Take the night bus and catamaran or fly to Chumphon.
Koh Tao has no airport, so any route from Bangkok involves a boat trip, usually from Chumphon on the mainland. The easiest option is the Lomprayah combination ticket. A bus departs from Khao San Road at 10:00 PM, a catamaran leaves Chumphon at 7:00 AM, and you arrive at Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao at 8:45 AM – all for 1,250 baht. This saves you an overnight stay and requires no further planning beyond checking in at the office an hour before departure.
Check the current flight times and seat availability for flights from Bangkok to Koh Tao on 12Go.
The fastest connection is a 7:25 AM flight with Thai AirAsia from Don Mueang to Chumphon. From there, you take the airport bus and a boat from Lomprayah to Koh Tao, arriving around 3:00 PM for approximately 2,500 baht. A more comfortable alternative is the sleeper train to Chumphon. A sleeper berth costs from around 729 baht, plus the boat trip. Whichever option you choose, you should plan for a full day or overnight stay.
Accommodation in Koh Tao
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Key facts
The journey by night bus and catamaran in Lomprayah costs ฿1,250.
From Khao San at 10:00 PM (Pinklao at 9:30 PM) to Koh Tao at approximately 8:45 AM, by catamaran from Thung Makham Noi Pier at 7:00 AM. VIP seats cost 1,550 Baht. The bus at 9:30 PM with the ferry costs 850 Baht and arrives at 8:15 AM.
The day bus departs from Khao San at 6:00 AM.
The ferry arrives in Koh Tao at 3:00 PM for the same price of 1,250 Baht (1,550 Baht for VIPs). Boonsiri offers the same service from Khao San at 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM, also for 1,250 Baht.
Ten trains run to Chumphon daily.
From Krung Thep Aphiwat, trains depart between 7:30 am and 10:50 pm, taking approximately 6 to 8 hours. A second-class sleeper berth with air conditioning costs around 729 baht. Lomprayah's van and boat depart from Chumphon Station at 6:00 am and arrive in Koh Tao at 8:45 am for 900 baht.
Fly to Chumphon and you will arrive on Koh Tao at 3:00 PM.
The Thai AirAsia flight departing Don Mueang at 7:25 a.m. lands at 8:30 a.m. At the Lomprayah counter at Chumphon Airport, you can purchase a bus and boat ticket for 1,000 baht departing at 9:00 a.m. Nok Air flies in the evening, and starting in December, AirAsia will also offer a flight at 2:05 p.m.
There is also a night ferry from Chumphon.
A slow night boat departs Chumphon at 9:00 PM and arrives in Mae Haad around 5:00 AM. The cost is approximately 840–880 baht. This is an option for those arriving in Chumphon in the evening.
November is the rainiest month in the Gulf of Mexico.
The rainy season in the Gulf lasts from October to December, and rough seas can disrupt ferry services for a day or two; in November 2025, the ferry service between Surat Thani and Koh Tao was suspended for three days. Allow an extra day before your onward flight.
All routes from Bangkok to Koh Tao compared
Lomprayah's prices and timetables are taken from their own 2026 timetable and website and are accurate; Boonsiri's are from their own booking system. Train timetables are from Barrow's Thai Tracks; sleeper berth prices are from Seat61. Flight prices for October and December 2026 are from 12Go and include a booking fee. The ferry price to Samui is from our Koh Samui–Koh Tao travel guide.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Bangkok → Koh Tao: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
bus
Ferry & Speedboat
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Check the current bus, boat and train connections from Bangkok to Koh Tao.
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Bus and boat from Khao San
That's what most people do, and it works. Lomprayah's office on the Khao San side of the old city offers three evening connections and one morning connection. The 10:00 PM bus (departing Pinklao at 9:30 PM) reaches the Thung Makham Noi pier near Chumphon before sunrise. The connecting catamaran departs at 7:00 AM and arrives in Mae Haad around 8:45 AM. The fare is 1,250 baht, or 1,550 baht for a VIP seat. The 9:30 PM bus (departing Pinklao at 9:00 PM) connects with a slower ferry that departs at 5:45 AM and arrives at 8:15 AM. The fare is 850 baht. The 6:00 AM daytime bus meets the catamaran at 1:15 PM and arrives in Mae Haad at 3:00 PM. The ride costs 1,250 Baht here as well.
Lomprayah requests passengers arrive at their office 60 minutes before departure, allows 20 kg of luggage (200 baht for more), and offers non-refundable tickets that can be rebooked once free of charge. Boonsiri sells the same tickets from Khao San Road at 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM for 1,250 baht, arriving at their own pier on Koh Tao. During peak season, it is recommended to book one or two days in advance and to consider the night bus as transportation, not as a bed.
Trains from Bangkok to Chumphon
The journey times are taken from the Thai Tracks timetable by Barrow and match the SRT live search on 12Go. Fares are not listed per station; a 2nd class sleeper berth with air conditioning to Chumphon costs approximately 729 baht and 1st class approximately 1,230 baht (seat 61).
The night train to Chumphon
The train is the most comfortable way to travel, as a berth is significantly better than a bus seat. The catch is the arrival time. Boats depart from Chumphon in the morning, so the later trains are the most practical. Train No. 85 at 7:50 p.m. arrives at 3:43 a.m., and Train No. 39 at 10:50 p.m. arrives at 5:22 a.m. Lomprayah's minibus departs from Chumphon station at 6:00 a.m. and arrives in Koh Tao at 8:45 a.m. for 900 baht. The catamaran departs at 7:00 a.m. and arrives in Koh Tao at 8:45 a.m. for 900 baht. The earlier night trains arrive before midnight, so you either have to stay overnight in Chumphon or take the night boat at 9:00 p.m. The daytime train at 7:30 a.m. arrives at 1:50 p.m., missing the last connection of the day.
