Koh Tao has no airport, so getting there always means a ferry, either via Koh Samui or Koh Phangan, or directly from the mainland at Chumphon, and the boat itself is very much part of the trip rather than just a logistics step. Which route makes sense depends on where you’re starting from and whether diving or budget matters more than speed. This guide covers every realistic option, with departure times, crossing times and fares for each operator.
Quick answers
- Fastest: about 1 hour, from Koh Phangan on Lomprayah, Boonsiri or the Songserm speedboat.
- Cheapest: 450 THB on Boonsiri or the slow 12:00 Lomprayah ferry from Koh Phangan, and on the 06:00 Lomprayah ferry from Chumphon.
- From Bangkok: 850 THB for the overnight Lomprayah bus and boat from Pinklao, about 11 hours. Khaosan Road departures start at 1,250 THB.
- Overnight boat: 600 THB from Chumphon, 21:00 to 05:00. The Surat Thani night boat starts at 770 THB.
Koh Tao Ferries at a Glance
| Starting point | Operators | Crossing | Adult fare (THB) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Phangan | Lomprayah, Boonsiri, Songserm | 55 min to 1 h 45 | 450–600 | Fastest crossing. Up to eight Lomprayah departures. |
| Koh Samui | Lomprayah, Boonsiri, Songserm | 1 h 30 to 3 h 45 | 550–800 | Sailings between 08:00 and 16:00. |
| Chumphon, daytime | Lomprayah, Boonsiri | 1 h 45 to 2 h 30 | 450–750 | Cheapest mainland link: the 450 THB Lomprayah ferry. |
| Chumphon, night boat | Chumphon Ferry, Pontaweesin | About 8 h | 600 | Leaves 21:00, arrives 05:00. |
| Donsak | Lomprayah, Boonsiri | 2 h 45 to 3 h 45 | 750 | Boats leave from Donsak pier. |
| Surat Thani | Lomprayah, night boats | 2 h 30 to 9 h | 770–1,200 | Lomprayah fare includes the bus or van to the pier. |
| Bangkok, bus plus boat | Lomprayah, Boonsiri, Montanatip, Krungsiam Tour | 9 to 15 h 30 | 850–1,750 | Cheapest: Lomprayah from Pinklao at 850 THB. One ticket covers the bus and the boat. |
See the sailings and fares for your date.
From Koh Samui
Three operators run this route, with departures from about 8 am to 4 pm:
| Operator | Samui pier | Departures | Crossing | Adult / child (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | Pralarn (Maenam), Bangrak, Nathon | Pralarn 08:00, 11:00, 12:30, 14:30 Bangrak 08:00, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 14:30, 15:30 Nathon 12:15, 16:00 | 1 h 30 to 3 h 15 | 700 / half fare 550 on the 11:00 from Pralarn |
| Boonsiri | Bangrak, Nathon | Bangrak 08:00, 12:30 Nathon 14:40 | 1 h 40 to 2 h | 600 / 350 (325 from Nathon) |
| Songserm | Nathon, Bangrak | Nathon 10:30 (ferry) Bangrak 10:30 or 11:30 (speedboat), 09:30 on some days | 1 h 25 to 3 h 45 | 600–800 / 300–600 |
The last sailing leaves around 4 pm, so this isn’t a route you can leave until evening. The 08:00, 11:30 and 14:30 Lomprayah sailings from Bangrak change to a catamaran at Koh Phangan, which is why the 14:30 takes 3 h 15 min. Songserm also changes boats at Thongsala on Koh Phangan, so its ferry connection is the slowest option. Boonsiri sells a hotel or airport pickup plus the crossing for 850 THB adult and 425 child.
Seatran Discovery tickets on this route are Boonsiri sailings. On the 08:00 and 12:30 departures a Seatran seat costs 700 THB, against 600 THB when you book with Boonsiri directly. See our Koh Samui flight vs ferry guide if you’re flying in from Bangkok or abroad first.
