Koh Phangan Transportation
By plane
The closest airport is Ko Samui (USM) which has frequent flights from Bangkok and Phuket, daily flights from U-Tapao and Singapore, and several direct flights each week from Chiang Mai and Kuala Lumpur. Transportation to the ferry dock is easy to find at the airport. Ferries depart several times a day with the last one around dusk.
The next nearest airport is Surat Thani (URT) on the mainland.
By boat
From Ko Samui: There are at least 3 ferries a day from Ko Samui's "Big Buddha" pier directly to Haad Rin. Ferries also leave from Nathon and Maenam piers to Thong Sala several times a day.
Boat Services to Ko Pha-ngan
(Schedules and fares mentioned here are subject to change without notice. Please contact boat companies or TAT offices in Surat Thani and Ko Samui for current information.)
Don Sak - Ko Pha-ngan
Racha Ferry operates ferry services from Don Sak pier (40 kilometres from Surat Thani town) to Ko Pha-ngan daily at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. It takes 2.30 hours for the journey. One-way fare is xxx baht. Bus services from Surat Thani town or Surat Thani Railway Station to Don Sak are available.
Surat Thani-Ko Pha-ngan
Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd operates express boat services. The boats depart from Lamphun pier (10 kilometres from Surat Thani) to Ko Pha-ngan daily at 8 a.m. It takes 3 hours for the journey. One-way fare is 205 baht. Bus services to the pier are available.
Visitors can obtain more information from the following offices of Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd: Bangkok office Tel: 0-2280-7897, Surat Thani Office Tel: 0-7728-5124-6, Ko Samui office Tel: 0 -7742-1316-9, 0-7742-0163, Ko Pha-ngan office Tel: 0-7737 -7096.
A nighttime boat departs from Surat Thani’s Ban Don pier to Ko Pha-ngan daily at 11 p.m. It takes 6 hours for the journey. One-way fares are xxx baht and xxx baht.
Ko Samui - Ko Pha-ngan
Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd’s express boats depart from Ko Samui’s Na Thon pier 3 times daily at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. It takes 45 minutes for the journey. One-way fare is xxx baht.
A catamaran leaves Ko Samui’s Mae Nam pier at 8 a.m. and arrives at Ko Pha-ngan at 8.40 a.m. One-way fare is xxx baht.
Ordinary boats leave Ko Samui’s Phra Yai pier at 10.30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and proceed to Ko Pha-ngan’s Rin Nai beach. It takes 50 minutes for the journey. One-way fare is xxx baht
Another ordinary boat leaves Ko Samui’s Mae Nam pier at 9.30 a.m. and arrives at Ko Pha-ngan at 10.30 a.m. One-way fare is xxx baht. By bus and boat
The best way in by bus is by Governmnent Bus to the Na Dan ferry piers: these are the most direct, quickest, reliable, safest, and hassle-free services. Tickets for these services can be bought at Government Bus Terminals.
Buses also arrive in Surat Thani, capital of Surat Thani Province, from where passengers are inexorably swept up in the machine that will, several buses and at least one ferry later, spit you out on the rusty pier of Thong Sala.
Buses originating from Khao San Road (or others with travel agent sold tickets) are notorious for thefts from passenger luggage and should be avoided at all costs. Under no circumstances should passengers on Khao San Road buses leave valuables in bags that will go in the luggage stowage areas, even if the bags can be locked; consider it inevitable that every bag will be opened while the bus is in motion.
By train, boat and bus
Overnight train from Bangkok is an interesting option. Trains arrive in Surat Thani or Chumphon, and from there you can transfer by bus and then boat. Combined train-bus-boat tickets can be bought direct from the official Advance Booking Counter at Hualamphong station in Bangkok, although sometimes train get late, and your boat is already gone and you have to pay extra for the next boat. Thus joint ticket is not the best choice.
In theory, train tickets may be reserved up to 60 days in advance and paid for by email. In reality, the Thai authorities are lax in returning emails and/or will give the runaround, or flat-out refuse to reserve seats for non-Thais during peak travel periods (December - January and Songkran holiday in April). If your heart is set on going by train, start early, be persistent, and have a backup plan to go by bus or plane.
Get around
By motorcycle
100-125cc motorbikes can be hired from around 200 baht/day; larger capacity models cost 300-700 baht/day. Foreigners may be required to leave their passport as a deposit.
Some rental shops overcharge for every scratch or dent. They don't fix, but rather replace the whole part - so note damages to the bike on the rental contract. Be aware that your passport may be held against you until you pay the exorbitant repair cost.
Avoid riding at sundown, when the bugs are out en masse, and result in brief periods of riding blind, while you desperately try to clear your corneas. Try not to go home with a 'KPN tattoo' - this can either result from your tender-skinned body sliding along a bitumen road at high speed with few clothes on, or from the inside of your leg touching too hot exhaust pipe of the moped.
Care is needed if attempting to go over the notorious Haad Rin hills, the roads at the eastern side of the island, and north of Haad Yao. Especially the "Hill of Tears" (first steep ascend from Thong Sala towards Haad Rin) needs caution - use low gear only and rather have your passenger walk, than bruised up.
Drunk driving in the West is illegal - in Ko Pha Ngan it's suicidal. Better to sit in the back of a taxi than hitting one head on at night, or end up in hospital.
Wear a helmet, avoid riding in flip-flops and stay within your limits. The slower you drive, the less it's gonna hurt.
It is also possible to rent small Suzuki jeeps, however you will find that you can circuit the island in a day.
By songthaew
Songthaew pick-up truck taxis criss-cross the island for around 100 baht a ride, or 150 baht for the less accessible destination of Thong Nai Pan, if you share taxi car with other people.
It is important to note that ALL taxi service on Koh Phangan is provided by songthaew. Should you choose to go with a freelancer on a motorbike or in a pickup, make arrangements quickly, quietly and pay surrepitiously.
By boat
Boats cruise the bays with your snorkeling gear until somewhere takes your fancy. The round-the-island, all day boat trip is a great way to see some of the best beaches in the island.
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