Island hopping in Thailand (2026): Routes, all ferry connections and which coast when?

How to go island hopping in Thailand

Thailand's islands lie on two coastlines with opposing rainy seasons. Therefore, choosing the coast is the first step, and your travel dates will determine this. From November to April, a trip along the Andaman Sea is ideal, south of Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, the Trang Islands, and Koh Lipe. From January to September, the Gulf of Thailand beckons with Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui – three islands only a one- to two-hour flight apart.

Each crossing on both coasts is by scheduled ferry or speedboat (journey time 30 minutes to 3 hours, usually between 400 and 1,700 baht). Tickets can be booked the day before, except during the Christmas holidays. It's best to travel in one direction only to avoid having to turn back. Spend two to three nights on each island. If you have two weeks between February and April, you can visit both coasts and cross the peninsula with a combined boat and bus ticket or a 50-minute flight. Below you will find the individual route segments with their respective boat connections in the different seasons.

Where to stay during a beach holiday

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Key facts

Andaman Islands from November to April, Gulf from January to September

The rainiest months in Phuket are September and October, each with 19 rainy days. On Koh Samui, the wettest months are October to December, with November alone seeing 445 mm of rainfall. February to April are good rainy seasons on both islands.

Most hop harvests last from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

It takes 30 minutes by speedboat from Phi Phi to Lanta, about an hour from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao, and one to two hours from Phuket to Phi Phi. The longest route is from Lanta to Koh Lipe and takes three hours through the Trang Islands.

The island-hopping boats south of Lanta operate from October 15th to May 20th.

Outside of these periods, Koh Lipe can be reached from the mainland via Pak Bara, which operates year-round. A speedboat also runs daily from Phi Phi to Lanta, even during the rainy season.

Go in one direction

Arrive at one end and depart at the other. On the Gulf of Mexico, take the night boat and bus ticket to Koh Tao and fly back from Samui. On the Andaman Sea, start in Phuket and fly from Krabi or Hat Yai airport.

Two or three nights per island

A short excursion takes half a day if you include checking out, going to the pier, and checking back in. An overnight stay on an island means you'll see a boat and a hotel.

Cross the coast with just one ticket

Lomprayah offers day trips from Koh Phangan to Krabi for 1,200 baht and from Koh Tao to Koh Lanta for 1,700 baht, including boat and bus. Bangkok Airways flies from Samui to Krabi or Phuket in about an hour.

From which coast do you depart each month?

Monthly rainfall and days with at least 1 mm of rain, WMO climate normals 1991–2020 for the stations Phuket, Ko Samui, and Trat. On these coasts, rainfall usually falls as afternoon thunderstorms. Crucial for the bouncy castle experience is the sea state, which is roughest in the Andaman Sea from June to October.

The Andaman Route, step by step

The Andaman Sea route runs south from Phuket along the coast. All destinations are reachable by boat in a single morning. The classic route includes Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta. Those wishing to see the limestone cliffs can add Railay or Ao Nang to their itinerary after Phuket. For trips lasting more than ten days, the Trang Islands and Koh Lipe can be added at the end.

Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, 1 to 2 hours

Almost all boats depart from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town and take you to Tonsai, the village of Phi Phi. Large ferries depart at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., around 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. The journey takes two hours and costs approximately 500–700 baht. Speedboats run roughly hourly from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and take one hour for 750–850 baht. The 20 baht crossing fee is payable in cash upon arrival in Tonsai. The schedule changes very little with the season.

Or from Phuket first to Railay and Ao Nang, then on to Phi Phi

Speedboats depart from the piers of Rassada, Bang Rong, and Laem Hin between approximately 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM, reaching Ao Nang and East Railay in 1–2 hours for 880–1,100 baht. From there, the "Ao Nang Princess" ferry departs from Nopparat Thara pier at 9:30 AM for Phi Phi (approximately 2 hours, 650 baht including hotel pick-up). Speedboats from Bundhaya cross from Ao Nang in 50 minutes for approximately 900 baht, and from Railay, the crossing takes 30 minutes.

From Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta, 30 minutes to one hour

This crossing causes many people worry during the rainy season, completely unnecessarily. Bundhaya's speedboat runs year-round from Tonsai to Saladan Pier on Lanta; the journey takes 30 minutes and costs 700 baht. From May to mid-October, there's a daily departure at 11:00 AM (at least on the days I checked), and from October 15th onwards, there are four departures: at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:30 PM. From November, the slower ferries also resume service, including those from Chaokoh at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM for about 600–640 baht; the journey takes approximately one hour.

From Koh Lanta to the Trang Islands and Koh Lipe, 30 minutes to 3 hours

From October 15th to May 20th, the island-hopping speedboat departs from Bundhaya at 10:30 AM from Saladan (with an additional departure at 12:30 PM starting in December) and heads to the southern islands. It arrives at Koh Ngai around 11:00 AM (650 baht from Lanta), Koh Mook at 11:20 AM (900 baht), and Koh Kradan at 11:40 AM (950 baht), reaching Koh Lipe at 1:30 PM for 1,700 baht. The same boats also operate between the Trang Islands for 300–400 baht each way, so spending one or two nights on Kradan or Ngai along the way adds little extra cost. No departures on this route were available in Bundhaya's booking system for October 12th, so do not plan your island-hopping trip before October 15th.