From Koh Phangan
The shortest crossing on this list, one hour to 1 h 30 min on most boats, with Lomprayah, Boonsiri and Songserm all sailing from Thong Sala. If you’re island-hopping through the Gulf of Thailand, this is the natural next leg after Koh Phangan. See our Koh Phangan ferry guide for the first leg if you haven’t been there yet.
| Operator | Pier | Departures | Crossing | Adult / child (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | Thong Sala | 08:30, 08:45, 11:15, 12:00, 13:00, 13:05, 15:00, 16:45 | 1 h to 1 h 30 | 600 / half fare 450 on the slow 12:00 ferry |
| Boonsiri | Thong Sala | 08:45, 13:15, 15:20 | 1 h to 1 h 30 | 450 / 300 |
| Songserm | Thong Sala | Speedboat around 10:00 to 11:00 Ferry 12:00 | Speedboat 55–60 min Ferry 1 h 45 | Speedboat 600 / 450 Ferry 500 / 250 |
Boonsiri sells the crossing with a hotel pickup in Koh Phangan at 07:15, 12:00 or 14:00 for 850 THB adult and 425 child. On the 08:45 a seat sold by Seatran Discovery costs 600 THB, against 450 THB when you book with Boonsiri directly.
From Chumphon (Mainland)
Chumphon is the standard mainland gateway for travelers coming overland from Bangkok, by overnight train or bus, without routing through Koh Samui or Koh Phangan at all:
| Operator | Pier | Departures | Crossing | Adult / child (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | Thung Makham Noi | Ferry 06:00 Catamaran 07:00, 13:15 | Ferry 2 h 30 Catamaran 1 h 45 | Ferry 450 Catamaran 750 / half fare |
| Boonsiri | Chumphon (Paknam) pier | 07:00, 13:00 | 1 h 45 | 600 / 375 |
| Chumphon Ferry (night boat) | Chumphon Ferry Pier | 21:00, arrives 05:00 Mon, Wed, Fri | About 8 h | 600 / child fare not listed |
| Pontaweesin Ferry (night boat) | Pontaweesin Ferry Pier | 21:00, arrives 05:00 Tue, Thu, Sat | 7 to 8 h | 600 / child fare not listed |
Boonsiri sells the crossing with a pickup from Chumphon city or the train station for 750 THB and from the airport for 800 THB, while Lomprayah prices its pickups separately in its fare list. The night boat is the budget option, basic (foam mats or a simple cabin bunk) but genuinely popular with backpackers who’d rather sleep through the crossing than pay for a hotel night in Chumphon.
From Donsak and Surat Thani
Lomprayah and Boonsiri sail direct from Donsak pier, and Lomprayah also sells a bus or van plus boat ticket from Tapee Pier in Surat Thani:
| Operator | Departs from | Departures | Crossing | Adult / child (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | Donsak pier | 11:00, 15:00 | 3 h 45 / 2 h 45 | 750 |
| Boonsiri | Donsak pier | 13:30 | 3 h 10 | 750 / 375 |
| Lomprayah (bus or van plus boat) | Surat Thani, Tapee Pier | 10:00 and 13:00 (catamaran) 12:00 (speedboat) 15:30 (direct speedboat) | 2 h 30 to 4 h 45 | 900 (10:00, 13:00) 1,000 (12:00) 1,200 (15:30) |
| Night boat (sold by Udomrat Tour, Fame Tour, Ruea Chor Maetapee and others) | Surat Thani night boat pier | 21:00, arrives 05:00 | About 8 h | 770–1,040 A 7-year-old pays the adult fare |
On the 10:00 Lomprayah from Tapee Pier you change boats at Koh Phangan. Several agents sell seats on the Surat Thani night boat, so a lower price does not mean a different boat.
From Bangkok (Bus and Boat)
There is no boat from Bangkok, but several operators sell one ticket that covers the overnight bus or van and the ferry from the Gulf coast, with pickup from central Bangkok, Khaosan Road or the airports:
| Operator | Pickup | Departures | Total time | Adult / child (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | Pinklao | 21:00 or 21:30, arrives 08:30 | 11 to 11 h 30 | 850 bus plus ferry 1,250 catamaran, 1,550 VIP |
| Lomprayah | Khaosan Road | 06:00, arrives 15:00 22:00, arrives 08:45 | 9 to 11 h | 1,250 1,550 VIP |
| Boonsiri | Khaosan Road | 05:00, arrives 14:45 22:00, arrives 08:45 | About 10 to 11 h | 1,250 / 625 |
| Boonsiri | Yaowarat, Chatuchak, Don Mueang, Lat Phrao, Suvarnabhumi Airport | Yaowarat 04:00 or 20:30 Other pickups 20:00 Arrives 08:30–08:45 | 10 to 13 h | Suvarnabhumi 1,500 / 750 Chatuchak, Don Mueang, Lat Phrao 1,550 / 800 Yaowarat 1,750 / 1,000 |
| Montanatip | Khaosan Road | 21:30, arrives 08:30 | About 11 h | 975 Children over 1 pay the full fare |
| Krungsiam Tour | Khaosan Road office | 18:00, arrives 09:30 | About 15 h 30 | 1,653 Children pay the full fare |
How to Get to Koh Tao: Which Option Should You Choose?
