Koh Phangan Island, home to the famous Full Moon Party, is a favorite with backpackers and is just 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of Koh Samui. This idyllic location, located near the western coast of the Gulf of Thailand, makes Koh Phangan a destination with great beaches and, more recently, family-friendly amenities and activities. It has become a very popular place to enjoy the sun and sand away from the country’s capital. You can get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan by plane, train, bus or ferry.
The fastest way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
Bangkok Airways plane at the nearest Koh Samui airport on the neighboring island © islandboy_stocker / Shutterstock.com
As you can imagine, the fastest way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Phangan is by plane, although this option has some disadvantages. First of all, there is no airport on Koh Phangan, so you will have to fly to Koh Samui and then take a ferry to Koh Phangan. Still, this alternative is faster than other forms of transport from Bangkok. The second downside is the price, because the speed and practicality of this option, compared to traveling by train or bus, increases the cost, so if you’re not in a hurry, you can save a lot of money by avoiding air travel.
But if you want or need to get to your destination quickly, and you don’t mind the high cost of the plane, you can fly from Bangkok to Koh Phangan (with arrival in Koh Samui) with Bangkok Airways, which flies from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. After landing in Koh Samui, you need to go to Big Buddha Harbor to catch the ferry to Koh Phangan. High-speed ferries take around 30 minutes, with the last usually departing at 6:30 PM, except for the Full Moon Party when the service runs all night.
Bus and ferry from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
High speed ferries run from Chumphon to Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani and Koh Samui. © Matyas Rehak / Shutterstock, Inc.
If you want to save money on transportation, the second best option is to combine bus and ferry with the private companies Lomprayah or Seatran. Both options are very practical, as they allow you to buy a combined ticket for the entire route from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. Tickets are inexpensive and service is reliable. Moreover, both buses and ferries are comfortable, clean and in very good condition. The only drawback is the total duration of the journey, but if you decide to take the night bus, you will be able to sleep during the journey so as not to miss a day off.
Depending on the bus and ferry you choose, the total travel time from Bangkok will be between 10 and 14 hours. The journey is very long and the ferry takes another hour and a half. The good thing is that the bus will take you directly to the port, and since the ferry is operated by the same company, you can be sure that there will be no problem getting on the ferry.
Trains from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
As with the buses from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, traveling by train is much cheaper than by plane, although the journey is quite long. In addition to the train, you will also need to take a bus from the train station to the port and then take the ferry to go to Koh Phangan. You can buy tickets individually for each leg of your journey, although there are also combo tickets that can save you the worry of traveling.
We recommend the overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani for several reasons. It’s a long journey, so if you’re traveling at night and get some sleep, you won’t lose a whole day of your vacation on the road. Also, if you think about it, you’ll save an overnight stay. Sleeper tickets are the best option and are available in first and second class, so finding a bed for the night is not difficult. The level of comfort is higher if you opt for a 1st class sleeper ticket as it includes a sleeping place and a sink in the compartment. Sleeper tickets in second class compartments have a table and a sofa that converts to a bed with a narrower berth above it.
Bus from train station to Surat Thani © HGalina / Shutterstock, Inc.
Trains depart from Bangkok and arrive at Surat Thani Railway Station. With a combined train, bus and ferry ticket, you’ll take the bus to the port, which is about an hour away, to board the ferry that will complete your journey from Bangkok to Koh Phangan.
Other ways to travel from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
The above options are the most practical, some say also the safest when it comes to getting from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, but there are a few other options if you want to save money. You can turn to one of the many travel agencies on Khoa San Road, which often have many deals on bus and ferry tickets. But watch out for the cheapest as there are usually reports of lost luggage and many buses are not in the best condition. The journey from Bangkok to Koh Phangan can be much longer, so before you buy your tickets, consider whether it’s worth saving that money considering these disadvantages.
Whichever option you choose, it is advisable to book your tickets at least a few days in advance as buses, trains and ferries tend to fill up. If you are visiting Koh Phangan on the dates of the Full Moon Party, you should book in advance and be prepared for delays due to the increase in the number of travelers going from Bangkok to Koh Phangan.