By Wonderland · Koh Tao locals since 2018 · Last updated: March 2026
Every route to Koh Tao funnels through one thing: a ferry. There’s no airport on the island, no bridge, no helicopter pad. You’re getting on a boat — the only question is where you board it. This guide explains how to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, Chumphon, and beyond — with the prices, journey times, and first-hand tips we’ve picked up from living here since 2018. If you’re planning the rest of your trip, start with our complete Koh Tao guide for everything from beaches to restaurants.
Every route to Koh Tao ends with a ferry to Mae Haad Pier. From Bangkok, the cheapest option is a bus + ferry combo from around 1,000 THB (10 hours). The fastest is flying to Koh Samui and catching a 2-hour Lomprayah catamaran. From Surat Thani or Chumphon, ferries run daily — including overnight boats from around 800 THB.
Table of Contents
Bangkok to Koh Tao
Bangkok to Koh Tao is the route most travellers take, and there are three ways to do it: bus + ferry, train + ferry, or flight + ferry. All three end at the same pier on Koh Tao — the difference is how much time, money, and comfort you want in between.
Bus + Ferry: The Classic Backpacker Route
The most popular budget option is the Lomprayah bus + ferry combo. A bus departs from Khao San Road and runs eight hours south to Chumphon Lomprayah Pier, where you board a high-speed catamaran for the final two hours to Koh Tao. Total journey: roughly 10 hours. Total cost: around 1,000–1,200 THB.
The bus makes one stop midway where you can grab food and use the toilets. Most Lomprayah buses have onboard toilets too, but they vary in cleanliness. Spend the extra 300 THB on a VIP seat — the legroom makes the eight-hour ride considerably more bearable, and you’ll actually be able to sleep if you take the overnight departure.
Night Train to Chumphon + Ferry
The overnight train from Bangkok to Chumphon is the most scenic option — if you get the right train. Train 45 is the newer, air-conditioned service with comfortable sleeper berths. The older trains on this route are a different story: hard mattresses, rattling carriages, and limited sleep. Book a 2nd class sleeper on Train 45 specifically and you’ll arrive in Chumphon around 5-6am, ready to catch the morning Lomprayah catamaran to Koh Tao.
The train runs from Hua Lamphong (Bangkok’s main station) and costs 800–1,500 THB depending on berth class. Add 500–900 THB for the ferry. Combined train + ferry tickets are available through 12Go Asia, which handles the connection timing so you’re not stranded between train and pier.
Fly to Surat Thani or Chumphon + Ferry
If you want to cut the overland journey to one hour, fly from Bangkok to either Surat Thani or Chumphon, then connect to a ferry. Flights run 1,500–3,000 THB with AirAsia or Nok Air — both airports have direct connections to the ferry pier.
Chumphon is closer to Koh Tao (2-hour ferry vs 3 hours from Surat Thani), but Surat Thani has a larger airport with more flight options — including routes from Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai. From Surat Thani airport, a bus runs about an hour to the Don Sak Lomprayah Pier. Book the combined flight + bus + ferry through 12Go Asia to keep transfers smooth.
Koh Samui to Koh Tao
Koh Samui to Koh Tao is the fastest way to reach the island if you’re willing to pay for it. Flights to Koh Samui cost roughly four times what you’d pay to Surat Thani or Chumphon — Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on the airport — but once you land, you’re just a ferry ride away.
Lomprayah runs high-speed catamarans from two piers on Koh Samui: Maenam Pier and Nathon Pier. Double-check which one your ticket is for — showing up at the wrong pier is a mistake that happens more often than you’d think. The crossing takes about two hours (the ferry stops briefly at Koh Phangan on the way) and costs 700–800 THB. Pay an extra 200 THB for the VIP cabin — fewer people, better seats, and worth every baht on a rough sea day.
All Lomprayah boats have a small snack bar with drinks, sandwiches, and crisps, though everything is marked up. Grab a meal at Da’s Sandwiches near Mae Haad Pier when you arrive instead — better food, cheaper prices, and a five-minute walk from where the ferry docks.
