Koh Phanang to Phuket by land. Should I avoid Songkran?

[Alzir]

I hope someone can offer me some advice on travelling to Phuket from Koh Phanang.

 

I'll be staying in Koh Phanang for the Full Moon Party on 11 April, and I want to go to Phuket for Songkran, which starts 13 April.  When would be the best time to make the journey?  Obviously I'm going to be up late for FMP, so I don't want to leave early on 12 April, and Ideally I'd like to stay an extra day to recover, but as I said, that's when Songkran starts.  I don't mind travelling on 13 April, but will it be difficult to find transport on the holiday?  

[phuketrichard]

I would NOT travel by road on the 13,14th

traffic and high rate of accidents

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Richard's advice is rock solid:

 

Thai Roads and Driving

 

 

[Alzir]

So the choices are to stay awake all night and leave in the morning of 12 April while still drunk, or leave in the evening and travel through the night.

 

Not liking either of those options.

[KhunBENQ]

On 17.2.2017 at 10:15 PM, Alzir said:

will it be difficult to find transport on the holiday?

IT WILL!

And be prepared for the worst gridlocks/jams and ruthless driving that you have ever seen. Disgusting/horrifying.

Driving into Phuket over the one and only road connection on Songkran? You would have to pay me 10000 to do that

 

Quote

early on 12 April,

A thin chance to escape the worst.

But nowadays more and more Thai people take extra days off to stretch the holiday period.

[Alzir]

OK, it looks like I might have to get the ferry to Koh Samui and fly from there to Phuket.  Seeing as that drastically reduces the journey time, travelling on the 12 April won't be such a problem for me (i.e. I'll have time to sleep and recover after FMP).  Will any part of that journey be difficult?  The ferry from Phanang to Samui, the flight to Phuket Airport or getting a taxi from the airport?

[samuijimmy]

From Haad Rin on KP, take the Haad Rin Queen Ferry to Big Buddha pier on Samui... That is as close as you'll get to the Samui Airport.....  about 10 minutes drive.

 

http://www.thebesthotelsinthailand.com/had-rin-queen-time-table.html

 

 

 

 

[naboo]

Bangkok Air flies direct from Koh Samui to Phuket. About 4000B one way on that day.

 

Any other way, forget it.

[Slip]

Anywhere that Songkhran has started and you are on the public roads will be dreadful.  Really dreadful.

[Old Croc]

Your land  "journey" is about 200+ kilometres across the Isthmus to Phuket.

According to some of the learned posters here, most of whom live in Issan, that country road will involve chaos, traffic jams and screaming hordes of armed locals intent on killing you and everyone on your bus! You would be better off drowning yourself at Phangan rather than attempting such a suicidal trip!! 

Actually the most dangerous part of your "journey" will be at the beach party where drinks and drugs cause many problems for naïve tourists every year

 

Alternatively, you could man up, check out one of the ferry sites, make an early  boat/bus booking to ensure a seat,  then sleep off your hangover while travelling, or admire the country scenery. Cost about 1000baht give or take.

https://www.ferrysamui.com/ 

Despite some hysterical claims by other posters there won't be problems crossing the bridge into Phuket, and your bus driver will navigate through any traffic on the road into Phuket City bus station. The Songkran celebrations mainly happen at places where locals and tourists normally congregate.

Flying is very quick while you're in the air, but Phuket airport is in the north of the Island and you would have to make (expensive) arrangements to get to your final destination from there.

Edited February 24, 2017 by Old Croc

[jesimps]

All good advice on here. Lots of places are gridlocked and you'll have to sit waiting for hours while your vehicle gets watered and pasted, or you get out and YOU get watered and pasted. The stretches where you can get a bit of speed up will be dangerous because of drunken drivers and people throwing water (sometimes containing blocks of ice) at the vehicle.

Avoid it like the plague.

 

[Xobtsiwt]

A plentiful supply of liquid refreshment, a good local food delivery service, a couple of terabytes of entertainment, some duct tape, ziplock bags and a box cutter - that's my formula for an enjoyable Songkran these days.

 

 

[Mansell]

55 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

Your land  "journey" is about 200+ kilometres across the Isthmus to Phuket.

According to some of the learned posters here, most of whom live in Issan, that country road will involve chaos, traffic jams and screaming hordes of armed locals intent on killing you and everyone on your bus! You would be better off drowning yourself at Phangan rather than attempting such a suicidal trip!! 

Actually the most dangerous part of your "journey" will be at the beach party where drinks and drugs cause many problems for naïve tourists every year

 

Alternatively, you could man up, check out one of the ferry sites, make an early  boat/bus booking to ensure a seat,  then sleep off your hangover while travelling, or admire the country scenery. Cost about 1000baht give or take.

https://www.ferrysamui.com/ 

Despite some hysterical claims by other posters there won't be problems crossing the bridge into Phuket, and your bus driver will navigate through any traffic on the road into Phuket City bus station. The Songkran celebrations mainly happen at places where locals and tourists normally congregate.

Flying is very quick while you're in the air, but Phuket airport is in the north of the Island and you would have to make (expensive) arrangements to get to your final destination from there.

The taxi prices are fixed at Phuket airport. Depending on where you are travelling to it should be under a 1000 baht, Phuket Town is 600 baht. The prices are posted at the airport.

[Old Croc]

21 minutes ago, Mansell said:

The taxi prices are fixed at Phuket airport. Depending on where you are travelling to it should be under a 1000 baht, Phuket Town is 600 baht. The prices are posted at the airport.

And the metered taxis always turn the meter on!

Many would think 1000 baht to Patong, or similar, is expensive for thailand.

However, I mentioned that word in my post because compared to a songthaew ride from the bus station it is very much so.

[khunPer]

A land crossing will take about 4 hours – plus/minus depending of vehicle type, i.e. public transport or private car/taxi – on top of that you need to count ferry time from Koh Phangan to the mainland, typically Donsak, ferries sails only during day-time.

 

I would not count of transportation at April 13th, both due to the risk at the roads, but also due to the Song kran celebration, which may add additional time to your transportation, and if you wish to be part of the Water War, it takes place during day-time.

 

An alternative water fight could be commuting to Koh Samui, Chaweng at April 12th, when you wake up after the party-buckets, and fight your Water War there; usually the fight begin in the evening of April 12th, and continue the whole day April 13th. Samui only fight with Water one night and one day...

 

Chaweng Beach Roas an April 13th.

[bbbbooboo]

hmmm......is the pope a catholic ?...... does the bear go to the toilet in the  woods ?

[khunPer]

10 hours ago, bbbbooboo said:

hmmm......is the pope a catholic ?...... does the bear go to the toilet in the  woods ?

Perhaps you should find another thread, or forum, to post in...

[Mr Beaver]

Seems to be a lot of rubbish post here, coming from people who must spend most of their lives in bar areas and have not traveled around very much even during Songkran...

[Alzir]

Thank you everyone for all the advice, it's very much appreciated.  As I said, I'm going to just take the plane.  I've already got some other long journeys planned over my the 4 weeks I'm away for (Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by bus, Siem Reap to Bangkok by bus and an overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani), so I could probably do with a break from all that travelling.