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Updated January 2026
You were wondering how to get to Koh Tao and have settled on the route from Koh Samui. Good choice, as it is a lovely island that deserves its own trip. Or it makes for a great layover as you can even get to Koh Samui with an international flight.
Once it is time to move on you will need to get on the Koh Samui ferry to Koh Tao. Easy-peasy and this post will explain to you exactly how.
Why travel to Koh Tao?
Koh Tao is one of my happy places. Even after many years and many trips I still think the island offers the perfect mix between relaxation and excitement. And while yes, there are better places in Southeast Asia to go diving, the underwater world is still pretty nice here. If you want to learn how to dive, this is a superb spot with excellent but inexpensive training.
In addition, some great bars, lovely restaurants, and awesome matcha latte (hello Factory Cafe!). And of course killer sunsets on the beach!
Plus if you are moving on foot like myself because motorbikes are terrifying, Koh Tao is small enough that you can get around.
Read more:
The ultimate Koh Tao Travel Guide
A Foodie’s Guide to Koh Tao Restaurants
Quick tips for your Koh Tao Trip
My favorite hotels in Koh Tao
Savage Hostel – Modern hostel with dorms and single rooms right in the middle of Sairee Beach.
Big Tree Boutique Hotel – The only true boutique hotel in Koh Tao and simply the nicest. They also have a great cafe on the premises.
Baan Talay – A jungle resort a bit off the grid but fabulous if you want to disconnect from the world.
Cool activities in Koh Tao
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan
- Private Longtail Snorkel Tour with Nang Yuan visit
- Treasure Hunt in Koh Tao
Practical things
Koh Samui ferry Koh Tao – the Ins & Outs
How to get from Koh Samui to Koh Tao
The only option to get to the island is to hop on a Koh Samui ferry to Koh Tao. I am using the term ferry loosely as there are ferries, high speed catamarans, and speedboats that will take you from Koh Samui to Koh Tao.
You can check the Koh Tao ferry schedule online as it will change a bit depending on the season. And of course, there are various operators. The best-known is probably Lomprayah.
Lomprayah offers four crossings at the moment from Pralarn Pier and two from Nathon Pier. From Bangrak Pier, there are only ferries from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan. Songserm currently has two per day with one from Nathon and one from Bangrak Pier.
Seatran doesn’t have any ferries from Koh Samui to Koh Tao but only one trip from Samui to Koh Phangan.
Where do Koh Samui ferries to Koh Tao depart?
Sorry, I got ahead of myself there with throwing the names of these piers around. So here you go – there are three piers in Koh Samui: Pralarn, Nathon (or Na Thon), and Bangrak. These are used by the different ferry companies and sometimes changed on short notice due to weather and tides.
Depending on where you come from in Koh Samui it can take quite a while to get to your pier. Make sure to double-check that the departure pier has not changed for unforeseen reasons before heading out.
Since taxis are so expensive in Koh Samui I recommend you ask your ferry operator to organize an airport transfer or hotel pick-up. They are usually very good about it and those shared minivans offer an inexpensive way to get to the pier on time.
If you are flying to Koh Samui, check with the operator beforehand to find out what time your flight needs to arrive in order to catch the shuttle. Otherwise, be prepared to fork out up to 800 baht for a taxi to the pier.
You will usually have to be at the pier 30-45 prior to your departure. There are counters where you will check in and exchange your digital or paper reservation for a real ticket. You will also get a sticker for your shirt and a luggage tag, usually marked with your final destination – Koh Tao – and color coordinated.
When and where do I book my ticket?
You can book your tickets from most little travel agencies in Koh Samui, sometimes even from your hotel. It is honestly hard to miss all the places that sell ferry tickets in Thailand. Or you can go to the pier directly and check if a ticket for your preferred departure time is still available.
I prefer to go online. Sometimes I book directly from Lomprayah but if I am still checking out various options I prefer 12Go. They offer all the Koh Samui ferries to Koh Tao and I can compare travel times and prices. I can also use my international credit card to pay so this is the easiest for me.
In general, you can usually book quite short notice. However, if you are traveling around holidays or before, during, and after a Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan you want to get your ticket further in advance. Yes, the Full Moon Parties will affect the ferries to Koh Tao as well since many stop in Koh Phangan on their way.
