Koh Phangan Ferry Guide: Routes, Piers & Booking Tips

Featured image: Boonchai C, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Koh Phangan Ferry at a Glance

Three route families serve the island. Samui is the shortest hop at 20 to 45 minutes. Koh Tao takes roughly 1 hour on a fast boat. Mainland crossings run 2 to 3.5 hours depending on the operator. All figures here are indicative and come from operator and booking-site listings checked on 10 November 2026. Timetables and fares change, so confirm them with the operator before you pay.

Which Route Do You Need?

Pick your starting point first, then the boat. Flying into Samui? Take the short crossing. Arriving at Surat Thani by plane, bus or train? Head for the Donsak piers. Based on Koh Tao? Use the Mae Haad Pier boats. Our Samui to Phangan route page goes deeper on the short hop. From the capital, Bangkok to Koh Phangan options compares bus, train and flight combinations. A Boonsiri overnight bus plus ferry is listed at about 11 to 12 hours. Flight plus ferry runs 5 to 7 hours, and train plus ferry 12 to 13 hours.

• Island-hopper from Samui: Thongsala boats run through the day.
• Diver heading to Koh Tao: fast catamarans leave from Thongsala.
• Large luggage, bike or vehicle: look at the car ferry from Donsak.
• Last boat of the day: Echo Travel lists the latest evening departures.

Koh Phangan Piers Explained

Thongsala is the main hub and handles most routes, including Lomprayah, Seatran, Songserm and Raja Ferry arrivals from Donsak. Lomprayah's Thongsala office is listed at 79/30 Moo 1. Baan Tai Pier sits between Haad Rin and Thongsala and is used by Echo Travel. Haad Rin Pier is served only by Haadrin Queen. Pick the pier nearest your stay, because it saves a taxi ride. Pier-to-beach distances vary, so ask your accommodation how far each pier is before you book.

• Thongsala: most routes, most departures, taxis and pickups on arrival.
• Baan Tai: Echo Travel speedboats, between Haad Rin and Thongsala.
• Haad Rin: Haadrin Queen from Samui's Big Buddha Pier, handy for Full Moon Party stays.

Ferry Operators Compared

Operator names overlap in listings. Lomprayah and Lomlahkkhirin appear as the same family of high-speed boats under different names. Always match the operator, pier and vessel on your ticket.

Koh Samui to Koh Phangan

Crossings take 20 to 45 minutes. Lomprayah catamarans take 20 to 30 minutes, and Seatran Discovery takes 30 to 40. Haadrin Queen needs about 50 minutes by wooden boat. Departures cluster in the morning and mid-afternoon. Samui piers include Nathon, Bangrak, Maenam and Big Buddha. Seatran also lists a Samui Airport Pier, which suits air arrivals. Our Samui crossing guide has the route detail. A Samui minibus transfer is listed at ฿150 per person on some Lomprayah fares.

Koh Phangan to Koh Tao

Fast catamarans reach Mae Haad Pier in about 1 hour. Songserm's slower boat takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Listed adult fares are ฿450 on Lomprayah and Boonsiri, and ฿590 on a Lomlahkkhirin speedboat. Booking sites show Koh Tao fares from ฿390. Divers should check the 20 kg luggage allowance before packing gear. Water sports equipment adds ฿300 on Lomprayah's boat route. Read our Phangan to Koh Tao route notes for the full picture.

Surat Thani, Donsak and the Airport Connection

Mainland crossings take 2 to 3.5 hours. Lomprayah is listed at about 2 hours, while Raja Ferry is slowest. Raja, Seatran and Lomprayah each use their own Donsak pier. Openferry lists the airport-linked route at around 3 hours 35 minutes, with up to 8 sailings a day. Leave generous margin between a flight and your boat. Lomprayah's terms state it is not responsible for missed flights or trains. Bangkok travellers can compare combinations on our Bangkok to Phangan page. Operator timetables on Lomprayah's site show current departures.

Ferry Costs and What Changes the Price

Booking-site ranges are roughly ฿200 to ฿400 to Samui, ฿500 to ฿900 to Koh Tao and ฿350 to ฿600 to Surat Thani. Specific listings sit lower: ฿350 for Lomprayah to Samui, ฿490 for Echo Travel, and ฿200 for Haadrin Queen. Fares move with vessel, season and channel. Extras matter. Luggage over 20 kg costs ฿200 extra on Lomprayah. Haadrin Queen charges ฿50 per 10 kg over the limit. Pets cost ฿200 on Lomprayah. Foldable bikes add ฿500 on the boat route. Children under 2 travel free, and ages 2 to 11 pay half. Confirm every figure on the operator's own page.

How to Book Ferry Tickets

You can book at an operator counter, on the operator's site, through an aggregator or via a hotel desk. Compare the total price, refund terms and who to contact if a boat is cancelled. Lomprayah's terms make fares non-refundable. The first date change is free and a second costs 30%. Echo Travel refunds 50% up to 24 hours before departure, and Boonsiri refunds 50% up to 48 hours before. Haadrin Queen offers a full refund or free date change for weather cancellations. Check-in lead times vary between 30 and 60 minutes, so arrive at the longer figure. Seatran Discovery's site lists its own sailings.

Night Ferries, Vehicles and Foot Passengers

A night boat leaves from Surat Thani City Pier and takes about 6 to 8 hours. It has sleeping berths, but comfort varies and air-conditioning gets cold. Storms can cancel night sailings. Cars and motorbikes belong on the Raja Ferry crossing from Donsak, not on fast passenger boats. Vehicle spaces can sell out at peak times, and vehicle fares cost more than foot-passenger fares. Check current vehicle rates with the operator. Foot passengers can use every other route.

Weather, Seasons and Full Moon Party Demand

Rough seas can change or cancel sailings, especially in the rainy season from September to November. Operators' terms say timetables can change without notice. Check your sailing the day before. Speedboats feel rougher than catamarans, and Lomlahkkhirin bars pregnant women from speedboats. Around Full Moon Party dates, book 7 to 14 days ahead. Confirm the party date on the venue's own calendar.

Mistakes to Avoid

Most ferry problems come from a few repeat errors.

• Booking a tight connection after a flight or train.
• Choosing the wrong pier for your beach.
• Buying a non-refundable fare on a weather-prone day.
• Ignoring the 20 kg luggage limit.
• Leaving for the last boat of the day with no backup.

Choose a Ferry by Speed, Comfort and What You Carry

Choose the boat type before comparing departure times. For the Koh Samui crossing, fast catamarans usually take 20 to 30 minutes, while the wider range is 20 to 45 minutes. A speedboat may suit a short hop, but it can feel rougher than a catamaran when the sea is choppy.

For Koh Tao, a fast boat takes about 1 hour. Songserm’s slower service takes 1.5 to 2 hours, which can be a better fit if a lower fare matters more than arriving quickly. Check the vessel listed on the ticket, not only the operator name.

Use Raja Ferry from Donsak when travelling with a car or motorbike. Its crossing is among the slowest mainland options, at up to 3.5 hours, but fast passenger boats are not the right choice for vehicles. Foot passengers can choose either faster or slower boats. If you have heavy gear, remember that Lomprayah lists a 20 kg luggage allowance before extra charges apply.