Samui - Phangan ferries - best/worst?

[ocejanic]

Hello forum,

We are staying in Lamai and are thinking about spending a few days on Koh Phangan, around 20th of January. There are several ferry options to choose from. The most convenient piers on Samui for us would be Bangrak (=Buddha pier) or any in that area (north), but Raja pier or Nathon would do if it was a much better sailing experience from there. At the moment we are unsure wether to do the trip at all, considering

- the general seeworthiness and safety standards of ferries in Thailand

- that "we" are not carefree fullmooners on meth, but a family with a baby

- that we are not desperate about going there, it might just be a nice change after 2 months on Samui.

So if anyone, ideally one with multiple different ferry experience covering that route, would give some advice, that'd be great.

[Bsd]

I would suggest either Lomprayah from Maenam or Seatran from Bangrak. These would be the two safest ferries. Beaware that with Seatran you have to walk down a fairly steep flight of stairs (and possibly through another boat) to get onto the ferry, think about how much luggage you are bringing for this since you have a baby with you.

Otherwise Lomprayah from Nathon is ok if a long trip. Songserm have a couple of very different boats that they use and I personally wouldnt get on the old one if I could avoid it.

Raja do not run a direct ferry between the two islands (only to Donsak). And unless you are wanting to stay in Haad Rin I wouldnt take the Haad Rin Queen, the other ferries all go to Thongsala which is more central.

[Tropicalevo]

I always use Bangrak Pier (Seatran Discovery. Never had a problem - usually on time. This ferry goes to Thong Sala (South West coast)

This time of year you might need to book seats.

http://www.seatrandiscovery.com/EN/time_table.html

[HooHaa]

seatran, they will help you with your luggage if you have a kid and are only 5 mins from airport - lompraya is quite a drive so seatran better for tight connections

be aware the generally leave 30 mins after posted time, especially in the phanagn samui direction.

big safe boat. i wouldnt worry. much better than lompraya in choppy seas

Edited January 5, 2015 by HooHaa

[evadgib]

Lompriah is probably the better of the two for parents with a child travelling from Lamai. They will collect you in a minibus & take you to their embarkation point in Maenam.

Note:

1. The road journey might be more frightening than the boat ride (their driving skills are frankly quite frightening!). I cannot remember their status re passenger belts but I doubt if they'll have any means of securing a child.

2. The SEATRAN is invariably late on Samui-bound journeys, usually by around 90 mins, especially if there's a moon involved. Anyone hoping to fly upon reaching Samui could well miss their flight.

HTH

Edited January 5, 2015 by evadgib

[Mole]

Lompraya also runs from their Maenam pier.

They have 2 routes.

The one going from Donsak-Samui-KPG-Tao goes to Nathon.

The one going from Samui-KPG-Tao-Chumphon goes from Maenam.

Geolocation of their Maenam pier is: 9.584051,99.9838156

Personally, I'll take only the Lompraya catamaran. Much faster and smoother than Seatran.

Since you're only going to KPG, you should just depart from their Maenam pier because it's much shorter ride than from Nathon.

[Gent0]

I am surprised that 'Song Serm' ferry's from Nathon (very first Jetty on the sea side before Seatran) have not been mentioned.......I have lived in Samui for over 8 years and I travel to Koh Phanagn often

and I have always had good and friendly service from them, .......11.30 am and another at 5.30 pm (possibly an early morning trip)

They have two very new boats and relaxed accomodation . If you go to Nathon and pay your ticket always go to the small ticket desk in the far RH corner on the sea side ....200 bht and kids can go cheaper, It takes about 45 minutes to Phangan.........'whats the hurry'?

I would rate them as the best (non greedy) carrier ....less crowded and more helpful

[Birdman]

best ferry depends on the place you are going on KPG.

[MiKT]

They are all crap, go by Air Asia.

555 morbidly.

[ocejanic]

best ferry depends on the place you are going on KPG.

Assuming that I can reach any major destination on Phangan by taxi, I don't care where to disembark. Safety is my concern.

[Gulfsailor]

best ferry depends on the place you are going on KPG.

Assuming that I can reach any major destination on Phangan by taxi, I don't care where to disembark. Safety is my concern.

The only accidents I heard about were with speedboat 'ferries'. I think the large ones are pretty safe. The risk of getting into an accident on the road on Samui or Phangan is probably a thousand times higher than that on the water in between. So the closer you can get to your final destination by big boat, the safer your journey.

[samuijimmy]

The two suggestions of Sea Tran or Lomprayah are the better ones, forget about going from Nathon...(although Lomprayah, normally from Maenam will switch if seas are rough, but they seem to be calming down now.) .. ... It's about half hour from Maenam to Thongsala..

Had Rin Queen is like the "slow boat to China"... plus the ride to any other area of KP is much longer and the steep hills around that Haad Rin,

Taxi on KP is Pickup truck with back seats (songteau) Price will vary to how many other people going to same general area... unless the resort you are going to has pickup service with a mini bus... but that is not so common on KP...

There will be lots of people asking "where you go" as you get off the ferry.... you'll get directed to the taxi going to that general area....

If / when you return to Samui, you can book the mini bus drop off service, anywhere on Samui, usually you need to book in advance, probably 200 baht PP... at this time of year (Lomprayah and Sea Tran offer that...) ... Not the case on KP, unless changed recently...

Just another thought, at least with Lomprayah on Samui, you can book in advance for pickup service here too.... just find an agent in Lamai, or even ask at your resort... most will arrange that.... I am not sure about Sea Tran.... but you can always ask the agent!

Edited January 6, 2015 by samuijimmy

[thailanddogerator]

Seatran is a scam, you have to pay for your luggages from the first kilo (30 baht).

15kg cost 300 baht.

Better take Lomprayah, no fee for luggage !

[samuijimmy]

Seatran is a scam, you have to pay for your luggages from the first kilo (30 baht).

15kg cost 300 baht.

Better take Lomprayah, no fee for luggage !

Lomprayah do have signs for charging extra ..... but I have never seen them enforce it!

[sketcher]

It's not a scam it's a policy.

[thailanddogerator]

Wrong.

When anybody has to pay, even with just 1 kg luggage it''s called a scam and people running it are monkeys.

It's not a scam it's a policy.