Overview Compare Bus via Chumphon via Surat Thani Flight Questions To Stay
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
The island of Koh Tao is a very popular diving destination located southeast of Thailand. It’s known as one of the cheapest locations in the world to get your PADI license and offers beautiful underwater scenery.
When travelling the 415km distance from Bangkok to Koh Tao, you have 4 options. You can take a 12 to 15- hour bus ride ($39.50), catch an overnight train via Chumphon for around 12 hours ($36), board a train via Surat Thani for 18 hours ($42); or hop on a flight for around 3 hours ($80). All options include a ferry ride from Koh Samui or the mainland to Koh Tao.
4 ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao
Taking the bus and ferry is the most popular option to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. Buses depart from Bangkok at night and trvel to Chumphon, followed by a ferry to Koh Tao. Total travel time can take 12-15 hours, including all transfers, and costs start from 1,370 THB ($39).
Other options are taking the train to Chumphon (approx. 12 hours) or Surat Thani (18 hours). When travelling by train, we recommend to take an overnight train via Chumphon. From there, you can take a combined van and ferry ride to Koh Tao. Total cost starts at usd 1,250 THB ($35.50) for a 12-hour journey to Chumphon. Travelling via Surat Thani takes much longer at 18 hours and is more expensive at 1,460 THB ($41.50).
Last, you can also book a flight to Koh Samui and then continue with the ferry to Koh Tao. This option is the fastest way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui, only taking around 3 hours. Keep in mind that flights to Koh Samui are quite expensive though, and overall costs would take 2,735 THB ($78).
Itinerary from Bangkok to Koh Tao
PRO-TIP: Consider to continue your journey to Koh Phangan after visiting Koh Tao. Koh Phangan is not only famous for its full moon parties, also it is rich in nature and can you find several yoga and meditations retreats in the Northern part of the island.
Bangkok to Koh Tao by Bus
Booking an overnight bus and connecting ferry to Koh Tao is the easiest way to reach this paradise island from Bangkok. With this option, both the bus and ferry are already organized for you, so you won’t have to book the tickets separately.
The combined bus and ferry option requires 2 transfers. The first one is by bus or minivan in Chumphon or Hua Hin, while the second transfer is for the ferry at the pier in Chumphon.
Combined tickets cost $40, and the journey can take 12-15 hours.
We have listed the trusted transport companies that offer combined bus and ferry tickets from Bangkok to Koh Tao below.
Bus + Ferry Schedule from Bangkok to Koh Tao
Luckily, the trips available are night buses, so you can catch up on sleep and be well-rested before you arrive. However, keep in mind that not all buses for this route offer sleeper beds, and you may have to sleep in a reclined chair instead.
Departure & Arrival station
Songserm, Montanatip, and Lomprayah buses all depart from Khao San Road, the famous backpacker area in Bangkok. For Paradive Travel, the meet-up point is at Hua Lamphong Railway Station.
After the transfer in Hua Hin or Chumphon, the bus or minivan will take you to Chumphon Pier. From here, you will take the ferry and arrive at Koh Tao island.
Bangkok to Koh Tao by Train via Chumphon
When taking the train from Bangkok to Koh Tao, you can choose to go either via Chumphon or via Surat Thani.
We recommend travelling by train via Chumphon, as this province is nearer to Koh Tao. From there, it is around 3 hours to reach Koh Tao by ferry.
Step 1: Bangkok to Chumphon by Train
From your hotel in Bangkok, you will first have to go to Hua Lamphong Railway Station, which is the starting point for all trains going to Chumphon.
We recommend that you take a night train that arrives early morning in Chumphon. This way, you can immediately transfer to the only van leaving in the morning, which is at 06:00, and arrive early in Koh Tao.
The train ride to Chumphon Railway Station can take around 9-10.5 hours, depending on which train you take.
Fares start at 300 THB ($8.50) for a 2nd class seat, but some trains also offer 1st and 2nd class berths that are more expensive. See our recommended train schedules below.
