How to Get from Koh Lanta to Koh Phangan
Koh Lanta to Koh Phangan takes from about 9 hours by minivan and ferry via Don Sak, with tickets from about $29. See times, piers and options.
Last updated: November 11, 2026
Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Contents
Koh Lanta sits on the Andaman Sea, Koh Phangan on the Gulf of Thailand, so you cross the whole peninsula to get from one to the other. There is no direct boat. You travel by road and finish with a ferry from the mainland.
The simplest way: one combined ticket
Booking platforms sell the trip as a single ticket covering the minivan or bus off Lanta, the drive through Krabi and Surat Thani provinces and the ferry to Koh Phangan. The trip takes from about 9 hours. On booking platforms the ferry-based ticket starts at about $29 and the minivan at about $30 (November 2026).[1]
The road leaves Lanta over the Siri Lanta Bridge and crosses Ko Lanta Noi, where the car ferry between Ban Hua Hin and Ban Khlong Mak runs from 06:00 to 22:00.[2] From there it heads east to the mainland piers near Don Sak. Keep your valuables in a daypack, because your bags move between vehicles and boats along the way.
The last leg: Don Sak to Thong Sala
The Gulf crossing starts at Don Sak. Raja Ferry runs the car ferry from Don Sak to Thong Sala Pier on Koh Phangan in about 2 hours 30 minutes.[3] A foot-passenger ticket costs 290 baht.[4] It is a big vessel with room to walk around and watch the Samui archipelago come into view.
Comparing your options
| Option | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Combined ticket with ferry | From about 9 hours | From about $29[1] |
| Combined ticket with minivan | From about 9 hours | From about $30[1] |
| Don Sak-Thong Sala ferry only (Raja Ferry) | About 2 hours 30 minutes[3] | 290 baht[4] |
Tips for the trip
- Start early: The trip takes from about 9 hours, so leave in the morning to arrive before dark.
- Pack snacks and a power bank: The day is long and the road stops are short.
- Arrival: Have your beach or hotel name ready for the taxi or songthaew driver at Thong Sala Pier.
Timetable
| Ferry Koh Lanta - Koh Phangan $ 29.02โ32.57 9h | |
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| Van Koh Lanta - Koh Phangan $ 29.61 9h | |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Use the booking tool on this page to compare the transport options currently available from Koh Lanta to Koh Phangan, including current prices and schedules.
There is no direct boat. You take a minivan or bus across the mainland to the piers near Don Sak, then a ferry to Thong Sala Pier on Koh Phangan. Booking platforms sell this as one combined ticket.
The whole trip takes from about 9 hours. The Don Sak to Thong Sala ferry alone takes about 2 hours 30 minutes.
On booking platforms the combined ticket starts at about $29 (November 2026). The Raja Ferry crossing from Don Sak to Thong Sala costs 290 baht if you travel only that leg.
No. The combined ticket covers the land transfer and the ferry to Koh Phangan.
The Raja Ferry from Don Sak arrives at Thong Sala Pier.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] 12Go Asia: 12Go Timetable: Koh Lanta - Koh Phangan. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
- [2] Tourism Authority of Thailand: Ko Lanta. Retrieved November 2, 2026.
- [3] Raja Ferry Port PLC: Sailing schedule. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
- [4] Raja Ferry Port: Raja Ferry Port. Retrieved November 2, 2026.
Guide prices and journey times are indicative, not live quotes. A booked package may include transfers and waiting time as well as the main journey. Check the selected offer, pickup point and current conditions before booking.