TL;DR: Two operators run the Koh Tao to Koh Phangan crossing: Lomprayah, with around 4-6 sailings a day between roughly 7:00am and 4:30-5:00pm on a mix of speedboat and catamaran, and Songserm, with a single daily high-speed sailing around 9:30am. Journey time is genuinely fast on the direct services, about 1 hour on Lomprayah’s quickest run, stretching to 1.5-2 hours on slower boats or when a sailing routes via Koh Samui first. One-way fares run roughly ฿450-600 (about US$14-18) depending on operator and how far ahead you book. Around Full Moon Party dates, expect fuller boats and, on some months, an extra Lomprayah evening sailing timed for arrivals into Haad Rin, so book both legs a few days ahead rather than turning up on the day. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).
If you’ve finished diving on Koh Tao and you’re heading south toward Koh Phangan, whether for the Full Moon Party or just the next stop on the island chain, this is one of the shorter, more straightforward hops in the Gulf of Thailand. Two ferry operators run it, timings are reasonably frequent, and the crossing itself is quick compared with the longer haul out to Koh Samui. This guide breaks down both operators, what the trip actually costs, and what changes around Full Moon Party dates, checked against current 2026 ferry timetables and operator listings.
Koh Tao to Koh Phangan ferry comparison
| Operator | Approx. departures (Koh Tao) | Duration | Price (one-way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | ~7:00am, ~9:15-9:30am, afternoon sailings to ~4:30-5:00pm | ~1-1.5 hrs (fastest ~1 hr) | |
| Songserm | ~9:30am (single daily sailing) | ~2 hrs |
Departure times and prices compiled from 2026 operator and ferry-comparison timetables; see Sources. Exact sailing times shift seasonally, always confirm the day-of schedule before booking. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).
Which operator should you book?
Lomprayah is the more flexible choice, with several sailings spread through the day and the fastest direct crossing on the route. Its morning departure around 7:00am and a second around 9:15-9:30am cover most early risers, with further afternoon options running into the late afternoon. The fastest of these covers the route in about an hour; others, especially any sailing that calls at another island en route, take closer to 1.5 hours.
Songserm runs a single daily sailing, typically departing Koh Tao around 9:30am and arriving roughly two hours later. It’s a reasonable budget-friendly option if that one departure time happens to suit your plans, but it gives you no flexibility if you miss it or need a different time of day.
How much does it cost?
Expect to pay roughly ฿450-600 (about US$14-18) one-way, with the final price depending on the operator, the specific sailing, and how close to your travel date you book. As with most Gulf island ferries, prices creep upward the closer you get to departure and during high-demand periods, so booking a few days ahead is worth the small saving and the certainty of a confirmed seat, especially around Full Moon Party dates when boats fill up fast.
Which pier do you leave from and arrive at?
Departures leave Mae Haad Pier, Koh Tao’s main harbour on the island’s west side, and arrive at Thong Sala Pier, Koh Phangan’s principal ferry terminal. If you’re heading to Haad Rin for the Full Moon Party, note that Thong Sala is on the opposite side of the island, so you’ll need a taxi or songthaew for the onward 30-45 minute ride. For what to do once you’ve arrived, see outthailand.com’s guide to Koh Tao diving if you’re heading the other direction first, or check things to do on Koh Tao before you leave.
Full Moon Party crossings: what’s different
Expect fuller boats and, in some months, an additional evening sailing built specifically around the party. Demand across the entire Koh Tao-Koh Phangan-Koh Samui ferry network rises sharply in the days around a Full Moon Party, since a large share of travellers on all three islands converge on Haad Rin at once. Lomprayah has, in some months, added an early-evening departure, sometimes referred to informally as a party boat, timed to land with enough runway to reach Haad Rin before the event starts, though this isn’t a guaranteed fixture every month and can sell out well ahead of the date. If a Full Moon Party is the reason you’re making this crossing, book your outbound ferry, your return or onward leg, and ideally your Koh Phangan accommodation all a few days in advance rather than assuming you can sort it on arrival, since rooms and boat seats both tighten up fast around the event.
Journey time: what the “1 hour” figure doesn’t tell you
The headline 1-hour crossing time only applies to the fastest direct sailings. Some departures, particularly Songserm’s single daily service and certain Lomprayah sailings that route via Koh Samui or another stop first, take closer to 1.5-2 hours door to door. If your onward connections are tight, book a sailing explicitly marketed as direct and confirm the routing with the operator or your booking platform rather than assuming every departure matches the fastest quoted time.
What to pack and expect
Both operators allow one piece of luggage per person up to 20kg free of charge, with a ฿200 surcharge for anything over that limit, which matters if you’re carrying dive gear between islands. Seating is assigned on most sailings; arrive at the pier at least 20-30 minutes before departure, since boarding can be slower than the advertised departure time suggests, especially on the busier Full Moon Party-adjacent sailings.
Honest downsides
This is a short, generally reliable crossing, but it isn’t perfectly hassle-free. Songserm’s single daily sailing leaves no room for error if your plans change; miss it and you’re waiting for the next day or paying more for a same-day Lomprayah seat. The party boat isn’t guaranteed every month, so don’t build a Full Moon Party trip around an unconfirmed extra sailing. Thong Sala isn’t Haad Rin, so budget the extra taxi time and cost rather than assuming the ferry gets you to the beach directly. And like every Gulf ferry route, weather can delay or cancel sailings, particularly outside the calmer November-to-April window, so build in a buffer day if your onward plans are inflexible.
Bottom line
For most travellers, Lomprayah’s frequency makes it the easier default, and its fastest sailings genuinely do the crossing in about an hour. Book a few days ahead if you’re travelling around a Full Moon Party date, confirm whether your chosen sailing is direct, and remember the Thong Sala-to-Haad Rin leg is a separate taxi ride, not part of the ferry ticket. Pair this with outthailand.com’s getting to Koh Tao guide if you’re arriving from the mainland first, browse where to stay on Koh Tao if you’re basing yourself there before the crossing, and check what’s on around your travel dates.
Sources
- Phangan Ferries: Timetable for Lomprayah, Seatran, Songserm and Raja Ferry: Lomprayah and Songserm departure/arrival times on the Koh Tao-Koh Phangan route
- Direct Ferries: Koh Tao (Mae Haad Pier) to Koh Phangan (Thong Sala Pier) Ferry: operator names, sailing frequency, duration range, price range
- Lomprayah: Timetable 2026: Lomprayah’s own scheduled departures for the route
- Girl Gone Coconuts: Koh Tao to Koh Phangan Ferry Guide: sailing times by operator, price range, journey duration notes
- Groove Cruise Chris: How to Get From Koh Tao to the Full Moon Party: Full Moon Party ferry timing, Lomprayah “party boat” detail, booking-ahead advice
- Fullmoonparty-Thailand.com: How to Get to the Full Moon Party - Complete Transport Guide: Thong Sala to Haad Rin onward transport, Full Moon crossing demand notes