How to Get to Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan is a unique tropical escape and one of the most relaxed tourist places in the whole country. It is situated in the Gulf of Thailand, specifically in the Surat Thani Province. The island is located to the north of another popular island, Koh Samui, and to the south of the mainland of Thailand.

Both online and street travel agencies offer various ticket options for getting to Koh Phangan, including combinations of ferry and bus, flight and ferry, and train and ferry. You’ll find assistance available at major transportation hubs to guide you along the journey. If you’re traveling from Koh Samui to attend the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, you have several service options, including direct routes from Mae Nam Beach on Koh Samui to Haad Rin.

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The closest airport is in Koh Samui, with regular flights from Bangkok on Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways. You can also fly to Samui from Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Penang. Flights to Surat Thani airport are much cheaper thanks to the availability of budget airlines Air Asia and Nok Air. From either airport, you can purchase a ferry and bus combination ticket to Koh Phangan.

Where Are You Traveling From? Check out our detailed guides on how to get to Koh Phangan from the Top destinations:

From Bangkok, you can purchase a joint ticket for the bus and ferry. Air-conditioned buses depart Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal at different times in the evening arriving on Koh Phangan before 12:00 the following day.

Buy a combination ticket (train & bus & boat) from Bangkok train station directly to Koh Phangan. The train departs Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station. On arriving in Surat Thani you continue your journey by another train or bus and then by ferry to Koh Phangan. Make sure you reserve well in advance, especially on public holidays and weekends.

Ferries to Koh Phangan operate regularly through various companies: Lomprayah, Raja Ferry, Seatran, Songserm, and Haad Rin Queen. Some services depart from Donsak Pier, located near Surat Thani. There are also alternative services running from Chumphon, further north along the coast toward Bangkok. The latter option stops at the renowned diving destination of Koh Tao before proceeding to Koh Pha Ngan.

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Get to Koh Phangan by Flight and Ferry via Koh Samui

If you intend to head straight to Koh Phangan from Koh Samui Airport, you might book a direct combo service by Seatran that picks you up at the airport and brings you to the Thong Sala Pier in Koh Phangan in just 1.5 hours.

About Koh Samui Airport

Koh Samui Airport is a modern building and a bustling local transportation hub. The award-winning terminal is still in keeping with the surrounding tropical landscape and is one of the most picturesque transport hubs you will come across anywhere.

It has an arcade of shops, good security, and great customer service. The area is bejeweled with palm trees amidst lush green tropical gardens.

As one might expect, Koh Samui Airport has an entrance for departures and another for meeting arrivals. The departures entrance is closer to the Chaweng side of the terminal, while the arrivals lies farther north in the direction of Big Buddha Beach. But both lie only five minutes’ walk from one another.

koh samui airport arrivals — Koh Samui Airport

As Bangkok Airways actually owns Koh Samui International Airport, they are the island’s largest operator and have a monopoly over certain routes – keeping prices artificially high.

Transportation at Koh Samui Airport is in the realm of mafia-controlled taxi cabs which charge new arrivals extortionate fixed fares for getting around (around 400 baht to most beaches). Car hire is available from the terminal building through the usual international firms.

Other than the expensive private taxis there are also shared minivans, with the price depending on the number of people also heading to your chosen destination. The cheapest option, by far, is to wander out of the airport and find a songthaew shared taxi pickup truck (around 50 baht per person). Otherwise the fearless can balance with their bags on the back of a motorcycle taxi, but remember to wear a helmet.

Get to Koh Phangan by Bus and Ferry

Most travel agencies sell an all-in-one ticket from the Thai capital to Koh Phangan which involves an overnight coach to Surat Thani, transfer to the pier, and ferry ticket to the island – typically costing around 1,200 baht per person. This is hardly the most comfortable journey in the world, but it’s cheap and relatively easy despite the endless hanging around that is unavoidable.

These buses depart Bangkok a few times a day, so you can choose either a morning or evening departure.

The cheapest buses to Surat Thani leave from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal, but there are cheaper ‘tourist’ buses that depart directly from the backpacker mecca of the Khao San Road. These are generally shoddy services with few creature comforts, but fine for travelers on a budget.

However, thefts are widespread from the luggage compartment so, even if you have padlocked everything securely, never store anything valuable underneath the bus. This is less of a problem on scheduled services, but still, take normal precautions with your belongings.

By Ferry from Surat Thani

Koh Phangan is about three-and-a-half hours from Surat Thani and 30 minutes from Koh Samui. You can choose between high-speed passenger boats (Songserm, Seatran, Lomprayah, Raja) or larger car ferries.

How to Get around Koh Phangan

Getting around Koh Phangan by taxi

There are many different Koh Phangan taxis that run both on land and water. This is the usual method that most tourists on the island get around, although renting motorbikes is also extremely common.

Getting from Thong Sala port – the normal disembarkation point for the vast majority of tourist arrivals – to your chosen beach is easy with a bevy of songthaew shared taxis and private vehicles waiting for customers.

Remember to haggle hard if any price seems inordinately high, but fares will rise during the high season or late at night when there are few other options around, so do be aware of this before getting hot under the collar.

Songtaews on Koh Phangan

These are specially converted pick-ups that allow up to ten or so people to travel together, sitting on bench seats, making it the most cost-effective means of transport.

Prices for fares begin at 50 baht, but the typical rate for the Thongsala to Haad Rin route is 100 baht, and this may increase after the last ferry boat arrival. Taxis operate round the clock along the main tourist routes, and you can easily flag them down from the roadside. It’s advisable to confirm with the driver if they’re heading in your direction and always clarify the fare beforehand.

Minibus taxis on Koh Phangan

There are more expensive air-conditioned taxis that run directly from Haad Rin Pier. If you prefer a cheaper option walk through the town until you find a songtaew. These can be booked by the majority of hotels, guesthouses, or travel agents if you want to leave a particular beach and head back to the port.

Motorcycle taxis on Koh Phangan

You can jump on the back of a motorbike taxi, making sure you check the price first and always ensure that you are provided with a helmet. Accidents do happen and every year there are a number of fatalities involving foreign tourists so don’t let yourself become a statistic.

Taxi boats on Koh Phangan

If you are heading to some of the more remote beaches such as Haad Tien or Thansadet why not take a long-tail taxi boat? From Haad Rin to Haad Tien usually costs around 200 baht although prices vary depending on the size of the waves and the number of people and if it is too choppy the drivers will refuse to travel. You can hire speedboats and long tail boats to take you to further off destinations such as the Anthong Marine National Park or to the neighboring islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao.

How to Get to Koh Phangan