Coming from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan already: Lomprayah and Boonsiri are the fastest, with the crossing from Koh Phangan taking about an hour. Flying into Bangkok and heading straight for Koh Tao: the overnight train plus the morning Lomprayah departure from Chumphon is the standard, well-optimized route, and a single bus-plus-boat ticket from Pinklao at 850 THB is the cheapest way through. On a tight budget: the Chumphon night boat saves real money at the cost of comfort and a night’s sleep in a bed. Diving as the main purpose of the trip: any of the daytime routes work fine, just build in the rest-day buffer described below.
Children, Baggage and Check-In
Rules differ by operator, so look at this before you pack:
| Operator | Children | Baggage | Arrive at the pier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | Under 2 free; half fare from 2 to 10 | 20 kg, then 200 THB extra; small bags free | 60 minutes before |
| Boonsiri | Under 2 free; child fare from 2 to 11 | One piece up to 20 kg | 40 minutes before |
| Songserm | Under 2 free; child fare from 2 to 11 | 20 kg | See your ticket |
| Montanatip | Under 1 free; full fare from age 1 | 20 kg, then 20 THB per extra kg up to 30 kg | 60 minutes before |
| Surat Thani night boats | A 7-year-old pays the adult fare; Fame Tour carries infants under 3 free on a lap | One suitcase; Udomrat Tour limits it to 10 kg | 30 to 60 minutes before; Fame Tour closes its desk at 20:30 |
Find a Room Near Your Pier
Lomprayah, Boonsiri and the night boats arrive at Mae Haad pier, while Songserm uses its own pier on the island. Move the map to the beach you want and set your dates to see current room prices.
Booking Tips
Book at least a day ahead in high season (December-April), when the earlier, more convenient departures sell out first. If you’re arriving specifically to start a dive course, check whether your dive shop offers a pier pickup, several do for enrolled students, which saves sorting out onward transport to your accommodation on arrival. For the ride from the pier to your room, see our guide to getting around the island, and see our where to stay in Koh Tao guide if you haven’t settled on an area yet. For a rough idea of what the island costs per day, there is a daily budget breakdown.
A Note on Rough Crossings
Koh Tao’s ferry routes cross more open water than the short hops between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, and the crossing can get genuinely choppy outside the calmest months, particularly on the Chumphon route and from roughly November through January, when storms can delay or cancel sailings across the Gulf of Thailand islands. See the calmest months for the crossing before you lock in dates. If you’re prone to seasickness, take medication before boarding rather than after symptoms start, and consider the slower, larger ferries over the faster speedboats and catamarans on a rough day, they handle swell more comfortably even though the crossing takes longer.
Timing Your Ferry Around a Dive Course
If diving is the main reason for the trip, arrive with at least one full rest day before your first dive if you’ve flown internationally in the last 24 hours, most dive shops require this for safety reasons regardless of how you feel. Similarly, plan your departure ferry for at least 18-24 hours after your last dive, flying or even just the altitude change on some mainland routes too soon after diving carries a real decompression sickness risk. Building this buffer into your ferry booking on both ends avoids a last-minute scramble to push back a flight or ferry.
Bringing Your Own Dive Gear
If you’re traveling with your own dive equipment, standard checked baggage allowances usually cover a basic kit, but weigh it before you leave home, gear adds up fast. The main operators allow about 20 kg of luggage per passenger, so a full set of dive gear can push you into the extra-weight fee on Lomprayah, which charges 200 THB above 20 kg. A full set of gear bags can also be awkward on the smaller speedboats, worth mentioning to staff when boarding so they can stow it properly rather than leaving it loose on deck.
