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Updated: 18 January, 2025
All the options on how to get to Koh Tao with the time it takes and the prices so you can organize your trip on your own.
Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, with dream beaches and abundant marine life.
This small island is located in the Gulf of Thailand and you can get there on your own, although in most cases you will need to combine at least two means of transportation.
In this guide I tell you all the alternatives to go to Koh Tao from various places in Thailand, some are quick and others cheap, as well as many tips based on my experience of living on the island for 6 months.
If you don't have time to read the entire article, I recommend that you use this web page to see all the transportation alternatives and make the reservation.
Boats to Koh Tao
Ferries and speed boats
There is only one way to get to Koh Tao, by sea, with the ferries or speed boats from Lomprayah, because this island does not have an airport.
In most cases it is by ferry, but depending on the season and the number of people traveling, some trips may be replaced by speed boats.
Boat stops in the Gulf of Thailand
The boats make the following route through the Gulf of Thailand: Chumphon, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Surat Thani and vice versa, which you can see on the map below.
The first and last stops are on the mainland, which will help you if you come from other places in Thailand. Below I explain in detail the options you have depending on where you depart from. 😉
Surat Thani or Chumphon
If you are preparing your trip and don't know which port is best for you, Chumphon is better if you come from Bangkok by land.
On the other hand, if you are in other areas of southern Thailand, such as Krabi or Phuket, you should go to Surat Thani.
Sleeper boat option
There is also another option to get to Koh Tao, it is with sleeper boats which are overnight boats (sleeper), there are both from Surat Thani and Chumphon.
If I'm honest, it's an option that I've never tried because it takes forever and costs almost the same as ferries or speedboats.
Additionally, some friends told me the following:
«A travel nightmare, I didn't sleep a wink because the bed was hard as a board!»
With this comment I lost the desire to try it, but after that adventure, you will surely have some good story to tell. 😅
How long does the ferry to Koh Tao take?
Here are the times from the different ports in the Gulf of Thailand to Koh Tao:
- Chumphon: 1:45 hours
- Surat Thani: between 4:15 and 4:45 hours
- Ko Samui: between 1:30 and 2 hours
- Koh Phangan: between 1 and 2 hours
What is the closest airport to Koh Tao?
The closest airport to Koh Tao is Koh Samui, followed by Chumphon and Surat Thani. If you fly to any of those airports, you will then have to combine it with the ship.
Without a doubt, flying to one of these airports will save you many hours of travel if you are coming from Bangkok or northern Thailand.
In addition, the option of flying can be very cheap, especially to the airports of Surat Thani and Chumphon where there are flights with low-cost airlines.
On the other hand, Koh Samui airport is private, owned by Bangkok Airways and prices vary greatly, from reasonable prices to some very crazy ones.
To give you an idea, the cheapest flights to Koh Samui are from Bangkok, which you can get for less than 70 euros.
On the other hand, in high season from other airports, such as from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui, it can cost you as much as a trip from Spain to Thailand, but it is a matter of looking ahead.
⭐ You may also be interested in this other article about How to get around Thailand: all transportation
How do you get from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
To get from Bangkok to Koh Tao you have 3 options: the fast one, the cheap one and the bad one, this sounds like a movie. 😂
1. Plane + ferry
This is the fastest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao, you can get very cheap flights to both Chumphon and Surat Thani, for less than 30 euros and it takes an hour and a little.
Then, you have to add the price and time of transportation to the port and the ferry.
To go from the airport to the port you have the following options from:
👉 Chumphon Airport to Koh Tao
- Taxi: costs from about 700 bahts (18.10 euros)
- Bus + ferry: It is the cheapest option, when you buy the boat ticket you can select the departure from the airport, it costs a little less than 30 euros and takes at least 5:45 hours.
👉 Surat Thani Airport to Koh Tao
- Taxi: from about 350 baht (9.05 euros)
- Bus + ferry: It is the most practical and cheapest option, the combined ticket costs less than 30 euros and takes from 4:30 hours.
- Local buses: There is no direct bus, you will need two buses, one to the city center and one to the port, but I can't give you more information because I have never tried this alternative. Of course, keep in mind that the bus station in the center of Surat Thani is quite chaotic and the people there speak almost no English.
👍 Friendly Tip: If you are going to go by taxi, pay attention to the departure port, because there are several ports and they are many kilometers away from each other.
2. Bus + ferry
To go to Koh Tao from Bangkok, the bus or minibus to Chumphon and then the ferry is the cheapest alternative and is also comfortable.
The bus departures in Bangkok are from Khao San Street.
Depending on the bus schedule and the connection you can make with the boat, the trip lasts between 8 and 16 hours in total.
Keep in mind that the buses that take the least time are during the day and then the ones that take the longest are night buses, a good alternative to save you a night in a hotel.
