How to get to Koh Tao from anywhere in Thailand.

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Updated January 2026

Want to plan an island holiday or go scuba diving in Thailand? There are few better places than Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. Also called Turtle Island, Koh Tao is the smallest amongst the beloved island trio with Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. 

How to get to Koh Tao? Read on as I share my best tips on how to get to the island from anywhere in Thailand. 

Why travel to Koh Tao? 

I am a huge fan of Koh Tao if only for their scuba diving and some great restaurants and bars. The island is small enough to make friends but big enough to not get bored. 

That said, scuba diving is probably the main appeal for many and the island has a few excellent dive centers both for recreational and tec diving. In addition, there are great spots to snorkel all around, some stunning beaches, yoga, Muay Thai, free diving, and much more. 

You can find all my tips in my Koh Tao travel guide here as well as my favorite Koh Tao restaurants. And for those who come for the underwater world, check out this post about diving in Koh Tao. 

How to get to Koh Tao – By Plane, Train, Bus & Boat

Getting to Koh Tao by Plane

Koh Tao is located in the Gulf of Thailand and as an island, you will have to take a boat to get there. Koh Tao is too small so there is no airport on the island. 

There are however three airports in the vicinity you can use to get a bit closer: Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Koh Samui. Which one you choose will depend on a few factors, mainly time and money. 

The fastest connection is from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. Depending on the pier you depart from, weather conditions, and boat type the trip will take about 2 hours. Usually, there is a stop in Koh Phangan involved. 

The downside of flying into Koh Samui: The airport is owned by Bangkok Airways so they have a flight monopoly for domestic flights. While it is a great airline, they are also quite pricey especially compared to other carriers like Nok or Air Asia. 

If you want to use one of those you will have to fly to Surat Thani or Chumphon. 

Regardless of which city and airline you choose, check beforehand that your flight arrival time works with your ferry. And ask the ferry company for an airport transfer. In some cases you might be able to arrange this at the airport, in other cases, you will need to do it prior. 

On my recent trip from Koh Samui to Koh Tao, I inquired about an airport transfer with Lomprayah to the pier. They told me my flight arrival time was too lat. Instead of paying 150 baht for a shared transfer, I had to pay 800 baht for a taxi to the pier. If you are traveling with friends and family this is not a big deal, but it gets expensive as a solo traveler.

On another trip, I traveled from Surat Thani to Koh Tao. I got my luggage and went to the Lomprayah counter at the airport to get a transfer ticket. Not a problem! And it was a good choice not to go on my own as they actually changed the departure pier. 

• So my best tip: Arrange for an airport transfer with the ferry company and make sure your flight/ferry times align. This goes also for your return when you are coming from Koh Tao.

When booking online you can use the function on 12Go and will see all the trips with different companies. Sometimes you can search for trips from/to a specific airport. Other times you will only get your ferry ticket. If that is the case, just contact Lomprayah, etc. on Facebook to arrange for your transfer. It is really easy and they will even send you a link for a credit card payment and a receipt. 

Remember: Make sure to leave enough time for these trips as connections are not guaranteed. Nok Air used to offer flight ’n ferry tickets but these are not available at the moment. 

• Find a flight to Surat Thani, Samui, or Chumphon on 12Go

Getting to Koh Tao by Train

Okay, we have established that you will need to take at least one boat to get to Koh Tao. However, a great and inexpensive option if you don’t want to fly is to take the train to Chumphon before jumping on the ferry. 

This is a great and inexpensive way if you are traveling from Bangkok to Koh Tao. Again you will need to align your train and boat times but in some instances, this can be a comfortable and budget-friendly way, and you also avoid a short-haul flight. 

Even better, there are overnight trains so you can also save on a hotel night! 

Get a train ticket from Bangkok to Chumphon:

Getting to Koh Tao by Van or Bus

Lomprayah is probably the biggest operator that offers bus & ferry combo tickets to Koh Tao. When asking yourself how to get to Koh Tao from pretty much anywhere in Thailand this will be your cheapest solution. 

You can get a bus/ferry ticket from Bangkok to Koh Tao, Phuket to Koh Tao/Koh Samui, and even Koh Phi Phi to Koh Tao. Though some routes will require a boat trip, an overland drive, and another boat trip. 

Depending on the route you will either travel by bus or minivan and be taken directly to the closest pier. These trips are a great inexpensive way to get to Koh Tao, however, you will need to allocate some time for it. If you are coming from Bangkok for example, you will pretty much need all day. 

In addition, most buses are not very comfortable. While the big Lomprayah buses recline and you will get an assigned seat, chances are if you are of average height it will get a bit uncomfortable after a while. Those reclining seats can become a nuisance. 

A big plus when booking a bus & ferry combo: Your connections are guaranteed when traveling with one company! Even if your bus is a bit delayed, the boat will either wait or they will put you on the next one. 

That said, I would still recommend you travel as early in the day as possible to avoid delays and make sure there is a next boat if you are running late. 

Get a bus & ferry ticket to Koh Tao:

How to get to Koh Tao by boat

Lomprayah, Seatran, and Songserm are the big companies that offer various crossings to Koh Tao. You can either take a boat from Koh Samui / Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, or Chumpon. Crossings are done either with ferry, highspeed catamaran, or speedboat. Sometimes you can choose a boat other times you get what you get. If you have the chance to choose I recommend a ferry or the bigger Lomprayah catamarans. I personally think they are so much more comfortable as they have an air-conditioned inside area, toilets, and snack bar. They are also a bit more stable if you are prone to seasickness. 

