How to Get From Krabi to Koh Phangan (Our Bus & Ferry Trip!)

Lomprayah Ferry

If you’re traveling through Thailand on a budget you’ll more than likely be taking all different kinds of transportation! One of the most popular bus and ferry route combinations is the trip from Krabi to the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao! That’s because after island hopping in the magical Andaman Sea, travelers make their way over to the Gulf of Thailand. Join us as we share our route and some tips about using the popular Lomprayah Ferry company!

Booking Our Lomprayah Ferry Tickets 

When traveling through South East Asia we always look at 12Go first. This will give you an idea of the price and times before going from places like Krabi to Koh Samui.

We quickly found a route with Lomprayah that included a transfer across the mainland to the port town of Donsak. From there we would catch a high-speed ferry from Krabi to Koh Phangan. We actually didn’t have our travel plans made in advance so the night before we asked about the different routes at our hotel. 

It’s good to have an idea of what company you want to use whether you book online or directly. Our hotel worked with a bus and boat combination that was slightly cheaper. However, they were trying to sell us tickets for a slow ferry which would have added multiple hours onto our trip! 

 

Powered by 12Go system

Krabi to Koh Phangan

After deciding to head to the island of Koh Phangan first, we ended up booking the Lomprayah bus transfer with the high-speed catamaran. One thing to note is that if you do book online they need to know the hotel you are staying at for pickup! 

Along our travel day from Krabi to Koh Phangan, some things went as expected while others were a little wild… But hey, that’s all part of the fun of traveling in Asia! Here’s a quick breakdown of how our trip went.

Lomprayah Total Ticket Cost: 1.200 baht per person
Set Pick Up: 7:20am 
Actual Pick Up: 8:15am 
Transfer to Large Bus: 8:45am
Bus Arrives at Lomprayah Pier: 11:15am
High-Speed Lomrayah Ferry Departs: 11:35am
Arrival on Koh Phangan: 12:40pm

 

Options From Krabi to the Gulf Islands

Cheapest Route

We were quoted 800 baht for a bus/ferry that took several hours longer and left in the later morning. We don’t suggest doing this if you don’t have to, but we get it if that’s your only option! There’s no shame in saving some money and taking the slow ferries around the Thai Islands. Just know that you’re in for a long day! Our friends took this and the trip was over 9 hours.

More Expensive Route

You can book a private driver to transfer you to the main pier. We asked a local taxi and were quoted 2,500 baht. We then talk to our hotel and they said 4,000 baht to give you an idea of the price discrepancies. Once you get to Donsak you can book a ferry ticket directly with a company like Lomprayah. Just make sure to plan the transfer to arrive with enough time to make your ferry. 

Absolute Best Option 

Typically the fastest way to get there is to fly from Krabi to Koh Samui. The flight time is only around an hour and costs roughly $100 USD. However, depending on the demand sometimes this route can be canceled! This is what happened to us traveling in March 2022. If you still would rather fly from Krabi to Koh Samui, the tickets will be more expensive and you’ll have to transfer through Bangkok. 

Lomprayah Krabi

Traveling from Krabi to Koh Samui?

This is a super popular route and one that we almost did ourselves. The information below will also be helpful if you use the Lomprayah ferry company which makes this route daily. Also, on 12go you can see the cheaper options which we explain more about.

Is Koh Samui Thailand Worth Visiting? Pros, Cons, & Things to do

Krabi to Koh Samui

Traveling from Krabi to Koh Tao

If you are traveling from Krabi to Koh Phangan (or from Krabi to Koh Tao) you’ll be on the same bus/ferry with Lomprayah as we were. You’ll see that all the information is the same for the journey with a stop in Koh Phangan.

The difference is that you will disembark the boat in Koh Phangan and join other travelers from the island who are also making their way to Koh Tao. After switching boats you’ll then make the final leg of the journey!

12 Koh Tao Thailand Tips For the Most EPIC Visit!

Early Morning Start With Lomprayah

Personally, we like to start our travel days as early as possible. Not only does this get us to our destination with more time to enjoy the day, but we don’t have to wait around getting ready to go! 

So we went down to our lobby at our set pickup time of 7:20am and waited…and waited… Eventually, the hotel called Lomprayah to confirm that they were still coming which they did. While most people might get annoyed by this we were happy to wait. 

If you’ve never taken a shared transfer in Asia this is super common. The company sends out drivers all around the area to pick up the passengers. This means the main transfer won’t take off till everyone gets there. 

Honestly, it sucks to be the first one picked up for a shared transfer! That means that you have to drive around town and stop at all the other hotels as the passengers are collected.

Anyway, almost an hour later a driver pulled up frantically. We hopped into a shockingly empty van and picked up only one other group on the way to the main Lompraya bus station.

I guess the other driver was behind so they had to send a new transfer for us! While it’s normal for drivers to run late it is good to call or have your hotel do so just to confirm they didn’t forget you. 

