Koh Tao Ferry Guide: Routes, Boats & Which to Pick

Featured image: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick answer: the best Koh Tao ferry for most travellers

Most travellers should take a daytime catamaran from Chumphon, Samui or Phangan. Night boats suit anyone who wants to save a hotel night. Mainland day boats run roughly ฿350 to ฿600 one way, and Samui and Phangan fares start from ฿450. Treat every figure below as indicative and check the operator's current timetable.

Koh Tao ferry operators and boat types

Three daytime operators appear on the Samui and Phangan routes: Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery and Songserm. Night boats on the Chumphon route are run by Chumphon Ferry, Porntaweesin and Talay Sub. Lomprayah publishes its own sailings on its official booking site. Seatran Discovery does the same on its own website. We would not pick an operator on reputation alone. Pick the sailing that fits your arrival time and pier.

• High-speed catamaran: fastest and air-conditioned, with a Chumphon crossing of about 1h30.
• Slow ferry: cheapest daytime option. The Nathon to Tao sailing listed at 3h45 from ฿450 is one example, and slow ferries show lower CO₂ per passenger than speedboats.
• Speedboat: quick, but more often stopped by rough seas than ferries.
• Night boat: about 8 hours with a bunk, saving a hotel night. Food is not sold on board.

Chumphon to Koh Tao: the main mainland route

Chumphon is the usual mainland choice from Bangkok. Lomprayah day sailings leave at 07:30 and 13:30 and arrive at about 09:00 and 15:00. Night 85 train leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat at 19:30 and connects with the 07:30 boat. Check seats on the State Railway of Thailand site. The night boats depart around 23:00 from Thayang pier, which is 15 minutes from Chumphon town. Porntaweesin has run Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and Chumphon Ferry has run Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Confirm these days before you plan around them. Our Chumphon route guide has the pier details. Door-to-door options from the capital are compared in the Bangkok-origin options.

Surat Thani and Donsak to Koh Tao

Surat Thani works best for arrivals from Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta or overland from Malaysia. The night boat leaves Bandon pier at 22:00 and takes about 8 hours. Bandon pier sits in the city, so you can eat dinner nearby before boarding. From Surat Thani airport, the Phantip airport bus takes about 40 minutes to the pier and costs ฿100. A Phuket to Surat Thani minibus covers roughly 240 km in about 4 hours for ฿195. A flight landing after 13:00 makes the night boat our pick. Fares and Donsak departures change, so ask the operator for current details.

Koh Samui to Koh Tao

Samui crossings run from 1h30 on a speedboat to 3h45 on a slow ferry. Fares start from ฿450, and listed adult prices on many sailings sit nearer ฿700. Samui departures use Nathon, Bangrak, Maenam and Petcherat Marina. Pier choice matters. A taxi from Samui airport to the Seatran pier takes about 10 minutes. Reaching the Lomprayah pier takes about 30 minutes, and the Nathon evening sailing is about 45 minutes away. If your flight lands after 16:00, we would sleep in Bophut and sail the next morning. Our return trip from Tao to Samui covers the other direction.

Koh Phangan to Koh Tao ferry

Koh Phangan has the shortest crossing, at 1h to 1h45 from Thong Sala pier. Three operators run about 9 departures a day, with the first at 08:30. Fares start from ฿450 for a slow ferry, while catamarans and speedboats are listed around ฿600. Full Moon Party nights at Haad Rin crowd the boats, so book ahead and avoid leaving the morning after a party. A Thong Sala 12:00 sailing on 12 November was listed as cancelled by the operator, so check disruption notices too.

Koh Tao ferry schedules and prices: how to read them

Expect roughly 9 departures a day on the Samui and Phangan routes. Peak months are roughly December to March and July to September. Fares differ by boat type, pier and sailing time, so compare the final price rather than the headline fare. Marketplaces often show instant confirmation and refund options, while operator sites show their own terms. We would read the cancellation policy before paying either. Tickets can sometimes be bought at the pier, but booking ahead is safer in peak months.

Which ferry should you pick?

Match the boat to your trip, then check for these common mistakes.

• Diver with gear: take a daytime catamaran and confirm luggage terms with the operator.
• Budget backpacker: take the night boat for about ฿400 and skip a hotel night.
• Family: choose a daytime ferry, since night arrivals at 04:00 are hard with children.
• Last-minute traveller: choose Phangan or Samui for the most daily departures.
• Flight to catch: leave a buffer day before flying home.
• Mistake: tight flight-to-ferry connections, especially to Nathon.
• Mistake: booking a Samui sailing from the wrong pier.
• Mistake: arriving at dawn with no check-in plan.

Arriving at Mae Haad: your first hours

Every sailing docks at Mae Haad pier, Koh Tao's main harbour. Guesthouses and dive shops are reachable from here. Night boats arrive between 04:00 and 06:00, so ask your accommodation about early check-in or luggage storage. Dive shops may offer pickup, so confirm that when you book. Sairee Beach is a common base, but check transfer options with your hotel.

Rough seas, monsoon and cancellations

Ferries usually run in rain, but speedboats are more often stopped by rough seas. Sailings can be reduced in monsoon weather. If a sailing is cancelled for weather, most booking platforms let you move to the next service or request a refund. Terms vary by operator, so read them before paying. Keep a buffer day before any flight home, and check the operator's notice on the morning you travel.