How to Get to Koh Phangan—Gorgeous Island of Fun

Belonging to the beautiful Samui Archipelago, Koh Phangan is one of Thailand’s sunny islands popular for its variety of entertainment. This is one of the larger islands located on the Gulf of Thailand 70 km from the mainland. Koh Phangan is to the southwest of the nation and is perfect for enjoying beach vibes coupled with culture and exploring the depths of the ocean. Getting there is easy since you can choose air travel, speedboat, or bus, let’s explore more about how to get to Koh Phangan.

Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, Koh Phangan, Haadrin Queen Ferry (6218499944), CC BY 2.0 

Choose Travel by Bus to Koh Phangan if You Are on a Budget

While air travel may be quicker, it is also a more expensive mode of transport; therefore, bus travel is recommended for saving your holiday budget and also to savour local experiences. Buses depart from the capital Bangkok, on a daily basis, to Surat Thani. The journey can take around 12 hours but will not seem too long if you choose an overnight bus thus saving a day on your travels. Saving more on travel means you get to splurge on what matters, such as accommodation in Koh Phangan. You can choose places like Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas for the best experience and also be in close proximity to some of the best things to do on Koh Phangan. Once you get to Surat Thani by bus, you can hop on the ferry for a short ride to Koh Phangan, and if you book a hotel pick-up from the jetty, you can get your holiday started first thing in the morning.

Air Travel to Koh Phangan

If you are in a hurry to get to the island, the fastest mode of travel is air. Bangkok Airways has several flights daily to Koh Samui airport. From there you can take the boat to Koh Phangan – several operate throughout the day until 6:30 pm. The Koh Samui airport welcomes several international airlines, making it easy for travellers to go direct to the islands from destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Penang, and Singapore. However, if you wish to explore Thailand a bit more, you have the option of choosing domestic flights to Koh Samui from Krabi, Pattaya, and of course, the capital Bangkok.

While the above options can be expensive, there are less expensive alternatives to flying into Koh Samui and that is to take a flight to the Surat Thani International Airport. To make the entire experience easy, budget airlines such as AirAsia and Nok Air operate flights to this airport with all-inclusive packages, which means your air travel and ferry transport are taken care of in one go. Expect a five-hour turnaround time from when you get to the Surat Thani Airport to travelling to the jetty, taking the ferry, and getting to Koh Phangan. Whichever method of travel you choose, make sure to book one of the popular Koh Phangan resorts for the best experience that this gorgeous island has to offer.

Getting to Koh Phangan by Train

Train travel is long and requires you to take additional bus and ferry rides to get to Koh Phangan, but it is also an inexpensive option and more comfortable than bus travel; the entire journey can take close to 16 hours. You must get on the train bound for Koh Samui from the Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok to Surat Thani. From there, take the bus to the pier and hop aboard the ferry bound for Koh Phangan. The journey may be long, but the buses and trains are very comfortable, and you will rarely feel the journey, especially if you choose to travel by night.