I'm not aware of a direct route. Bangkok Airways do have flights via Bangkok to Koh Samui. There connection times are quite good though

Fiona is right, you have to connect via Bangkok, although if you do it all on Bangkok Airways, the connections are good, and transfers are quick, and you are protected should there be any delays, and they are a very good airline. You can only get to about 4/5 destinations from Samui.

There is a 09.50 am flight that would get you into Samui at 13.05pm, plenty of time to get a boat to Phangan.

Thanks for your help folks.

Looks like I will have to bite the bullet and get a flight from Bangkok then!!

Can you recommend whether it is advisable to book flights in advance or when we get there?

Oooh I've just had another thought about the BKK to Angkor Wat leg of the journey...

Maybe we could rent a car/jeep and do the whole thing solo with some nice detours on the way....

I'm used to driving on the left hand side already.

Tell me if you think I'm off my rocker to think about that one.

Cheers

We did the Bangkok to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) journey via minibus back in 2006. It took 10 hours but it was amazing fun. I personally would not recommend driving it yourself at all, but certainly getting a lift from Bangkok and then minibus transfer after clearing immigration at Poipet is a great way of experiencing one of THE great overland journeys in the world.

Be prepared for:-

Great tarmac roads from Bangkok to Poipet, service stations etc.

Poipet being an absolute hell hole of a place, cheap eats, possibly having to lose sight of your luggage, reasonable immigration officials and quick, casinos in the no mans land between both borders. (As we were part of an overland tour booked with Intrepid, our English guide convinced us it would be easier to pile everybodys luggage onto a trolley and let somebody take it through customs for us. It took some convincing but in the end we agreed, and there were no problems at all).

Absolutely shocking roads (dirt tracks more like) from Poipet nearly all the way to Siem Reap. Potholes, broken bridges, cars and vans coming straight towards your vehicle, various animals on the road, few places to grab drinks/eats.

It might sound like torture but what an experience!! Flying that route is just too easy (much quicker not nowhere near so much fun), but it all depends on what kind of traveller you are? Judging from the places you are going to, it looks as though you are up for an adventure and believe me, it is an adventure of epic proportions. The only concern I would have is that you are travelling with your Daughter. There were 10 grown ups (age range 20-50) on our minibus and everybody agreed it was the most fun ever, but you have to take into account your Daughter is only 14 and it might not be the most suitable or safest way of travelling to Siem Reap.

I hope I have helped with some suggestions. It's not an easy journey at all overland but it is outstanding, but I would certainly advise against driving yourself, if indeed this is even possible. The infrastructure in Cambodia changes immediately once you leave the border and it is hard work and very dangerous. Our driver was awesome but he's had plenty of experience of that journey. If you decide overland is the way to go start enquiring with companies about the Bangkok to Poipet leg and then the Poipet to Siem Rep leg. Another option might be to do a tour like we did with Intrepid. 18 nights (I think, maybe more), Bangkok to Hanoi, including Bangkok, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, down the Mekong river and then continue onto Saigon in Vietnam, Hoi An, Hue, Halong Bay and Hanoi. Might be worth a look?

Be prepared for amazing and friendly people in Cambodia (more so than in Vietnam) but also major heartache and pain still felt from the Pol Pot regime. Some of the scenes at the Torture Prison and the Killing Fields in and near Phnom Penh were too much for some of our group.

For basic but clean accommodation in Siem Reap try the Freedom Hotel. That's one of the Intrepid Hotels we stayed in.

If you need any further info, please let me know.

Great answer J.

Thanks for your time.

Okay I will definitely leave the driving to someone else on the Cambodian side. As far as what kind of traveller well I'm quite happy to rough it and love a bit of an adventure but Cambodian driving sounds a step too far.

I reckon my daughter should be okay (It's not my first time so I will be able to appear to be reassuringly in control). She has had a few wild experiences in life such as Morocco and Glastonbury festival in a tempest (not sure which one is wilder sometimes) so is fairly robust. Figure my daughter will benefit from a tough couple of weeks of eye opening sights and sounds followed by her then well deserved couple of weeks on a quiet beach.

Your reply got me really excited about our trip, thanks again.