The introduction to this guide is a little misleading as the small picturesque island of Koh Phangan actually has no airport. The lack of a international or domestic airport on Koh Phangan has limited the development of mass tourism and has help retain the remote paradise feel of the island.

The nearest airport to Koh Phangan is not far away and on the island's larger neighbour Koh Samui. The two islands are connected by a reliable and inexpensive ferry service which takes 30 minutes. This airport has many regular services to Bangkok and also is classified as an international airport so is a convenient method to reach the Gulf of Thailand. For a guide to Koh Samui airport please click here.

Depending on the time of arrival it is very convenient to organise transfers to Koh Phangan from the airport on Koh Samui. The airport is only a 5 min drive to the main port at big Buddha Bay and there are five services to Koh Phangan each day, with the first at 8 AM and the last at 5 PM. The journey is by fast ferry and takes 30 min a single ticket costs 500 Baht.

 

On this ferry there are touts for accommodation on Koh Phangan so it is even possible to organise hotels/huts with the important hotel transfers before arriving on the island. If your flight arrives after 3 PM at the airport it is advisable to seek accommodation on Koh Samui and organise transfers for the following morning. All staff who worked in the tourism industry speak fluent English and are pleasant and helpful as only the Thai's can be.

For departures from Koh Phangan via the airport of Koh Samui the first Ferry of the day is at 7 AM with the last at 4:30 PM. Always allow plenty of time for the Ferry / taxi transfers and be aware that international departures are expected to be at the airport three hours advance of the flight.

Fortunately around the airport a small town has developed and there are good facilities to waste a couple of hours (places to eat or drink) as the airport is very small. All of these places are within walking distance of the departures hall. Unfortunatly for international flights before midday it is advisable to stay the preceding night on Koh Samui.

The connections between the airport and Koh Phangan is not difficult but has prevented the expansion of mass tourism on the island but things are changing, probably for the worse.... The green light has been given to the construction of a domestic airport to the east of the island in the hills near Thong Nai Pan. It will take years to construct the airport on Koh Phangan as there is a huge amount of foundation work to level all the hills to make space for the run way but soon mass tourism will hit idyllic Phangan.