Lomprayah catamaran?

Hi,

Based on recommendations in this forum, we are thinking of taking a Lomprayah catamaran from Samui to Koh Phangan and then back again.

I have checked out the Lomprayah website and from what I can understand they collect you from your hotel in both Samui and Koh Phangan at no extra cost -is that correct?

Also, there is a catamaran leaving Koh Phangan at 11am and arriving in Samui at 11:20am -where exactly does it arrive in Samui? Is it the airport? I only ask because we have a flight that day from Samui airport at 12:30pm and I don%26#39;t know if catching the 11am catamaran will get us there on time.

If anyone can help with my questions I%26#39;d appreciate it.

Thanx

Fiona

:o)

Lomprayah catamaran?

It is just a ferry with two hulls, no sails ect,but the fastest and newest ferry to pangan.

The ticket can be bought anywhere on samui(look for flyers with discounts) and includes pick up from your hotel on samui to the ferry pier in Maenam samui.

You arrive at the main pier in Tongsala which is the main Town on Phangan.

Ferry ticket does not include transport to your hotel on Phangan or transport back to the pier in Tongsala on your return,but it does include your transport from Maenan pier back to your hotel on samui.

Tongsala pier has heaps of transport to every part of the island and you will share a songtaew for around 200+ bht per person unless you have organised your hotel to pick you up.

Just remember Koh Phangan is not quite as small as some think!

It is a 12 km trip up steep hills and bendy roads to Haad Rinn and will take longer to get to Haad Saled ect.

Lomprayah catamaran?

Sorry just to add.

When you arrive back at Maenam pier on samui there are busses going all over the island,just get on the one going to the airport.You will be asked where you are going and directed to the correct bus.

The 11 oclock ferry from Phangan will be way too late for an airport connection at 12.30 unless you live on adrenalin and stress.

Just to let you know before you book for Lomprayah trips check with schedule as on 16th friday they had one of their catamarans having technical problems from what I heard that the boat arrived in Samui around 21.30 hrs - Check with the operators.

this might be a slight deviation from your question, but it is relevant to the lomprayah experience.

our experience was terrible. it%26#39;s fair to say that this was more attributable to the weather conditions than the actual catamaran itself, but...

it%26#39;s also fair to say that our experience was between ko phangan and ko tao, a journey you don%26#39;t seem intent on doing. however...

you might just like to know that if the seas are anything but flat, the trip on the catamaran is fit only for those with cast-iron stomachs. we were told by the thai lady when booking our return ferry tickets, that thai locals never choose to travel lomprayah because they know how bad it can be.

i have never been sea sick before, and would never wish that experience upon anyone. and there were many others suffering the same fate.

we took the seatrans ferry on the way back, and whilst a little longer, it was way more comfortable. you could even get a massage in a comfy chair on the deck.

i%26#39;m not trying to turn you off lomprayah. if the seas are calm then it%26#39;s a quick and easy trip. it%26#39;s just that the seas aren%26#39;t always calm.

This catamaran is the WORST boat ride you will EVER take.

They do NOT warn you about the roughness of the seas, and the day that we went, it is UNSAFE to even travel but they do it anyway. 95% of the boat was puking their guts out, even those with cast iron stomachs....they don%26#39;t even have decent barf bags, totally see through and sickening. If the sights don%26#39;t bother you, the sounds and smells of EVERYONE getting sick will. Kids were crying and screaming.

We went on their daily snorkeling trip and because of the bad weather they canceled half of it and the boat was over 2 hours delayed. No apologies or partial refunds or anything. This boat is AWFUL, after this experience I never want to go on another boat again!

I took the catamaran to KP and found it smooth. Took a smaller boat back - the one that starts in Thong Nai Pan - it was tossed about something awful. The weather was fine so I think that it was a normal crossing.