For domestic and short-haul international flights, Koh Samui airport is privately owned by Bangkok Air, thus they are the only carriers. It is the nearest access point by air to Koh Pha Ngan and can be reached direct from Singapore, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok; which is the main air transit hub of South East Asia and gateway to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Xian, many more jewels of the Orient and beyond.

Koh Samui Airport is located near Bophut on the northern side of the island, it is a 20 minute journey from the primary tourist area of Chaweng, 50 minutes from the main town of Na Thon and 10 minutes from Big Buddha and Bophut. Please note that the journey times mentioned above are the minimums for direct taxi journeys, add extra time if you are to share a Sawgthaew (a round the island taxi). Don�t forget to allow 30 minutes for check-in before your flight, or one hour if you have to pick up your ticket at the airport desk. There is also a private airport departure tax of 400 Baht, payable on leaving Koh Samui.

DESTINATIONS TO AND FROM KOH SAMUI AIRPORT

• BANGKOK TIMETABLE
• SINGAPORE TIMETABLE
• PHUKET TIMETABLE
• HUA HIN TIMETABLE
• PATTAYA TIMETABLE

Whether you reach Thailand overland or fly, the State Railways of Thailand are the best way to get around and see the country.

In fact, Thailand has one of the best metre-gauge rail systems in the world. The trains will also take you in comfort from Bangkok to Malaysia and Singapore.

Which class of accommodation...?

State Railways of Thailand provide three classes of accommodation: 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. 1st class only exists in the form of modern air-conditioned sleeping-cars on overnight trains. 2nd class is very comfortable (especially on the air-conditioned railcar expresses), and 3rd class is perfectly clean and acceptable by European standards, although perhaps a little spartan for the longest journeys. The photographs further down this page will help you decide which is best for you.

Travelling overnight

There are several options for overnight travel:

1st class sleeping-cars, available on all the best overnight trains, are modern and air-conditioned. They have 2-berth compartments, with washbasin. Full bedding, soap and towels are provided, and the toilet at the end of the car even has a shower (cold water only, but very welcome).

2nd class sleepers come in both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned varieties, and have open-plan seats arranged in bays of two, which convert into upper and lower bunks for night use. The fare for an upper berth is a fraction cheaper, but the upper bunks tend to be shorter and narrower. The attendant will make up your bunk with a mattress and all necessary bedding, and will hook up the curtains which are provided for each bunk to ensure privacy. See the photographs further down this page.

There is no sleeping accommodation in 3rd class.

Only the most hardened travellers use the public bus service for long bus journeys in Thailand, with the vast majority opting for private air-conditioned coaches run by numerous companies. They are still the cheapest way to get around the country, and the standards of the buses and service from the tour companies has improved dramatically over the last few years.

There are three main types of bus; mini buses have air-conditioning and usually 11 seats; A/C (Luxury) buses have, 42 reclining seats, a toilet and air conditioning; VIP buses have two floors, 40 reclining seats, a toilet and air conditioning.

When you book a bus ticket to or from Koh Pha Ngan, the ferry and transit journey to your next form of transport is usually included in the price. The tour companies also work with the ferry companies to ensure that connections are met.

There are five different companies running ferries to and from Koh Pha Ngan, operating on four main routes. The ferry companies that use piers outside the town centre do so to shorten the sea journey and provide shuttle buses from Suratthani included in the price of the ticket, tourist guides are at all the entry points to show you the appropriate way to travel.

The biggest ferries are the Raja and Seatran Car Ferry that runs from Donsak, one hour away from Suratthani moving at moderate speeds. The Songserm Express Boat is slightly faster than its bigger counterparts and leaves from Thathong Pier, thirty minutes outside Suratthani.

The Seatran Express is a brand new high-speed passenger ferry that runs from Suratthani town centre. The Night Ferry also leaves from Suratthani town centre and is fully equipped with beds and bedding, a great way to see the sunrise over the islands.

The Lomprayah Catamaran offers a high-speed service between Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao. The Had Rin Queen operates between the ten-kilometre stretch of water from Big Buddha in Koh Samui to Had Rin in Koh Pha Ngan.