Koh Samui to Koh Phangan: Ferry, Piers, Cost & Time
Koh Samui to Koh Phangan by boat: compare piers, operators, ferry vs speedboat, door-to-door time and cost, plus Full Moon Party tips.
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Last updated November 2026: the crossing from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan covers about 15 km and takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes by catamaran or speedboat. Fares start around ฿200 one way, and your Samui pier decides the operator and where you land. Choose the pier first, then the boat. If you are still weighing other routes, our Koh Phangan access guide covers them all.
Featured image: tiseb, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
The quick answer for Koh Samui to Koh Phangan
Several boats a day make the hop, and the crossing itself is short. Reported fares run from about ฿200 one way, with Lomprayah a little higher at around ฿250. Check the live timetable before you plan around a specific departure. Koh Phangan has no airport and no bridge, so every visitor arrives by boat. Add about 30 minutes at the pier for check-in on top of the crossing.
- Tight connection or short stay: take the faster catamaran or speedboat.
- Heavy luggage or a queasy stomach: favour the larger, slower vessel.
- Lowest fare: compare the cheapest operator against the cost of your pier transfer.
- Full Moon week: book ahead and arrive a day or two early.
Which Samui pier should you use?
Boats to Koh Phangan leave from Maenam, Nathon and Bangrak (near Big Buddha). Each pier tends to serve different operators, so your hotel location should guide the choice. Operator lineups shift by season, so confirm the pier printed on your ticket. A wrong assumption can cost you the boat. Nathon is Koh Samui's main commercial pier, with a small market, restaurants and travel agents nearby.
Chaweng guests can reach Bangrak in 10 to 15 minutes, so the Big Buddha pier can save time over Nathon.
| Your Samui base | Nearest pier | Likely operator | Likely landing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maenam, Bophut, Fisherman's Village | Maenam | Lomprayah | Thong Sala |
| West coast, Lipa Noi, Taling Ngam | Nathon | Lomprayah, Songserm | Thong Sala |
| Chaweng, Choeng Mon, near the airport | Bangrak (Big Buddha) | Seatran, Haad Rin Queen | Thong Sala or Haad Rin |
Ferry, catamaran or speedboat?
Published crossing times disagree, and the reason is vessel type. A fast catamaran can take about 30 minutes. Slower ferries and some speedboats take 45 minutes to an hour. Pier choice also changes the total. Pick by your situation rather than by the single fastest number.
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tight connection or same-day flight | Catamaran or speedboat | Shortest time on the water |
| Large backpack, suitcase or dive gear | Larger ferry | More deck and luggage space |
| Prone to seasickness or travelling with young kids | Larger, slower vessel | Handles chop better than small boats |
| Tightest budget | Cheapest operator on your pier | Fares start near ฿200 |
| Short stay | Fastest boat | Saves about 30 minutes each way |
Operators and what tickets cost
Three operators cover most crossings: Lomprayah, Seatran and Songserm. You can check timetables and fares on the Lomprayah official site. Seatran publishes its own schedules at Seatran Discovery. Fares change by season, so treat the figures below as a guide. Reported adult fares are around ฿250 for Lomprayah and ฿200 for Seatran and Songserm. Children aged 3 to 11 have been reported at roughly half price. A combined Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao ticket on Lomprayah has been quoted at ฿700 to ฿800. Confirm it before you count on the saving. For a wider look at boats serving the island, see our Koh Phangan ferry overview. You can buy at the operator counter or through an aggregator. Compare the final price, luggage terms and cancellation rules before you pay.
Shared songthaew rides cost ฿50 to ฿80 a person, which can undercut a boat fare starting around ฿200 but may miss an early boat.
Door-to-door: the real time and cost
Your transfer to the pier can cost more than the ticket. Reported taxi fares to Nathon pier show how fast this adds up. Chaweng to Nathon runs ฿300 to ฿500 and takes 25 to 35 minutes. Bophut to Nathon runs ฿250 to ฿350 and takes 20 to 25 minutes. Lamai to Nathon runs ฿400 to ฿600 and takes 35 to 45 minutes. Shared songthaews cost ฿50 to ฿80 a person but are slow for early boats. Bangrak is only 10 to 15 minutes from Chaweng, which is why many Chaweng guests start there. Allow at least 45 minutes from Chaweng to Nathon, because the ring road can clog in the morning. Worked example: a Chaweng guest heading to Nathon might spend ฿300 to ฿500 on the taxi, then ฿200 to ฿250 on the ticket. Add 30 minutes for check-in, a 30 to 45 minute crossing and a ride from Thong Sala. The ticket is cheap, but the transfer is not.
