Plane Or Train?

[Annalouise]

Hi!

On our Holiday we're visiting Bangkok, Khao Yai and the smaller villages around there, the river Kwai, then going to the Erawan waterfalls. We love seeing as much as possible without it being a stressfull trip. After about 10 days of car rental from Bangkok, we want to turn it in and go down south to the island of Koh Tao.

Is there anyone here who can tell us if it might be interesting to go down by train? Or is it just a long, tedious, night trip, in which you see nothing around you? And would it just be better to hop on a plane? Can anyone tell me how long it takes? I've allready found the boat trip from Koh Samui to Koh Tao takes 2,5 houres.

Thanks for any information you can give us.

Annalouise

[Samuian]

Well if you have found the "boat trip to Ko Samui" you are half way there, the same Company (either Seatran or Lomprayah) runs a VIP Bus from Bangkok to Chumphon - Boat Transfer to Ko Tao - can also do the trip by train to Chumpon - boat transfer to Ko Tao - to Phangan - to Samui....

[H2oDunc]

Anna louise Hi, You basically have 3 choices. You can fly to Koh Samui then take the ferry to Koh Tao and that will take you around a couple of hours from Samui. The most expensive but quickest way

You can buy a complete ticket from BKK to Tao using either Seatran or Lomprayah, I would recommend Seatran for better boat and politer staff. You get the VIP bus from BKK to Chumphon overnight around 7-8 hours. I think it leaves around 8-30pm. You then take the ferry to Tao 1.5 -2 hours. The cheapest option. Around 1200 baht

The last option is you take the afternoon train from BKK to Chumphon. A night in Chumphon then the morning ferry to Tao. A nice aircon room with hot shower and cable TV is around 600 baht. The mid price option but for me the safer more relaxed option Around 700 baht for the train, 500 baht for ferry plus accom?

Hope that has helped in making your mind up.

Tao is a very nice chilled out island. It is the diving mecca of this side of Thailand. It has some good snorkelling as well. Some nightlife and good reatraunts and Im sure you will enjoy your time there. Good luck and enjoy

Edited February 24, 2009 by H2oDunc

[Slip]

The other option you might suggest is the overnight train arriving in Chumporn at about 6 am I think, allowing you plenty of time to make the boat options H2o mentions. More expensive, but you don't have to pay for a hotel for that night and if you're sightseeing then yes it's tedious (Being dark)- but get a bottom bunk and sleep; it's quite an experience- there's nothing quite like waking up earlyish and going to sit on the footplate as the sun comes up.

However, no-one I've ever met that has been to K Tao has anything positive to say about it, so good luck. (I have tbh honest tho' I've never been so I can't comment personally on the island).

Happy travels all the same.

[Annalouise]

Thank you for all your reactions. We will probably do the afternoon train, then a night in Chumpon and up early for the boat to the wonderfull island of Koh Tao. We've found a good site now with all the train times and ferry times. Thank you!