Hi,

My friend and i are currenbtly in Bangkok and due to leave tomorrow. We are headiong South to the Islands. Can anybody advise the best method..? Either Bus or Train..? Our first destination is Chumporn and then by boat to Koh Pha-ngan..?
Any advise would much apprciated.

Thanks
Roni and Dave

Train wins hands down IMO....I just can't sleep on overnight buses

There's a sleeper that leaves Hualumphong at 19.30 pm...gets to Chumphon supposedly at 3.44 am but it's invariably late. The one I was on last night got in at 5.30am this morning , usually it's more like 4.30-5ish. There are touts who meet the train and sell ferry tickets to Ko Tao, Ko Phangan and Samui (transport to the pier is included in the ticket price). Buses to the pier leave the station at either 5.30 or 6am depending on which ferry you choose. All the morning ferries leave Chumpon at 7am for some reason. There is one later ferry at 1pm (the Lompraya)

It might be better to go to Surat Thani rather than Chumphon if you're going to KPN though. There will be touts waiting to assist you at the train station there too.

__________________
“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.