KOH PHA NGAN INFORMATION
Koh Pha Ngan is the nearest island to Samui. Boats can be readily hired for the trip. The beaches are good and there are also several scenic waterfalls ,but while there is some budget accommodation, the island is much less developed than Samui. Close by and accessible on day trips by boat are two other smaller, uninhabited islands where beautiful bays with colorful coral formations offer excellent conditions for snorkeling.
A more adventurous full-day excursion can be made to Ang Thong Marine Park, a group of 40 islands northwest of Samui. Here you will see spectacular limestone formations, caves, blue lagoons and amazingly beautiful beaches. At Koh Wua Ta Lap, where the park headquarters are located, there are bungalows for rent. Organized daily tours to Ang Thong are available from travel agents in Na Thon, on Samui.
How to get there
Kohh Samui - Express Boats
Songerm Co. express boats to Kohh Pha-Ngan leave from the Na Thon pier on Kohh Sami every day November to May at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., the remainder of the year 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. The trip takes 50 minutes and costs Baht 50 one way. Boats back to Samui leave Pha-Ngan's Thong Sala pier at 6.15 and 1 p.m. daily; in this direction the fare is Baht 60.
Kohh Samui - Other Boats
A small boat goes direct from Samui's Bang Rak (near Bo Phut village) to Hat Rin on Koh Pha- Ngan for Baht 50 to Baht 60 (depending on who's got the concession, the boat sometimes leaves from Bo Phut instead). This boat departs Bang Rak/Bo Phut just about every day at 10.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m., depending on the weather and number of prospective passengers, and takes 40 to 45 minutes to reach the bay at Hat Rin. In the reverse direction it usually leaves at 9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. and takes 30 to 40 minutes.
From January to September there is also one boat a day from Hat Mae Nam on Samui to Ao Thong Nai Pan on Pha-Ngan, with a stop at Hat Rin. The fares are Baht 120 and Baht 60 respectively and the boat usually leaves Mae Nai Pan around 8 a.m.. A new company called Rossarin Tour has 35-passenger speed boats that go between Samui's Hat Mae Nam and Thong Sala for Baht 150; this boat only takes about half an hour to reach Thong Sala.
Surat Thani - Night Ferry
Your can also take a slow might ferry direct to Pha-Ngan from the Ban Don pier in Surat. It leaves nightly at 11 p.m., takes 61/2 hours to arrive at Thong Sala, and coasts Baht 100 on the upper deck, Baht 60 on the lower. As with the night ferry to Samui, don't leave your bags unattended on the boat there have been several reports of theft.
Surat Thani - Other Boats
A couple of years ago a fast jet boat and another express boat competed with Songserm for about a year, but Songserm immediately dropped its fares to a loss level and ran them out of business. With increasing tourism in the islands, it's only a matter of time before someone else steps in and gives Songserm a run for its money.
Information provided by T.A.T (Tourism Authority of Thailand)
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