How to Get to Koh Tao: Ferries, Flights & Night Boat

TL;DR: Koh Tao has no airport of its own, so every route funnels through a ferry, most commonly from Chumphon, the mainland town closest to the island. Lomprayah’s high-speed catamaran from Chumphon is the fastest and most reliable option at ฿600-700 (about US$18-21) for a 1.5-2 hour crossing, while the budget Songserm ferry runs ฿500-550 (about US$15-17) and takes about 2.5 hours. Backpackers on a tight budget take the overnight boat from Chumphon pier, departing around 11pm and arriving 5-6am for ฿300-450 (about US$9-14), sleeping on a mat or a basic air-conditioned bunk. From the other islands, ferries connect Koh Tao to Koh Samui (฿550-700, 1.5-3 hours), Koh Phangan (฿350-500, 1-2 hours) and Surat Thani (฿800-1,100, 3-5 hours depending on route). Flying into Chumphon or Surat Thani airport and finishing by road-and-ferry combo is the fastest way in from Bangkok, and the open-water crossing can get rough in the May-October monsoon window, so pack seasickness tablets if you’re prone. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

Working out how to get to Koh Tao is the first real logistics question of the trip, because unlike Samui or Phuket, the island has no airport, and every route ends with a boat. This guide compares every practical way in: the daytime ferries and the overnight boat from Chumphon, the inter-island connections from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, the longer haul from Surat Thani, and the fly-then-ferry combos that shave hours off the trip from Bangkok. Every price and time below is checked against current 2026 ferry operator schedules and route guides, cited in the Sources section.

Koh Tao route comparison at a glance

Figures compiled from Lomprayah, Songserm, and current 2026 route guides; see Sources. Prices at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

How does the Chumphon ferry work, and which operator should you pick?

Chumphon is the main gateway to Koh Tao, and Lomprayah’s high-speed catamaran is the fastest, most reliable way across. The crossing takes about 1.5-2 hours for ฿600-700 (about US$18-21), with roughly three sailings a day, and Lomprayah’s schedule is timed to connect with the overnight train from Bangkok, which typically arrives in Chumphon around 5:30-6:30am in time for the first boat. The budget alternative is Songserm’s open ferry, cheaper at ฿500-550 (about US$15-17) but slower at around 2.5 hours, and noticeably less comfortable if the sea has any chop, since it doesn’t have Lomprayah’s enclosed cabin.

Both operators arrive at Koh Tao’s Mae Haad pier. If your schedule allows it, book the earlier Lomprayah sailing: later departures run a higher risk of delay stacking up through the day if the mainland connection (train, bus, or flight) runs late.

Is the overnight boat from Chumphon worth it?

The overnight boat is the cheapest way to Koh Tao, and it doubles as your night’s accommodation, but comfort is basic. Three operators run the route on a rotating schedule, each typically sailing a few nights a week, departing Chumphon pier around 11pm and arriving at Koh Tao around 5-6am, a crossing of roughly 6 hours. Fares run ฿300-450 (about US$9-14) depending on whether you book a foam mat on deck or a basic air-conditioned bunk bed; shoes and large bags generally aren’t allowed inside the sleeping cabin. Tickets are commonly bought at the pier itself rather than online, and because the night boat’s schedule shifts more than the daytime ferries, confirm the day’s departure locally before you commit to a specific night.

It’s a solid option if you’re on a tight budget or want to arrive at first light rather than burn a travel day, but skip it if you’re a light sleeper or prone to seasickness in open water at night.

Getting from Koh Samui to Koh Tao

Koh Tao is a longer hop from Koh Samui than the short run to Koh Phangan, and the ferry price reflects it. Lomprayah and Seatran high-speed catamarans connect Koh Samui, usually from Bangrak or Na Thon pier, to Koh Tao’s Mae Haad pier in about 1.5-2 hours for ฿550-700 (about US$17-21); slower boats take up to 3 hours for a similar or slightly lower fare. Sailings run a handful of times a day rather than hourly, so check the timetable and book ahead, particularly in high season. For what to do once you’ve arrived on Samui first, see outthailand.com’s how to get to Koh Samui guide.

Getting from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao

This is one of the shortest inter-island hops in the Gulf, and Lomprayah’s speedboat is the quickest way to cover it. Lomprayah runs the crossing in about 1 hour for roughly ฿500 (about US$15), with departures around 8:30am and 3:30pm from Thong Sala pier. Songserm’s slower ferry costs less, around ฿350 (about US$11), taking closer to 2 hours with a mid-morning departure. If you’re coming from a Full Moon Party trip on Koh Phangan, see outthailand.com’s Full Moon Party guide for timing your onward journey.

