Best way from BKK to Koh Tao and is Koh Samui worth it for a couple of days

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsThailand
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
2.5k
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
sndraco
sndraco

Hi

I will land in BKK (Suvarnabhumi airport) on Sat July 28th at 11 pm.Flight back from BKK is at 7:35 pm on Aug 2nd.

I want to go to Koh Tao and do my advanced scuba cert on Monday and Tuesday. I have a couple of q's re: getting to Koh Tao

  1. Bus route. I believe I can get the Lomprayah buffet ticket, and take the 6 am bus from Khoa San, to Chumphon, take ferry (included) to Koh Tao and then tues night or Wed take ferry to Koh Samui (included). Couple q's.

A. It says on the site, that Thailand long holidays, ticket is not valid. How do I find list of long holidays.
B. Is there a convenient way to buy it from US and also ensure I have a seat on the bus
C. Is the pickup location in Khao San well marked.

  1. Flying route. Thai Airways discovery pass or Solar to Chumpon.

It doesnt look like that gets to me Koh Tao much earlier, likely early afternoon vs. early evening.

Q's. How do I know if I buy the discovery pass, I can get on a flight (ie do I book the seat on flight needed when I buy the discovery pass?) The website has lots of qualifiers.

In terms of Koh Samui, is it worth for a day and a half or so, or just stick to Koh Tao with maybe a day trip to Kho Pha Nan. (I will be done with scuba tuesday evening or night), so Wed and part of Thu are free till I leave from BKK.

Thanks

Shriram

View last reply
Report
1
westwood
westwood

You can buy Lomprayah tickets online. And their office is on Soi Rambuttri rather than KSR.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
oceansoundcyn
oceansoundcyn

As westwood said, tickets can be bought online. Their office is the big Lomprayah office, if you can't find it, just ask and you'll get pointed in the right direction. I wouldn't bother flying, for the difference in price it's much better to just take the bus.

I'd definitely give Samui a miss if I were you. Either Phangan or just staying on Koh Tao is a much better option. A day trip to Phangan wouldn't really be possible as you'd have a very, very short amount of time on Phangan before having to get back on the ferry to Tao (there aren't early morning or late afternoon/ evening boats between the two islands). You could stay in Phangan for a night or two and head back to BKK from there, or, just hang out on Koh Tao and enjoy the different beaches and activities... it will be less stressful and you'll probably get the most from your holiday. :)

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
barryworldlynomad
barryworldlynomad

Just to add we used the Lompryah bus and ferry combo a month ago and it was a great service. As the other posters have said, the office is pretty easy to find and there are loads of restaurants on that street as well. Take a screen shot of the office map on your phone (if you can) and show it to someone, always works for us!

We booked online, and didn't need a print out when we arrived in Bangkok. Having said that we also used Lompryah to get from Koh Tao to Phuket and did need a print out then, so best to take a print out just in case.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
sndraco
sndraco

I know I can buy the one way ticket from BKK to Koh Tao online, I wanted to buy the buffet ticket (since price was not much different), and not sure how to buy that online and also how to to reserve seats with the buffet ticket.

Buffet cost is only 150 baht more and can get me to Phangan on that.

Shri

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
5
thaibeachlovers
thaibeachlovers

I had some trouble finding the office, so I suggest you find it earlier in the day, so don't waste time when going to take the bus.

I second not going to Samui. Phangan, or stay on Tao.

How do I find list of long holidays
Google public holidays in Thailand!

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
6
westwood
westwood

How could you not find the office. Its on the corner just up from Swensens!!

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
7
thaibeachlovers
thaibeachlovers

I was coming from the big main road, and didn't know that area ( I don't stay in Gapyearland ). Plus, the map was rubbish, so ended up having to ask someone- very helpful guy, took me there personally.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
8
mirjamslovenija
mirjamslovenija

Hi,
I've mailed to Lomprayah about their buffet ticket and they answer that is no longer available, and that I have to buy separate ticket for every route.
Mirjam

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
9
sndraco
sndraco

I called Lomprayah last night and got same msg, ie its not available now and have to buy separate tix. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner