PHAN GAN GUIDE

Bangkok Airways no longer flies to Hua Hin from Phuket and Samui. Combination ferry/train tickets or ferry/bus tickets can be arranged with travel agents on Koh Samui. Most trips depart Koh Samui in the late afternoon and arrive in Hua Hin in the early hours of the morning. The train journeys all involve taking a ferry from Samui to Surat Thani, a bus to the Surat Train station and a train Hua Hin. Although this sounds complicated, it is actually very easy and you have the option of booking sleeping accommodations on the train. If you go by train, expect to pay from 500 to 1000 baht, depending upon the class of train service you choose. Most people travel by 2nd class sleeper, a decision that involves choosing a fan or air-conditioned car. The latter is vastly preferable, not because it is cooler, but because it is so much quieter. The fan cars invariably have the windows open and this brings in the noise of the train as it clatters along the tracks. You will have to get off at Hua Hin as the trains tourists use don’t stop at Pranburi or Cha-am. Travel by bus is less involved and less expensive, approximately 600 baht. Passengers board the buses on Koh Samui. The buses then drive onto the ferry, disembark on the mainland and proceed by highway to Pranburi, Hua Hin or Cha-am. The journey takes approximately 9 hours.

You can also look at www.kohtaotickets.com