Koh Phangan, also known as the ‘ultimate tropical escape’, is an island located on the Southern side of Thailand within the Surat Thani Province. With its authentic local culture and gorgeous sand beaches alongside the excellent accommodation choices and multitude of things to do, this is somewhere you will definitely want to experience. Many travellers visit here to check out their full moon parties which have assisted the island in becoming a popular place to see, but it also has so much more to offer!
If you are looking to travel from Bangkok to Koh Phangan then the best way to check out the options available for you are via the online booking platform 12Go, as well as by reading this article.
HOW TO GET FROM BANGKOK TO KOH PHANGAN
In this blog I will detail the travel options you can book for making the commute from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, which will assist you in finding the most suited journey ahead of your visit.
There are currently 3 main options for you to make the commute from Bangkok to Koh Phangan. These are with;
- Bus and ferry
- Flight and ferry
- Taxi and ferry
Throughout this article I will delve into the information around these journeys and how you can book them, as well as key points you will need to know before booking and travelling, how to get to your departure stations ahead of your journey from Bangkok to Koh Phangan and final destinations once you arrive. Following this I will let you know about the best time to visit Koh Phangan, how long to spend there and must-do activities you will want to check out.
BEST WAY TO BOOK A TICKET FROM BANGKOK TO KOH PHANGAN
If you haven’t got the time right now to read this full article but are ready to book your ticket for the journey from Bangkok to Koh Phangan then the best and most reliable way to do this is via 12Go. This online booking platform showcases all of the options available as well as informing you of their arrival and departure times with locations, length of commute and prices per ticket or per vehicle.
On the other hand, if you want to learn a lot of detail before booking your ticket and travelling from Bangkok to Koh Phangan then you will want to carry on reading this blog. I will not only share with you the information around the commute, but also points for when you arrive at Koh Phangan.
| Bus Bangkok - Koh Phangan $ 32.42–38.90 10h 10m – 18h 30m | |
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| Taxi Bangkok - Koh Phangan $ 364.72–526.81 11h | |
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| Ferry Bangkok - Koh Phangan $ 44.58 10h 10m – 13h 30m | |
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| Taxi Suvarnabhumi Airport - Koh Phangan $ 364.72–526.81 11h | |
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| Taxi Don Mueang Airport - Koh Phangan $ 364.72–526.81 11h | |
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OPTIONS OF TRAVEL FOR HOW TO GET FROM BANGKOK TO KOH PHANGAN
These are the main 3 main options for travelling Bangkok to Koh Phangan;
Option 1 – Bus and ferry
Travelling from Bangkok to Koh Phangan via bus followed by a ferry is the cheapest route available to make the journey with, costing between $51 and $70 per person depending if you book an express or VIP ticket. The earliest departure for this form of transport leaves Bangkok at 6am and arrives in Koh Phangan at 4.10pm with the latest departing at 9pm and arriving at 10.30am the next day, with each journey taking from 10 hours and 10 minutes up to 16 hours long in commute time. You can view all options for this trip and pre-book your ticket via 12Go.
Option 2 – Flight and ferry
If you choose to travel via plane and then take the ferry over from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, you have a couple of flight routes possible to book. These are;
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Samui International Airport in Koh Samui with direct flights for this route costing between $181 and $232 per person, taking either 1 hour and 10 minutes or 1 hour and 35 minutes in commute time.
Don Mueang International Airport to Samui International Airport with direct flights for this route costing between $216 and $232 per person, taking 1 hour and 35 minutes in commute time.
Once you have landed into Koh Samui, you will then need to take a ferry over to the island of Koh Phangan. There are usually around 15 ferries doing this journey per day which cost between $10 and $29 per ticket, taking from 30 minutes up to 1 hour in commute time. To book these ferry tickets, you can find all available options on 12Go.
Option 3 – Taxi and ferry
This is the most expensive form of travel from Bangkok to Koh Phangan as you will need to pay for the expense of a taxi as well as purchase a ferry ticket, however it is the most private way you can travel to Koh Phangan during the first part of its journey. You will take a taxi from your requested location in Bangkok to Koh Phangen transfer in Koh Samui, where you will then transfer over to a ferry and make the commute across to Koh Phangan.
The taxi part of the trip takes 11 hours in commute time and costs between $575 and $830 per vehicle depending on which service you choose to go with. The ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangen then takes between 30 minutes up to 1 hour in travel time, costing between $10 and $29 per ticket.
KEY POINTS
Here are some key points that are great to know before booking your ticket and travelling from Bangkok to Koh Phangan…
Most affordable travel option
The cheapest option to get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan are the bus and ferry combined tickets. There are 3 of these options costing only $51 per ticket, with two departing from Khao San Montanatip Bangkok at 7pm taking from 15 hours and 30 minutes up to 16 hours in commute time, then one departing Southern Terminal Bangkok at 6.50pm taking 15 hours and 40 minutes in commute time. Took book these options, head over to 12Go.
Quickest travel option
The fastest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan is via a flight from Samui International Airport in Koh Samui and then ferry to Koh Phangan, as this can take as short as 1 hour and 40 minutes, however you will need to consider the check in time before taking the plane as well as any waiting between landing on hopping on the ferry.
Arrival time at departure station
These are the suggested arrival times at departure stations ahead of making your journey from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, however for all options I advise arriving an hour earlier to ensure that you have everything ready for your trip as well as to avoid any time spent waiting in queues.
Bus and ferry
When travelling via either bus or ferry from Bangkok to Koh Phangan you are asked to check in no later than 30 minutes before departure time. For those who have a combined bus and ferry ticket, you will make it in plenty of time for your connection.
