Services run from the mainland leaving Chumphon and Surat Thani, and from the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. There is no airport, and no bus or train stations on Koh Tao.
On Koh Samui, there are two airlines offering services, Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways, with the former operating more flights from Bangkok making it convenient for boat connections. Flights depart every half an hour from 06:00 – 22:00. Check the boat timetables to Koh Tao before you book your flight to be sure of the connections.
On the mainland, there are two low cost airlines offering combined tickets of flight, coach and boat which are Nok Air and Air Asia. Nok Air connects with Lomprayah Catamaran at Chumphon, Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat. While Air Asia connects with Seatran Discovery at Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Another airline, Thai Airways also operates flights to Surat Thani.
2. A combined boat & bus ticket
The cheapest and most popular way, there are two companies who offer this service; Lomprayah Catamaran and Songserm Express. Their air-conditioned buses depart from Khaosan road in Bangkok and arrive in at their own piers at Chumphon. The boat journey to Koh Tao is between 2 and 3 hours depending on the boat.
Travelling on the sleeper train is usually more comfortable than the bus. you will almost have a proper bed so you can sleep during the journey. The boat companies provide free transfers between their piers and the train station.
From Bangkok, you need to arrive at Chumphon station before 06:00 as the boats depart to Koh Tao at 07:00. Delays are possible on this train so you may have to get the afternoon boat with Lomprayah Catamaran.
To Bangkok, it’s better to take an afternoon boat from Koh Tao to catch the first sleeper train from Chumphon at 19:30.
Lomprayah Catamaran
Lomprayah Catamaran ticket booking is operated by Discover Koh Tao (TAT License No. 24/00652) a travel agency of KOH TAO : a Complete Guide.
Getting to Koh Tao
from Koh Phangan or Koh Samui
There are three boats which operate between these two neighbouring islands and Koh Tao. They are Lomprayah Catamaran, Seatran Discovery and Songserm Express.
Chumphon is the closest part of the mainland to Koh Tao, and so travel time by boat is the quickest and shortest compared with Surat Thani. Three boats offer services between the mainland and Koh Tao, Lomprayah Catamaran and Songserm Express offer services from Chumphon and Surat Thani. Seatran Discovery offers service from Surat Thani.
There are also night boats (aka ‘sleeping boats’) and ferries available that offer varying degrees of bed-like comfort on mattresses. Journey time on these boats is approximately 6 hours from Chumphon and 9 hours from Surat Thani.
If you want to fly, Chumphon has service with Nok Air. Surat Thani offers flights with Air Asia, Nok Air and Thai Airways.
Getting away from Koh Tao
to Andaman Coast or Southern
If travelling to the Andaman Coast or lower Southern gulf, the connections are from the mainland out of Chumphon and Surat Thani where you go on by bus, van or train. Check with travel agencies for information. Boat companies also offer combined tickets to some destinations.
The trains from Chumphon to the south only go to Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phattalung, Songkhla, Hat yai, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Hardly any of the Andaman coast is accessible via train, going by road is the only way to go.
There are also flights from Koh Samui directly to Phuket and Krabi with Bangkok Airways.
Diving Koh Tao will give you a whole new and wonderful experience of the island. Koh Tao’s dive sites are perfectly suited for all dive courses, considering depth, clarity and calmness of the dive environment.
Koh Tao’s stunning coral reefs with an abundance of marine life start just a few metres offshore. Here is a guide for best Koh Tao snorkelling experience.
To possess a 50% refund for your cancellation, you must inform us seven days before the tour and no longer than 180 days after the deposit payment.
KOH TAO : a Complete Guide reserves the right to cancel our tour due to poor weather conditions or any circumstances regarding safety. We then refund 100% of your deposit payment.
Terms & Conditions
Price does not include Koh Nang Yuan landing fee 100 Baht/person.
Snorkelling spots may be subject to change due to weather conditions without prior notice.
Oxygen Tour reserves the right to cancel their service due to poor weather conditions or any circumstances regarding safety.
To possess a 50% refund for your cancellation, you must inform us two days before the trip and no longer than 180 days after the deposit payment. Snorkelling trip booked on long holiday are non-refundable.
Ticket must be purchased at least 3 days before departure date.
The voucher must be printed out and reconfirm at Lomprayah check-in counter on departure date. Passenger must check-in 30 minutes prior to departure time. Failure to do so, the ticket will not be refunded.
Baggage allowance is 20 kg/person. Extra weight cost 20 Baht/kg, but not exceed to 30 kg in total.
Destination and route are not allowed to be changed.
Cancellation 3 days prior to your departure date and not longer than 180 days after purchase, 50% of your payment will be refunded. Tickets booked on long holiday are non-refundable.
Lomprayah High Speed Ferries reserves the right to cancel their service due to poor weather conditions or any circumstances beyond the reasonable for any safety reason. Departure and arrival times may be subject to change due to weather conditions without prior notice. Please be advised to allow 12 hours minimum for connecting flight.
Discover Koh Tao and KOH TAO : a Complete Guide do not take responsibility for any expense, loss, damage or injury which may arise in the event of cancellation or delay of Lomprayah High Speed Ferries service.
