Koh Phangan to Koh Tao
In short
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao is about an hour by boat, easiest in your own speedboat.
Every way there, side by side
- Time
- About 1 hour
- How often
- First at 8:30am, last at 4:45pm
- Booking
- ฿600 a seat
- Fare
- About ฿450 to ฿600
Boat only, about an hour
The easy way is your own speedboat from Thong Sala to Mae Haad, leaving when the group is ready, with a car waiting at the pier on Koh Tao. There are no flights between the islands.
After the Full Moon, Koh Tao is the easy place to reset: a small, slower island with clear water, dive shops and beach bars on Sairee Beach.
Read our Koh Phangan guide for the parties first. Coming from Samui? See Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, then ask Tanner to plan the island hop.
The fastest way and the easiest way
Your own speedboat is the fastest and the easiest on a calm day, about an hour, on your time. On a rough day the big catamaran is the steadier ride.
Lomprayah catamaran
- Time:
- About 1 hour
- Good to know:
- First at 8:30am, ฿600
Lomprayah speedboat
- Time:
- About 1 hour 20 minutes
- Good to know:
- 8:45am, 11:15am and 3pm
Lomprayah slow ferry
- Time:
- About 1.5 hours
- Good to know:
- Noon, ฿450
Your own speedboat
- Time:
- About 1 hour
- Good to know:
- On your time
- Thong Sala pier, Koh Phangan
- Mae Haad pier, Koh Tao
- About 1 hour on the catamaran, 1.5 hours on the slow ferry
- Your own speedboat, or Lomprayah's catamaran, speedboat and slow ferry
Which boat to take
For scheduled boats, Lomprayah's 2026 timetable has the first catamaran leaving Thong Sala at 8:30am and reaching Koh Tao at 9:30am, ฿600, with the slow ferry at noon for ฿450 (updated 25 August 2026).
Seats aren't assigned, so board early to sit together. Ask Tanner to hold the seats for the group.
When to cross
Take the first catamaran at 8:30am, and you're on Koh Tao by 9:30am with the whole day ahead.
February to April is the driest and calmest, and it stays good through August, the Thai Meteorological Department's normals show. October to December is the wettest, worst in November, when the big catamaran is the steadier ride.
From November to April, book a day or two ahead, and earlier for the day after a Full Moon. Ask Tanner to hold the seats now.
Your own speedboat
A private speedboat takes the whole group across on its own schedule.
It's quick but rough: covered, but windy, and you'll catch some spray. If anyone gets seasick, take the catamaran.
A private boat makes Koh Tao a day trip: the snorkelling bays, Koh Nang Yuan next door, and back to Koh Phangan for dinner. See Koh Samui boats for how our boat days work, and ask Tanner to quote your day.
AIWhen you land on Koh Tao
Boats land at Mae Haad pier on Koh Tao's west coast, a short ride from Sairee Beach.
A luxury van for up to 4 from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, a party van for up to 10, or a coach for 20 and more meets the group at the pier and takes everyone to the villa together.
For the dives, see our Koh Tao scuba diving guide, and ask Tanner to line up the dive days.
Four of you, all in
The Koh Phangan to Koh Tao ferry is ฿450 a seat on Lomprayah's slow boat and ฿600 on the catamaran, its 2026 timetable shows. A luxury van for up to 4 can wait for you at Mae Haad, from ฿6,500 for 10 hours.
The Koh Phangan to Koh Tao speedboat is quoted for the group, on your own time.
Insider tip: on your own boat, add Koh Nang Yuan on the way in. It's next door to Koh Tao, and the catamaran doesn't stop there.
Tanner's pick: the morning after the Full Moon, the first catamaran. Ask Tanner to hold the seats and the car at the pier.
After Koh Tao
Koh Tao to Koh Phangan runs on the same boats the other way, from Mae Haad to Thong Sala, and Lomprayah also runs Koh Tao to Koh Samui, so you can loop back to Samui's airport.
Or head north to Chumphon on the mainland, and take Lomprayah's bus to Bangkok.
For a group, a Samui villa at the end is the easy finish: one boat, one car and a flight home. Ask Tanner to book the villa with the boats.
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao in short
- From Thong Sala pier on Koh Phangan to Mae Haad pier on Koh Tao, boat only.
- Fastest: a speedboat, about 1 hour, but rough.
- Most departures: the Lomprayah catamaran, about 1 hour, first at 8:30am.
- Cheapest: Lomprayah's slow ferry at noon, ฿450, about 1.5 hours.
- Calmest months: February to April; October to December is the roughest.
- For a group: your own speedboat on a calm day, the catamaran on a rough one.
Checked November 2026.
Before you travel
Book a day or two ahead from November to April
Boats leave Thong Sala pier and land at Mae Haad
First catamaran 8:30am; the last leaves at 4:45pm
Seats aren't assigned: board early to sit together
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
Written by Tanner Altman · Updated 7 November 2026
Questions
Questions people ask about the crossing
How do I get from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao?
By boat from Thong Sala pier to Mae Haad pier on Koh Tao, about an hour. Your own speedboat leaves when you're ready; Lomprayah's first scheduled catamaran sails at 8:30am, its 2026 timetable shows.
How can I travel from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan?
The same boats run the other way, Mae Haad to Thong Sala. Lomprayah's 9:30am catamaran reaches Koh Phangan at 10:30am, and its 4:30pm slow ferry gets in at 6:10pm, its timetable shows.
What is the fastest way to get to Koh Tao?
Your own speedboat, about an hour on a calm day. On the schedule, Lomprayah's catamaran takes about an hour, 8:30am to 9:30am on the first sailing from Thong Sala.
How much is the ferry to Koh Tao?
Lomprayah's 2026 timetable lists ฿450 for the slow ferry and ฿600 for the catamaran or speedboat, a seat each way. A private speedboat for the group is priced by Tanner for your date.
How long is the speedboat to Koh Tao?
Lomprayah's speedboat takes about 1 hour 20 minutes on its 8:45am run, its timetable shows. A private speedboat takes about an hour and carries the whole group on its own schedule.
Can boats to Koh Tao be cancelled?
Yes, when the sea is rough, most often from October to December and worst in November. Boats can stop for a day, so leave a spare day before any flight home.
Is Koh Tao good after the Full Moon Party?
Yes. Koh Tao is quieter, with clear water, dive shops and beach bars on Sairee Beach, about an hour from Koh Phangan. The first catamaran after the party gets you there by mid-morning.
Is the boat from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao rough?
The speedboat can be, with wind and spray. The big catamaran is steadier, and the roughest months are October to December, worst in November. Anyone seasick should take the catamaran.
Plan it
Plan it with Tanner
Are you in Thailand now?
Last checked 4 November 2026
Sources
Credits: top photo AI-generated image.