Thailand forum

Hi there,

Thanks so much for this! Much appreciated, have been a great help :-)

It might do, I've never bought a ticket online. The Thai Railways site never seems to be working whenever I've checked and I didn't know about that site so thanks for that... I've bookmarked it. I see they say that only 10% of the total seats are allowed for online booking though.


Although the overnight sleeper train to Chumphon and Surat Thani leaves on time it is invariably late arriving for some reason... an hour late or more. The best one to take for the morning ferries is the one that leaves at 19.30pm.

I haven't done the flight-ferry combination but you should be able to get a taxi to the pier if the transfer bus has already left ...very doubtful it would have though, as they'd be specifically waiting for passengers off that flight.

Worst case scenario would be the slow night ferry arriving early next morning.

Straight forward bus from Surat Thani to Don Sak -- it's generally a part of the ferry ticket price if you buy the ticket in Surat.

Joint tickets are only worth buying if they are using the government buses -- if it is using a private bus service (which is what most of the agents on Khao San Road use) I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole -- theft is endemic on those buses.

The train is govt run but you could probably buy a train/ferry combo ticket from a travel agent in KSR. They'd just add on a little commission for the train ticket.

You can of course buy a bus/ferry combo from a travel agent too ... extremely easy to do ... but it's doubtful that they'd sell you a govt bus ticket. No govt buses leave from KSR. If the risk of getting stuff nicked from your luggage in the hold of one of the KSR private buses doesn't bother you, then go for it.

Government buses do require a bit more effort on your part as you have to make your own way to the Southern Bus Station by taxi or bus. However if people keep recommending you do this rather than take the "easy" option of taking a bus directly from KSR, there is a reason!

The Lomprayah bus from KRS seems to have a fairly good reputation though. I've never taken it myself, just seen people saying it's OK on travel forums. You could try that if you want but still wiser to keep anything you'd hate to lose on your person.

i will try to take the train but if it is full i'll take the bus

Hi Guys,

Really useful info here, kind of related to my predicament right now.

I will share if anyone can offer any advice.

I need to do the following:

To get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan and I would like to travel by day. I fancy the train (great sights).

- Traveller2000 tell me they can't connect me to a ferry unless it's the overnight trip. So assuming I take the day train (which I am 100% happy to do so), how can I get around this?

- I hear that I need to go to Koh Samui first, and then to Koh Phangan. This true? I am sure I saw a map which said I could go straight to Phangan. Whichever is best, really.

- There are some discrepancies with which Bangkok train station I book through too.

If anyone has the "perfect plan" for me, based on their knowledge or experience, then I will be delighted to hear from you. Travelling by day by train is my non-negotiable part, the rest.... I throw up to the Gods. :)

Thank you in advance from your world friend, the Brit. :)