Koh Phangan is located in the Gulf of Thailand and is a real paradise for anyone looking to escape the busy streets of Bangkok. The journey from Bangkok to Koh Phangan is one of the most common routes taken by travelers during their vacation in Thailand and there are several ways to travel between these destinations.
Here is a summary of everything you need to know about traveling to the island of Koh Phangan from Bangkok and other destinations.
Koh Phangan is about 700 km south of Bangkok, 100 km northeast of Surat Thani, and 12 km from Koh Samui. The island of Koh Phangan can only be reached by ferry or boat because there is no airport on the island. However, there are several options for getting from Bangkok to one of the piers with ferries to Koh Phangan and you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
There are basically the following transportation options for getting from Bangkok to Koh Phangan.
Flight from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
There are no direct flights from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, as there is no airport on this island. From Bangkok, you must fly to one of the nearby airports and combine different means of transportation to get there.
To fly from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, there are 3 different airports to be considered and multiple airlines to choose from.
1. Flight to Koh Samui Airport
The first option is taking a flight from Bangkok to the neighboring island of Koh Samui (USM Airport) and then getting on a ferry to Koh Phangan. This is the fastest, most convenient and most recommended way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, with a minimum of transfers. However, this can be the most expensive way for traveling between Bangkok and Koh Phangan due to the cost of the flight. It can be a good option if you plan to visit Koh Samui as well.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok, there is a good number of daily flights operated by Bangkok Airways to Koh Samui Airport. At some other airports in Thailand, such as Chiang Mai Airport or Phuket Airport, flights to Samui Airport are also offered. The connections also run via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and other countries.
From Bangkok, the flight duration is approximately 1 hour and the sailing time between the islands is approximately 30 minutes. There are regular ferry connections from here.
Find Flights to Koh Samui from Bangkok
How to get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan
There are several different ferry companies that operate the Koh Samui - Koh Phangan route, all of them departing from different piers. You can take a taxi, shared minivan or bus from the airport to the pier.
The detailed guide on getting from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan can be found here: Transportation between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
2. Flight to Surat Thani Airport
There is an alternative option to fly from Bangkok to Surat Thani province. Surat Thani Airport (URT) is located on the mainland, approximately 115 kilometers southwest of Koh Phangan. Flights from Bangkok to Surat Thani are much cheaper. On the other hand, you will then have to add the transfer by bus and then by boat to Koh Phangan. This is not the most convenient way since it will take longer, but you have much more flight options on this route.
Surat Thani Airport is served by the Thai low-cost airlines, meaning that flights to this airport are usually much cheaper than flights to the airport on Koh Samui. There are 3 airlines, Nok Air, Air Asia and Thai Lion Air flying to Surat Thani Airport from Don Muang Airport (DMK) in Bangkok. Thai Smile and Thai Vietjet operate flights to Surat Thani Airport from Suvarnabhumi Airport. A one-way flight ticket can cost around 800-1,500 THB. These flights are also often available as part of a package, which includes the onward journey by bus and ferry to Koh Phangan. However, it is not mandatory to buy combined plane and ferry tickets because it can cost higher.
Find Flights to Surat Thani Airport from Bangkok
How to get from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan
Once you arrive at Surat Thani Airport, you can buy your ferry ticket to Koh Phangan with the transfer to the pier from the counters of ferry companies. The ticket cost about 500 THB. Normally, the ticket includes the 1 hour 30 minutes’ bus ride to Donsak Pier and then approximately 2 hours 30 minutes’ ferry ride. However, depending on the company and ferry type, the journey time can vary.
3. Flight to Chumphon Airport
The last option is taking a flight from Bangkok to Chumphon Airport. The low cost airline Thai AirAsia offers daily flights to Chumphon Airport leaving from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok. The flight time is only about 1 hour.
Find Flights to Chumphon from Bangkok
Even if it is less expensive alternative than flying to Koh Samui, we do not recommend this option. The route through Chumphon is relatively slow, the Songserm ferry takes at least 4-5 hours to travel via Koh Tao to Koh Phangan, while the catamarans from Lomprayah take more than 4 hours. We only recommend traveling via Chumphon for people who want to stay on Koh Tao for a few days before continuing the trip to Koh Phangan.
How to get from Chumphon to Koh Phangan
Once you arrive at Chumphon Airport, it is easy to arrange a ticket for a bus to Chumphon pier, ferry to Koh Tao and from there transfer to Koh Phangan. There are 2 companies that offer this joint ticket: Lomprayah and Songserm.
