Koh Tao Boats Ferries

The nearest access to Koh Tao from Bangkok is Chumphon located 479 Km south of capital. From its piers depart all ferry and speedboat to Koh Tao. The ferries depart from Chumphon Ferry Pier located along the Tha Thapat River in Tambon Tha Yang, 10 Km south of city centre. The fast boats of Songserm leave from Mataphone Pier in Pak Nam 3 km further south, just at the mouth of river, while Lomprayah's catamarans leave from its owned Thung Makham Noi Pier in Hat Sai Ri, 27 Km south of of Chumphon centre. All speed boats operate the same route, moor first at Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao and then continue the journey to Thong Sala Pier in Koh Pha Ngan and Nathon Pier or Pralan Pier in Samui, instead the ferries end their route to Mae Haad Pier. You can buy the ferry and speedboat tickets at each pier on the same day you wish to travel.

  High Speed Boat Schedules

  Night Ferry Schedules

  Car Ferry Schedules

  Note: * Daily except Sundays

For tourists staying in Southern Thailand the most affordable and practical way to get to Koh Tao, but also Koh Samui and Koh Tao, are the fast ferries that depart from the Don Sak's piers. Ferries carry only passengers, no bikes or cars, the boat trip to Koh Tao takes about four hours. Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran and Songserm Express together offer three daily departures from Don Sak to Samui's main pier in Nathon, on the island's west coast, and then continue the journey up to Thong Sala Pier in Koh Pha Ngan and Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao. Seatran Discovery operates the same route with three daily depapartures from Don Sak, but on Samui it moors at Bangrak Pier on the northern coast, located only 5 minutes far from Samui Airport and just 10 minutes from the famous Chaweng Beach. You can buy the ferry tickets at each pier on the same day you wish to travel. In addition to ferry service the companies offer a comfortable bus transfer from the city center, railway station and the airport of Surat Thani.

  High Speed Ferry Schedules

  Joint Ticket: Bus service from Surat Thani plus fast ferry from Don Sak Pier

The night ferries are a good option to reach Koh Tao, Koh Pha Ngan and Samui if you arrive in Surat Thani late at night and don’t want to stay in town. Ferries carrying only passengers, no bikes or cars, leave from Bandon Pier at Bandon Rd., in the city centre very close to two of Surat Thani's bus stations. The crossing lasts roughly 6 hours up to Nathon Pier in Samui, as well as up to Thong Sala Pier in Koh Pha Ngan, 9 hours instead to reach Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao. You can buy the ferry ticket at pier on the same day you wish to travel. On board there are small bunks for sleeping, but not enough for all passengers therefore better to board as soon is possible.

  Night Ferry Schedules

For transfers between Koh Tao and other nearby islands, Samui and Koh Pha Ngan, you can use the intermediate sections of routes offered by the ferry companies. You can buy the ferry tickets at each pier on the same day you wish to travel.

  Ferry Schedules to/from Koh Pha Ngan

  Ferry Schedules to/from Koh Samui

Koh Tao is easily accessible by train from Bangkok thanks to the southern line of Thai railways. All southbound trains stop at the railways station in Chumphon where, once reached the pier, you can continue the journey to Mae Haad on Koh Tao by ferry. The combo-ticket, train plus ferry usually named Joint Ticket, is a a comfortable and economical option to reach the island, and if you opt for the first class you will sleep in a comfortable private cabin with two bunk beds. The night trains towards Chumphon depart from Bangkok Railway Station, unofficially known as Hua Lamphong Station. A Train Joint Ticket to Koh Tao costs from 1,150 to 1,800 THB depending on the class, and it includes the train ticket, the transfer by bus from the railway station until the pier in Chumphon and the speedboat ticket. The train trip lasts eight hours. Tickets can be bought or reserved 60 days in advance, strictly advised as early as possible in the high season, directly to the Hua Lamphong Station or in any travel agencies of Bangkok.

  TRAIN JOINT TICKET from Bangkok via Chumphon Pier - Chumphon

Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran and Songserm Express Boat offer the Joint Ticket service from Bangkok to Koh Tao with ferry's departures from Chumphon. From capital the VIP buses depart from their terminals in Khao San Road and Hua Lamphong Station. Reached Chumphon the journey continues on fast boats stopping at Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, before reaching Samui in about 13/14 hours. The fast boats of Songserm leave from Mataphone Pier in Pak Nam, just at the mouth of Tha Thapat River 13 km south of Chumphon centre, and dock at Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao, Thong Sala Pier in Koh Pha Ngan and finally at Nathon Pier In Samui. Lomprayah's catamarans making the usual path but leave from its owned Thung Makham Noi Pier in Hat Sai Ri, 13 km further south, and in Samui moor at Pralan Pier on the northern coast, more close to Samui Airport and just 15 minutes from the famous Chaweng Beach.

  BUS JOINT TICKET from Bangkok to Koh Tao, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui

From the southern resort the best access point to Koh Tao is the Don Sak Pier in Surat Thani. The Joint Ticket to the small island is available at the major seaside resorts in southern Thailand, such as Krabi, Phi Phi Don and Phuket, and it costs between 1,000 and 1,500 THB depending on starting point. The trip lasts between 7 to 9 hours, including bus and ferry. In Phuket and Phi Phi Don the starting point is at their main piers, namely the Rassada Pier and the Ton Sai Pier, and it includes two ferry crossings, the first to Krabi. Few companies use the pier in Surat Thani from the capital. The trip to Don Sak from Bangkok lasts 10 hours, no stops are made at the bus station in Surat Thani. After few hour’s wait, the time required to complete the boarding procedures, and a four-hour ferry crossing you’ll get to Mae Haad in Kon Tao in about 19 hours. You can purchase the combo-ticket directly to the starting point in Khao San Road or through any travel agent in Bangkok.

  BUS JOINT TICKET from Bangkok

  BUS JOINT TICKET from/to Southern beach resorts