Arriving at Thong Sala (or Haad Rin)
Most boats land at Thong Sala on the south-west coast, the island's main commercial pier. You will find ATMs, restaurants, convenience stores and the largest market there. Some boats from Bangrak run direct to Haad Rin, which skips the 30 to 40 minute ride from Thong Sala. Fares below are reported estimates, so agree the price before you board.
| Destination | Time from Thong Sala | Reported cost |
|---|---|---|
| Haad Rin | 30–40 min | ฿100 songthaew, ฿300–400 taxi |
| Srithanu | 10–20 min | ฿100–200 taxi or scooter |
| Thong Nai Pan | 45–60 min | ฿400–600 taxi |
| Chalok Lam | 30–40 min | ฿300–400 taxi |
- North-coast roads can be rough, so a local taxi beats a songthaew for Thong Nai Pan.
- Scooters rent near the pier from about ฿150 to ฿200 a day.
- Check your licence and insurance before you ride, and ask your guesthouse about road conditions.
Step by step on the day
Book your boat, then fix the transfer. Get to your pier with 30 minutes in hand. Show your confirmation at the operator's counter, because each operator keeps its own desk at a pier. Board, keep valuables in your day bag, and bring a light layer for cold cabins. Collect your onward ride at the arrival pier. Make sure your ticket names the correct pier before you leave your hotel.
Full Moon Party boat planning
Boats fill in the days around the party. Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead for Full Moon weeks. Cross 1 or 2 days early, since party-day boats are crowded and often late. Book your return at the same time. The morning after the party is the busiest return day of the month. Plan to stay overnight rather than returning the same night, because there is no scheduled night ferry. Look up the exact party date on an official Thai tourism source before you book.
Rough seas, delays and cancellations
The crossing is usually calm over 15 km. Seas can turn choppier in the windier months, reportedly around October and November. Operators may adjust or cancel departures for safety. If you fly out of Samui the same day, leave a generous buffer and avoid the last boat. If your boat is cancelled, go to the operator counter first. Ask about rebooking, and check the cancellation terms before you pay.
Going back, or continuing to Koh Tao and the mainland
The return boat leaves Thong Sala, or Haad Rin for the direct service, and lands at the same Samui piers. Fares and operators are broadly the same as on the way out. If you plan to continue, our Koh Phangan to Koh Tao: Ferry Times, Prices & Piers page covers the next hop. Readers arriving from the capital can start with Bangkok to Koh Phangan: Routes, Time & Cost Compared. For rail legs on the mainland, check the State Railway of Thailand timetable. Most island-hoppers coming from Samui spend two or three nights on Koh Phangan first.
Can You Visit Koh Phangan as a Day Trip?
A Koh Phangan day trip can work, but only if the live boat timetable gives you enough time between the first outbound boat and the last return. The crossing takes about 30 to 60 minutes each way, depending on the vessel. You also need around 30 minutes at the Samui pier for check-in.
Thong Sala is the practical arrival point for a short visit. It has food, cash machines and local transport. Reaching Haad Rin from Thong Sala takes about 30 to 40 minutes, so it can consume much of a short day. A direct Bangrak-to-Haad-Rin boat, when operating, makes more sense for visitors focused on Haad Rin.
Check the operator timetable before committing to a return plan. Avoid building a day trip around the final boat, especially in windy weather. If you miss it, an overnight stay may be necessary because there is no scheduled night ferry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?
Expect roughly 30 minutes on a fast catamaran and about 45 minutes on a speedboat. Slower ferries can take up to an hour. Add about 30 minutes for check-in at the pier.
Which ferry pier is closest to Koh Samui Airport?
Bangrak, near Big Buddha, is generally the closest pier for guests staying around Chaweng, Choeng Mon and the airport. Confirm the pier on your ticket and the operator timetable.
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