Best Ferry Don Sak to Koh Phangan

More the question is how are you getting to surathani...plane, bus, train..

If you buy an all in one combo ticket on the train, with Songserm for example, you are limited to only song serm boats... Any connection problems and the wait is long.. If you do it this way, the 1735 and 1830 from bkk make the connection most of the time.. Big huge storms can be a problem.. The 1735 makes for an expensive boring wait at the dedicated Songserm pier due to way overpriced coffees and snacks and a 3 hour wait.... Unless it has changed, songserm boats are no where near Donsak but much closer to Surathani.

I recommend if by train just buying the train ride itself, then buy the bus/boat ticket on arrival at surathani... This is usually raja ferry and you are on the island by 13:00..

The advantage to raja or seatran is they are very stable in rougher weather.. Raja is the cheaper of the two.. Although they both go from donsak, they are completely different piers.. Seatran is a bit more luxury imo, but not much!!

If you go buy bus, use only govt busses, that have the 999 code.. These will go via the Raja ferry..

Lompraya also has well reviewed busses, and a fast catamaran boat.. Again rough seas are not nice on this and they hand out plastic puke bags!!

Just be aware that Thailand sells you a ticket from A to B... Each person makes 50 baht and if you have to sit in an office for an hour or three, they don't care as you will buy food from them...

Same day no problem, and no need to book.... Imo.. Full moon can add in a few problems..

Thanks for the info, we are staying in Donsak the night before so will probably go with Seatran.
We fly into Surat Thani the day before and plan to get the bus to Donsak from the airport.
Could we buy a bus ferry ticket at the airport and use the ferry ticket the next day?

Thank you Travellinandi

Personally I would stay in Surat Thani and get the bus/boat from there. Surat Thani is quite nice for an evening with lots of good food on offer. I don't think the boat company makes that much difference just the one that fits your timetable. Always found Loymparah very good, but also used others without issue.

I am in total agreement with Richiavo.. Fantastic food in Surat.. Surathani is great for one night. Take the airport bus that meets in every plane 100 baht) and stay somewhere like Papangkorn house... Next morning. Minibus will pick you up about 8, drive Donsak and you are on the island at noon... About 3oo baht all in.. Book ferry at any hotel

My son took Lomprayah ferries between Phangan and Samui then Phangan and mainland. All 3 were late.
A couple of years ago we took the train to ST on a combo ticket and were able to change tickets for the ferry to the first one to connect with. Did it at the offices where the buses leave from.

You may be overthinking or overplanning this . Rather than book in advance just simply go to the travel agents at Surathani and book a ticket for the next one going from Donsak , you will get there in good enough time. There is nothing really to do or see in Donsak - just big ferry terminal and some resorts. It may have been better as said above to stay the night at the Tapi river front area of Surathani where the night market and night boats are - no need to book accommodation. In the morning you get a boat ticket with included bus trip to Donsak and you arrive about lunch time. Another alternative would have been simply to take the 11 pm night boat to Ko Phangan from Surathani.

Recent PICTURE of Surathani river front an night boat to Ko Phangan

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