How to Get to Koh Tao: Ferry, Flight & Bus Routes (2026)

Featured image: Visions of Domino, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

How to get to Koh Tao: route comparison

All boats dock at Mae Haad Pier on the west coast. Sairee Beach is a short taxi ride away. Figures below come from competitor guides and are claims, not confirmed fares. Check current prices and sailings with the operator, such as Lomprayah's booking pages, before you pay.

How to choose your route

Pick the rule that matches your priority, then check sailings. Our pick for most travelers is a flight to Koh Samui plus the ferry, because it keeps the sea leg short. Budget travelers can accept a longer day on buses and a rougher boat. Night departures save a hotel night but cost sleep. Whatever you choose, work backward from the last ferry of the day, not from your landing time.

• Want the shortest sea time? Fly to Koh Samui, then take the 1.5 to 2 hour ferry.
• Want the lowest cost? Go overland by bus or train and boat via Chumphon or Surat Thani.
• Prone to seasickness? Avoid the Surat Thani speedboat and choose a ferry or catamaran.
• Landing late? Book a mainland or Samui night rather than gambling on the last sailing.

Option 1: fly to Koh Samui, then take the ferry

Koh Samui has an airport, which makes it the easiest gateway. Ferries to Koh Tao leave from Mae Nam Pier. You need a bus or taxi from the airport to reach it. Lomprayah offers a van pickup for 150 baht from many spots around Samui, according to one competitor guide. The crossing takes 1.5 to 2 hours depending on weather and costs roughly 650 to 700 baht one way. One guide says Samui flights are pricey because Bangkok Airways operates the airport, so verify fares before you assume anything. For airport questions, see our guide to flying near Koh Tao.

Option 2: fly to Surat Thani, then bus and speedboat

Surat Thani is the cheaper mainland airport. Operators run a bus from the airport to the pier, then a speedboat. Both competitor guides describe the crossing as bumpy and put it at 2 to 3 hours. One adds that many passengers felt sick. We'd save this route for travelers who weigh price above comfort. Take motion-sickness tablets if you carry them. A night boat from Surat Thani also exists, but one guide still prefers the daytime speedboat.

Option 3: overland via Chumphon or Surat Thani

Chumphon is the shortest crossing at about 2 hours by catamaran. From Bangkok, a bus plus ferry takes about 9 hours and costs around €35 in one guide. A night train to Chumphon followed by a morning catamaran also works and saves a hotel night. Check train times on the State Railway of Thailand site. From Phuket or Krabi, the bus to Surat Thani takes about 3 to 4 hours before the boat.

Getting there from your starting point

Each origin has a default we'd book first.

• Bangkok: fly to Samui, or take the 9-hour bus-and-ferry budget route. Details are in our Bangkok to Koh Tao guide.
• Phuket and Krabi: take the 3 to 4 hour bus to Surat Thani, then the boat. Flying to Samui or Surat Thani also works.
• Chiang Mai: fly to Surat Thani or Samui, then continue by boat.
• Koh Samui: take the 1.5 to 2 hour ferry from Mae Nam Pier. Our Koh Tao ferry guide covers operators.
• Koh Phangan: the same ferry network takes about 1 hour. See Koh Phangan to Koh Tao: Ferry Times, Prices & Tips.

Arriving at Mae Haad Pier

Many hotels reportedly offer free or cheap pier pickup if you send your ferry time ahead. Without that, songthaew pickup trucks wait at the pier. One guide says they cost a few hundred baht per ride, so share when you can. Expect a small island fee of around 20 baht at Mae Haad Pier. Lomprayah has a 20 kg luggage limit with a surcharge for heavier bags. Grab and Bolt are reportedly not available, so read Getting Around Koh Tao: Scooters, Taxis & Transfers Compared before you land. Scooters rent for about 200 to 300 baht a day at Sairee Beach.

Season and weather risk

Rough seas from October to December can delay or cancel sailings. Keep a buffer day before any international flight. January to April is the best window, according to competitor guides, and our Best Time to Visit Koh Tao: Month-by-Month Guide page goes deeper. Check marine forecasts on the Thai Meteorological Department site before a crossing. If a sailing is cancelled, ask the operator for the next departure or a refund.

Booking tips and common mistakes

Most problems come from tight connections. Confirm last-ferry times and pier cut-offs with the operator, because we have no verified timetable to quote. Bundled flight, bus and boat tickets are easier to rebook than separate ones, according to one competitor guide. Peak-season sailings can sell out, so book early. Once you arrive, our 9 Best Things to Do in Koh Tao for Divers and Non-Divers guide covers the island, and Koh Tao and nearby islands helps with day trips.

• Landing at Samui or Surat Thani with under a few hours before the last boat.
• Booking a flight home the morning after a ferry in October to December.
• Packing over 20 kg on Lomprayah without budgeting for a surcharge.
• Forgetting to send your ferry time to the hotel for pickup.