Bangkok to Koh Tao
In short
Bangkok to Koh Tao is about 4 hours if you fly to Koh Samui and take the catamaran on.
Every way there, side by side
- Time
- About 4 hours
- How often
- Suvarnabhumi
- Booking
- Speed
Best by group size
Up to 4
- Best way:
- A luxury van for up to 4 from ฿6,500 for 10 hours to the airport or station
Up to 10
- Best way:
- A party van for up to 10 to the airport, quoted
20 and more
- Best way:
- A coach for 20 and more, quoted for the trip
The fastest way and the easiest way
The easiest way starts with your own car: the driver takes the group and the bags to Suvarnabhumi for the Samui flight, and the catamaran is booked behind it, about 4 hours to the island.
On a budget, Lomprayah's overnight bus meets the morning boat. Ask Tanner which way fits your dates.
Fly to Koh Samui, then the boat
- Total time:
- About 4 hours
- From:
- Suvarnabhumi
- Best for:
- The fastest
Fly to Surat Thani, then bus and boat
- Total time:
- Longer, with a bus to the pier
- From:
- Don Mueang
- Best for:
- Cheaper flights
Bus and ferry ticket
- Total time:
- About 11 hours
- From:
- Pinklao, overnight
- Best for:
- Lowest cost, from ฿850
Train and ferry
- Total time:
- About 10 to 12 hours
- From:
- Krung Thep Aphiwat
- Best for:
- A sleeper berth
Can you take a ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
No. Every route goes by road, rail or air to Chumphon, Surat Thani or Koh Samui first, then by boat.
- From Chumphon: the closest mainland pier: catamarans at 7am and 1:15pm, about 1 hour 45 minutes, from ฿750, or the 5:45am ferry, about 2 hours 30 minutes, from ฿450.
- From Surat Thani: a longer boat ride.
- From Koh Samui: Lomprayah from ฿550 by ferry or ฿700 by catamaran, with boats from 8am to 4pm.
- fly to Koh Samui, then the boat, about 4 hours
- the bus and boat ticket, about 11 hours, from ฿850 (Lomprayah)
- the sleeper train to Chumphon, then the morning boat
- every route ends with a boat from Chumphon, Surat Thani or Samui
- Chumphon 7am and Samui 8am, both Lomprayah catamarans
Is there a bus to Koh Tao?
Lomprayah's night bus leaves Pinklao at 9pm and its boat reaches Koh Tao at 8:15am, from ฿850, Lomprayah's 2026 timetable shows. Its first bus of the day leaves Khao San at 6am, and its last at 10pm.
It's the cheapest way for one or two people. Ask Tanner to have the car at the bus stop on time.
Can you take the train to Koh Tao?
Lomprayah's 7am catamaran from Chumphon reaches Koh Tao in about 1 hour 45 minutes, from ฿750, so the overnight sleeper to Chumphon is the rail way in. Check train times and fares at the station.
Take a 2nd class berth, and ask Tanner to book the berth and the boat together.
Can you fly to Koh Tao?
Koh Tao has no airport, so fly to Koh Samui for the shortest boat: Bangkok Airways flies there from Suvarnabhumi in about 1 hour 10 to 20 minutes, its own route page shows (checked November 2026).
Samui is the fastest overall. See Koh Samui to Koh Tao and Koh Samui airport transfer, and ask Tanner to hold the seats.
Which piers do the Koh Tao boats use?
Every boat to Koh Tao lands at Mae Haad pier, on the west coast, a short drive from Sairee Beach.
From Chumphon, Lomprayah sails from Thung Makham Noi pier. From Samui, its first catamaran leaves Pralarn Pier at 8am and its last leaves Nathon Pier at 4pm, reaching Koh Tao at 5:45pm, Lomprayah's 2026 timetable shows.
Most Samui crossings take 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, and some change boats at Koh Phangan.
Ask Tanner to have the driver waiting at Mae Haad pier.
What is the best month to visit Koh Tao?
February to April is the driest time, with calm seas, the Thai Meteorological Department's normals show, and the weather stays good through August. That's why TAT also names June to September for dive trips in the lower Gulf.
October to December is the wettest, worst in November, and rough days can stop the boats. Keep a spare day, and ask Tanner to watch the forecast.