You don’t really need to get a return ticket or rather there is no monetary advantage. Each way costs the same. Who much does the Koh Samui ferry Koh Tao cost? Somewhere between 500 and 800 baht one way, depending on operator and boat type/travel time. Children pay half with some operators.
How long Does it Take from Koh Samui to Koh Tao?
That depends on the type of boat and the weather. This is probably not the right time to tell you about the time I got caught in a storm, had an engine issue, and was ultimately delayed by an hour, right? Seriously, while these things happen, the Koh Samui ferries to Koh Tao are usually very safe. And what is an hour’s delay in the grand scheme of things?!
A speedboat will usually get you from Koh Samui to Koh Tao in 1.5 hours. The ferries and the highspeed catamarans will take longer but that is also because they stop in Koh Phangan. Luggage will be offloaded and new people board, it just takes some time.
There are also some connections where you will first take a boat from Koh Samui to Koh Pangan and then disembark before taking another boat from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao. It’s annoying, but it happens. While everything is very well organized at the pier this will add quite a bit to your travel time.
My tip: While speedboats are faster, they are also more expensive and in my opinion a lot more uncomfortable. I would choose the air-conditioned ferries from Koh Samui to Koh Tao any day.
How much luggage can I take?
This will depend on the boat operator but usually 20 kg is standard. While it was easy to sneak in some extra kilos in the past and just tip the crew to be nice, I have had a few situations when luggage is being weighed before you can get on the boat. I was once caught and had to pay quite a bit extra – pack accordingly!
Officially you also have to pay extra when bringing sports equipment or bikes.
If you have a suitcase you will put your luggage tag on and hand it over to the crew before you board. They will stow all the luggage safely. If you have a backpack you are usually asked to take it on board yourself and leave it at the bow of the boat inside. You will also need to pick it up upon arrival but there will be announcements.
Everyone else gets their suitcases or bigger pieces on the pier where the crew will line everything up. And no, I am not scared that my luggage will get lost. I don’t know why. I just trust the crew. That said, on my last crossing I was scared my suitcase would fly off the boat but that also didn’t happen.
On-board amenities
As I said, I prefer ferries or Lomprayah’s high-speed catamarans to the speedboats. They have various decks with seating options, usually some inside and some outside.
There is also a VIP area where you can get comfier seats for a little extra money. But to be honest, even the regular area is totally fine. There is aircon, a snack bar, and some screens with a trailer on repeat showing you what you can do in Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Toilets are usually outside.
Arrival on Koh Tao
There is only one pier in Koh Tao, in the island capital Mae Haad. They are currently renovating it which is about time because that pier is not the most efficient or streamlined. Especially for the amount of passengers it sees.
Once you have gotten your luggage you walk over the jetty and turn left. There you will see a bunch of drivers picking up various resort guests. First, you will need to pay 20 baht island tax upon arrival. After you can look for your driver.
There are no transfer options from the Koh Samui ferry companies on Koh Tao. Luckily many resorts offer a free pick-up. Otherwise, you will need to walk, rent a motorbike, or pay for a pretty expensive taxi.
Koh Tao to Koh Samui ferry
Heading back from Koh Tao to Koh Samui? At some point, the holiday must come to an end.
Check the Koh Tao to Koh Samui ferry times online and then book a ticket that works for you. The process is the same in reverse. Make sure to leave yourself enough time if you have a connecting flight from Koh Samui. If you have an international flight I would travel at least one day before. It doesn’t happen often but ferries can be delayed or even get cancelled so a buffer is a good idea.
I like to add a layover at the Amari Koh Samui or Casa de Mar as they are close to the airport and this way I don’t have to stress.
When leaving Koh Tao ask your resort if they offer a transfer to the pier as most do. Officially you will need to be there 30-45 minutes before departure but to be honest, you want to spend the least amount of time possible at Mae Haad Pier. Hopefully, the renovations will make it a little less dingy. It’s a little tricky to figure out where to check in at the moment but you can just ask the staff, and they will direct you to whichever window you need to go.
Afterward, you will wait until you board. Be grateful if you get a bench in the shade, not always a given when leaving Koh Tao. Still, when that happens, I just have to remind myself that my little home away from home is always worth the trip.
