How to travel from Koh Phangan to Krabi (Ao Nang) – 2025

Welcome to this super helpful guide on the journey from Koh Phangan to Krabi. If you’re traveling between these two wonderful destinations, you really are seeing some of the best destinations in Thailand. BUT how do you make this journey? How much should it cost? What scams do you need to avoid? What can you expect of this journey? And of course, how do you prepare for your trip?

Traveling across a foreign country can feel pretty daunting, especially if you need to rely on several types of transport. There are some very important things that you need to know before you undertake this journey. We have done this journey several times and we are using our own first-hand experience to write this super helpful article.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know. We will try and answer all of your questions and we will also give you plenty of practical details and information, including prices, booking info, and much, much more. If you’re traveling the other way from Krabi to Koh Phangan, this article may also be helpful to you. The prices and timings may differ a little, but the general info is the same.

FIND A PLACE TO STAY – Don’t miss these Amazing Ao Nang Hotels

FIND THE BEST THINGS TO DO – Check out these EPIC things to do in Krabi

Koh Phangan to Krabi in Brief

All of the companies that we review and recommend in this article offer inclusive tickets that enable you to travel all the way from Koh Phangan to Krabi. The ticket covers the entire journey and includes all of the transportation from the ferry port in Koh Phangan (Thong Sala) to the Krabi bus station. The connections are relatively easy, and you don’t need to find your way around; the local staff at every stop will show you where to go. To learn more about the journey, keep reading for our step-by-step guide.

Only staying in Krabi for 3 days? Don’t worry. This is enough time to see ALL of the best bits and even visit a hidden gem or two. You just need to know how. Don’t miss this Fantastic 3 day itinerary for Krabi.

How much does it cost to travel from Koh Phangan to Krabi?

Cost of the journey from Koh Phangan to Krabi ranges in price from 670 – 1,200 baht. This is the price if you book with a local agent independently.

The exact price of this journey depends on your preferred method of transport, how you choose to book, and what company you book with. The cheapest way to travel from Koh Phangan to Krabi is to book your journey independently and go with Raja or Seatran. We also recommend that you barter for the best price, especially if you’re traveling with kids.

It is important to recognize that many companies will be entirely unwilling to barter. If a tour operator is willing to barter, they are only likely to reduce the ticket cost by a small amount.

Ferry Schedule and prices Koh Phangan to Krabi

Schedule	Company	Adult price	How to book
5am – 3pm	Raja	670 – 700 baht	Book online or at their office
8am – 1pm	Lomprayah	1,200 baht	Book online or at their office or through a tour agent in Koh Phangan
8am – 4pm	Raja	670 – 700 baht	Book online or at their office, with kids need to book at office
8.30am – 4pm	Seatran	750 baht	Book at their office or through a tour agent in Koh Phangan
11am – 4pm	Lomprayah	1,200 baht	Book online or at their office or through a tour agent in Koh Phangan
11am – 7pm	Raja	670 – 700 baht	Book online or at their office, with kids need to book at office
11.30am – 7.30pm	Seatran	750 baht	Book at their office or through a tour agent in Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan to Krabi – Which ferry company is the best?

1 Raja (slow and cheap)

If you’re traveling on a low budget, the best company is Raja. This company offers the cheapest transfer options. The Raja ferry is big, dirty, and ugly (sorry if that’s a bit harsh). Not only is this monstrosity the cheapest ferry, but it is also the slowest option; there is one advantage here. The Raja ferry allows you to take cars and bikes. They have AC seating and a small shop selling drinks and snacks.

2 Lomprayah (Fast but expensive)

If you prefer fast, efficient, and stylish travel, then we highly recommend the Lomprayah Ferry Company. They offer a speedy and efficient transfer on their catamarans. It is worth noting that the overland journey is very similar for every company, so even though you’re paying more with this company, you will still end up on the mini-bus with some waiting time on land. These guys are particularly expensive for families with kids 2 and up paying 600baht!

3 Seatran (Great prices & facilities)

In our opinion, the Seatran company offers a very nice balance of comfort, efficiency, speed, and a great price. We also found this to be an excellent option as a family because they have kid-friendly ticketing policies (more on this in a moment). Oh yeah, and the Seatran boat also has a nice shop and cafe on board selling a small selection of local food and hot coffee.

How much does it cost for kids to travel from Koh Phangan to Krabi?

Top tip if you are booking this journey with kids: you will need to book your tickets directly at the ticket office, which is situated at the very terminal in Thong Sala. Many of the companies are not able to facilitate child ticket bookings online or through tour agents, so you will need to go directly to the ticket office in Thong Sala.