However, you should know that the night buses arrive at Chumphon at dawn and you will have to wait several hours at the port until the boat leaves.
An advantage of this option is that you can buy the entire journey from Bangkok to Koh Tao, in a combined ticket that includes the bus and the ferry with prices starting at 30 euros, so you don't worry about the transfer to the port.
3. Train + ferry
This is the least attractive option and I tell you this because I tried it, when I was moving from the north of Thailand to the south. 😅
This Thai train line is painfully slow and it is normal for it to arrive at its destination a couple of hours late, at least until they can make the improvements they have planned. Of course, you can travel very cheap.
The departure station for trains in Bangkok is the central station, also known as Bang Sue Grand Station, and the best stop to get off is Chumphon, which is much earlier than Surat Thani.
Depending on the train, it takes between 8 and 10 hours and to that we must add the delay.
There are quite a few train schedules, some during the day and others at night. Day trains arrive late at night, night trains, some arrive at dawn and others early in the morning.
Prices vary depending on the class, starting at:
- 6 euros for a third-class seat with a fan,
- 9 euros for a second seat with a fan,
- 13 euros for a second-class seat with air conditioning,
- 19 euros in a sleeper car in second class with air conditioning and
- 38 euros per person in a private compartment with two bunk beds in the first room with air conditioning.
👍 My two cents: avoid third class seats, They are so hard that it is difficult to find a seat and the fans usually do not work, although if you travel at night the fan is not usually a problem. You will travel more comfortably if you buy tickets with seats or beds in second class.
⭐ You may also be interested in this other article Sleeper Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the route is different, but I talk in detail about night trains. In fact, that is the best route you can take by night train in Thailand. 😉
Then, once you are at the Chumphon train station you have 2 options to go to the port, the taxi or the combined bus and ferry ticket, which is very affordable.
Where to buy tickets to go to Koh Tao?
Whatever option you choose to go to Koh Tao, I recommend this website that shows you the different transport options with prices, schedules and you can book right there without having to go to the station.
If you prefer to go by plane or train, you will have to buy that ticket first and then the combined bus and ferry.
On the other hand, for the bus option from Bangkok, you can buy the entire trip to Koh Tao, including the ferry.
How to get to Koh Tao from Krabi?
The best way to get from Krabi to Koh Tao is by bus to Surat Thani and from there the ferry to Koh Tao.
The entire journey takes about 6 hours or so, the price starts at 33 euros if you buy the Lomprayah combined ticket.
You can take the bus route with the company you want, but keep in mind that the other companies will take you to the city center and from there you will have to go to the port.
Therefore, I recommend that you buy the combined ticket and you save complications, the price difference when I looked at it was a couple of euros. In that link you can see the combined ticket or search to buy the tickets separately.
If you go with the Lomprayah bus, keep in mind that the departure is from their offices in Krabi which is 4 km from the bus station.
Other options
- Plane + ferry: From Krabi there are some direct flights to Koh Samui, with prices starting at 100 euros that only take 50 minutes. You would then have to combine it with transport to the port and the ferry to Koh Tao.
- Night bus + boat: If you are into adventures, from Surat Thani you can opt for the sleeper boat, for this option you will have to buy the tickets separately.
How to get to Koh Tao from Phuket?
To get from Phuket to Koh Tao it is best to take a bus to Surat Thani and the ferry to Koh Tao.
The total time of both routes is 8 hours and costs 41 euros each. Lomprayah Combo Ticket you can reserve here.
Please note that buses leave from the Lomprayah office near Central Festival shopping centre, not from the bus stations.
Other options
- Plane + ferry: From Phuket you can go by plane to Koh Samui, the cheapest prices I have found are 95 euros on direct flights that take 55 minutes. After there you will need to go to the port and take the ferry to Koh Tao.
- Night bus + boat: For this alternative there are also combined tickets, the total trip takes a little more than 16 hours and costs 30 euros.
How to get to Koh Tao from Koh Samui or Koh Pha Ngan?
To go to Koh Tao from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan you have different types of boats to choose from: speed boats and catamarans, which are the two options that take the least time, or by ferry.
In addition, among the islands of the Gulf of Thailand, other shipping companies also operate, not only Lomprayah.
Lomprayah is the most popular company, because it has the fastest boats and the price difference is very little.
Below I leave you the details of how long the boats take and the prices:
- From Koh Samui
- Boat or Catamaran: between 1:30 and 2 hours, starts at 18 euros
- Ferri: between 3 and 6 hours with prices starting at 15 euros
- From Koh Pha Ngan
- Boat or Catamaran: 1 hour with prices from 15 euros
- Ferri: 2 hours and costs from 12 euros
On this website you can see schedules, availability and make a ticket reservation.