Lining up the car, the flight and the boat
Bangkok to Koh Tao always ends on a boat, and every boat leaves from Chumphon, Surat Thani or Samui.
The Bangkok to Koh Tao flight is really a flight to Samui and the catamaran on, so book both for the same day.
In Bangkok, the luxury van for up to 4 is from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, hotel to the airport or the night train.
Tanner's pick: fly to Samui and take the catamaran. The overnight bus is for backpackers, not a group on holiday.
How much time do you need in Koh Tao?
Most groups give it 2 or 3 days: a day or two of diving or snorkelling, the sunset bars on Sairee Beach, then the boat on to Koh Phangan or Samui, 1 to 2 hours away.
- Doing a course? Give it 3 days or more; see scuba diving on Koh Tao.
Island hopping after? See Koh Phangan to Koh Tao.
See our Koh Tao guide, and ask Tanner to book the dive days.
Bangkok to Koh Tao in short
- Fastest: fly to Koh Samui, then the catamaran, about 4 hours in all.
- Cheapest: the Bangkok to Koh Tao bus and boat ticket, overnight from Pinklao, about 11 hours, from ฿850.
- Overnight by rail: the sleeper to Chumphon, then the morning boat, 10 to 12 hours.
- No Bangkok to Koh Tao ferry: every route ends on a boat from Chumphon, Surat Thani or Samui.
- Best months: February to April, the driest, with calm seas.
- For a group: the car to the airport, the flight and the boat lined up behind it.
Checked November 2026.
Before you travel
Book the Samui flight and the catamaran for the same day
Samui flights leave Suvarnabhumi; the night bus, Pinklao
Last boat from Samui 4pm; last bus from Khao San 10pm
Keep a spare day: rough seas in November can stop the boats
No alcohol at public piers or on scheduled boats
Luxury van for up to 4, from ฿6,500 for 10 hours
The alcohol ban at public piers and on scheduled boats runs from 12 May 2026.
Checked Nov 2026
Tanner's offer
A car to the airport or the night train
Your driver collects the group at the Bangkok hotel, and the flight or the berth and the boat are lined up behind it.
See the private option →
Written by Tanner Altman · Updated 7 November 2026
Questions
Questions about Bangkok to Koh Tao
Can you take a ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
No. Every route goes by road, rail or air to Chumphon, Surat Thani or Koh Samui first, then by boat. The quickest is a flight to Samui and Lomprayah's catamaran on, from ฿700.
How long does it take from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
About 4 hours flying via Samui with the catamaran on. Lomprayah's overnight bus-and-boat ticket takes about 11 hours, leaving Pinklao at 9pm and reaching Koh Tao at 8:15am.
How much is the ferry to Koh Tao?
Lomprayah lists Samui to Koh Tao from ฿550 by ferry or ฿700 by catamaran, Chumphon to Koh Tao from ฿450 on the slow ferry, and Bangkok bus and boat from ฿850. Tanner books the boat with the car.
Is Koh Samui or Koh Tao better?
Samui for villas, beach clubs and nightlife; Koh Tao for diving, snorkelling and quiet bays. Many groups base on Samui and take the 1.5-hour catamaran to Koh Tao for two dive days.
What is the best month to visit Koh Tao?
February to April, the driest months with calm seas. The weather stays good through August, which suits dive trips; November is the wettest month and can stop the boats.
How much time do you need in Koh Tao?
Two or three days for most groups: a day or two of diving or snorkelling, an evening at the Sairee Beach sunset bars, then the boat on to Koh Phangan or Samui.
Is there a train from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
Part of the way. The overnight sleeper runs to Chumphon, then Lomprayah's 7am catamaran reaches Koh Tao in about 1 hour 45 minutes. Check train times at the station; a group usually flies to Samui.
How do you get to Koh Tao from Phuket?
Fly from Phuket to Samui and take the catamaran, or go overland to Surat Thani or Chumphon for the boat. For a group, the flight and a car to the pier is the quick way.
What is the last boat to Koh Tao from Samui?
Lomprayah's last catamaran leaves Nathon Pier on Samui at 4pm and reaches Koh Tao at 5:45pm, its 2026 timetable shows. Miss it and you sleep on Samui, so land on Samui by early afternoon.
Plan it
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Last checked 7 November 2026
Sources
Credits: top photo by Photo: kallerna / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.