Here are the ferry prices for the full journey from Koh Phangan to Krabi, including the prices for kids. If you try to book your journey through a local tour operator, the price may be slightly different due to their commission.

How do you book tickets from Koh Phangan to Krabi?

There are several different ways to book your tickets for the journey from Koh Phangan to Krabi. One option is to go directly onto the ferry company website and book your transfer; however, if you do this, it is very important to make sure you are selecting a complete transfer all the way from Koh Phangan to Krabi. If you do not make this selection, you may only end up with a ferry ticket.

OFFICIAL RAJA WEBSITE – Raja Ferry Port

OFFICIAL SEATRAN WEBSITE – Seatran Ferry

OFFICIAL LOMPRAYAH WEBSITE – Lomprayah.com

Another way to book your transfer from Koh Phangan to Krabi is to visit a local tour operator in Koh Phangan. There are many small tour offices located in all of the main towns in Koh Phangan; these tour offices can often help you book your tickets. They may charge a small additional commission. If you want to know how much commission they are charging, then just ask.

Alternatively, you can book your ticket at the ticket hall situated at the ferry terminal in Thong Sala. We do recommend booking your tickets a day or two in advance if possible; this is especially true if you’re planning to travel before or after the full moon festival.

You can reserve tickets by messaging Ann (Friendly Tour) on WhatsApp: +66 6510 64 609. They will let you reserve your tickets in advance and then pay on collection at their office in the corner of the Koh Phangan Ferry Port ticket hall (near the entrance of the port).

How long does it take to travel from Koh Phangan to Krabi?

If you travel with Raja or Seatran, the advertised journey time from Koh Phangan to Krabi is normally around 7 hours; however, in reality, this journey is more likely to take around 9 hours. If you are planning to take the 8:30 a.m. boat from Koh Phangan, you will probably arrive in Krabi around 5:30 pm.

Lomprayah advertises 5-hour transfers. As speedy as their boat is, this is probably a little optimistic too. Expect the transfer to take 6 – 7 hours. Also, remember you also need to consider transfer time to the port in Koh Phangan and then to your hotel in Krabi or Ao Nang (this is not included in the ticket cost!).

Koh Phangan to Krabi – Step by Step

1 Get your tickets

The first step in this journey is sorting out your ticket. Remember that you can purchase a ticket that covers the entire journey. We recommend getting hold of your ticket a few days in advance. You can either book your tickets with a local tour operator, or you can book online. If you put your tickets with a local tour operator, it may feel a little unnerving to pay lots of money and just be given a scribbled receipt; however, this is very normal, so don’t be unnerved.

Just make sure that all of the information on the receipt is correct, including the number of people and your starting destination and location. We recommend taking a photo of your receipt and keeping it safely. When you arrive at the ferry terminal, your receipt can be exchanged for a ferry ticket and bus tickets. You do not need to use your passport or any special identification to book your tickets.

2 Go to the ferry terminal in Koh Phangan

On the day of your departure, make sure that you arrive at the ferry terminal at least 45 minutes in advance. If you are taking an early morning boat, we also recommend that you plan breakfast beforehand; there is a Seven-Eleven situated close to the ferry terminal in Koh Phangan. There are also several cafes and restaurants in the area. If you are unable to buy breakfast before you get on the boat, you can buy snacks and drinks on the boat.

When you arrive at the ferry terminal, you will need to pick up your tickets from the ticket hall. They will normally give you a sticker which indicates where you are going and which company you are traveling with. It is important to wear the sticker so that it is visible to staff along the journey. Once you have your tickets, walk a few hundred meters to the jetty; there should be staff in this area to direct you to the correct boat and tell you when to board. This area can get pretty busy, so look after your bags and belongings carefully.

3 Board your ferry

You will normally be directed to board your ferry around 20 minutes before departure; all of your bags and belongings need to stay with you. There is space to put large bags and belongings when you get onto the boat. All of the ferry companies include both indoor and outdoor seating with air conditioning, and they all have facilities such as toilets on board.

4 Enjoy the journey to Donsak Pier (Surat Thani)

The ferry journey generally takes a few hours; this is a lovely time to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. All of the ferries have decks where you can walk around and take in the view. This is probably the nicest part of the journey, so enjoy it while it lasts. Remember to keep your valuables close to you at all times.

5 Get off the ferry and find your driver

When you arrive at the ferry port, you will need to disembark the ferry and walk towards the port buildings. This can feel a little chaotic and unnerving, and you may not know where to go at this point, so we recommend just following the crowd towards the main buildings; even though it is chaotic, it always seems to work. When you arrive at the port buildings, there will be a local minibus driver who will recognize your sticker and will direct you where to go. You are likely to be shown to a minibus or you can load up your bags and take a ride to Surat Thani. If possible, keep small valuables bags with you on the minibus (rather than in the back).

