There are a number of different options for travel to
Seatran Discovery
Seatran Discovery covers the route from Ko Samui to Ko Pha Ngan to Ko Tao. The larger Seatran Ferry only operates between Donsak and Ko Samui.
Raja Ferry
Raja Ferry is the large vehicle ferry that operates from Donsak Pier on the mainland to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan.
Songserm Ferry
Songserm Ferry operates services to Ko Pha Ngan (and Ko Samui) from two points on the mainland; Chumphon and Surat Thani. They have boat services which connect with buses, trains and planes arriving at either Chumphon or Surat Thani. The Songserm Ferry website isn’t particularly helpful, but their service is reasonable and a number of travel agents in Thailand do use them.
In most cases during the low season you won’t need to buy a boat ticket in advance and can just buy one at the respective pier on the day of departure. But high season and the time of the Full Moon Party does see more passengers so buying in advance does help. Go to the pier at least a day before your intended travel date and buy from the ticket counter or book online directly from the boat company.
The quickest way to travel from Bangkok to Ko Pha Ngan is to fly. If you prefer slower travel, the sleeper train is a better and more comfortable option than the bus. If you do want to travel by bus, one of the best options is the official government bus service which departs from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal. Journey time to Ko Pha Ngan by bus is approximately 14 hours which includes the ferry crossing. As an alternative, the Lomphraya bus service from their office in central Bangkok is another option.
Lomphraya run a catamaran service between Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan. The journey time is approximately 20-30 minutes and the current adult price for a one-way ticket is 300 Baht. Departures leave from Maenam Pier and Nathon Pier.
Seatran Discovery from Bangrak Pier on Ko Samui takes 30 minutes and current price is 300 Baht.
A combination of speedboats and longtail boats also run from Ko Samui’s northern beaches of Maenam, Bophut and Bangrak (Big Buddha Beach) direct to Hat Rin beach on Ko Pha Ngan. Times and frequency fluctuate, but for the Full Moon Party there are all-night services shuttling between Hat Rin and Samui’s northern beaches.
Please note there have been a number of speedboat accidents over the years at the time of the Full Moon Party. Some speedboat operators continue to put profit before safety with overcrowding on some services and not enough life-jackets.Depending on weather conditions, there is a choice of speedboat, express ferry or slow boat.
From Ko Tao (Mae Haad Pier) with Lomphraya 1 hour (600 Baht)
from Ko Tao (Mae Haad Pier) with Seatran Discovery 1.5 hours (430 Baht)
Chumphon Pier to Ko Pha Ngan with Lomphraya 3 hours (1,000 Baht)
Donsak (Laem Thuat Pier) to Ko Pha Ngan with Lomphraya 1.5 hours (450 Baht)
Donsak Pier to Ko Pha Ngan with Raja Ferry 2.5 hours (210 Baht foot passenger)
Hua Hin to Ko Pha Ngan with Lomphraya 7.5 hours morning departure or 11.5 hours overnight (1,300 Baht)
Krabi to Ko Pha Ngan with Lomphraya 4.5 to 5 hours (800 Baht)
Krabi Town to Ko Pha Ngan with Seatran Discovery 6 hours (850 Baht)
Railay Beach to Ko Pha Ngan with Seatran Discovery approx. 8.5 hours (1,000 Baht)
Ko Phi Phi to Ko Pha Ngan 8 hours with Seatran Discovery (1,100 Baht)
Phuket to Ko Pha Ngan with Lomphraya 7 to 7.5 hours (1,400 Baht)
Phuket Rassada Pier to Ko Pha Ngan with Seatran Discovery 8.5 hours (1,100 Baht)
Surat Thani airport to Ko Pha Ngan with Lomphraya 3.5 to 4 hours (700 Baht)
Surat Thani airport to Ko Pha Ngan with Seatran Discovery 5 to 6 hours (700 Baht)
Surat Thani city to Ko Pha Ngan with Lomphraya 3 hours (550 Baht)
Surat Thani city to Ko Pha Ngan with Seatran Discovery 3 hours (550 Baht)
