Koh Tao Ferries & Getting Around Ferry Routes, Taxis & Scooters

Every Koh Tao ferry ends at the same place: Mae Haad Pier, on the west coast. What changes is the company, the departure port, and the crossing time. This page compares the operators that sail in 2026 so you can pick the right boat for your route and seas.

Once you step off, there is no airport, no train and no tuk-tuk, so getting around Koh Tao comes down to a scooter, a pickup taxi, a longtail boat or your own feet. We cover each one below, including the licence and police questions that catch visitors out. For the Bangkok to island journey step by step, see our getting here guide.

Koh Tao ferry operators in 2026

Four companies carry passengers to Koh Tao. They all land at Mae Haad, though Boonsiri uses its own small pier close to the main one. On the mainland and on Samui the departure piers differ by company, so always read your ticket for the pier name before you set off.

• Lomprayah: the most popular and usually the fastest. High-speed catamarans, the widest choice of departures, and the combined bus and ferry tickets from Bangkok that most backpackers use. It tends to sell out first and often keeps sailing in lumpy weather when others pause.
• Songserm: the budget choice. Slower boats, fewer departures and a rougher ride in swell, but often the lowest fare. A handy plan B if the catamaran is full.
• Seatran Discovery: comparable comfort to Lomprayah with fewer sailings, and sometimes a slightly lower fare. On the Chumphon route it leaves from a different pier to Lomprayah, so check before you head to the port.
• Boonsiri: a newer catamaran service between Chumphon, Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao, with its own pier at Mae Haad that is usually calmer when the main pier is busy. Check-in closes earlier than you might expect, around 30 minutes before departure.

Timetables move with the season, so treat any schedule you read online, including ours, as a guide and confirm on the operator site or a booking platform.

Routes: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Samui and Phangan

Chumphon is the shortest crossing and the best-value way in from Bangkok. Expect about 1 hour 45 minutes on the fast catamarans and up to 2.5 to 3 hours on the slower Songserm boat. Lomprayah leaves from Tung Makham Noi pier, a short ride from Chumphon town.

Surat Thani (Donsak) works if you are coming from the south or the airport at Surat. You take a bus or van to Donsak pier, then a boat via Samui and Phangan. Count on around 4 to 6 hours door to door.

Koh Samui boats leave from several piers (Maenam, Bangrak and Nathon, depending on the company). Direct sailings take roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, while boats that change at Phangan can take close to 3. Slow ferries take longer again.

Koh Phangan boats leave from Thong Sala and take about 1 to 1.5 hours, which makes Phangan the easiest hop if you are island hopping. Most Samui boats stop at Thong Sala for a few minutes anyway.

Bangkok is sold as a joint ticket that bundles a bus to Chumphon with the ferry. The day version leaves early in the morning and takes around 9 hours, while the night version takes about 11 hours and lands you on Koh Tao in the morning. Flying to Samui and taking the boat is faster but costs more.

Ferry booking tips

Fares shift with the season, the weekday and how early you book. High season runs from roughly mid-December to February, with another busy spell in July and August.

• Book ahead in busy periods. A day or two is enough for most mornings in high season, and sold-out boats are common around Christmas and New Year.
• Compare operators on your exact route. The best option changes by day and departure time.
• Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early. Check-in desks close before the boat actually leaves.
• Book your return before you leave the island, especially if you are flying out the next day.
• Bring cash. ATMs on Koh Tao charge a high fee per withdrawal, so take what you need before crossing.
• Motion sickness: take a tablet about half an hour before sailing and sit in the middle of the boat, indoors.

Monsoon cancellations, luggage and your flight home

Sailings are rarely cancelled, but when they are it is almost always between October and December, when swells build in the Gulf. Boats generally keep going in moderate waves and stop when conditions become unsafe. In November 2025, for example, some routes from the mainland paused for around three days during a severe weather warning.

If your boat is cancelled, operators normally move you to the next sailing that runs, at no charge. Keep your ticket rather than buying a new one. In the stormy months, take the first boat of the day so a later one can still rescue you, and give yourself a full spare day before an international flight. Divers should also remember the 24-hour no-fly rule after their last dive, see our diving by month page for seasonal conditions.

Luggage is usually 20 kg per person across Lomprayah, Songserm and Seatran Discovery, with an excess charge for heavy bags, which Lomprayah applies strictly. Dive bags are weighed, so pack gear with that in mind. Boonsiri limits what it will pay out if bags are lost, so keep valuables and electronics in your hand luggage.

Getting around Koh Tao: scooters

A scooter is the cheapest and most flexible way to explore. Shops rent basic automatics by the day, with bigger bikes and cover add-ons costing extra. It is the best way to reach the east coast bays, but Koh Tao's roads are steep, sandy in places and slippery after rain, so it is a poor place to learn.

• Licence: Thai law requires a motorcycle licence. Foreigners should carry an International Driving Permit (the 1949 convention version) with the motorcycle category, together with their home licence. Shops rarely ask, but police and insurers do.
• Helmets: mandatory for rider and passenger. You can be fined for riding without one.
• Police checkpoints: they appear around Sairee and Mae Haad. Riding without a valid licence can lead to a fine, and tourists are commonly stopped. Drink-driving carries far heavier penalties.
• Passport as deposit: avoid it. Offer a photocopy or a cash deposit instead. A shop that holds your passport also holds you to whatever damage it claims.
• Damage claims: photograph every scratch before you ride away and avoid signing paperwork you cannot read.
• Insurance: basic rental cover usually does not pay for damage to the bike or to other people's property. Check that your travel insurance covers scooter accidents, and that it stays valid without a motorcycle licence, because many policies do not.

If you ride, keep left, go slowly on the hill roads and never ride after drinking. Our emergency numbers and travel tips pages are worth saving before you go.

Taxis, ride apps and boat taxis

There are no meters and no tuk-tuks. Taxis on Koh Tao are open pickup trucks with bench seats at the pier and along Sairee. Fares are fixed by destination, and drivers may wait until the truck fills. Longer rides, such as to Tanote Bay or Hin Wong, cost more than the short hop to Sairee or Chalok. Always ask whether the fare is per truck or per person before you climb in. Many resorts include a free pier pickup, so ask yours first.

Grab and Bolt do not operate on Koh Tao. A local ride app, We Love Koh Tao, launched in 2026 with fixed zone prices shown up front for taxis, taxi bikes and boats. The driver pool is small, so do not count on it at busy times.

Longtail taxi boats are a good way to reach beaches that have poor roads. They run from Mae Haad to Ao Leuk, Chalok, Tanote and Hin Wong, and to Koh Nang Yuan, which has a separate island entrance fee. Private charters are available for half a day. Pay cash and check the fare board at Mae Haad. See our Koh Nang Yuan and beaches pages for where to go.

Walking, 4x4 areas and other options

Walking works well inside the main villages. Central Sairee to Mae Haad is roughly 30 minutes, and Mae Haad to Chalok is about the same, though the roads are steep and pavements are patchy. Bring water and wear proper shoes after dark.

The dirt tracks to some viewpoints and remote bays are rough enough that locals use 4x4 pickups or trail bikes. Skip them in a standard rental unless you are experienced, and check conditions after heavy rain. We list the best routes on our viewpoints and hikes page. Car hire is not a realistic option on the island, and quad bikes are not a common rental, so ask locally rather than relying on listings.

For day-to-day plans, pair this page with our itinerary and the area guides for Sairee, Mae Haad and Chalok. Your dive centre or hotel can also arrange services and transfers.

Koh Tao Ferries & Getting Around: frequently asked questions

Checked in November 2026. Opening hours and timetables change: confirm locally before you go.