Flight
If you decide to travel with the plane from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, you will need to be checked in 1 hour and 30 minutes before the departure time of your flight.
Taxi
There is no exact suggested time you will need to arrive at your departure station ahead of taking a taxi from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, although you can be charged late fees if you are not there when the driver shows up.
Luggage allowance
These are the suggested luggage allowances on each form of transport ahead of your trip from Bangkok to Koh Phangan…
Bus and ferry
When travelling from Bangkok to Koh Phangan by either bus or ferry each passenger is allowed 20kg of weight in luggage included in their ticket price, it is possible to take up to 30 kg of luggage on board but you will be charged extra.
Flight
The maximum luggage allowance per person when travelling via plane from Bangkok to Koh Phangan is 20 kg, however if you book business class you may take up to 40 kg.
Taxi
Each passenger is allowed to take one item of luggage, if you have oversized, bulky or an extra piece of luggage you will need to inform the 12Go team at least 24 hours in advance.
HOW TO BOOK A TICKET FROM BANGKOK TO KOH PHANGAN
The best and most reliable way to check exact time schedules, pricing plans and ensure that you will make all of the connections needed, is to book your ticket in advance via 12Go, this will also make certain that you get the most suited travel option for you from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, and offer you a reliable platform to book through.
GETTING TO DEPARTURE STATIONS IN BANGKOK
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and its biggest city which means navigating around the area is made easy by the several transport options on offer, so making the commute to the departure station ahead of your journey from Bangkok to Koh Phangan will not be difficult.
The Skytrain in Bangkok is the most affordable and quickest way to get around the city, avoiding all of the road traffic and showcasing some wonderful views along the way. However, if you aren’t located near a Skytrain station then the next best option you will want to use is the public bus. If you are looking to have a last authentic Bangkok experience before leaving the city then you will want to make the journey to your departure station via tuk-tuk, if you haven’t already had a ride on one of these.
Other forms of transport include;
- Boat
- Motorbike
- Taxi
When organising transport ahead of your trip from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, I suggest you consider the time you need to arrive at the departure station for and then calculate how long each form of transport will take you in commute time, as well as compare the prices for each.
GETTING TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION IN KOH PHANGAN
When you arrive from Bangkok to Koh Phangan you will have just over a handful of transport options available to take you to your final destination on the island. In the past few years Koh Phangan have renovated their roads which makes it easier to commute around the island.
These are the transport options on offer;
- Scooter hire
- Car hire
- Taxi car
- Longtail boat
- Bicycle
- By foot
Just with getting to your departure station in Bangkok, I suggest making note of what time you will arrive in Koh Phangan for as well as looking at the distance your final destination is from the arrival station, and they weigh up which option will suit you best.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KOH PHANGAN
When booking your trip from Bangkok to Koh Phangan you will want to make it during the month of February as this is when the island has its lowest rainfall accompanied by high temperatures and the most amount of sunshine per day. During this period of time you will be able to enjoy a lot of what the island has to offer, in the best weather conditions of the year.
Koh Phangan also has great weather from late December through to and including March, as this is known for being dry season and also not too humid, making it a good time to visit too. The period of time which is suggested for people not to visit Koh Phangan is from September through to mid November, as there is the possibility of getting caught up in high winds and flooding.
HOW LONG TO SPEND IN KOH PHANGAN
The minimum amount of time you will want to spend in the beautiful Koh Phangan is 3 days, with a great amount of time being a whole week. This will allow you to truly enjoy the full beauty of the island, its culture, the activities and also have time to relax. Offering an incredible tropical atmosphere you can easily fall into the island way of life which is wonderful, so pre-planning all of the things you want to check out beforehand as well as fitting in a few days of just laying out on the beaches is a great idea to understand how long you will want to spend there.
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN KOH PHANGAN
These are some great activities and things to do that you will not want to miss out on in Koh Phangan, and should definitely be added to your island bucket list.
Attend one of the full moon parties
Koh Phangan is famous for its incredible full moon parties, so you will definitely want to make sure that you check one out. Haad Rin Beach is the best place to attend one, as it is where the all-night beach party was created in 1985. What better way to experience authentic island life than dancing under the moonlight once the sun has gone down.
Check out the waterfalls
Believe it or not Koh Phangan doesn’t just host gorgeous beaches but also offers breathtaking waterfalls. Paradise waterfall is one of the most popular ones to visit, just make sure before heading there that there is actually water running through it as sometimes during dry season there isn’t enough rainfall to catch it at its finest.
Day trip to Ang Thong Marine Park
This is a great place to visit whilst staying in Koh Phangan. Taking you on a boat tour around the islands you will be able to soak up the beautiful lush greenery and crystal-clear turquoise waters, whilst also getting to snorkel, swim and sunbathe. With it taking weeks to check out all the islands around, this is a great way to see some of the best ones in a day.
Explore across the island itself
Hiring a motorbike to travel throughout Koh Phangan is fantastic as it allows you to cover a lot of ground at your own pace, which means you can stop off at all the great points around the island. This also allows you to get to places such as Khao Ra, Haad Rin and Haad Yao with a lot more ease, which are fantastic viewpoints offering spectacular views across the island.
Watch the sun go down
To finalise a perfect day of exploring, heading to the beach to catch a sunset is ideal. Watch as the sky is lit up by the vibrant colours and different shades of orange going down over the ocean whilst relaxing or dancing along the golden sands.
MORE THAILAND BLOGS
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