How to Get to Koh Phangan: Booking your bus, ferry or flight!

How to Get to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party

The island best known for the Full Moon Party has so much to offer but first you need to know how to get to Koh Phangan. It’s got no airport, so a direct flight isn’t an option. Taking a bus and then a ferry is easily the most popular transportation option. But if you’re short on time, a flight to Koh Samui and then a ferry won’t eat up a night sleeping on an uncomfortable bus or train!

Depending on where you’re coming from, getting to Koh Phangan can be a pain in the ass. That’s why we’ve split up this article into 3 location-based sections (Bangkok, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan). Regardless of how you travel, you’ll have to hop on a ferry for the final leg of the trip. Don’t stress it! These are the most straightforward and common travel routes that backpackers take and we’ll go into transport options from each. Ready?

Note: Before booking your transportation, have you considered staying on Koh Samui for Full Moon Party? It’s actually cheaper in many cases, so check out our guide to see if it’s a better travel plan for you.

How to Get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok

Bangkok is Thailand’s central hub and the first destination for many backpackers visiting the country for the first time. That said, when traveling from Bangkok, you’ve got more options than other locations for getting to Koh Phangan.

Starting with the quickest but most expensive option is flying from Bangkok (BKK) to Koh Samui (KSM) airport. From Koh Samui, you’ll take a ferry to Koh Phangan. If you’re short on time, this will be your best bet but be aware that flights can be ridiculously expensive around the time of the Full Moon Party. When backpacking on a budget, keep this in mind as your last resort option.

Next up is the most popular option, taking the overnight bus from Bangkok to Surat Thani and then the ferry to Koh Phangan. It’s by far the cheapest way to get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok, but you basically lose a day because of the commute. The bus departs around 6 PM and you won’t arrive on Koh Phangan until the evening the next day.

Finally, our last option is taking the overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani and then the ferry to Koh Phangan. While it’s only slightly more expensive than the overnight bus, it’s exponentially more comfy and even saves you some time too. One thing to note is that taking the train back to Bangkok after the Full Moon Party gets expensive so taking the bus back might be smarter on your wallet.

How to Get to Koh Phangan from Koh Tao

Koh Tao is known as one of the cheapest places in the world to get a diving license. Whether you’re taking a PADI or SSI diving course, Koh Tao is a sure bet. Getting to Koh Phangan from Koh Tao is super simple too: just take the ferry. You’re only a couple hours away!

Even if you aren’t getting your diving license on Koh Tao, it’s a place we highly recommend visiting. Spend some time at Bodega honing your beer pong skills and show off at The Fishbowl, go snorkeling and enjoy the beautiful Sairee Beach.

How to Get to Koh Phangan from Koh Samui

Although not as popular as Koh Tao, many people will be traveling from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party. But with the brand spankin’ new Bodega Koh Samui Party Hostel, that’s a growing trend! Going from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan is a great option if you’re short on time since it’s the only island in the region with an airport. Flights can get pretty expensive (especially last-minute) around the time of Full Moon Party, so just be sure to plan ahead.

When is the Full Moon Party, anyway?

Glad you asked! As the name suggests, the Full Moon Party coincides with the full moon. While countries like China and Thailand have followed the lunar calendar for thousands of years, it’s not exactly common knowledge among tourists (or backpackers…or the Western world in general). Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Full Moon Party 2019 dates for handy reference: