One of the most common questions asked by visitors planning a trip to Koh Tao, also known as Turtle Island, is how to get there. Depending on your starting point, there are several travel options available, but ultimately, you’ll need to take a boat from one of the nearest piers.
In this guide, we’ll summarize the best ways to reach Koh Tao. For more detailed information, be sure to check our pages dedicated to the major cities in Thailand.
One of the most common questions asked by visitors planning a trip to Koh Tao, also known as Turtle Island, is how to get there. Depending on your starting point, there are several travel options available, but ultimately, you’ll need to take a boat from one of the nearest piers.
In this guide, we’ll summarize the best ways to reach Koh Tao. For more detailed information, be sure to check our pages dedicated to the major cities in Thailand.
Find here more information about how to get to Koh Tao my plane
There is a small airport in Chumphon that you can use to get to Koh Tao. The good news is that cheap air companies like Air Asia flight there, so it’s an easy connection to Bangkok. The airport is only 40km away from the pier.
You can also use Surat Thani airport to get to Koh Tao. This city is a bit further away than Chumphon but still a good option to consider. There are many flight companies going there, including Air Asia, so it will be convenient. The con is that the ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Tao takes longer and there are less boats.
The last option to arrive by plane to Koh Tao is using the airport at Koh Samui. Probably this is the most convenient one, but also the most expensive. This airport is only used by some premium companies like Bangkok Airways so the prices will be higher. it’s an easy connection to Bangkok. The airport is only 40km away from the pier.
Another option to get to Koh Tao is doing it by train. If you’ve chosen this option, you would need to book your train ticket either to Chumphon or to Surat Thani. If you are coming from the North, so from Bangkok or Chiang Mai, for instance, it would be better to head to Chumphon as there will be quicker, cheaper, and more convenient to take the boat. If you come from Malaysia, Phuket (read here how to go from Phuket to Koh Tao) or Krabi (how to get from Krabi to Koh Tao), the best option would be Surat Thani.
Another option to get to Koh Tao is doing it by train. If you’ve chosen this option, you would need to book your train ticket either to Chumphon or to Surat Thani. If you are coming from the North, so from Bangkok or Chiang Mai, for instance, it would be better to head to Chumphon as there will be quicker, cheaper, and more convenient to take the boat. If you come from Malaysia, Phuket (read here how to go from Phuket to Koh Tao) or Krabi (how to get from Krabi to Koh Tao), the best option would be Surat Thani.
By now, you have seen all the transport options you have to get to Koh Tao. On our site, you will also find detailed information about how to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. You will have three different options depending on the money you want to spend and your time. Our preferred one would be taking an overnight train at 7 pm in Bangkok and arrive in Chumphon to take the ferry at 7 am, so by 9 am you will have arrived in Koh Tao.
You can check all info about how to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok in our article >>
The second-largest city in Thailand and one of the preferred tourist destination is Chiang Mai. If you are planning to go to the North of the country and then head the beach, you might want to know how to do it. In this case, the preferred option would be taking a flight to Chumphon or Surat Thani (you can check the price here) and then take the ferry. Be careful and check beforehand the ferry schedules so you can get a good combination.
You can check all info about how to get to Koh Tao from Chiang Mai in our article >>
