Ferries to Koh Tao

Koh Tao has no airport, so every visitor arrives by boat at Mae Haad Pier. From the mainland, Lomprayah’s high-speed catamarans cross from Chumphon, and boats from Surat Thani reach the island by way of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Between the islands of the Gulf of Thailand you can choose from Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery and Songserm, which all link Koh Tao with Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Songserm sails from its own pier in Mae Haad and runs both a large ferry and speedboats.

Ferries to Koh Tao: all routes

Showing all 20 services

Chumphon (Tha Yang) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Talay Sub · 6hovernight
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 550
prices and availability
Chumphon (Thung Makham Noi) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Lomprayah · 1h 30m
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 550
prices and availability
Ko Samui (Pralan) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Lomprayah · 1h 30m
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 750
prices and availability
Koh Phangan (Thong Sala Pier) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Seatran Discovery · 1h
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 450
prices and availability
Koh Phangan (Thong Sala Pier) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Lomprayah · 1h
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 450
prices and availability
Koh Samui (Bangrak Pier) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Songserm · 1h 30mfast
🚗 ✕🚐 ✕
prices and availability
Koh Samui (Bangrak Pier) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Seatran Discovery · 2h
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 600
prices and availability
Koh Samui (Nathon Pier) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Lomprayah · 1h 30m
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 750
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Ko Samui (Pralan)
Lomprayah · 1h 30m
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 750
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Koh Phangan (Thong Sala Pier)
Songserm · 55mfast
🚗 ✕🚐 ✕
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Koh Phangan (Thong Sala Pier)
Songserm · 2h
🚗 ✕🚐 ✕
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Koh Phangan (Thong Sala Pier)
Lomprayah · 1h
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 600
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Koh Samui (Bangrak Pier)
Songserm · 1h 30mfast
🚗 ✕🚐 ✕
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Koh Samui (Bangrak Pier)
Seatran Discovery · 2h
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 600
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Koh Samui (Nathon Pier)
Songserm · 1h 35mfast
🚗 ✕🚐 ✕
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Koh Samui (Nathon Pier)
Songserm · 3h 30m
🚗 ✕🚐 ✕
prices and availability
Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) ↔ Koh Samui (Nathon Pier)
Lomprayah · 1h 30m
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 750
prices and availability
Surat Thani (Bandon Pier) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Sea Crest Ferry · 7hovernight
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 900
prices and availability
Surat Thani (Don Sak Pier) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Songserm · 2h 25m
🚗 ✕🚐 ✕Stopover: Koh Samui (Nathon Pier) → Koh Phangan (Thong Sala Pier)
prices and availability
Surat Thani (Tapee Pier) ↔ Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier)
Lomprayah · 3h
🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From THB 900
prices and availability

Which boat suits you

  • The shortest crossing from the mainland: Lomprayah’s catamaran from Chumphon.
  • A large ferry instead of a speedboat: Songserm runs a ferry with room for about 450 passengers between Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui (Nathon), next to its speedboats. The ferry takes longer, but if a bumpy ride is a concern it is the one to look at; Songserm itself advises pregnant travellers and people with back problems not to take its speedboats.
  • Straight on to Surat Thani: Songserm sells one ticket from Koh Tao to Don Sak Pier, with stops at Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. From Don Sak you continue by road to Surat Thani, the airport or Khao Sok.
  • Close to Samui airport: Songserm’s speedboats from Petcherat Pier in Bangrak cross to Koh Tao, as do Seatran Discovery’s from their own pier nearby.

Times change with the season: check the current Songserm timetable before you plan.

Book Songserm tickets →

Turtle Island transit: The single-pier bottleneck

Ko Tao is the smallest of the trio, focused entirely on diving. With 500,000+ annual visitors and narrow roads, the logistics are simple because there is only one entry point.

Arrival Pier Operators Logistics Score
Mae Haad Pier Lomprayah, Songserm, Seatran Discovery The Chokepoint: Every boat lands here. It is walking distance to Sairee Beach. Expect a small pier fee, paid in cash. Warning: hotel pick-up trucks cause gridlock here around the main ferry arrivals.

Visitor Volume & Mode Comparison

  • The Chumphon Connection: The fastest route from Bangkok is not via Samui, but via Chumphon (bus/train) then the Lomprayah catamaran (1.5 hrs) to Ko Tao.
  • Night Boat: The “Night Boat” from Surat Thani (leaves late in the evening, arrives early in the morning) is a rite of passage for backpackers. It is a floating hostel with mattresses on the floor.

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