Bus from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
The cheapest way for getting from Bangkok to Koh Phangan is with a combination of bus and ferry. This is the favorite option for backpackers and budget travelers since everything is organized and you don't need to face the hassle of going through airport and transfer. Of course, it will take you a whole day to get by bus from Bangkok to Koh Phangan. The total journey time from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, including sea transfer, is approximately 15 hours.
1. Bus from Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai)
You can go to Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) and take a bus to Chumphon or Surat Thani and then switch to a ferry that takes you to Koh Phangan. The price of tickets is between 450-1,000 THB, depending on the bus and the class. The journey to Surat Thani takes about 10-12 hours. From there, you can take taxi, motorcycle taxi or songthaew to the pier to take the ferry to Koh Phangan.
You can book combo tickets for bus and ferry on the comparison and booking website here: Bus and Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
2. Bus from Khao San Road
Currently, there is a private company operating route from Khao San Road in Bangkok to Koh Phangan. Lomprayah organizes the bus from Bangkok directly to the pier near Chumphon, where passengers are transferred to a high-speed ferry that takes them to Tong Sala on Koh Phangan Island.
You can book combo tickets for bus and ferry from Khao San Road here: Bus and Ferry from Khao San Road to Koh Phangan
Train from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
The last option is to take the train to Koh Phangan. The combination of train and ferry is a convenient and inexpensive way to travel to Koh Phangan from Bangkok so tickets are running out extremely fast. Thai trains seem to be old, but inside the seats and beds are usually comfortable and wide. There are trains that have sitting and sleeping classes. If you choose this option, we would recommend taking a sleeper train to make the most of the trip at night. It also helps you to save a night of accommodation.
If you want to make part of the trip to Koh Phangan by train, you have to get to Chumphon or Surat Thani Railway Station, from there you can go to the pier and take the ferry to Koh Phangan. To get to Koh Phangan in the end, you always have to do a combination of train, bus and ferry (so-called “joint ticket”).
1. Train to Chumphon
There are daily around 10 trains departing from Krung Thep Aphiwat Railway Station in Bangkok to Chumphon, with departures scheduled from 8:00 to 22:00. The trip by train takes about 8-10 hours. Unfortunately, there are no direct ferry services from Chumphon to Koh Phangan. All boats go to Koh Tao first, and after about 30 minutes depart to Koh Phangan. Our recommendation is to make sure to arrive at Chumphon Railway Station before 06:00 as the morning boat departs to Koh Tao at 07:00. However, you need to be aware that trains in Thailand are notoriously delayed and not recommended if you are on a tight schedule.
2. Train to Surat Thani
If you take a train to Surat Thani, it can take you 10-12 hours from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Railway Station with the distance of 650 km along the Southern Line. There are several connections to Surat Thani every day. The actual train station in Surat Thani is called Phun Phin and is located 14 km west of Surat Thani. The price per person for a sleeping class is around 1,150 THB, in the second class with air conditioning the ticket costs around 700 THB. Right next to the train station, there are a few small travel agencies that organize the transfer to the ferry pier and the ferry crossing to Koh Phangan. The transfer includes bus to Donsak pier, about 90 km away, and then the 2 hour-ferry to Koh Phangan. The total journey time from Bangkok to Koh Phangan can be more than 15 hours.
Trains are a popular form of transport in Thailand and are quickly getting full during peak season. It is therefore worth booking in advance, especially coinciding with the days when the Full Moon Party is held. You can find train tickets for a trip from Bangkok to Koh Phangan here: Train Tickets from Bangkok to Koh Phangan.
Booking Tickets
We recommend booking your combined ticket or ferry to Koh Phangan in advance, especially during high season or before Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan. The boats, buses, and minivans are limited, so it is best to guarantee your seat. You can search and book your transport to Koh Phangan from Bangkok using the 12GoAsia website.
If you want to stay overnight in Koh Phangan, choose the most suitable area on the island with the help of our guide: Where to Stay in Koh Phangan?
Tips
If you want to visit the island of Koh Phangan and live to the fullest the Full Moon Party, one of the most spectacular parties in the world, choose to stay at one of the top hotels near Full Moon Party.
Koh Phangan has lots of incredibly impressive attractions that pull tourists all year round. Explore the best things to do in Koh Phangan to better prepare for your next holiday in Thailand.
Koh Phangan is an island with numerous charming beaches that are well introduced here: Best Beaches in Koh Phangan.