Getting here · Koh Tao
Koh Samui to Koh Tao
One of the easiest island hops in the Gulf, in under two hours.
Getting here · Koh Tao
One of the easiest island hops in the Gulf, in under two hours.
Koh Samui to Koh Tao is one of the easiest hops in the Gulf. A high-speed catamaran does it in under two hours, usually stopping at Koh Phangan on the way, and it is a common last leg for anyone flying into Samui from Bangkok or abroad.
The fast catamarans (Lomprayah and others) take around ninety minutes to two hours from Samui to Koh Tao; slower boats take closer to three. They leave from the piers on the north and west of Samui and arrive at Mae Haad, Koh Tao main pier, usually calling at Koh Phangan en route.
There are a few departures a day, mostly in the morning and around midday. Book ahead in high season, from December to March and around the Full Moon Party, when boats fill up. You can buy directly from the operator or as part of a combined ticket.
Fly into Koh Samui, take a taxi to the pier, twenty to thirty minutes, and connect to the ferry. It is the fastest way to reach Koh Tao from Bangkok or an international connection, if you would rather not do the overnight route.
The crossing is usually smooth. It is roughest during the November to December monsoon, when departures occasionally cancel, so if you have a flight to catch, leave yourself a buffer day on Samui.