Boat:
Whether arriving by plane, train or automobile you will need to take a ferry to Koh Phangan. The link http://www.koh-phangan.tv/ferry/kohphanganferrytimetables.html will enable you to plan your journey more efficiently.
Getting to Koh Phangan
Plane:
The fastest way to travel to Koh Phangan and is perfect for those with a limited stay in Thailand....but can be costly. It is worth bearing in mind the time taken up waiting around at airports when considering purchasing a flight ticket. There are additional costs of checking in luggage and taxis to and from the airport. The nearest airports to Koh Phangan are on the island of Koh Samui (USM) and Suratthani (URT) on the mainland.
Koh Samui is serviced by Bangkok Airways and there are regular daily flights from around Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Check www.bangkokair.com for details. From the airport take a taxi to one of the piers where you can catch a ferry to Koh Phangan for about 250 baht. The last ferry leaves at 6pm.
Suratthani is serviced by Thai Airways and the low-cost carriers Air Asia and Nok Air. The latter two airlines offer great Bangkok- Suratthani deals. Upon your arrival to the airport visit a travel agency to purchase a ‘bus and boat combo' ticket for between 500 and 600 baht to Koh Phangan.
Nok Air in conjunction with Lomprayah ferries offers a ‘combo’ flight/bus/ferry ticket from Bangkok (Don Meuang Airport) for about 2500 baht per person. They fly to either Suratthani or Nakon Si Thammarat.
Train:
These run throughout the day leaving from Bangkok and southern Thailand. In our opinion the overnight sleeper train is the best value option when travelling to Koh Phangan. You will need to reserve your train ticket in advance as it is a popular way to travel. At the time of booking there is a choice of first and second class cabins which are either fan-cooled or have air conditioning. Travellers often prefer fan-cooled cabins as the air conditioning systems on trains produce cold and very dry air. You will receive a table, a sofa which is converted to a flat bed in the evening and a waiter serving food and beverages. Trains stop in Suratthani where you can arrange a bus and ferry ticket to Koh Phangan.
Bus:
Most travel agents in major tourist spots such as Bangkok, Phuket and Hat Yai sell one way tickets to Koh Phangan. From Bangkok the cheapest and in our opinion the best option is a ‘combo' ticket which includes an overnight bus to Suratthani and the onward ferry to Phangan. The cost varies but is usually around 700 baht. Khaosan Road offers the cheapest deals.
Buses can be uncomfortable and therefore we recommend spending a little extra for a VIP ticket. There are 2 types of VIP bus - a 40-seater and the more luxurious 24-seater. We also recommend travelling on the Government bus. The Government bus leaves from Bangkok south station at 7pm and arrives on Koh Phangan at 10am. The reverse journey means leaving Koh Phangan at 5pm and arriving in Bangkok at 6am.
From Suratthani: Several options are available from local travel agencies. These include Songserm Ferry, Raja Ferry (which both take around 3hrs) or the quicker Lomprayah catamaran (about 1.5hrs). A night-boat service is also available with comfortable beds and fans. This departs at 11pm and takes about 7hrs.
From Koh Samui: Three different piers on Samui service Koh Phangan and the boat journey can take anything from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Ferries arrive in Thongsala - just pick the ferry which best suits your itinerary as they only vary slightly in cost. The Haad Rin Queen Ferry is another option and travels directly to Haad Rin.
From Koh Tao: Boats depart from Mae Haad pier at regular intervals and arrive in Thongsala. Choose between Songserm, Seatran or Lomprayah services. The last boat from Koh Tao to Phangan is at 3pm.
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‘We had a great time staying in the camp to prepare our team for the Word Championships in 2014. The accommodation and the food were perfect for us. At Diamond there are many good trainers who really take the time to teach you technique and lots of tricks. Solid pad holders who push you to your limits. Definitely we will come back.’
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‘Training at Diamond Muay Thai was an amazing experience. Working with experienced trainers like Mon helped me to sharpen my technique and improve various aspects of my game. Besides the great training Simon, Jesse and the rest of the guys are super friendly and welcome everyone with open arms. Being on Koh Phangan amongst amazing beaches and surroundings doesn’t hurt either. I’ll definitely be back!’
Sean ‘ Muay Thai Guy’ Fagan
US Champion
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WMF WMA World Champion