Book early. According to SRT's booking policy, sleeper berths to Chumphon can be booked approximately 30 days in advance, and the best seats sell out quickly in December and January. 12Go also offers train and ferry combinations, but these incur additional charges, and their evening packages don't arrive on the island until the afternoon. Therefore, check the ferry departure time before booking.
The best-rated hotels in Koh Tao
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Koh Tao. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.
Flight to Chumphon or Koh Samui
Chumphon is the closest and cheapest airport to Koh Tao. Thai AirAsia flies from Don Mueang at 7:25 a.m. and lands at 8:30 a.m. Lomprayah offers tickets from Chumphon Airport for a bus and a catamaran (1,000 baht) that departs at 9:00 a.m. and arrives in Koh Tao at 3:00 p.m. Flights with 12Go cost around 1,460 baht in October and December, and Nok Air offers evening flights (5:55 p.m.) – ideal for those wanting to take the overnight ferry or stay overnight.
A flight with Bangkok Airways to Koh Samui is faster, but significantly more expensive. The speedboat crossing from Samui to Koh Tao costs an additional 700 baht and takes up to two hours. Our travel guides for the Bangkok–Koh Samui and Koh Samui–Koh Tao routes cover both legs of the journey.
From Koh Tao to Bangkok
For the return journey, the Lomprayah catamaran and bus depart from Koh Tao at 10:15 AM, arriving in Khao San or Pinklao at 8:30 PM for 1,250 Baht (1,550 Baht for VIPs), and at 3:00 PM for 12:45 AM. The 10:15 AM service also goes directly to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, arriving at 11:00 PM for 1,750 Baht. Connections to Phaya Thai and Hua Lamphong train stations are available for 1,550 Baht. The ferry and bus depart at 12:30 PM, arriving in Khao San at 11:45 PM for 850 Baht. Boonsiri departs from Koh Tao at 10:00 AM and 2:45 PM for 1,250 Baht.
You can reach Chumphon train station by taking a boat at 3:00 PM (900 Baht, arriving at 5:30 PM). From there, take one of the overnight trains heading north, such as train number 86 at 10:19 PM to Bangkok, arriving at 6:10 AM. For a return flight that same evening, the airport bus at 10:15 AM is the only practical option. If you have a flight the following morning, you should plan for an overnight stay in Bangkok. Our Koh Tao to Bangkok travel guide provides all the options for your return journey, including overnight trains from Chumphon and flights.
Koh Tao → Bangkok: Departure times you can book now
Find out about live boat and bus connections from Koh Tao to Bangkok.
The same information board applies to the return journey, with departures to Lomprayah and Boonsiri, airport buses and combined boat and train tickets.
Booked your trip? Plan your island getaway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about traveling from Bangkok to Koh Tao.
Fly from Don Mueang to Chumphon with Thai AirAsia at 7:25 AM, then take a Lomprayahs bus (1,000 Baht) and finally a catamaran from the airport at 9:00 AM. You will arrive on Koh Tao around 3:00 PM. Traveling by plane to Koh Samui and then by speedboat takes a similar amount of time but is significantly more expensive.
Chumphon is on the mainland. Koh Tao does not have an airport. Lomprayah operates a counter at Chumphon Airport, from which buses and catamarans depart for the island; the airports of Koh Samui and Surat Thani are also options, although the boat journey is longer from there.
Approximately 9 to 11 hours by bus and boat (06:00 → 15:00 during the day, 22:00 → 08:45 at night), about the same time by night train and boat, and about 7.5 hours from departure by plane to Chumphon at 07:25.
From Bangkok city center to Chumphon, the nearest mainland port, it's about 460 km by road. From there, the catamaran trip to Mae Haad takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. The route via Surat Thani is longer, about 700 km by road to Donsak, and the crossing takes longer. Therefore, buses operated by Lomprayah and Boonsiri travel from Bangkok via Chumphon.
Lomprayah charges 1,250 baht for bus and catamaran (1,550 baht with a VIP seat) and 850 baht for the night bus and slower ferry, which operates on its own schedule. Boonsiri also offers bus and catamaran for 1,250 baht.
Yes, to Chumphon. Ten trains a day depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat, and the late sleeper trains (No. 85 at 7:50 p.m., No. 39 at 10:50 p.m.) reach Koh Tao in time for Lomprayah's van at 6:00 a.m. and the ferry at 8:45 a.m. A second-class sleeper costs about 729 baht, and the ferry costs 900 baht.
No. Every ticket sold as a ferry ticket from Bangkok also includes a bus or train journey to Chumphon, or a flight, as well as the ferry crossing. The crossing from Chumphon takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes by catamaran.
November is the rainiest month in the Gulf Islands, and from October to December the seas are rough, sometimes disrupting shipping for a day or two. The rest of the year is pleasant, and from May to September the Gulf is drier than the Andaman coast.
Samui is smaller and geared towards diving, while Samui is the resort island with an airport. Many visitors do both; the speedboat trip between the two islands takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
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Further from Koh Tao
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? From Koh Tao to Bangkok – All routes in Thailand
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