Train Schedule from Bangkok to Chumphon
If you want to leave in other times of the day, you can check the full schedules of trains available through Baolau.
Step 2: Chumphon to Koh Tao by Van + Ferry
Outside Chumphon Railway Station, vans are available to take you to the ferry terminal, where you’ll be taking the ferry to Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao.
Currently, only Lomprayah vans are available with fares from 950 THB ($27). There is one departure at 06:00, and if you miss this one, you can take the next and last available van at 12:00.
Travel time is around 2 hours 45 minutes, including the ferry ride to Koh Tao.
Van + Ferry Schedule from Chumphon to Koh Tao
You may want to contact your hotel beforehand for pick-up service from Mae Haad Pier. Alternatively, you can arrange your own transport from the pier to your hotel.
Bangkok to Koh Tao by Train via Surat Thani
When travelling from Bangkok to Koh Tao, you can also travel via Surat Thani, which is the province next to Chumphon in the south.
Koh Tao is actually a part of Surat Thani, but travelling via this province this takes longer and can be more expensive than going via Chumphon.
However, we still wanted to share this option in case the option with the stopover in Chumphon doesn’t fit your itinerary for some reason.
Step 1: Bangkok to Surat Thani by Train
Same as the train via Chumphon, trains to Surat Thani also depart from Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. The journey takes longer, though, around 11-13 hours.
Since the train ride to Surat Thani Railway Station is a bit longer, you can try a sleeper berth that will make your journey more comfortable.
Ticket prices for 2nd class sleeper berths start from 510 THB ($14.50). Below are our recommended train schedules.
Train Schedule from Bangkok to Surat Thani
Step 2: Surat Thani to Koh Tao by Van + Ferry
From Surat Thani railway station, it is another 5 hours of combined van and ferry ride to Koh Tao.
For this route, only Lomprayah is also available, and there is only 1 daily trip at 09:30. The combined van and ferry ride with Lomprayah costs 950 THB ($27).
If you miss this only van departure, you need to figure out your own transportation to Donsak Pier, which is about 79km away from the train station.
Van + Ferry Schedule from Surat Thani to Koh Tao
If you add this van and ferry trip to the train journey, it will take probably around 18 hours of travel from Bangkok to Koh Tao via Surat Thani. It is definitely longer than the 12-hour trip via Chumphon, which is also 200 THB ($5.50) cheaper than this option.
Bangkok to Koh Tao by Flight
If you’d rather save time than money when travelling from Bangkok to Koh Tao, your best option is to fly via Koh Samui. With this option, you do not need to spend more than half of your day travelling.
Koh Tao doesn’t have its own airport, so you will have to take a flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui, an island that is another main tourist destination just below Koh Tao.
This option also involves a minivan ride to the pier and a ferry ride to Koh Tao. Even with the transfers, by flight is the fastest option to travel from Bangkok to Koh Tao.
Step 1: Bangkok to Koh Samui by Flight
There are multiple flights departing from Bangkok to Koh Samui every day. All flights are operated by Bangkok Airways.
For a 1-hour flight to Samui Airport, ticket prices start from 2,000 THB ($57).
Make sure to first check the ferry schedules before booking a flight though (Step 3). Most ferry companies have the latest departure at 12:30 noon. This means you have to book a morning flight in order to travel to Koh Tao on the same day.
For more information, you can read how to go from Bangkok to Koh Samui.
Other flight options when travelling from Bangkok to Koh Tao
You also have the option to fly to Chumphon or Surat Thani and take a ferry from there to Koh Tao.
Flying from Bangkok to Chumphon or Surat Thani can save you some money, but it will also take you more time to reach Koh Samui as these ports are further from Koh Tao.
Travelling this journey to Surat Thani by night train can be a great alternative too, but at the end, the bus+ferry might be the easiest option if you want to save money.
Step 2: Samui Airport to the pier by Shared Minivan
Seatran Discovery used to include pick up from the airport, but currently (June 2022) they haven’t resumed their operations yet.
