Airplane
There are plans to build an airport on Koh Phangan, since a very long time, now… But for the time being it is not as yet possible to fly there direct. However, there are many flights every day landing on Koh Samui, where you can take a boat that will take you to Phangan in less than an hour…
Since airport on Koh Samui is private and belongs to Bangkok Airways direct flights can be rather expensive. So remember there is also an option to fly to Surat Thani airport and get joint bus + boat ticket. AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Smile Airways are flying there. Another option can be take the bus + speed catamaran from Bangkok from Lomrayah.
Boats to Koh Phangan from the Mainland
The Raja Ferry and the Seatran Ferry (carrying vehicles and passangers) leave from Donsak pier, one hour from Suratthani center (there’s a coach transfer included in the price). Both offer a good service and the journey only takes two hours and half. Raja is much more reliable, as Seatran sometimes stops its services to Koh Phangan.
Click here for timetable of all boat companies coming to Koh Phangan from the Mainland.
Boats to Koh Samui and Koh Tao
There are many different ways to reach Phangan from Koh Samui. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs between 200 and 250 bahts depending on the company. All the routes to Koh Tao stops in Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Trip to Koh Tao takes about 1:30. The ticket costs between 350 and 450 bahts depending on the company.
How to move around while on Koh Phangan
Rent a vehicle
Rent your own vehicle will allow you to discover the numerous sites of Koh Phangan exactly the way you want to do it and at your own rythm. Bike, in spite of its danger, is the cheapest and the most usual mean of transport, here. However, before signing the contract, it’s always a good idea to check the motorbike with the owner so as to avoid getting charged for something you haven’t broken yourself when giving the bike back. The prices vary between 150 and 500 baht/day (and even more for CBR…) depending on the category and the state of the bike.
Renting a car isn’t as easy as in Samui, but, years after years, more and more places offer it. Few agencies and Bungalows have Suzuki Caribbean or Pick Up trucks for rent. It’s also recommended that you check the car for any existing scratches on the day you rent it.
We warn you again about the local roads. Even if they are covered, they are in very bad state and even the new ones get corrupted very quick, so if you must rent yourself a bike, don’t forget to drive on the left hand side, avoid carrying another person and be very weary of the many cracks and holes scattered all over the place.
Taxis and Sangtaews
If you are not too keen on driving a motorcycle, especially if you are not too good a driver, you may prefer to travel by taxi… The case being, you’ll have different choices.
There are no official stops, so you just have to waive at the taxi when you see one on the road. It is recommended to check the price before getting in. Alternatively, if you already know the price, simply hand in the exact amount to the driver on arrival at your destination…
There is still no metered taxis in Koh Phangan as yet.
Motorbike taxis usually stand by near popular spots in town, are another cheap way to move around Phangan. However, these last years the amount of motorbike taxis have been gradually decreasing, and it’s not easy nowadays to find one as they do not always wear colourful tops as in Samui and other parts of Thailand. Here again, it is recommended to fix the price before.
Taxi Boats
As many beaches in Koh Phangan, and especially on the East coast, are still today only reachable by boat, the taxi boat business is still well alive in Koh Phangan. They’ll take you to different beaches as Haad Khuad (bottle beach, in the North) from Chaloklum or, if you leave from Haad rin, to Haad Yuan, Haad Thian, Haad Yao East, Than Sadet and Thong nai pan on the East coast.
Speedboats
If you want to go to visit some of the nearby islands such as Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan or the Angthong National Marine Park, it will be more difficult to organise than it is in Samui. However, you’ll find some speedboat companies on the island or somr travel agencies working with speed boats from Samui departing from Thong Sala, Haad Rin and Ban Tai. You can contact one of the few tour counters available throughout the island to book yourself a direct trip or a special tour around these islands.