Are you planning to visit the beautiful island Koh Tao? Here is your complete guide how to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao, with options for onward journeys to the neighbouring islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Spend some time in this paradise place, try out scuba or freediving and explore its white-sand beaches and coral reefs. There is plenty of things to do for everyone on Koh Tao – the place for adventure seekers and those whore are looking to relax.
For me, Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. I spent more than two years on the island and know almost every corner of it. Despite its compact size of just 21 km², the island offers lots of activities. Koh Tao is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and aquatic life encircling the island. It is one of the cheapest places to learn scuba diving too! Overall, Koh Tao is the perfect spot for people who love exploring the underwater world – whether by going snorkelling or diving. But it’s not just for ocean lovers – hikers, beach lovers and yogis will also find plenty to enjoy this little island.
Here are my top five activities on Koh Tao!
Two ways how to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao
There are two main ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. The budget-friendly option is by bus, which takes longer. The quicker, more comfortable, but also more expensive alternative is by plane. Regardless of which option you choose, both routes include a ferry ride to the island. Below, you’ll find the latest travel times and prices (September 2024) to help you plan your journey to Koh Tao.
Bangkok to Koh Tao by bus
There is a night bus and a day bus which takes you from Bangkok to Chumphon, where you then change to the ferry. The whole journey takes roughly 12 hours for a price of 1,250 THB (approx. 35 Euros per person). Both busses depart from the Lomprayah Office in Bangkok on a daily basis. The office is located in a parallel road to Khao San Road, so I recommend to stay in the area to be able to walk to their office.
The night bus departs from Bangkok at around 9 pm and arrives at the pier between 6-7 am. After that, the ferry ride takes roughly 2 hours, so you will arrive on the island at around 9 am. The day bus leaves in Bangkok at 6 am and you arrive on Koh Tao at around 3 pm. You can easily book your bus tickets through 12Go. Depending on the season I recommend to book the bus at least 2-3 days beforehand.
There are two bus options: the standard bus and the VIP bus. The main difference is that the VIP bus offers more space and includes a complimentary snack and drinking water. The standard bus is comparable to typical long-distance coaches, with reclining seats so you can rest during the journey. Both options provide blankets for added comfort. If you choose the night bus, be aware that you won’t be able to lie down for the whole night as the day and night busses are the same type of bus.
Extra tips for this journey: Make sure to buy drinking water before the journey. I also recommend wearing long clothes and bringing a sleeping mask and jacket, as the air conditioning can get quite cold. There will be a stop midway through the trip where you can buy snacks and water. The bus is equipped with a simple toilet for urgent wees.
| Bangkok to Koh Tao by night bus & ferry | daily 9 pm to 8.45 am or 6 am to 3 pm | 1,250 THB (standard) 1,550 THB (VIP bus) |
Bangkok to Koh Tao by plane
If you prefer not to travel overnight, you can fly from Bangkok to either Koh Samui, Chumphon or Surat Thani and take the ferry to Koh Tao from there. It’s best to have a look at Skyscanner for flight options, but keep in mind that additional fees for checked luggage may apply.
The flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui takes around 1 hours and 15 minutes, plus waiting time. Once you land, you’ll need transport to the pier: taxis cost around 1,000 THB (30 minutes) and shuttles around 400 THB (30 minutes). You can contact Lomprayah on Facebook to get a pickup from Samui Airport to their pier. Depending on the ferry company (Lomprayah, Lomlahkkhirin or Songserm), the speed boat ride takes between 1.5 hours and 4 hours and costs around 700 THB. All of the companies are very good and I would choose them depending on your schedule. You usually can choose from 10 ferry options leaving from Samui to Koh Tao. They depart from different ports so make sure to check the correct one before your trip. You can book ferry tickets through 12Go or Direct Ferries. If you fly via Surat Thani or Chumphon, the steps are similar, but the journey may take longer.
| Route / Company | Times | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao (Lomprayah) | 8 am – 9.30 am | 700 THB |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao (Songserm) | 10.30 am – 2.30 pm | 500 THB |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao (Lomlakkhirin) | 11 am – 1.30 pm | 550 THB |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao (Songserm/Lomprayah) | 11.30 am – 2.30 pm | 700 THB |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao (Lomprayah) | 12.15 pm – 2.15 pm | 700 THB |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao (Lomlakkhirin) | 2.30 pm – 4 pm | 700 THB |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao (Lomlakkhirin) | 2.30 pm – 5.45 pm | 700 THB |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao (Lomprayah) | 4 pm – 5.30 pm |
| Route | Times | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Surat Thani to Koh Tao (Lomprayah) | 10 am – 2. 15 pm | 900 THB |
| Surat Thani to Koh Tao (Lomlakkhirin) | 12 pm – 4 pm | 1,000 THB |
| Surat Thani to Koh Tao (Lomlakkhirin) | 3.30 pm – 6 pm | 1,000 THB |
| Surat Thani to Koh Tao (daily schedule and prices vary) | 9 pm – 5 am | 850 THB |
| Surat Thani to Koh Tao / Night boat (daily schedule and prices vary) | 10 pm – 6 am | from 900 THB |
Which option to take?
Overall, the bus & ferry combination is the most cost-effective way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Tao. Personally, I prefer the bus as it’s not only cheaper but also less stressful. No waiting time at the airport, no worry about delays, or deal with multiple transport changes. Plus, it’s a more environmentally friendly option. In the end, the flying option will take you around 8-10 hours with all the waiting times included anyway.
Start your day at one of these five breakfast cafés on Koh Tao!
Planning your onward journey
If you plan to visit Koh Phangan or Koh Samui after Koh Tao, you can easily book your ferry tickets through local travel agencies. I highly recommend Island Travel, as they are super friendly and responsive on Facebook, allowing you to check timetables and prices before heading to their office. Alternatively, you can also use 12Go. Bare in mind, that the tickets online can’t be booked within 24 hours before your departure!