Train to Chumphon, Then the Boat
Most operators and third-party booking sites sell a combined ticket from Bangkok all the way through to Koh Tao, usually an overnight bus or van plus the ferry (see the Bangkok table above), which is simpler and often cheaper than booking each leg separately. No single ticket covers the train and the boat, so a bus-plus-ferry ticket is the way to get a through booking. If you would rather take the train to Chumphon, buy the train from the railway and the boat separately, and read the island guide to plan the stay.
| Train | Leaves Bangkok | Reaches Chumphon | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 07:30 | 13:50 | 6 h 20 |
| 171 | 15:10 | 22:17 | 7 h 07 |
| 37/45 | 16:10 | 23:16 | 7 h 06 |
| 31 | 16:50 | 23:55 | 7 h 05 |
| 169 | 17:30 | 01:25, next day | 7 h 55 |
| 83 | 18:50 | 02:18, next day | 7 h 28 |
| 85 | 19:50 | 03:43, next day | 7 h 53 |
| 173 | 20:10 | 04:02, next day | 7 h 52 |
| 167 | 20:30 | 04:20, next day | 7 h 50 |
| 39/41 | 22:50 | 05:22, next day | 6 h 32 |
Approximate adult fares from timetable and ticket sites, not the railway’s own system, are from 192 THB in a third class seat, from 299 THB in a second class fan seat and from 429 THB in a second class air-con seat. A second class air-con sleeper costs 649 to 919 THB and a first class air-con sleeper 1,190 to 1,420 THB. Not every class is on every train: train 43 is a daytime seat train, and 39/41 usually has air-con seats only.
Chumphon station is not at the pier. Thung Makham Noi Pier, where the Lomprayah boats leave, is about 26 to 28 km away, a drive of roughly 30 to 35 minutes. Lomprayah sells a van plus catamaran ticket from the train station at 06:00 and 12:00 that reaches Mae Haad Pier at about 08:30 to 08:45 or about 15:00. It costs from 900 THB for an adult and includes the road transfer, but not the train ticket. The boat alone, from the pier, is 07:00 and 13:15 from 750 THB. Boonsiri sells a van plus catamaran ticket from the station at 06:00 and 11:30 to its Pak Nam pier for about 904 THB, so check which pier you arrive at on Koh Tao.
Mind the connection. Trains 85, 173 and 167 reach Chumphon about 2 h 17, 1 h 58 and 1 h 40 before the 06:00 van, but train 39/41 arrives at 05:22, only 38 minutes before it, so the van may not wait for a late train. Leave yourself a margin or take an earlier train.
From Chumphon Airport (CJM), Lomprayah sells a bus plus catamaran ticket that leaves the airport at 09:00, takes you to the pier for the 13:15 catamaran and reaches Mae Haad Pier at 15:00. The whole trip takes about 6 hours, including a wait at the pier of about 3 h 15, and costs 1,000 THB for an adult by Lomprayah’s published timetable, while ticket sellers show 990 and 1,055 THB. Children under 2 travel free without a seat, and children aged 2 to 11 pay half fare under the operator’s terms, so ask for the exact child price when you book. Baggage is one large item up to 20 kg, with 200 THB for extra weight, and water sports equipment costs 400 THB extra on the bus plus boat ticket. Lomprayah asks you to check in 60 minutes before, while one seller says 30 minutes, so confirm on your ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the ferry to Koh Tao cost?
Fares run from about 450 THB from Koh Phangan or Chumphon to 700 THB from Koh Samui. The Chumphon night boat is 600 THB, and a bus-plus-boat ticket from Bangkok starts at 850 THB.
Is the Chumphon night boat safe and comfortable?
It’s basic but generally reliable, foam mats or a simple cabin bunk rather than a proper bed. It’s popular specifically because it saves a hotel night, not for the comfort.
Can I get to Koh Tao directly from Bangkok?
Not by boat alone. Several operators sell one ticket that covers an overnight bus or van and the ferry, taking 9 to 15 hours depending on the pickup point. The overnight train to Chumphon plus a morning ferry is the other common combination.
Do ferries to Koh Tao run every day?
Boats sail through the year, but the number of sailings changes by date and season, and rough weather can cancel crossings, mostly from November to January. Check the timetable for your travel date and book a day or two ahead if your dates are fixed.