Duration: ~2 hours by Lomprayah catamaran
Cost: 700–800 THB (900–1,000 THB VIP)
Ferry company: Lomprayah (recommended) or Seatran Discovery
Watch out for: Two departure piers on Koh Samui — confirm yours before heading to the port
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao is the shortest ferry hop in the Gulf — about 1 hour 30 minutes on the Lomprayah catamaran, from 450 THB. If you’re coming from a Full Moon Party, you can catch the morning ferry and be on Koh Tao by lunchtime.
Lomprayah and Songserm both run this route. Lomprayah is faster and more reliable — Songserm is cheaper but slower, and cancellations happen. During Full Moon Party periods, ferries fill up fast, so book at least a day ahead through 12Go Asia or at your accommodation’s reception. For a full breakdown of both islands, see our Koh Tao vs Koh Phangan comparison.
Surat Thani to Koh Tao
Surat Thani is the most versatile mainland hub for reaching Koh Tao. It has a larger airport than Chumphon, a train station, and — this is the part most guides miss — an overnight boat that runs directly from the centre of town to Koh Tao while you sleep.
The daytime route goes via Don Sak Pier, about an hour by bus from Surat Thani. From there, the Lomprayah catamaran takes roughly three hours to Koh Tao. Combined bus + ferry tickets start around 1,000–1,500 THB and you can book them through 12Go Asia. Surat Thani has Grab, so getting to the bus departure point is easy.
But the route we personally take most often is the night boat. It leaves from a pier right in the centre of Surat Thani around 10pm, and you wake up in Koh Tao at 5-6am. The boat has basic mattresses in shared sleeping areas — it’s not luxurious, but it beats spending an hour on a bus to Don Sak and then three hours on a catamaran. The night boat costs 800–1,000 THB and lets you skip the hotel night in Surat Thani entirely.
“Booked for 2 nights and ended up staying over 2 weeks!”
— Jess Y, Hostelworld
Chumphon to Koh Tao
Chumphon is the closest mainland point to Koh Tao — the Lomprayah catamaran takes about two hours from Chumphon pier. If you’ve arrived by train or flight, this is the fastest water crossing you can get. Ferries cost 500–900 THB depending on operator and time.
Three ferry companies run from Chumphon: Lomprayah (fastest, most reliable), Songserm Express, and Seatran Discovery. Lomprayah is our recommendation — their catamarans are newer, departures are more consistent, and combined tickets from Bangkok include their bus transfer to the pier.
If you arrive in Chumphon on a late evening flight, you won’t catch a same-day ferry. Head to Fame Tours & Services in town — they can book you a van to the Lomprayah pier for the morning departure, or put you on the overnight boat. Chumphon itself is a genuine Thai town with almost no tourist infrastructure, which makes it worth a night if you want a taste of non-island Thailand before heading to Koh Tao.
Duration: ~2 hours by Lomprayah catamaran
Cost: 500–900 THB
Ferry companies: Lomprayah (recommended), Songserm Express, Seatran Discovery
Night boat: Departs ~9-10pm, arrives Koh Tao ~5-6am. Book via Fame Tours in Chumphon.
From Phuket, Chiang Mai, or Anywhere Else
Wondering how to get to Koh Tao from Phuket or Chiang Mai? There’s no direct route from either city. Both are easiest reached by flying to Surat Thani (or Bangkok) and connecting from there. Surat Thani airport has direct flights from Phuket and Chiang Mai — from there you follow the Surat Thani route above: bus to Don Sak Pier, then the 3-hour Lomprayah catamaran.
If you’re coming from anywhere else in Thailand, the simplest approach is: fly to Bangkok, Surat Thani, or Chumphon — whichever has the cheapest connection — then pick up one of the routes above. Bangkok gives you the most options; Surat Thani gets you on a boat fastest.
How to Get to Koh Tao: Which Route Is Best?
