Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
ThailandHow to get to Koh Tao Island
Directly to Koh Tao Island can only be reached by water by ferry or boat, but first you need to get closer to the island to board a ferry or boat. The ferry transfer cities are Chumphon and Surat Thani, as well as islands Koh Samui and Phangan. To get from Bangkok or Hua Hin on Koh Tao, you can use the service of the company Lomprayah ( see below).
Step 1. Get to Chumpon, Surat Thani or Koh Samui
If you will be traveling by land transport+ferry from Bangkok, Hua Hin and other cities north of Koh Tao, it makes sense to get through the city of Chumpon (also Chumporn). If you will be traveling from the south (Phuket, Krabi province, Malaysia, Singapore), that is, it makes sense to go through the city of Surat Thani.
-
By plane
There is no airport on Tao Island. The nearest airports are located on Koh Samui, in Surat Thani and in Chumpon.
The cheapest way to get there is to use a flight to Surat Thani or Chumpon airport from Bangkok, since budget airlines fly there Air Asia, Nok Air, and Thai Airways. Air Asia, Nok Air fly from Bangkok airport Don Mueang, Thai Airways flies from the international Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Nok Air and Solar Air airlines offer excellent flight options on their websites+ferry transfer directly to the island from 2100 baht (currency of Thailand) what we would recommend to use first, especially if you are doing this route for the first time.
Monopolistically high prices are set for air travel to Koh Samui, and as a result, this route from Bangkok to Koh Tao will be the most expensive, but the fastest way to get there.
You can find and book flights to Koh Samui on the dates you need using the search form. The search is very flexible and allows you to find flights on different dates, with or without transfers, in both directions or one, etc.:
Minimum prices for flights from Moscow to Koh Samui:ЦЕНА ПЕРЕСАДКИ АВИАКОМПАНИЯ ДАТА ВЫЛЕТА ДАТА ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЯ Купить от 70609 ₽ 2 пересадки 
20.07.2026 10.08.2026 Купить от 63559 ₽ 2 пересадки 
31.08.2026 14.09.2026 Купить от 57392 ₽ 2 пересадки 
14.09.2026 01.10.2026 Купить от 60741 ₽ 2 пересадки 04.10.2026 15.10.2026 Купить от 60710 ₽ 2 пересадки 25.11.2026 09.12.2026 Купить от 67118 ₽ 2 пересадки 12.12.2026 24.12.2026 Minimum prices for flights from Russia to Koh Samui: -
By train
By train, you can get closer to the island by reaching the cities of Chumpon or Surat Thani, from where, in turn, you can reach the island by ferry / boat.
If you will be moving from the north (from Bangkok), it is better to get off in Chumpon, if from the south (Phuket, Krabi-town, Malaysia, Singapore), it is better to go to Surat Thani.
At least 12 trains depart from Bangkok to Chumpon every day (you can find out the schedule and cost here https://www.railway.co.th), the train is on the road for 8 hours. It makes sense to take the night train (depart from Bangkok at 19:30 and 22:50) to arrive in Chumpon early in the morning. Tickets cost from 80 to 400 baht depending on the class.
It should be noted that trains from Bangkok depart from two stations: from the main Hualampong station and from Thonburi station.
Which is very convenient, upon arrival at the railway station in Chumpon, you can buy ferry tickets to Koh Tao there, including a free transfer to the pier.
-
By bus
From the southern Bangkok Bus Terminal buses to Chumpon are constantly leaving during the day. Travel time is about 7 hours, the cost is from 150 to 300 baht, depending on the class of the bus.
There are also many tour buses from different tourist places in Thailand.
Step 2. Take the ferry/boat to Koh Tao
Ferry service and high-speed boats connect Koh Tao with the following cities and islands: Surat Thani, Chumpon, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan. On Koh Tao, they all arrive at the pier in Mae Had (pier Mae Hud on the map).
-
From Chumpon to Koh Tao
Ferries and boats of Lompraya, Seatran, Songserm companies depart from Chumpon,
Ferries from Chumpon depart from different marinas. You can get to them by taxi, fixed-route taxis, and some ferries include a free transfer to the pier from Chumpon hotels or from the Chumpon railway station if you buy tickets there:
- Tha Yang Pier. This pier is located 7 kilometers from the city (Tha Yang Pier on the map). You can get to it from the city by tuk-tuk for 50 baht. The night ferry and the Ko Charoen Car Ferry depart from here (it also accepts walking passengers), both at a later time, and arrive at Koh Tao only in the morning. From here at 7:30 Ekawin Speed Ferry for 700 baht.
