Koh Phangan has no commercial airport. The standard approach is by overnight train or bus from Bangkok to Surat Thani (about 9–12 hours), then a ferry to the island. High-speed catamarans and slower overnight ferries connect Koh Phangan with Surat Thani, Koh Samui, and Koh Tao. The ferry from Koh Samui takes about 30 minutes; from Surat Thani around two hours.
From Bangkok, combined bus-and-ferry and train-and-ferry tickets are sold at Khao San Road travel agents and at Hua Lamphong and Surat Thani train stations. There are also flights to Koh Samui airport (served by Bangkok Airways) with ferry connections across to Koh Phangan. The total journey from Bangkok takes a full day by the most direct route.