6 Take the minibus to Surat Thani

This part of the journey is pretty fast and furious. Once you have found your minibus driver, they will probably depart quite quickly, taking you to an office in Surat Thani. The minibus is generally pretty crowded, and they tend to drive quite fast; the journey normally takes around one hour.

7 Wait for a little while and grab some lunch

When you arrive at the office in Surat Thani, you will need to change to a different minibus; there will normally be some waiting time at this point. This is a great opportunity to use a bathroom, buy snacks and drinks, or even find some local food for lunch. You can generally leave your large travel bags at the office, but don’t leave any valuables in your bag. The staff will tell you how long you are likely to have before you need to take your minibus; remember to keep your valuables bag with you and don’t go too far from the office.

8 Get on the minibus from Surat Thani to Krabi

The waiting time in Surat Thani generally ranges between 10 minutes and around 1.5 hours. Once your minibus arrives, make sure that you load all of your bags and then jump on the minibus. From here, the journey is likely to take 3 – 4 hours depending on traffic and also on your driver.

9 Arrive at the bus station (or not!)

And finally, when you arrive in Krabi, you should be taken to the central bus station; however, some drivers drop passengers off in a random location on the outskirts of Krabi. In a location like this, there are not many taxis or transfer options; they will then conveniently introduce a friend who happens to be available to take you to your hotel. This is a low-level scam. Strictly speaking, they meant to take you all the way to the central bus station, at which point you can find your transport to your hotel. However, if they drop you off at another more remote destination, they can make a little extra money for a friend. At this point, you can either use the 

Grab Taxi app and book your taxi to your accommodation; alternatively, barter to make sure you are getting a fair price to your hotel. 100 baht is a reasonable price for a shared taxi transfer to a hotel in Ao Nang. Check that the driver will drop you off at your hotel and make sure that the price is clearly agreed, and make sure it is clear whether you are paying per person or for your group (we paid 100 baht for our family).

A Few Challenges – Traveling from Koh Phangan to Krabi

In summary, the journey from Koh Phangan to Krabi seems pretty chaotic and disorganized, but somehow seems to work every time once you have your ticket. It should include all methods of transport, and there are plenty of lovely Thai people to help you along the way. This journey is pretty long and tiring, especially if you are traveling with kids. We highly recommend that you have plenty of drinks and snacks to keep you going; there are a few opportunities to buy food along the way.

The minibuses can be quite crowded with people and luggage and not particularly comfortable. Drivers may go quite fast; this can be nauseating (especially if you struggle with travel sickness), and at times, the land journey can feel unsafe. If you do have a long wait in Surat Thani, this can be frustrating. We recommend making the most of your time. Find some tasty food and take a rest.

Avoiding Scams

In recent years, Thailand has really made an effort to clean up its act despite the reputation for travel scams. This is actually a very pleasant and safe area to travel, and scams are becoming increasingly uncommon and unacceptable in Thailand. However, there are still a few scams you need to be aware of. We met one Traveler who had been sold a very expensive ticket for the journey which turned out to be a scam. He was approached by someone claiming to sell bus ticket and tried to purchase a ticket from them he lost around $50.

Avoiding a scam like this is pretty straight forward. Don’t hand money to anyone who approaches you. Scammers don’t generally have offices! They generally walk around looking to exploit an opportunity. So if you visit a tour operator in Koh Phangan they will sell you legit tickets. Check their commission and make sure you are happy with the price (we have included prices in this article to help you). The other thing is to remember to keep your valuable bag on you at all times. Avoid putting valuables bags at the back of mini buses or leaving them anywhere out of sight during this journey. Overall this is a relatively smooth and safe journey and we hope that the information and tips in this guide help you plan your trip.

Don’t forget to sort out your accommodation in Krabi

Loma Place – simple stylish accommodation for backpackers on a budget – Find Loma Place Agoda or find them Loma Place on Booking.com

Aonang Glory Resort – surprisingly luxurious accommodation for the price – Find Aonang Glory Resort Agoda. You can also find Aonang Glory Resort on Booking.com

Groovy Bungalows – trendy property for mid-range backpackers – nice rooms & pool, great price – Find Groovy Bungalows on Agoda or find Groovy Bungalows on Booking.com

Baannai Lake View Resort – stunning lakeside resort with bungalows and villas, very beautiful! – Book Baannai on Agoda or on Reserve a bungalow on Booking.com

Baan Pinya Balinese Style Pool Villa (in the picture above) – very impressive 3 bedroom villa with private pool – Reserve you place at Baan Pinya on Agoda or on reserve Baan Pinya on Booking.com