Buses depart from both Khao Sarn Rd (backpackers area) and the Southern Bus terminal in Bangkok. A typical ticket with boat connection will cost about 500 baht. VIP buses can be a bit of a rip-off, with broken seats, and not much value for the extra money you pay. Be cautious of theft from bags and money belts while on the bus. The southern bus route is particularly notorious for this. Buses usually depart Bangkok around 5pm, and arrive Surathani early morning taking you straight to the ferry port for the 4 hour journey to Koh Phangan.

Train travel is far superior. The 2nd class seat, is similar price to the bus, and much more comfortable. Moving up from this is the 2nd class sleeper. This will cost (excluding boat), about 600 baht, and is definately the best way to travel other than flying. Beds are clean, and you feel human when you wake up in the morning. Trains leave mostly in the evening, (5 or 6 leaving between 5pm - 8pm, from Hua Lampong central station), arriving Surathani in the early morning where buses will meet you and take you to the pier for Koh Phangan. There is also a day train, but it does not connect with the boat services quite as smoothly.

Thai Airways flies to Surathani daily. This costs about 2000 baht one way. You then take the transfer to the ferry pier, and boat to Koh Phangan.
Bangkok Airways is certainly the best, and most expensive at over 4000 baht from Bangkok to Koh Samui. The benefit is that you only have a one hour boat trip from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan. Thus the entire trip only takes little over 2 hours. There are up to 20 flights a day in the high season. Bangkok Airways also has really good internet specials, from as little as 2000 baht one way on the first and last flights of the day, definately worth a look.

Four companies run boats to Koh Phangan from the mainland. Songserm with rickety old rust buckets; Raja car ferry, good in rough seas; and Seatran, the pick of the crop, fast, safe and clean. Seatran has huge car ferries and also a very fast express boat. Songserm and Raja take about 3 and a half hours, while Seatran does the trip in a little over 2 hours. There is also the classic night boat, getting in very early morning. It is reasonably comfortable, but not totally safe in bad seas. The Hadrin Queen operates from Big Buddha on Samui to Hadrin Beach. It departs Samui daily at 10:30, 13:00 and 16:00, and again at 18:30, taking about one hour. This is a very good option if your'e flying to Samui, because Big Buddha is only 10 minutes away from the airport. The Lomprayah Speed Catamaran is a very nice boat that sails between Mae Nam on Samui to Thongasala. It is considerably more expensive that the other services, but includes shuttle to Phangan Rainbow Bungalows, which is handy.

Useful links to transportation services in Thailand:
Click here for Bangkok Airways
Click here for Thai Airways
Click here for Thai Railways information

Click here to book a room at Phangan Rainbow Bungalows instantly!

Phangan Rainbow is situated at Ban Kai beach, which is a 30 - 50 baht taxi ride from both Haadrin Beach (tourist centre) to the east, and Thong Sala (main port) to the west. Tell the driver you want Phangan Rainbow in Bankai, and he'll bring you straight here. But remember to tell him Phangan Rainbow in Bankai, because there is another Rainbow in Hadrin!