- Tung Makham. Used by Lompraya, located 28 kilometers from the city (Mae Hud Pier on the map). Lompraya offers a transfer to its pier from the city for 100 baht.
- Mattapon Pier. Located 14 kilometers from the city (Mattapon Pier on the map). Songserm ferries depart from here.
Here is the approximate schedule and cost of ferries from Chumphon to Koh Tao, but everything may change. In any case, most ferries depart in the morning hours.
Firm (pier) Periodicity Departure (arrival) The cost of baht Ekawin Speed Ferry (departs from Tha Yang Pier) Daily 07:30 (10:00) 700 Lomprayah (from Tung Makham Pier) Daily 07:00 (9:00), 13:00 (14:45) 600 Songserm Express Boat (from Mattapon Pier) Daily 07:30 (10:15) 500 Rung Napha tour Daily 12:00 (06:00) Ko Charoen Car Ferry (departs from Tha Yang Pier) Monday, Tuesday, Friday 23:00 (05:00) 300 Night ferry (departs from Tha Yang Pier) Daily 24:00 (05:00) 350 Talay Sap Ferry (departs from Tha Yang Pier) Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 23:00 (05:00) 300 -
From Surat Thani
Two boats depart from Surat Thani to Koh Tao:
- Morning Boat Songserm. Departs at 8:00, arrives at 14:30. The price is 700 baht. Departure to Surat Thani from Don Sak/Raja Ferry (Don Sak Pier on the map).
- Night ferry. Departs at 23:00, arrives at 07:00. The price is 500 baht. Departure from Ban Don Pier in the city (Ban Dong Pier on the map).
-
Catamaran Lompraya (From Chumpon, Koh Samui, Phangan, Hua Hin, Bangkok)
One of the most popular and fastest ways to get to the island are the high-speed catamarans of Lompraya. The prices are high, but this is a fee for speed and convenience, though, to be honest. a trip on a high-speed catamaran on the waves is not a pleasant pleasure, especially for those who suffer from seasickness.
You can get to Tao Island with the help of Lompraya from Chumphon, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. In addition, they offer a comprehensive transfer, including bus transfer, from Bangkok and Hua Hin. Tickets can be purchased at the company's offices or via the Internet on the company's website. The website has a schedule. Purchase of tickets through the website is possible at least 3 days before the trip. Tickets are non-refundable, in case of refusal, only 30% of the cost is refunded.
There are ticket sales offices in Bangkok (next to Khao San Road), Hua Hin, Chumpon, Koh Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao. The location of the offices is on the company's website.
The schedule and cost of the Lompray (as of February 2013, the current one can be found on the company's website):
Route Departure (arrival) Cost Koh Samui – Koh Tao 8:00 (09:45), 12:30 (14:15) 600 baht Phangan – Koh Tao 8:30 (9:45), 13:00 (14:15) 450 baht Chumpon – Koh Tao 07:00 (08:45), 13:00 (14:45) 600 baht Hua Hin (bus+catamaran) – Koh Tao 23:30 (08:45), 08:30 (14:45) 1050 baht Bangkok (bus+catamaran) – Koh Tao 21:00 (08:45), 06:00 (14:45) 1050 baht Koh Tao Koh Samui 09:30 (11:20), 15:00 (16:40) 600 baht Koh Tao - Phangan 09:30 (10:45), 15:00 (16:10) 450 baht Koh Tao - Chumpon 10:15 (11:45), 14:45 (16:30 ) 600 baht Koh Tao - Hua Hin (bus+catamaran) 10:15 (17:00), 14:45 (21:30 ) 1000 baht Koh Tao - Bangkok (bus+catamaran) 10:15 (20:30 ), 14:45 (00:30 ) 1000 baht
Transportation on Tao Island, what to use to get around
There is no public transport on Koh Tao Island, but there are many minibus taxis (Songthaew). They run on standard routes and are inexpensive, but you can also hire them as a taxi to get to the place you need.
The most convenient way to move around the island is a rented transport (see also separate information about rental of transport in Thailand). You can rent a motorcycle for 150-300 baht per day. There are also SUVs and ATVs available for rent, but you should be careful with them if you don't have the skills to manage them. There is only one good road to Tao, the rest are mostly bumpy and winding, and you can easily lose control of the vehicle. You will have to pay 1000 baht for renting a jeep, renting an ATV will cost 500 baht.
If it is not possible to rent a motorcycle, then you can easily rent a mountain bike. The island is small, and it is quite realistic to go around it by bike.
There is also a water taxi that runs between all the beaches. Sailing by boat will cost more than a trip by a hired minibus, but from the boat you can enjoy the view of the island from the side.