Thailand has a lot of amazing places to see, but if you have enough time to visit the country, you should definitely spend some time at one of its fantastic beaches and in the capital, Bangkok. There are many beaches and islands to choose from, but out of all of them, Koh Phangan is a very good choice. Home to the famous Full Moon Party, this island attracts backpackers and young people from all over the world looking to have fun, but it’s starting to gain popularity as a family destination. After soaking up the sun on the beach, head north to experience the streets and sounds of Bangkok, from its palaces and temples to its parks, markets and cuisine.
Travel options from Koh Phangan to Bangkok
The biggest disadvantage of traveling from Koh Phangan to Bangkok is the distance between the two destinations. Traveling by ferry and then by road, you will cover a distance of 770 kilometers and it will not be a short trip. Fortunately, you can also fly from the nearby island of Koh Samui or from Surat Thani on the mainland, as there is no airport on Koh Phangan itself. Flying can be expensive compared to other means of transport, but you will save a lot of time. A slower option is to take the ferry, then the bus, and finally the train. Not a bad alternative if you want to enjoy the scenery while traveling.
From Koh Phangan to Bangkok by ferry, bus and plane
Yes, flying from Koh Phangan to Bangkok is the most expensive way to get from one place to another, but certainly the fastest. Although it costs more than the bus and ferry or train, the plane is not as expensive as you might think. There are several different options to choose from and you can do your research to find a good deal.
Tourists boarding the Lomprayah Ferry © charnsitr / Shutterstock.com
The first option is to take a ferry to the nearby island of Koh Samui. The journey only takes 30 minutes and you arrive at Big Buddha Harbor which is close to the airport so it’s quite easy to get to the terminal. The downside to flying from Koh Samui is that Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on flights to Bangkok, so since there is no competition between companies, tickets can cost more than you think. The big advantage is that the flight to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok takes only one hour. Even if we add the travel time to the airport and the waiting time, the whole journey shouldn’t take more than half a day.
Thai Lion Plane © PK.Inspiration_06 / Shutterstock, Inc.
The second option is to bypass Koh Samui and fly from Surat Thani. From here, you’ll have more options for flights to Bangkok, so it’ll be easier to find a cheaper ticket, plus you can choose to fly to Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi airports. Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Smile and Thai Lion Air offer flights between these destinations. While this route may be cheaper, it’s not particularly fast, so you’ll have to consider whether it’s worth spending more. First you have to cross the ferry. It takes 5 hours from Koh Phangan to Surat Thani by Raja Ferry. There you will have to wait for the plane (depending on the company you fly with, the waiting time will be more or less long, which should be taken into account when booking flights). Usually you have to wait at least 4 hours. If we add to this an hour and ten minutes of flight and the time it takes to get to the city from the airport, we end up investing almost a whole day in the journey.
If you want to travel from Koh Phangan to Bangkok this way, visit 12Go buy a combined ticket through their website, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
From Koh Phangan to Bangkok by ferry and bus
The cheapest way to travel from Koh Phangan to Bangkok is by ferry and bus. Being the cheapest, it is also usually the busiest way to get from one place to another, as well as probably the most direct and easiest of all. As always, the biggest drawback is the length of the journey. Although compared to a route that includes a flight from Surat Thani (by a 5-hour ferry), the journey by ferry from Koh Phangan and then by bus to Bangkok is slightly slower, depending on the company you choose.
If you’re traveling from Lomprayah, you can take one of their modern, high-speed catamarans that leave Koh Phangan twice a day, at 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM. You will then board an equally modern and comfortable bus that will take you to Bangkok. In this way, you only need to make one transfer, and if you choose this particular route, the entire journey will take about 12 hours. You can save more if you choose to travel with Songserm, although they don’t have a fast ferry option which adds 5 hours to the trip.
Ferry, bus and train from Koh Phangan to Bangkok
Surat Thani train entering Hua Lamphong Railway Station (Bangkok) © Sittirak Jadlit / Shutterstock, Inc.
A final option for those who believe that travel is part of the adventure is to travel from Koh Phangan to Bangkok by ferry, bus and train. To follow this route, you first need to take a ferry to Surat Thani and then take a bus to Surat Thani Railway Station, from where you can catch a train to Bangkok. This option is not suitable for those who travel in a hurry as the total duration is around 18.5 hours, but it is quite an experience. It’s also not the best option if you want to save money, as a combined ferry, bus and train ticket costs almost the same as a ferry and plane ticket, but it also has some advantages. If you book a train with a sleeper (which is highly recommended), you will travel at night and you will be able to sleep, which means you will save a night on accommodation. You can buy combined ferry, bus and train tickets from Koh Phangan to Bangkok through trusted websites such as 12Gowhich makes booking much easier.
As you can see, there are some interesting options for traveling from Koh Phangan to Bangkok. If you want to save, choose the ferry and bus. If you prefer to arrive as soon as possible, opt for a ferry and plane. Or, if you’re into adventure, take a trip around Thailand by ferry, bus or train.