Lomprayah Krabi Transfer

Our Travel Day From Krabi to Koh Phangan

Now, this is where we got a little annoyed! Our hotel in Krabi assured us we were paying for a small minivan transfer and not the giant bus.

All the photos even showed a small shared minivan. Yet, sure enough, we pulled up to a large double-decker Lomprayah bus with 30+ other travelers! 

While this was certainly annoying, it’s important to go with the flow when traveling. We’ve taken a lot of these buses throughout Southeast Asia and they are all pretty similar. After checking in and getting our official Lomprayah tickets/stickers we took our seats on the top of the bus.

When’s the Best Time to Visit Thailand For Perfect Weather?

Krabi to Koh Phangan Bus

Lomprayah Bus From Krabi to Donsak 

It had been a couple of years since our last trip to Asia and luckily the bus wasn’t as bad as we remembered. There was lots of legroom and even a bathroom on board which isn’t so common in Thailand. We didn’t use the bathroom so have no idea how clean or dirty it is, but it’s there! 

Our seats were large enough that we could actually put our bags at our feet. We travel with very small bags so this probably won’t work for everyone.

Just make sure if you are storing your bags underneath the bus to take out anything valuable or breakable! Also, investing in a small lock is a must while traveling abroad as it will give you a little extra peace of mind. 

Krabi to Donsak Transfer

Krabi to Koh Tao Bus

Lomprayah Ferry From Donsak to Koh Phangan

The trip is mostly flat but doesn’t have the most exciting views out the window that you’d hope for in Thailand. We definitely recommend having a good book or podcast for the ride. Nonetheless, in under three hours, we crossed the mainland and arrived on the other coast. 

Our bus pulled up on the pier and everyone collected their luggage and got off. This was a little confusing because we couldn’t actually see the boats! Unlike the large slow ferries, the high-speed catamarans are small and low to the water below the tall pier.

Next, there was some standing around and confusion but soon different groups were called onto the boat. They filled the first speed boat with travelers heading to Koh Tao which is further than Koh Phangan. After that, they had 5 extra seats left to fill. 

Knowing they would be first to take off, we jumped at the opportunity and ran over with our stuff! The speed boat took a little over an hour to make the crossing and we watched as a massive storm slammed Koh Samui in the distance. For comparison, the slow ferry from Donsak to Koh Phangan takes about 3-4 hours.

Lomprayah Speed Boat

Lomprayah High Speed Ferry

We Made it From Krabi to Koh Phangan!

We arrived on Koh Phangan to a buzz of people, taxis, and transfers. Like all travel days in Asia, it was long but we survived! A travel day that started at 7:20am ended with getting to the island at 12:30pm in time for lunch.

For us, the extra 400 baht ($12 USD) each was worth it to leave in the morning and have four fewer hours of travel time. Yes of course we still got delayed and twisted around a bit, but the end result was still favorable!

As we mentioned we’ve taken many buses, trains, and ferries in Asia… So overall this was a super smooth travel day! Be sure to check out the beautiful Bottle Beach on your Koh Phangan trip, and our article about what to know before you go below.

10 Helpful Things to Know Before Visiting Koh Phangan Thailand

Ferry to Koh Phangan

Have any questions about traveling from Krabi to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, or any other Thai islands? How about sharing your own journey with Lomprayah Ferry? Leave us a comment below!

Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake

PIN FOR LATER 

Krabi to Koh Phangan

Thailand Travel Planning 

 Flights: We always find our cheap flight deals using Skyscanner and Kayak. That’s how we found flights from Bangkok to Phuket for $12 USD, and Thailand to Vietnam for less than $50! 

 Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also,  Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget. 

 Transportation: While traveling through Thailand 12Go is where we find all our ferries, trains, buses, and transfers! You can find everything from island hopping speed boats to the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

 Tours: Check out Get Your Guide to find activities all over Phuket! You can find everything from a James Bond island luxury sunset cruise, to Phuket Old Town 15-taster food adventure, and 5-hour island tour

 Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.

 Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials

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Helpful Thailand Articles

Phuket: 22 Things to DoOld Town Food Guide6  Sunset SpotsRawaiElephant SanctuaryPromthep Cape SunsetSunday Night MarketPhuket Old TownBig BuddhaRenting a Motorbike 

Phuket Beaches:  15 Best Beaches Nai Harn & Yanui – Kata BeachKata NoiNui Beach

Koh Phi Phi:  Ferry from Phuket25 Things to KnowMaya Bay Private Tour3 Viewpoint HikeMonkey BeachPhi Phi Don Boat Tour 

Koh Lanta: 10 Things to Do8 Best BeachesOne Day Motorbike

Railey Beach:  12 Things to Do3 Epic Beaches 

Gulf of Thailand: Freedom Beach Koh TaoKoh Samui 

More: Planning Thailand TripKoh LipeChiang Mai40 Favorite Thai Dishes!

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Brigitte & Jake

We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!

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