Since Koh Tao is regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in the country, every first-timer should come and visit this paradise.
Both Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are islands in the Gulf of Thailand without any airport. Therefore, if you need to travel to Koh Tao, you’ll have to use a boat. Despite that, it’s really easy to get to Koh Tao from anywhere in Thailand.
If you follow our 3 week Thailand itinerary, you’ll need to travel to Koh Tao from Koh Phangan.
With 6 daily connections, it’s easy to organize this trip. Additionally, you can also choose your preferred boat type – catamaran, ferry, or speedboat.
If you’re not sure how to organize this trip, where to book your tickets, or what to expect, no worries! We wrote this guide packed with all the information you’ll need to help you get to Koh Tao easily.
Where is Koh Tao
Located in the Gulf of Thailand lies a small island Koh Tao. It’s a part of the Chumphon Archipelago together with its neighbors Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Koh Tao is the smallest of the three islands.
The distance from the coast is around 70km. The ferry ports on the mainland are in Surat Thani and Chumphon. Koh Tao only has one port, which is in Mae Haad town.
You will also find connections to Koh Tao from Koh Samui, Surat Thani, or even Bangkok. But you usually need to change the boat on Koh Phangan. When traveling to Koh Tao from Koh Phangan, all the ferries are direct.
Save the location of Koh Tao Island to your Google Maps app.
Where to stay on Koh Tao
The most popular area to stay is around Sairee Beach. You’ll find most restaurants around. However, this area is also a bit too loud, both during the day and night. If you’re coming to Koh Tao to relax, stay near one of many beaches.
We wrote a complete guide describing where to stay on Koh Tao, including the best areas as well as hotels and hostels for every budget.
Best hotels on Koh Tao
Check availability
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao overview
Since Koh Tao has no airport, traveling from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao is only possible by boat. The nearest airport is Koh Samui. So if you’re traveling to Koh Samui first, you’ll find direct daily flights from Bangkok. Additionally, you can also fly to Surat Thani or Chumphon Airport.
The distance between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao is around 45 km.
Tip: Explore all the beautiful beaches and make the best of your Koh Tao trip.
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao by ferry
As you already know, a boat is the only way to get to Koh Tao from Koh Phangan. But with 6 ferries scheduled every day, it’s easy to organize this trip. The earliest departure is at 8:30 and the latest ferry departs at 16:45. Additionally, you can choose from two different ferry companies.
The comfort during the journey mostly depends on the weather conditions. When the sea is calm, expect the ride to be safe and smooth. However, in case there are storms, strong winds, and rough seas, the ride can get super bumpy due to waves.
If you get seasick easily, make sure to take some pills as a prevention and also keep a plastic bag handy.
Koh Phangan ferry terminals
While Koh Phangan has a few different piers, only the main pier in Thong Sala is used to travel to Koh Tao.
When buying tickets online, you will see two different departure points – Thong Sala and Lomprayah Office. Keep in mind that they’re both at the same location. Thong Sala is used by Songserm company, while the Lomprayah Office is a pier of Lomprayah.
Make sure to arrive at the port at least 30 minutes before the ferry departure. Before boarding the ferry you must check in first. It often takes too much time due to long queues.
How to get to port
No matter where on the island you’re staying, you can easily get to the port on time. Koh Phangan only has two ways of transport – a motorbike or a taxi. You can either hop on a shared songthaew or order a private car to the port.
We stayed near Haad Yao Beach, from where the private car cost 400 THB for 2 people to Thong Sala pier. From Zen Beach, it will probably be similar. If you’re staying further, near Haad Khom Beach, Mae Haad Beach, or Salad Beach expect to pay more.
From Haad Rin, the prices should be similar. From Bottle Beach, you might need to pay a bit more.
Optionally, in case you rent a motorbike near the pier, you can conveniently return it right before your departure. Motorbike rentals usually charge around 250 THB to 500 THB, depending on the season as well as the model you choose.