Getting from Surat Thani to Koh Tao

Surat Thani, the mainland province with the region’s main airport, is a longer and pricier route to Koh Tao than Chumphon. A direct ferry from Surat Thani town runs roughly 3-4 hours for ฿800-950 (about US$24-29). If you’re flying into Surat Thani Airport specifically, Lomprayah’s combined bus-and-ferry package (which also stops at Koh Samui and Koh Phangan along the way) costs around ฿1,100 (about US$33) and takes about 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes depending on which departure you catch. An overnight boat option also exists from a pier in Surat Thani town, taking roughly 7-9 hours through the night for a similar or slightly lower fare than the daytime combo, a reasonable option if you land late and don’t want to pay for a mainland hotel.

Flying in: Chumphon or Surat Thani?

Flying into Chumphon and finishing by ferry is the fastest way to Koh Tao from Bangkok, but the flight options are limited. AirAsia flies Bangkok’s Don Mueang to Chumphon daily in the morning, and Nok Air adds evening flights on select days (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday), with the hop itself taking under an hour. Nok Air also sells a combined “Fly’n’Ferry” ticket, one booking covering the flight, a coach transfer, and the Lomprayah catamaran onward to Koh Tao, from around ฿1,700 (about US$52) one-way. A new Lomprayah pier has been opening near Chumphon Airport itself, which should tighten the connection between landing and boarding further.

Surat Thani Airport has more flight options, since it’s also the gateway for Koh Samui, with AirAsia and Nok Air both flying from Bangkok, but it’s a longer onward journey to Koh Tao than from Chumphon, adding roughly an hour or more to the total transfer time.

Is the crossing rough?

Yes, it can be, particularly the open-water Chumphon crossing during the May-October monsoon season. Swells pick up through those months and the ride gets noticeably choppier, especially on the smaller Songserm ferry or the night boat, both of which sit lower and more exposed than Lomprayah’s larger catamaran. If you’re prone to seasickness, take medication around 30 minutes before boarding, sit toward the middle of the boat where the motion is least pronounced, and consider paying the difference for Lomprayah over Songserm on a day when the forecast looks rough.

Honest downsides

None of the routes to Koh Tao are without a catch. The Chumphon ferries are the fastest option but can be genuinely uncomfortable in monsoon-season chop, especially on the open Songserm boat. The overnight boat saves money and a night’s accommodation, but the sleeping arrangements are basic, and its schedule is less predictable than the daytime services, so don’t build a tight next-day plan around it. Flying into Chumphon is quick, but flight frequency is limited, with only a handful of departures a day between the two carriers, so it doesn’t always line up with your ideal schedule. Surat Thani is the most flight-flexible mainland gateway, but it’s also the slowest route to Koh Tao itself, adding real time to a journey that’s already a connection.

Getting to Koh Tao: putting it together

If speed matters most, fly into Chumphon and connect straight onto the Lomprayah catamaran. If you’re watching your budget, the overnight boat from Chumphon is the cheapest way in and saves a night’s accommodation too. Coming from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan, the inter-island ferries are simple and frequent enough that you can usually book a day or two ahead rather than weeks out. Once you’ve arrived, check outthailand.com’s things to do in Koh Tao guide for what to do first, Koh Tao diving if that’s the main draw, and where to stay in Koh Tao to settle on a base before you land.

Sources

• Chumphon to Koh Tao 2026 - The Complete & Essential Ferry Guide - Inside Samui: Lomprayah, Songserm and night boat prices, durations, seasickness advice
• Where to get a Night Boat to Koh Tao - Funky Turtle: night boat operators, schedule, price, cabin rules
• How to Get to Koh Tao: Travel, Flight & Ferry Tips For 2026 - Crystal Dive: route overview from Chumphon, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani; flight options
• Surat Thani Airport to Koh Tao - Ferry times (July 2026) - Surat Thani Airport Hotels: Lomprayah bus+ferry combo pricing and schedule from Surat Thani Airport
• Koh Phangan To Koh Tao: Which Ferry Company Is Best? - Backpackers Wanderlust: Lomprayah and Songserm prices, durations, departure times
• Chumphon Airport: Gateway to Koh Tao - AirAsia, Nok Air: airline schedules from Don Mueang, flight duration, airport-to-pier transfer options