Koh Phangan.
Click here to book your air ticket from Bangkok to Koh Samui.
Click here to book your ferry ticket.
2. By Land (Bus/Train) + Ferry
Another way to reach Koh Phangan from Bangkok is via bus or train.
Traveling by land is the most affordable and economical for travelers looking for budgeted traveling options. If you’re one of them, here’s how to reach Koh Phangan by land without straining your pocket.
2a) Bus + Ferry
A night’s travel by bus will make your Koh Phangan journey more memorable. It takes about 10-18 hours to reach Koh Phangan if traveling by bus.
Although a bit uncomfortable, the long journey will end sooner than you think. Countless private and public buses are available, dropping you directly at Donsak, Surat Thani.
From Donsak, your Koh Phangan journey will end at Thong Sala Pier via ferry.
We recommend grabbing a combo ticket for both your bus and ferry.
Click here to grab your combo bus and ferry ticket.
2b) Train
A train journey is another option to shorten the distance between Bangkok and Koh Phangan. Although most of the journey is on land, the remaining distance is covered by ferries.
To make the most of your budgeted vacation, board a train from Bang Sue Junction at night and relax at Chumphon.
From Chumphon, continue to Tung Makham via taxi and board a ferry from Tung Makham to Thong Sala Pier. The whole journey can take about 11 hours.
If you’re traveling with family, booking a train ticket with lower berths is recommended beforehand. Lower berths provide more in terms of comfort.
How To Get To Koh Phangan From Phuket
The journey from Thailand’s largest island to the famous party island doesn’t have to be torturous.
There is a list of options if you want to travel from Phuket to Koh Phangan. Traveling by air is faster and more convenient if you don’t want your quality vacation time wasted on commuting.
However, traveling by bus is best if you are on a budget.
Here’s how you can reach Koh Phangan from Phuket.
1. By Air + Ferry
As Koh Phangan doesn’t have an airport, you’ll need to fly to Koh Samui first. You must catch a ferry or speedboat from Koh Samui to reach Koh Phangan.
There are many departures from Phuket airport to Koh Samui; you can board a flight that suits you. After reaching Koh Samui, take a short ride to Bangrak Pier to board a ferry to reach Koh Samui.
Keep in mind that you should probably give yourself some additional time between the flight and the ferry – just in case of a flight delay.
Click here to book your flight ticket from Phuket to Koh Samui.
The ferry will drop you at Thong Sala Pier in Koh Phangan, and you’ve reached your destination!
Click here to purchase your ferry ticket.
2. By Land (Bus/Minivan) + Ferry
Traveling through the mainland by bus or minivan is perfect if you are on a budget.
To start, you can board a bus from Phuket Airport or Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to Surat Thani. From Surat Thani, ride a taxi to Donsak Pier and then board a ferry to Thong Sala Koh Phangan.
Depending on the weather and other factors, the journey will take about 10 hours or more. This option isn’t for you if you’re an impatient traveler who despises long travel hours.
Fortunately, you can make this journey easy by purchasing a combo ticket for both the bus and van.
Click here to grab your combo ticket.
How To Get To Koh Phangan From Koh Samui
Traveling from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan is like going to your neighbor’s house down the street. The 30-minute journey is like hopping between islands, and the cherry on top? The closest ferry port is only 15 min away from the airport.
The Bangrak Pier is close to the airport, and from there, you can board a ferry to Thong Sala Koh Phangan.
Click here to purchase your ferry ticket.
How To Get To Koh Phangan From Surat Thani
You can easily reach Koh Phangan from the western shores of Surat Thani by boarding a ferry. There are numerous options, from fastest to cheapest, and you can choose whichever suits you best.
The fastest way to reach Koh Phangan from Surat Thani is by boarding a ferry from Tapee pier Lomprayah. The journey will take less than 3 hours if you choose this route.
For a cheaper alternative, you have to travel via bus for an hour first to reach the Donsak terminal and later board a ferry to Thong Sala pier. The whole journey via this route will take about 4 hours. Based on your convenience, you can choose either of the options.
Use this search function to find the best option for you:
Conclusion
Here in this article, we have highlighted all the convenient options for you to reach Koh Phangan. You can opt for any of these based on your budget and convenience.
As there are many transfers to Koh Phangan (especially if you’re traveling by bus or train), don’t forget to book combo tickets. There are many options that you can choose from which will make your Koh Phangan journey smooth and fun.
So, book your tickets today and have a blast at Koh Phangan!
Ready to start planning your trip? We have loads of helpful blog posts on our Thailand travel blog hub.
You might also want to know if should you choose Koh Phangan or Koh Samui for your next visit, and why.