The best way to get to Koh Tao depends on where you’re starting and what you value most. Here’s every route compared side by side — cost, time, and comfort on a five-point scale.
| Route | Total Time | Cost (THB) | Comfort | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok bus + ferry | ~10 hours | 1,000–1,200 | ⭐⭐ | Budget travellers |
| Bangkok train + ferry | ~10-12 hours | 1,300–2,400 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Scenic travellers (Train 45) |
| Bangkok flight + ferry via Surat Thani | ~5 hours | 2,500–4,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Time-poor travellers |
| Bangkok flight + ferry via Koh Samui | ~4 hours | 5,000–7,500 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Comfort-first travellers |
| Surat Thani day ferry | ~4 hours | 1,000–1,500 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Already in Surat Thani |
| Surat Thani night boat | ~8 hours (overnight) | 800–1,000 | ⭐⭐ | Saving a hotel night |
| Chumphon day ferry | ~2 hours | 500–900 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fastest water crossing |
| Koh Samui ferry | ~2 hours | 700–1,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Island-hopping |
| Koh Phangan ferry | ~1.5 hours | 450–800 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Post-Full Moon Party |
If money’s tight and you don’t mind a long ride: take the Lomprayah bus from Khao San Road. If time matters more than budget: fly to Surat Thani and catch the daytime catamaran. And if you want an experience that’s genuinely different from what every travel blog suggests: take the night boat from Surat Thani and wake up at Mae Haad Pier at sunrise. We’ve done all of these routes multiple times — the night boat from Surat Thani is still our personal favourite.
Arriving at Mae Haad Pier — What to Expect
Now you know how to get to Koh Tao — here’s what happens when you arrive. Every ferry docks at Mae Haad Pier on the west coast, the island’s only port and its closest thing to a town centre. When the boat docks, expect a crowd: taxi drivers holding signs, tour operators pitching dive courses, and scooter rental guys waving keys. It can feel chaotic for about five minutes, but once you step past the pier area it calms down immediately.
Here’s what to sort out right away. First, get a SIM card — the 7-Eleven is a one-minute walk from the pier exit, and a tourist SIM with data costs around 300 THB. Second, grab cash if you need it — there are ATMs right at the pier (always select “charge in local currency” to avoid the 6-10% conversion markup). Third, decide how you’re getting to your accommodation.
Most travellers on Koh Tao get around by scooter. Three reliable rental shops sit within walking distance of the pier: RPM Motorbike Rental (our top recommendation — they don’t charge for minor scratches), A&T Motorbike Rental, and Olis Motorbike Rental. Expect to pay around 200–250 THB per day.
Wonderland Jungle Hostel is about 20 minutes by scooter from Mae Haad Pier, set in the hills between Chalok and Sairee with jungle on three sides. If you haven’t booked accommodation yet, read our where to stay in Koh Tao guide to figure out which part of the island suits you — or just book direct and save compared to OTA prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — there is no airport on Koh Tao, so every visitor arrives by ferry. The closest airports are Chumphon (2-hour ferry to Koh Tao), Surat Thani (3-hour ferry), and Koh Samui (2-hour ferry). From Bangkok, the fastest air route is flying to Chumphon and catching the Lomprayah catamaran.
The cheapest route from Bangkok to Koh Tao is the Lomprayah bus + ferry combo departing from Khao San Road. The total cost is around 1,000–1,200 THB for the full journey — eight hours by bus to Chumphon, then two hours by catamaran to Koh Tao. VIP bus seats cost 300 THB extra and are worth it for the legroom.
There’s no direct ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao — you first need to travel south by bus, train, or plane to a mainland port. The total door-to-door journey takes 10–12 hours by bus + ferry, around 10 hours by train + ferry, or 4–5 hours if you fly to Surat Thani or Chumphon and catch the catamaran from there.
The night boats from Surat Thani and Chumphon to Koh Tao are a long-established route used by both locals and travellers. They’re basic — shared sleeping areas with mattresses, no private cabins — but they run year-round and arrive at Mae Haad Pier by early morning. The main risk is comfort, not safety: light sleepers and those prone to seasickness should take the daytime catamaran instead.
Seasickness is common on the Gulf of Thailand crossing, especially during monsoon season (October to December). Take motion sickness tablets 30 minutes before boarding — they’re available at any 7-Eleven or pharmacy. Sit in the middle of the boat where movement is least, stay on the lower deck, and keep your eyes on the horizon. The Lomprayah catamaran is generally smoother than the slower Songserm boats. Morning ferries are usually calmer than afternoon departures.
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Keep Reading
- Best Month to Visit Koh Tao — when to come for the best weather, diving, and deals
- Where to Stay in Koh Tao — area-by-area breakdown for every type of traveller
- Solo Travel Koh Tao — everything you need to know about travelling Koh Tao alone
