TL;DR: The hop from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan is short and frequent, with around 29 sailings a day across five operators (Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery, Songserm, Lomlahkkhirin and the Haad Rin Queen). Fares run ฿199-495 (about US$6-15) one-way and the fastest catamarans cross in as little as 20 minutes, with most crossings taking 20-50 minutes. Ferries leave Koh Samui from Bangrak (Big Buddha), Maenam or Nathon piers and land at Koh Phangan’s main Thong Sala pier, while the Haad Rin Queen runs a direct wooden-boat service from Bangrak straight to Haad Rin beach, useful for Full Moon Party nights. The 2026 Full Moon Party dates include 31 July, 28 August, 26 September, 27 October, 24 November and 24 December, plus New Year’s Eve on 31 December; expect ferries to get crowded before and after each event, and dedicated Full Moon speedboat transfer packages run from around ฿1,000-1,400 (about US$30-42) for a round trip including hotel pickup. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).
Koh Phangan is close enough to Koh Samui that the ferry crossing barely counts as a journey, which is exactly why it’s one of the busiest inter-island routes in the Gulf of Thailand. Whether you’re heading over for a Full Moon Party or just want to see the quieter side of the island, this guide breaks down every operator, pier and price, checked against current 2026 ferry-operator listings, plus how the Full Moon Party specifically changes the calculation.
Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferry comparison
| Operator | Departure pier (Samui) | Arrival pier (Phangan) | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah (high-speed catamaran) | Maenam or Bangrak | Thong Sala | ~20-30 min | ฿275-350 (~$8-11) |
| Seatran Discovery | Bangrak | Thong Sala | ~30 min | ฿250-350 (~$8-11) |
| Songserm | Nathon | Thong Sala | ~45 min | ฿199-300 (~$6-9) |
| Lomlahkkhirin | Maenam | Thong Sala | ~20-30 min | ฿275-350 (~$8-11) |
| Haad Rin Queen (direct to party beach) | Bangrak | Haad Rin | ~50 min |
Prices and durations compiled from 2026 operator and route-comparison listings; see Sources. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).
Which operator and pier should you pick?
For most travellers, Bangrak Pier (Big Buddha Pier) with Lomprayah or Seatran is the easiest choice, with the most frequent departures and the shortest crossing. Both run high-speed catamarans landing at Thong Sala, Koh Phangan’s main pier, in as little as 20-30 minutes for ฿250-350 (about US$8-11). If you’re staying in Chaweng or Bophut, Bangrak is also the most convenient pier to reach.
Maenam Pier is the other main departure point, also served by Lomprayah and Lomlahkkhirin on similar timings and pricing, and is the better choice if you’re based on Samui’s north or west coast. Nathon Pier, on the island’s west side near the main town, is mostly served by Songserm, the budget operator, at ฿199-300 (about US$6-9) for a slightly longer, roughly 45-minute crossing.
If Haad Rin itself is your destination, the Haad Rin Queen is worth booking directly: it’s a wooden-boat service from Bangrak Pier straight to Haad Rin beach for around ฿200 (about US$6), taking about 50 minutes, and it skips the taxi transfer you’d otherwise need after landing at Thong Sala.
Do all ferries land at the same pier on Koh Phangan?
No, almost all standard services land at Thong Sala, but Haad Rin has its own direct option. Thong Sala is Koh Phangan’s main harbour and the arrival point for the large majority of Samui-Phangan sailings; from there, a taxi or songthaew covers the rest of the island, including the roughly 30-45 minute ride to Haad Rin on the southeast coast. The Haad Rin Queen is the one operator that bypasses this by sailing directly from Samui’s Bangrak Pier to Haad Rin beach, which matters most if the Full Moon Party is specifically why you’re making the trip. For what else is worth seeing on the island, see outthailand.com’s things to do in Koh Phangan and Koh Phangan beaches guides.
How does the Full Moon Party change the crossing?
Getting to Haad Rin for the Full Moon Party is the same set of ferries, but demand spikes hard around each event date. The 2026 Full Moon Party dates are 31 July, 28 August, 26 September, 27 October, 24 November and 24 December, plus a New Year’s Eve edition on 31 December. Standard ferry fares on the Samui-Phangan route rise by roughly 20-30% in the days around each date, and boats can get genuinely crowded both heading over and, especially, on the return the following morning.
Dedicated Full Moon Party speedboat transfer packages are widely sold and typically include hotel pickup on Koh Samui, the crossing to Haad Rin and a return trip, starting around ฿1,000-1,400 (about US$30-42) per person. On the party night itself, standalone one-way or return speedboats running from Bangrak typically cost ฿600-900 (about US$18-27) on standard operators and up to ฿1,400 (about US$42) for a VIP option, separate from the party’s own ฿200 (about US$6) entrance fee. For the full picture on the event itself, see outthailand.com’s Full Moon Party guide.
Honest downsides
Ferries get genuinely crowded around Full Moon Party dates, both before and especially the morning after, so book ahead or, better, arrive a day or two early to avoid the worst of it. Most standard tickets land you at Thong Sala, not Haad Rin, meaning an extra taxi leg unless you specifically book the Haad Rin Queen or a Full Moon transfer package. Weather can still disrupt this short crossing, particularly outside the driest months, even though the trip itself is brief. And while this is a cheap route overall, the cheapest advertised fares aren’t always available on the day, especially close to a Full Moon Party, so treat the low end of the price range as best-case rather than guaranteed.
Getting to Koh Samui first
If you’re not already on Koh Samui, see outthailand.com’s getting to Koh Samui guide for flights, the Surat Thani combo and the overland bus-and-ferry option from Bangkok before you plan this onward hop. Check what’s on for anything else worth timing your trip around beyond the Full Moon Party calendar.
Sources
- Koh Samui to Koh Phangan Ferry - FerrySamui: operators, piers, prices, durations, Full Moon Party crossing notes
- ULTIMATE Koh Samui Ferry Guide: Routes, Schedules, Pricing, and Tips - Pierre Blake: operator comparison, piers, pricing, schedule windows
- Koh Samui (Nathon Pier) to Koh Phangan (Thong Sala Pier) Ferry - Direct Ferries: sailing frequency, operator list, price range
- Timetable for Lomprayah, Seatran, Songserm and Raja Ferry - Phangan Ferries: departure times by operator and pier
- Official Full Moon Party - Upcoming Event Dates: 2026 Full Moon Party calendar
- How to Get to the Full Moon Party – Complete Transport Guide - Fullmoon Party Thailand: Haad Rin Queen route, speedboat transfer options, entrance fee
- Samui Ultimate Full Moon Party Speedboat Transfer 2026 - AnyWhere.Tours: speedboat transfer package pricing