How to get from Bangkok to Chumphon – Train and Bus Guide

Planning your trip from Bangkok to Chumphon?

Perfect! In this guide I will explain exactly how to get to Chumphon from Bangkok. Chumphon is a city on the east coast of Thailand, around 460 km south from Bangkok.

Chumphon, besides being an authentic city and offers a glimpse into the local Thai charm, is also a hub for arriving and departing ferries to the popular Gulf islands which are just a short ferry ride away.

Getting from Bangkok to Chumphon

Most tourists and travelers only pass through Chumphon to catch a ferry to Koh Tao, Koh Phangan or Koh Samui.

If you don’t plan spending any days in Chumphon and only want to reach the islands, then a better option is to purchase a bus and ferry ticket to whichever island you want to get to.

Unlike the conventional way of taking a bus or train from Bangkok and having to organize a transfer to the pier in Chumphon, these joint tickets avoid having to plan that transfer which can be costly and also waste time. The bus from Bangkok goes directly to the pier in Chumphon and passengers board the ferry which covers all the island. It’s simple and fast and is the cheapest option because you can travel by bus at night saving the cost of 1 night accommodation.

Below are the options⤵

→Bangkok → Chumphon → Koh-Tao (joint ticket)
→Bangkok → Chumphon → Koh-Phangan (joint ticket)
→Bangkok → Chumphon → Koh-Samui (joint ticket)

Questions and answers

Bangkok to Chumphon Bus

Buses to Chumphon depart from Mochit bus station (close to Chatuchak). And from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai). There is 14 buses throughout the day departing from one of the bus stations. The earliest bus is at 6:25 am from Mochit bus terminal and the latest bus departs the Southern Bus Terminal at 7:00pm.

The 9:00am, 12:00pm (noon) and 7:00pm buses are the fastest and depart from the Southern Bus Terminal. Unlike all the other buses which terminate the journey at the bus terminal outside the city, these buses go directly into Chumphon city centre and are scheduled to complete the trip in 6 hours 30 minutes. These are the most convenient buses and are also the cheapest. However, I would avoid taking the 7:00pm bus as that would mean arriving in Chumphon at 1:30am in the middle of the night.

All other buses to Chumphon are much slower due to many stops and often even going off route to pick-up and drop-off other passengers. This often results in a journey of over 11 hours. Also, these slower buses terminate the journey in Chumphon bus station which is a 20 minute ride outside the city.

The buses have toilets, comfortable seats with good leg room and air condition which can often be quite cold. So consider packing something warm just in case. About halfway through the buses stop for a short break for something to eat or just to stretch your legs.

Buying bus tickets

You can purchase bus tickets directly at the station on the day of travel, as there are typically available seats for one of the buses, possibly for a later departure. However, if you want to find availability on the faster buses, it’s advisable to reserve seats in advance, which can be done online.

Book ferry to Koh Tao → View schedules and prices

Bangkok to Chumphon train

Taking the train from Bangkok to Chumphon is the most affordable and possibly the most comfortable option. Trains are scheduled to complete the journey in approximately 7 hours.

Trains from Bangkok to Chumphon depart from the new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, close to the famous Chatuchak market in north Bangkok.

Railway travel in Thailand is a popular travel mode with both locals and foreigners. It’s common for the best seats on the air conditioned carriages to be sold out in advance. Trains tickets from Bangkok to Chumphon are commonly sold out due to this route being the same for trains going Surat Thani.

Train number 43 is the earliest and departs at 7:30am arriving in Chumphon at 1:50pm. The air conditioned carriages have comfortable seating and the journey takes 6 hours 20 minutes. This is the only morning train that can be booked online. All other morning trains must be booked at the train station either on the day of travel, or a few days ahead if you want to make sure to find availability. →check availability and books seats

If you plan traveling via the sleeper train, then the best option is train number 85. The departure is at 7:50pm with a travel duration of 7 hours 53 minutes. While traveling by night train is an experience, arrival times aren’t that convenient. This is the best option but the train still arrives at 3:43am. All other night sleeper trains arrive earlier which is even more inconvenient.

Train number 39 is a night train that departs Bangkok at 10:50pm and arrives in Chumphon at 5:22am. However it does not have sleeping options. The carriages have cushioned seats with air condition.

Arriving in Chumphon

The trains from Bangkok to Chumphon terminate the journey at Chumphon train station. The station is located within the city. Most of the hotels, guesthouses, hostels and also a few restaurants are within a 1 km radius of the train station.

Bangkok to Chumphon by Air

Flying from Bangkok to Chumphon is the fastest and most convenient option. There’s a daily flight at 7:25am from Don Mueang airport. It’s a flight of just over 1 hour and scheduled to land in Chumphon at 8:30am.

A 1 way flight from Bangkok to Chumphon costs around THB1800 ($50). And during peak season there may be additional flight departures.

The airport in Chumphon is around 40 minutes drive from the city centre and a taxi from the airport is the best way to reach your hotel. →check your dates here

In case you’re going to Koh Tao

If you’re going to Koh Tao from Chumphon, below is useful information that will help you get started planning your trip like accommodation information and what to expect from the various areas around the island.

If you need to get from Chumphon to Koh Tao, you can book the ferry here.

Arriving in Koh Tao

Below are a few key points for when you arrive in Koh Tao and beyond. If you’ve still not planned your entire trip, first are a few points about where to stay followed by how to get your hotel when you arrive in Koh Tao.

Where to stay in Koh Tao

If you’re planning your Koh Tao itinerary, the section below covers the 3 main areas to stay on the island. All areas are well suited if you want to have restaurants, beach bars and entertainment nearby. The table gives you a quick overview of hotels and hostels which have been highly rated and thus are always in high demand. Or read this where to stay in Koh Tao guide.

When you arrive in Koh Tao

The ferry to Koh Tao docks at Mae Haad pier. It’s busy and chaotic especially when the ferries arrive. You’ll get bombarded by tuk-tuk drivers to take you to your hotel. Just make sure you negotiate a price before taking a tuk-tuk. Else you’ll have to pay whatever the driver asks for when you arrive at your hotel.

Getting to your hotel

When arriving in Koh Tao you have a few options to make it to your hotel. If you’ve already booked an accommodation in Koh Tao, make sure to ask if they offer shuttle service. Some accommodation offer this service to their guests and if its an exclusive resort it will probably be free.

Another option which mostly applies if you have a backpack is to rent a scooter or motorcycle. There’s lots of shops to rent from in Maehaad, just make sure to check their reviews beforehand. Or in some cases you can even walk to your hotel or hostel as both Maehaad town and Sairee beach are within walking distance. Maybe not so much if you have a lot of luggage though.

The final option would be to travel by songtaew which is basically a pick-up truck with benches in the back. Let the driver know where you’re going and in some cases the driver make group others going in the same direction and you can split the cost. But in most you’ll need to negotiate a price.

Food

If you arrive hungry, stop for a sandwich at Da’s sandwiches right next to the pier. This guy makes the best sandwiches in Thailand (according to us).

Scooter Rental

To rent a scooter go to One Motorbike Rentals.The shop is a 2 minute walk South from the pier. If they don’t have any scooters the next best option is go to Oli’s Motorbike rental about 10 minutes from the pier.

Tours

The only way to do certain activities must be done by tour. One of them is this 7 hour tour that takes you snorkeling, and then to a viewpoint on a nearby island and also includes lunch.

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If you’re traveling from Bangkok to other places, you may also consider these other popular routes listed below.

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