Bangkok to Koh Tao

Want to know how to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao? In this post, we’ll share a summary of the four ways to get there and compare each option on duration, costs and level of comfort. For each option, we go into more detail to help you decide which transport provider to book with and where to buy your tickets.

What to expect when visiting Koh Tao

Koh Tao is also a popular diving destination in the Gulf of Thailand. Known as one of the cheapest locations in the world to get your PADI license, the island offers beautiful underwater scenery with gorgeous coral gardens and tons of fish.

It may be just 1/10 the size of its neighbour Koh Samui, but that doesn’t mean there is less to see in Koh Tao. Here, you’ll find beautiful bays, beaches and viewpoints — all just a motorbike ride away. And the best part? You can enjoy all these at a more laidback and slow pace.

4 ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao

There are four ways to travel the distance of 415 km (258 miles) from Bangkok to Koh Tao: by bus (11h30m-15h45m), train via chumphon (10h37m-18h15m), flight (3h15m-5h45m) and train via surat thani (18h40m-20h27m). The journey takes between 3h15m - 20h27m and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 800 THB ($22.50) for the train via chumphon.

Bangkok to Koh Tao by Train via Chumphon

Duration: 10h37m-18h15m

Starts from: 800 THB ($22.50)

Duration: 10h37m-18h15m

Cost: 800 THB ($22.50)

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

Duration: 8h52m-10h15m

Costs: 300 THB ($8.00)

Duration: 8h52m-10h15m

Costs: 300 THB ($8.00)

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 the train you take.

Fares start at 300 THB ($8.00) for a second-class seat. Some trains also offer first and second class berths that are more expensive, but definitely more comfortable. See our recommended train schedules below.

Train via Chumphon options from Bangkok to Koh Tao

Step 2: Chumphon to Koh Tao by Van + Ferry

Duration: 1h45m-8h

Costs: 500 THB ($14.00)

Duration: 1h45m-8h

Costs: 500 THB ($14.00)

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.

The last time we checked (September 2022), only Lomprayah vans are available with fares from 965 THB ($26.50). There are only 2 departures daily, which are at 06:00 and 12:00.

Travel time is around 2.5 hours, including the ferry ride to Koh Tao.

Train via Chumphon options from Bangkok to Koh Tao

Bangkok to Koh Tao by Bus

Duration: 11h30m-15h45m

Starts from: 970 THB ($27.00)

Duration: 11h30m-15h45m

Cost: 970 THB ($27.00)

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 organised for you, so you won’t have to book the tickets separately.

The combined bus and ferry option requires two transfers. The first one is by bus or minivan in Chumphon or Hua Hin, while the second transfer is to board the ferry at Chumphon Pier.

Combined tickets start from 1,320 THB ($37.00), and the journey can take 11.5-15 hours.

Departure and arrival station

Songserm, Montanatip, and Lomprayah buses all depart from Khao San Road, the famous backpacker street 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.

Bus + Ferry schedules from Bangkok to Koh Tao

Bangkok to Koh Tao by Train via Surat Thani

Duration: 18h40m-20h27m

Starts from: 1,430 THB ($40.00)

Duration: 18h40m-20h27m

Cost: 1,430 THB ($40.00)

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 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

Duration: 11h55m-12h57m

Costs: 730 THB ($20.50)

Duration: 11h55m-12h57m

Costs: 730 THB ($20.50)

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 with air conditioning for a more comfortable journey.

Ticket prices for second class sleeper berths start from 730 THB ($20.00). Below are our recommended train schedules.

Train via Surat Thani options from Bangkok to Koh Tao

Step 2: Surat Thani to Koh Tao by Van + Ferry

Duration: 6h45m-7h30m

Costs: 700 THB ($19.50)

Duration: 6h45m-7h30m

Costs: 700 THB ($19.50)

From Surat Thani railway station, it is another 7 hours of combined van and ferry ride to Koh Tao.

For this route, only Lomprayah is available, and there is only one trip a day at 09:30. The combined van and ferry ride with Lomprayah costs 1,100 THB ($30.00).

If you miss this only van departure, you need to figure out your own transportation to Donsak Pier, which is about 79 km away from the train station.

Train via Surat Thani options from Bangkok to Koh Tao

Bangkok to Koh Tao by Flight

Duration: 3h15m-5h45m

Starts from: 2,851 THB ($80.00)

Duration: 3h15m-5h45m

Cost: 2,851 THB ($80.00)

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.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Step 1: Bangkok to Koh Samui by Flight

Duration: 1 hour 5 minutes

Costs: 2,000 THB ($56.00)

Duration: 1 hour 5 minutes

Costs: 2,000 THB ($56.00)

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 Koh Samui Airport, ticket prices start from 2,000 THB ($55.00).

Check the ferry schedules before booking a flight (Step 3). Most ferry companies have the latest departure at 12:30 pm. This means you have to book a morning flight in order to arrive at 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 in the end, the bus+ferry might be the easiest option if you want to save money.

Step 2: Samui Airport to Pier by Shared Minivan

Duration: 40 minutes

Costs: 250 THB ($7.00)

Duration: 40 minutes

Costs: 250 THB ($7.00)

Seatran Discovery used to include pick-up from the airport, but the last time we checked (September 2022), they haven’t resumed their operations yet. No other ferry companies include airport pick-up, so you’ll need to travel on your own from the airport to the pier.

The ferries from Koh Samui to Koh Tao depart from Mae Nam Pier and Nathon Pier. SmackOne offers van services to these Zone 2 areas for 250 THB ($6.50). There are van departures every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 21:30.

You can also take a taxi from the airport with rates starting from 400 THB ($11.00).

Step 3: Koh Samui to Koh Tao by Ferry

Duration: 1h30m-4h

Costs: 601 THB ($16.50)

Duration: 1h30m-4h

Costs: 601 THB ($16.50)

In Mae Nam and Nation Pier, high-speed and speed boats to Koh Tao are available. The travel time from Koh Samui to Koh Tao will take just 1.5-2 hours. Fares start from 720 THB ($19.50).

Flight options from Bangkok to Koh Tao