Other options
- Excursion: If you have little time you can take a trip to Full-Day Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan from Koh Samui or from Koh Pha Ngan. They are tours that are very well priced and include transportation to the port, the boat, breakfast and lunch. You couldn't ask for more!
- Private boat: If you like to go sailing, I tell you that in Koh Samui you can rent sailboats at a very good price. I have managed to get a 12 m long sailboat for less than 169 euros per day. If you travel with more people it is cheaper than taking an excursion and you have a luxury experience at your leisure. To find a rental boat I recommend this website, they have good prices, they are legal people and the boats are in perfect condition.
⭐ You may also be interested in this article about 3 Best Places to Rent a Boat in Thailand.
How to get to Koh Tao from Chiang Mai?
To get from Chiang Mai to Koh Tao you will need to go by plane to Surat Thani or Koh Samui and then by ferry to Koh Tao.
The cheapest flights are to Surat Thani, if you look ahead of time you can get direct flights for only 40 euros each way with Air Asia that take 1:45 hours.
Although there are few direct flight options, most are with a stopover.
On the other hand, the cheapest flights from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui are with a stopover in Bangkok, with prices starting at 120 euros.
Sometimes, there are direct flights that only take 1:45 hours, but I have never found them for less than 250 euros, it is a matter of looking at it according to the dates you are going to travel.
👍 Friendly Tip: if you are going to buy a flight with a stopover in Bangkok, Make sure the arrival and departure are from the same airportIf you don't have to go from one airport to the other, public transportation takes at least 50 minutes. In this article you can read How to Go from One Airport to Another in Bangkok (for Free).
To get to Koh Tao, you will also have to add the time and price of the combined bus and ferry ticket to the island. If you want to see all the options from the airport, they are explained above in the Bangkok section, click here to go read it.
In this website You can see the schedules and book plane tickets and the bus + ferry combination.
Keep in mind that you have to buy the tickets separately, that is, the plane ticket on the one hand and then the joint bus and ferry ticket on the other.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The price to go to Koh Tao from Bangkok starts at less than 60 euros, from Krabi 33 euros and from Phuket 41 euros. It all depends on the type of transportation you choose to get to the island.
The way to get around Koh Tao is by motorcycle, taxi, walking or in free hotel vans; there is no public transportation on the island.
Motorcycles and scooters are the most practical and cheapest with prices starting at 250 baht per day. As far as taxis are concerned, they are a bit expensive for the short distances on the island.
When I lived in Koh Tao my favorite way to get around was walking, for that I recommend that you stay in Sairee in the Aiya Resort (cheap) or in the Freedom Beach Resort (middle) close to shark bay, so you will be close to the best beaches.
There are also some hotels, especially those further away from Sairee that have free van service like the Haad Tien Resort (luxury at a good price).
Final Thoughts
These are all the alternatives on how to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok, Krabi and other areas of Thailand so you can enjoy this unforgettable island.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘
More about Koh Tao and Thailand
- What to do in Koh Tao: 11 Epic Plans
- Shark Bay on Koh Tao: the best snorkelling site
- What to see in Koh Samui: 14 best plans
- Thailand route (July or August): 14 and 21 day itinerary
- 8 Unmissable Excursions from Krabi
- 7 Best Retreats in Thailand: Yoga and Meditation
- How to Rent and Drive a Motorcycle in Thailand
Hello, I’m Andrea, the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I’m a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler. I’m passionate about good food and always looking for new adventures.
Hello Andrea,
It's a pleasure to read your advice and explanations about Thailand. I am preparing a 13-day trip for May with entry and exit from Bangkok and after reading you I have decided to visit the island of Ko Tao, but I honestly don't know what or how to get there. Possibly we will be in Chiang Mai and from there we will take the plane as you explain that if I have seen directly in two hours, I would arrive in Sunatthani, but then as I go from the airport to the port and if I arrive around 5 o'clock I would only have the possibility of going by night boat? And from the port in Ko Tao, how do I get to the hotel?
Hello Maribel
All the questions you ask me are answered in the article.
Since I explained how to get there from so many places, I didn't want to repeat all the information and just said that it was explained above. I'm sorry!
I will try to modify the article as soon as I have time to make it clearer.
If you go to the Bangkok section, I explain all the alternatives to get from Surat Thani airport to Koh Tao, with prices and everything.
The best option from Surat Thani airport is to buy the combined bus + ferry ticket. To buy the ticket is on the same website that you left in the Chiang Mai section or click here I already entered the origin and destination, you just have to enter the date.
Then in the FAQ section I explain how to get around the island of Koh Tao, there is no public transportation there.
Regarding the boat schedule, you will have to look at what is available, in May there are quite a few schedules.
If you don't want to go on the night boat, which is super uncomfortable, look for another flight or spend a night in Surat Thani.
Have a good trip!