INFO FOR NEW STUDENTS

A special air-conditioned tourist bus leaves regularly just outside and downstairs from the new Bangkok Airport arrivals area, and takes you directly to Khao San Road (in Banglamphoo district) for 150 Baht (€3.25). For newcomers to Thailand, this may be the best place to start out, as it is the most "tourist-friendly" neighborhood. Then purchase a joint ticket from any of the hundreds of travel agents in Bangkok. You may choose with this ticket to go by overnight bus (usually 36 seats) for approximately 450-500 Baht (€10.25) or to go by second-class train sleeper (fan) for approximately 850-900 Baht (€19) (ticket is 50 Baht cheaper for the upper bunk). If you choose to take the bus, you will be directed where to meet it usually at about 18.00; if you choose the train it is your own responsibility to get yourself to the Hualamphong Train Station in the afternoon; any taxi or tuk-tuk can take you.

This ticket pays for your journey south to Surat Thani, transfer early in the morning (usually about 06.00-07.30) to the pier, and a boat ticket for the remainder of your journey to the island. You will arrive at the pier in Thongsala, the main town on Koh Phangan, usually by noon.

For a complete schedule of trains between Bangkok and Surat Thani, call +66 (0)22 204334 or visit www.railway.co.th. It is possible to do this trip on your own, but a bit more cumbersome than the joint ticket option.

If you have a lot of luggage, you may enjoy taking the government bus, +66 (0)2 434 7192 in Bangkok (or +66 (0)77 238762 on Koh Phangan). It leaves daily from the Bangkok Southern Bus Station ("Sai Tai Mai") at 19:45, and costs 1,034 Baht (€22.50). Get there early to secure a seat – travel agents cannot book this for you. Fare includes snacks and light dinner along the way. The main advantage to this route is that once you put your luggage on the bus, you will not need to move it from taxi to train to shuttle bus to pier to boat to taxi. The bus will take your luggage all the way from the Bangkok bus station to the Koh Phangan taxi stand.

You may also take the Lomprayah catamaran via Chumporn pier combined with bus to reach the island quite fast. Buses leave Bangkok from Khao San Road at 21.00 (arriving on Koh Phangan at 10.30) and at 06.00, arriving on the island at 16.00. Tickets cost 850-900 Baht (€10.25). Call +66 (0)77 238412 or visit www.lomprayah.com.

For those who wish to save time instead of money, you may also fly directly from Bangkok Airport to Koh Samui, the adjacent island, for approximately 3,500 Baht (€76) one-way (2,000 Baht/€43 fares can be found at inconvenient hours). The main carrier is Bangkok Airways; arrange this flight in advance, online, or at the Bangkok Airport. From Samui you would take a shared taxi to Mae Naam (if you can catch the Lomprayah catamaran at 08.00 or 12.00, 250 Baht / €5.50) or to the main port of Nathon, from where all other boats leave regularly for Koh Phangan (120 Baht / €2.50). Call Bangkok Air at +66 (0)22 655555 or visit www.bangkokair.com. Once on Koh Phangan, if you are joining our First Level Intensive Course, simply tell any of the taxi drivers (tsong-tao, or shared truck taxis) that you wish to go to Ao Hin Kong: Ananda Yoga Resort, on the beach road 5 km north of Thongsala. If you are joining our advanced courses or workshops, take a taxi to Haad Chao Phao, Bovy Resort, 8 km north of Thongsala. The taxi will cost 50-80 Baht (€1-1.75).

Welcome to Agama!

Our phone number is +66 (0)89 233 0217. Call if you need any further assistance.