Koh Phangan to Bangkok tickets

About the ride from Koh Phangan to Bangkok

Ok, leaving the bliss, peacefulness, and Full Moon parties of Koh Phangan might feel like taking candy from a child. But once you rip that band-aid off and decide to head to Bangkok, you are in for a treat of a totally different nature.

Bangkok is the perfect blend: of chaos and zen, of ancient traditions and modern energy, of temples and nightclubs. By day, you're exploring temples and cruising down the river. By night, you're sampling all the street food and diving into the neon-lit rooftop bars.

However, getting from Koh Phangan to Bangkok is a serious trek. It's going to take about 15-ish hours via a ferry ride and a long road trip. So buckle up and come prepared, it's the only thing that will make the journey fly by quicker. 

Five of the coolest things you must do in Bangkok

1. Explore Bangkok's street food scene. It's legendary.  

From pad Thai to spicy som tam (papaya salad) at Chatuchak Market, Bangkok's street food will take you on a journey. Head to Chinatown's Yaowarat Road for sizzling woks and midnight snacks, or try a gem like Jay Fai, a Michelin-starred street food stall. 

If you want a full food adventure, take a street food tour where locals show you the best spots for everything from crispy pork belly to mango sticky rice. But do it early on your trip so you can go back for more another time. You can even hop on a motorbike for food tours — it's a fantastic way to feel like a local! 

2. Party on Khao San Road and Soi Rambuttri. Love a wild night out? Khao San Road is the backpacker party capital, packed with bars, cheap cocktails, and music blasting from every corner. 

If you want something a little more chill, Soi Rambuttri (just next door) has a more relaxed but still fun vibe with cool cafes and live music. This area is pure energy from sunset to sunrise.

3. Visit a sky bar with insane views. Bangkok's skyline is best enjoyed with a cocktail in hand from above! Grab a drink at the iconic Sky Bar at Lebua (from The Hangover 2), check out the ultra-trendy Vertigo at Banyan Tree, or hit up Tichuca, a jungle-themed rooftop with a neon-lit tree.

4. Explore Bangkok's floating markets and khlongs. Escape the city chaos by taking a boat ride through the khlongs (canals) and stopping at floating markets like Damnoen Saduak or the more authentic Amphawa. You'll get fresh fruit, souvenirs, and boat noodles served right on the water. 

For a more local feel, visit the Taling Chan Floating Market, where you can eat fresh seafood right on a dock, surrounded by locals enjoying their weekend.

5. Temple hop at Wat Arun and Wat Pho. Even if temples aren't your thing, these two are unmissable. Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is stunning at sunset, while Wat Pho is home to the massive, golden Reclining Buddha. 

Plus, Wat Pho is where Thai massage originated. The Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School is inside the temple complex. It's one of the best places in Bangkok to experience a real Thai massage, but it's not a secret, so go early or be prepared to wait.

If you want to dive deeper, and you should, visit the nearby Grand Palace. You can see the famous Emerald Buddha and intricate golden architecture that will leave you speechless.  

How to get from Koh Phangan to Bangkok

It's going to be a trek. A 12- to 17.5-hour trek on a combo bus + ferry ticket. It's only one ticket, even though you must transfer vehicles a couple of times.

It's a multi-part journey, but it sounds more complicated than it is. This is a well-worn travel path with dozens of companies making the route. 

Here's what the journey looks like:

1. Step 1: Take a ferry ride from Thong Sala Pier in Koh Phangan to Donsak Pier in Surat Thani. Depending on the speed of your ship, it'll take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.

2. Step 2: You'll get picked up at the pier in a shuttle bus or minivan and taken to your bus departure spot in Surat Thani.    

3. Step 3: You'll board your bus for the duration of the journey, about 435 miles (700 km) and 10-ish hours.

4. Step 4: Party like you mean it! You are in Bangkok!

Prices start at $25.

All buses are super modern, have AC, deeply reclining seats, and stop for bathroom and snack breaks along the way. Each company drops off in a different location. So, if you know where you are staying, look for a bus that drops you near your accommodation. 

Although there are morning departures, there's no method to speed up time like sleeping. Why not take an overnight bus and think of it as a moving hostel for a night? Not only do you save money on a night's accommodation, but you'll wake up in a totally different city. 

Make sure you download podcasts, books, music, and a series… enough to keep you entertained for the trek. 

The best (and worst) times to visit Bangkok

Travel to Bangkok during the cool, dry season from November to February. The weather is a bit more manageable with lower (but not low) humidity and cooler temperatures, ranging from 77°F to 86°F (25°C to 30°C) — kind of a necessity when exploring the city. 

If you're into festivals, head there in November for Loy Krathong, the Festival of Lights and Lanterns, which is one of the most picturesque festivals in Bangkok.

April is Thai New Year, or Songkran when the whole country engages in a crazy water fight.   

Avoid the rainy season (May to October) if you prefer to stay dry. Bangkok experiences heavy monsoon rains, especially in September and October. And with it, brutal humidity.

How many days should you spend in Bangkok?

That is such a difficult answer. You could live there for a month and not see it all. But anything less than three days and you'll be exhausted from rushing to get it all in. 

Bangkok is a cultural, epicurean utopia, so spend as much time as you can to soak it all in.  

Where should you travel after Bangkok?

Well, from here, the world is your oyster!

If you aren't done exploring Thailand, you can hop on a plane and be in Phuket or Chiang Mai in an hour.

But if your time in this brilliant cultural gem is up, you can also head to Siem Reap, Cambodia and Vientiane, Laos, in the same hour.