As there are currently no companies that offer ferry services that include pick up from the airport, you’ll need to travel on your own from the airport to the pier.
The cheapest option is to take a shared minivan that is available outside the airport. Note though that these minivans will usually wait for 15-30 minutes to fill the van with passengers.
The closest pier to the airport is Bangrak pier. A shared minivan to Bangrak costs 100 THB ($2.85) and take around 15 minutes. Marine Passion is one of the popular companies that operate ferries departing just 1km from this pier.
If you’re taking a ferry with Lomprayah, you need to go to Mae Nam subdistrict, and a 30-minute shared minivan ride would cost 150 THB ($4.25).
You can also take a taxi from the airport with rates starting from 400 THB ($11).
Step 3: Koh Samui to Koh Tao by Ferry
From the pier in either Bangrak or Mae Nam, you can take a ferry ride to Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao.
High-speed or speed boats are usually available, so the travel time from Koh Samui to Koh Tao will just take 1.5 hours. Fares start from 630 THB ($18).
Ferry Schedule from Koh Samui to Koh Tao
Once you reach Koh Tao, you may have to arrange your transfer to your hotel by yourself.
Better yet, you can ask your hotel to pick you up from the port once you arrive from this 415km journey from Bangkok to Koh Tao.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth to make the journey from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
Koh Tao is a very popular diving destination located southeast of Thailand. It’s known as one of the cheapest locations in the world to get your PADI license and offers beautiful underwater scenery.
If you love the underwater world, you will fall in love with this island!
Besides the underwater scenery, you can explore the bays and viewpoints by motorbike, go kayaking or join a boat tour. The famous sand strip in the North.
Does Koh Tao have an airport?
Koh Tao doesn’t have its own airport. You will either have to fly to nearby island Koh Samui, to Chumphon or to Surat Thani.
The most common to travel to Koh Tao by flight, is by booking a flight to Koh Samui and then continue with a 2,5 hour ferry ride to Koh Tao.
Our favourite places to stay in Koh Tao
La Latina Hostel
If you’re looking for a fun and social atmosphere, La Latina is the perfect hostel for meeting new friends and having fun! The hostel offers an on-site restaurant, bar and garden area for socializing or relaxing. Located just 200m from Mae Haad Beach, it’s the perfect location for all you want to do and see on Koh Tao.
- Social and fun atmosphere
- On-site restaurant and bar
- Garden and terrace areas
- Great location
Single bunk starts at $10 per night
The Earth House
Enjoy the natural surroundings with these private bungalows and rooms located on a coconut plantation, walking distance from Mae Haad Beach. The perfect escape to soak up the peace and quiet this resort has to offer. Walking distance to restaurants, bars, and amenities. Wifi is provided throughout the resort and the staff is known to be very friendly.
- Private bungalow
- Natural surroundings
- Near Mae Haad Beach
- Privacy, peace, and quiet
Private bungalow starts at $13 per night
Budchui Village2
This lovely hotel is located just 500m from Sairee Beach and offers an on-site swimming pool. The stunning mountain views, lush greenery surrounding the hotel and tranquility will make for a perfect escape from the busy streets of Koh Tao. An affordable breakfast can be added to your stay for just $3 per day. Staff are very helpful and will assist in booking tours, onward travel plans and renting motorcycles or bicycles.
- Swimming pool
- Close to the beach
- Stunning mountain views
- Friendly and helpful staff
Private room starts at $25 per night
The Dearly Koh Tao Hostel
Located in the Chalok Baan Kao area this hostel is surrounded by nature, lush scenery and tranquility. The Hostel has a large outdoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant and bar and a great rooftop terrace for guests to soak in all the sights. There is also a common area for socializing with a TV, books and a shared computer. The Hostel is clean, the staff is friendly and the location is convenient.
- Swimming pool
- Surrounded by nature
- On-site restaurant and bar
- Extremely clean
Private room starts at $36 per night
