Bus
Bus to Koh Phangan
It is never the most comfortable voyage to get to the bus to Koh Phangan because of the vast distance traveling involved. However, it is without a doubt the most cost-effective mode of transportation in Thailand. It is not very expensive to take a bus from Bangkok to Koh Phangan.
The travel, on the other hand, is lengthy and sometimes painful. Because of this, the price is rather cheap; nonetheless, if you are on a tight budget, it is a viable alternative. There is a constant flow of minivans and buses throughout the day and night. Which allows you to choose the time that you want for getting the bus to Koh Phangan, in-turn, giving you more freedom.
From Bangkok: In Bangkok, the majority of travel companies will be able to provide an all-inclusive ticket, also known as a joint ticket, for the bus to Koh Phangan. Alternatively, you may make your reservation online. As you go from Bangkok to Koh Phangan, you will spend the night on the route. The price of the ticket for the bus and the ferry is around 700 Thai Baht per person.
The travel is rather sluggish and takes up the most of the night, which is the reason why the price is so low. At around seven o’clock in the evening, the bus that travels to Koh Phangan leaves Bangkok. Arriving at Surat Thani at an early hour in the morning in order to catch the first ferry to Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Koh Tao.
Back to Bangkok: For the return journey to Bangkok, there are numerous ferry options. But for the bus to Bangkok you will need to depart Koh Phangan no later then 1pm. Usually a local bus or mini-van will drop passengers off in Surat Thani town where you will have to wait until about 7pm for the connecting bus to Bangkok.
Government Bus: For those who would like a little more comfort aboard a bus for this long journey, consider booking yourself on the Government bus to Koh Phangan. This bus may be a little larger and the vehicle actually boards the ferry to save you transferring from one mode of transport to the other, however it will cost you about 300 THB more. There are also several other bus to Koh Phangan and mini-van to Koh Phangan options, linking Surat Thani with other major destinations, check with a travel agency for full details and schedules.
From Phuket: The nearest place to catch the ferry from Phuket to Koh Phangan is Surat Thani so you first must take a bus. The bus to Koh Phangan journey from Phuket is approximately 4 hours by bus. The bus terminal is located in Phuket Town on Thepkasatri Road. The terminal is between Mission Hospital and The SuperCheap shop. The terminal is relatively new and buses operate out of here to all over Thailand.
To Chumpon: Another option for the bus to Koh Phangan is taking a bus direct to Chumphon, which is by far the quickest, cheapest and most convenient way to travel by bus from Bangkok. From there you can catch a connecting ferry to Koh Phangan. The bus to Koh Phangan via Chumphon is roughly 2 hours shorter than that to Surat Thani and will also cost you a few hundred THB less.
Top Tip When Travelling by Bus to Koh Phangan
When travelling on any bus to Koh Phangan or elsewhere in Thailand please make sure you don’t leave any valuables in baggage that is stored underneath in the ‘hold’. We are not kidding when we say theft can be a major problem on the buses. What generally happens is a thief hides in the luggage section where your bags are stored and goes through them during the trip, stealing all your money and other valuables before reaching your destination. You generally won’t find things are missing until you arrive at your accommodation.
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