When traveling to Koh Phangan around the Full Moon Party, all the prices skyrocket and it’s hard to bargain. If you want to travel as low-cost as possible, avoid this period unless you wish to experience the Full Moon Party.
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao ferry companies
Two companies are available to take you from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao – Songserm and Lomprayah. When traveling with Songserm, it takes the longest time to reach the destination. Also, there’s just one boat per day.
On the other hand, Lomprayah is faster and offers 5 different connections to choose from.
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao ferry schedule
Songserm: 1.75 hours
Lomprayah: 1 – 1.5 hours
Songserm ferry schedule
Songserm offers a high-speed ferry, which despite its name is the slowest option. The ferry ride takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. The ferry departs Thong Sala Pier at 12:30.
| Departure port | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Travel Time | Boat Type | Price |
| Thong Sala | 12:30 | 14:15 | 1:45 | High-speed ferry | 500 THB |
Lomprayah ferry schedule
Lomprayah offers 5 different connections each day, including a speed boat, a catamaran, and a ferry option. I focus more on the difference between different types of boats in the paragraphs below.
| Departure port | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Travel Time | Boat Type | Price |
| Lomprayah Office | 08:30 | 09:30 | 1:00 | Speedboat | 600 THB |
| Lomprayah Office | 12:00 | 12:30 | 1:30 | Laemsor Ferry | 450 THB |
| Lomprayah Office | 13:00 | 14:15 | 1:15 | Catamaran | 600 THB |
| Lomprayah Office | 15:00 | 16:00 | 1:00 | Speedboat | 600 THB |
| Lomprayah Office | 16:45 | 17:45 | 1:00 | Catamaran | 600 THB |
Ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao – price
Songserm: 500 THB
Lomprayah: 445 THB or 600 THB
The prices can vary depending on where you buy your tickets. When using the official websites, you can buy a Songserm ticket for 500 THB for an adult. Lomprayah has tickets for 450 THB or 600 THB.
A side note – we got our tickets in a small tour office on the island for the same prices as those stated online. So you can certainly find the same ticket prices in person as online.
The ferries on this route are often overbooked and overcrowded. You can’t even count on the fact that you’ll have a seat. So to make sure you won’t have to stand the whole journey, come to the port as early as possible.
Where to book tickets
As long as you’re staying on Koh Phangan for a few days, you can simply buy your tickets from local companies. You’ll find a few smaller offices selling any kind of tickets. They often help you organize transport to/from the pier as well. Hotels often offer these services, too.
In case you won’t have enough time on Koh Phangan to buy your tickets well in advance, make sure to get them online. Especially when traveling around the Full Moon Party, the possibility of sold-out tickets is very high.
Optionally, you can also use 12go.asia, which is our favorite platform to book any tickets around SE Asia. They’re reliable with helpful customer service and it’s easy to communicate with them if something goes wrong. However, they also charge more.
Koh Tao arrival port
Lomprayah arrives at Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao, while Songserm arrives at Songserm Port. Despite having different names, the ports are at the same location. Mae Haad is the only port on the whole island.
The same port is used for every boat departing the island, no matter the final destination.
Catamaran, ferry or speedboat?
When choosing the right connection, apart from the departure time and company, you should also consider the boat type. Choosing the right boat for this trip can make the ride much more enjoyable.
If you don’t travel by boat often, you might find the different options confusing. Therefore, we decided to describe different boat types available.
Catamaran
A catamaran is a boat with two parallel hulls. In other words, it’s that strange-looking boat with a huge hole in the middle. Thanks to this system catamarans provide fast and peaceful rides.
I am no boat specialist, but from what I’ve read catamaran is doing quite well when waves are hitting the boat from the side. However, you will feel rocking up and down when the catamaran travels against the waves.
Catamarans are spacious with enough place for luggage. They’re capacity is quite large. During the ride, you can walk around the deck and enjoy the views. The interior is air-conditioned. The ferry has a toilet, and sometimes a snack bar, too.