While you may save half an hour with a speedboat I don’t think it is worth it. 

There is also a night ferry from Surat Thani that goes directly to Koh Tao. This one takes about 8 hours and you will get a bunk to sleep in. I guess if you really want to save on an extra night in a hotel and don’t want to lose half a day in transit, it is a good option. 

How much is a boat ticket to Koh Tao? 

Again, how much it costs to get to Koh Tao will depend on your departure pier, the type of boat, and sometimes the season. 

At the moment you can expect prices starting at $20 for a one-way trip from Chumphon to Koh Tao, $15 from Koh Samui, and $27 when coming from Surat Thani. These prices don’t include transfers to the pier. 

Sleeper boats are usually a few bucks cheaper but you will travel a lot longer. 

There is no advantage to buying a round-trip ticket as prices are the same. 

Check-in

Regardless of which pier you travel from to Koh Tao, you will need to check in when you get there. This is usually pretty straightforward. You go to the counter (sometimes there is more than one depending on how many places they go to) and show your (digital) ticket and put your name on a raster. You will get your boarding pass and usually a sticker with your destination. Your luggage will also receive a little tag, color coordinated and with the destination printed on it. 

If you have not booked your ticket in advance, you can also buy it at the pier. I would not risk it during holiday time and when there is a full moon party on Koh Phangan – these do affect the number of people traveling as many boats stop in Koh Phangan on the way to Koh Tao. 

Afterward you are all set and will simply wait until it is time to board.

If you have a bus trip first, this check-in will happen at the bus station or wherever your departure point is. Lomprayah for example has an office on Rambuttri Road in Bangkok where you check in.

Luggage

Different operators have different restrictions when it comes to luggage. For most, it averages around one piece at 20 kg. That said, I have never had my luggage weighed before. Apparently, you do have to pay a small fee per extra kilo but again, I never had to. And that even though my luggage is usually heavier since I go to Koh Tao for scuba diving and travel with my gear. 

I definitely tip the crew when my suitcase is really heavy though.

Once you add your luggage tag to your suitcase or backpack it is ready to travel. Depending on the type of boat you will usually give your suitcase to the staff that stashes big luggage on the bow. If you only have a backpack they will normally ask you to bring it to the front of the boat inside. 

When traveling with a speedboat, the crew will handle your luggage and you just board with your hand luggage. 

Once you arrive in Koh Tao, the crew will unload the luggage and line it up on the pier. You just grab your piece on the way out. 

Why a luggage tag you may ask? These are simply to differentiate between pieces going to Koh Tao and those traveling somewhere else. Obviously, your luggage will get off with you if you are only traveling to Koh Phangan. 

And no, while you don’t get an individual tag or number for your big luggage, I never had an issue. I guess if you have a very common-looking suitcase it makes sense to mark it somehow so it won’t get mixed up but otherwise, just lock it and don’t worry about it!

On board experience

The ferries and highspeed catamaran have an indoor and outdoor seating section spread over various decks. Indoors is usually with air-conditioning and a snack bar. Some boats also offer a VIP section which has comfier seats and only costs a little extra. 

Outside there are usually a few toilets. There are no assigned seats, so if you have a preference I recommend boarding as early as possible.

If you are traveling by speedboat you have no such luxuries as aircon. While boats are covered, it can get quite windy and you may have the occasional splash of water coming your way. 

Crew will usually hand you a little black bag if the crossing is looking rough. However, if you are prone to seasickness I recommend you take something before you board. 

Transfer in Koh Tao

All boats will bring you to Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao. Once you have gotten your luggage you will head to the arrival area where you will need to pay 20 baht island tax. 

There are no transfers organized by the ferry operators on Koh Tao. That is a pity because taxis are pricey. A ride to Chalok Bay or Sairee Beach will currently cost you 300 baht, but you can share with up to 2 other people. If you don’t have a lot of luggage and you are staying on Sairee beach you may want to walk.

Alternatively, do check if your hotel offers a pick-up from the pier. Some even do it for free! 

Summary – How to get to Koh Tao from…

…the Andaman Sea: When heading to Koh Tao from Phuket, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta, or Krabi you will usually take a van or bus to Surat Thani. From there you will take a speedboat or ferry directly to Koh Tao. 

Sometimes you can book a ticket with hotel pick-up in Phuket and Krabi. If you have the option, go for it as taxis in those places can get expensive. 

Obviously, you can also avoid the long bus ride by taking a flight from Phuket or Krabi. This will shave some travel time off your trip but be quite a bit more expensive. 

If you are heading from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Tao you will first need to take a speedboat to the mainland, then a bus to Surat Thani, and then the ferry to Koh Tao.

… Bangkok: For those going from Bangkok to Koh Tao you have a lot of options. You can either fly to Surat Thani, Chumphon, or Koh Samui and then take the ferry. Or you can take the train to Chumphon and cross from there. If you are short on cash and have a lot of time at hand, get yourself a bus/ferry ticket from Lomprayah to go from Bangkok to Koh Tao. 

…Chiang Mai: If you are coming from Chiang Mai, you will need to fly first. You also have the option to fly into Koh Samui, Surat Thani, or Chumphon depending on prices and travel times. It is usually a bit of a puzzle to figure out which flight times work best with the boat times. 

Have you been to Koh Tao before?