Ferry
Ferry is the classic type of boat, whose bottom is completely touching the surface of the sea. Ferries are often big, which makes them more stable on the sea. But they’re often slower than catamarans.
A great advantage is that you can walk around during the ride and stand outside if you wish. While the ferry should have an AC, I would not count on this much. If you’re traveling with lots of luggage, you’ll appreciate huge luggage space.
While there are toilets, it’s possible they won’t be in the best condition. Bring your own toilet paper.
I am writing all this based on our own experience when traveling to Koh Tao.
Speedboat
The last option is my least favorite. Traveling by a speedboat is often a ride full of adrenaline. Speedboats are often small and have a capacity of about 50 people.
The speedboats are usually small, which makes them unstable on the sea. This is true especially when the sea is rough. Therefore, if you hate traveling by boat or get sea sick easily, avoid using the speedboat.
The disadvantage is that there’s no AC, just air in your hair. Also, you can’t stand up from your seat and you won’t find any toilets here.
How to get from Mae Haad pier to Sairee Beach
As in every tourist destination, as soon as you get off the ferry you will be welcomed by different taxi drivers and tour companies. No matter where on Koh Tao you’re staying, you will be able to find transport easily.
Depending on people’s destination, locals will sort people in groups and organize a taxi for you. The taxis are trucks, where you sit in the back sideways with all your luggage.
For transport from the pier to Sairee Beach, you can expect to pay around 100 TBH per person. The taxis drop you off right in front of your hotel.
Optionally, you will find many scooter rentals around the pier. If you plan to rent a bike during your Koh Tao stay, you can do that right after your arrival. It’s the most convenient option, since you can travel to your hotel, explore the island, and return the scooter just before boarding the next ferry from the island.
You’ll avoid having to use the shared taxis, which are always more expensive. The scooter rental starts at around 200 TBH per day. If you rent a stronger bike, you’ll have to pay more. The rentals will want to keep your national ID as a deposit.
Never leave your passport as a deposit when renting a scooter! It makes it very easy for the owners to accuse you of causing some damage you haven’t done and ask you to pay for it. Remember, you can’t travel without a passport. Use cash or national ID instead.
Best time to visit Koh Tao
Dry season: December – April
Rainy season: October – December
Koh Tao has its dry season between December and April, together with the rest of Thailand. The weather is mostly sunny with almost no rain. However, since December is on the border between monsoon and dry season, you might still experience rainy evenings.
The period between February and May is known as a hot and dry season. April is usually the hottest month. Koh Tao is a relatively humid island, with around 80% humidity. Keep this in mind and stay hydrated throughout the day. The water visibility is the best in this season.
While the west coast of Thailand is hit by southwest monsoon between May and October, Koh Tao is not very affected by this. The weather is mostly dry and windy. Therefore, the sea is not as calm anymore. But you can already expect some rainfall, mostly during late afternoons and nights.
The rainy season in Koh Tao usually starts late in October and lasts until December. November is experiencing the heaviest rains. If the monsoons arrive later, the rainy season may last longer.
Best guided tours on Koh Tao
- Snorkel tour by Oxygen – Visit Nangyuan Island, Japanese Gardens, Mango Bay, Ao Leuk, and Hin Wong Bay. You can enjoy snorkeling at every stop. The underwater life is just incredible and this tour will be one of the highlights of your whole Thailand trip!
- Scuba diving experience – Ever tried scuba diving? How about taking your first lesson in one of the best places to get PADI in the whole world? Koh Tao is known for its lively underwater life and the best way to explore it is scuba diving!
- Daytrip by speedboat – This tour has the same itinerary as the first one by Oxygen. The only difference is, that here you can also go kayaking.
Ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao – conclusion
In conclusion, traveling from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao is not a very pleasant experience, but it’s easily organized. Tickets are available at different locations and multiple daily connections ensure more comfort.