Leaving Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe has no pier. During the season, boats dock at a floating platform off Pattaya Beach, from where you can take a longtail boat to the mainland for about 50 baht (cash only). This price is sometimes included in tickets. Visitors also pay the Tarutao National Park entrance fee: 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children. To reach the mainland, take a speedboat to Pak Bara. These boats run year-round at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m., and the journey takes about an hour and a half and costs 700 baht. From Pak Bara, a van takes you to Hat Yai, whose airport offers flights to Bangkok. The door-to-door journey takes about 4.5 hours. Those who prefer to travel north again can take the speedboat from Koh Lipe to Lanta (1,700 Baht) and Phuket (arrival 14:30, 2,500 Baht) at 9:00 am during the season.

Hat Yai is located in Songkhla province, and both the UK and Canada advise against travel to parts of this province. Please check your government's current travel advice before your trip and read my safety guide for their specific recommendations.

A side trip to Koh Yao Noi

Koh Yao Noi is located in Phang Nga Bay between Phuket and Krabi and can be reached in 40 minutes by speedboat from Bang Rong Pier in northeast Phuket. The island is the quietest on this coast, without bars and with views of the karst cliffs of Krabi, making it ideal as the first or last stop on an Andaman Sea trip.

Bookable departures · updated daily

Koh Phi Phi → Koh Lanta: 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.

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 ferry connections from Phi Phi to Lanta for your date.

The 12Go Phi Phi information board displays speedboats and ferries to Saladan for your desired travel dates, including operator departure times and a mobile ticket. Prices include a booking fee.

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The golf route, step by step

The Gulf islands form a short chain: Koh Tao in the north, Koh Phangan in the middle, and Koh Samui in the south. Boats run year-round on the same schedule. The best way to travel is from north to south. From Bangkok, take a night bus and boat to Koh Tao, then continue to Koh Phangan, and finally to Koh Samui. From Samui airport, fly back. Want to fly there and back? Then travel from Samui south to north and return the same way. Alternatively, you can leave Koh Tao and travel to Chumphon on the mainland.

Bangkok to Koh Tao, overnight stay

The Lomprayah combination ticket departs from Khao San Road at 10:00 PM and arrives at Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao at 8:45 AM. From there, you take a bus to Chumphon and then a catamaran. The price is 1,250 Baht. The cheaper option, using the slower ferry, costs 850 Baht.

Koh Tao to Koh Phangan, about an hour

Lomprayah catamarans depart from Mae Haad at 9:15, 9:30, and 15:30 (600 baht) and reach Thong Sala on Koh Phangan in one to one and a half hours. Speedboats depart at 7:05 and 12:30, cost 700 baht, and are slightly faster. The 16:30 ferry costs 450 baht. Boonsiri catamarans depart at 8:00, 9:15, and 15:15 (600 baht), the Songserm ferry departs at 9:30 (500 baht, two hours), and speedboats depart at 11:30 and 12:30 (600 baht, under one hour).

In the other direction, Lomprayah offers eight boats from Thong Sala to Koh Tao between 8:30 am and 4:45 pm. The catamaran and speedboat trips cost 600 baht, while the 12:00 pm ferry costs 450 baht. Boonsiri departs at 8:45 am, 1:15 pm, and 3:25 pm for 600 baht, and Songserm offers speedboats at 10:00 am and 11:00 am (approximately one hour, 600 baht) as well as a boat at 12:00 pm (500 baht).

From Koh Phangan to Koh Samui, 20 to 50 minutes

Nine ferry companies offer the 15 km crossing for 200 to 500 baht between 7:30 am and 6:30 pm. Your landing point on Koh Samui is crucial. Bangrak is ten minutes from the airport and fifteen minutes from Chaweng. So, if you're flying, take a boat that stops there or the through ticket from Lomprayah for 500 baht from Thong Sala to the airport terminal.

From Koh Samui to Koh Tao, if you are traveling in the other direction.

Around 20 boats make the crossing each day, almost all of them stopping in Koh Phangan. The journey takes 1.5–2 hours by speedboat for 700 baht or up to 3.5 hours by slower ferries for 450–550 baht, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Koh Phangan → Koh Tao: Departure times you can book now

Check the boat connections from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao for your desired date.

12Go lists departures from Thong Sala to Mae Haad with seat reservations and mobile tickets. Prices include a booking fee.

Crossing between the Gulf and the Andaman Sea

There is no ferry connection between the two coasts because the peninsula is in the way. You can either take a boat to the mainland and then a bus, or fly. Between February and April, when both coasts are in their dry season, this connection combines two short trips into one longer one that takes a full day.

Boats with combination tickets are the most convenient option. According to Lomprayah's timetable, the crossing from Koh Phangan to the Krabi branch departing at 8:00 AM (arriving at 12:30 PM) costs 1,200 baht, to Koh Lanta 1,600 baht, and to Phuket departing at 11:00 AM (arriving at 6:30 PM) 1,400 baht. From Koh Tao, the crossing to Krabi (9:30 AM, arriving at 3:30 PM) costs 1,300 baht, and to Koh Lanta 1,700 baht. Boonsiri departs Koh Tao at 8:00 AM and arrives in Ao Nang at 3:30 PM for 1,300 baht. In the other direction, Lomprayah offers ferry services from Krabi to Koh Tao starting at 1,300 baht and from Phi Phi to Koh Tao for 1,850 baht. Departure from Tonsai is at 10:00 AM, arrival at 5:45 PM. From Samui, the bus and ferry crossing to Krabi takes 5 to 7 hours and costs 500–1,500 Baht.

Flying is faster, but more expensive. Bangkok Airways offers a daily direct flight from Samui to Krabi around midday (approx. 50 minutes, price: approx. 4,100–5,000 baht). There are 6–8 flights daily from Samui to Phuket (price: approx. 3,700–4,100 baht in November, from 5,000 baht in December). Connections offered by booking portals via Bangkok are not recommended and are no faster than boats and buses.

The best-rated hotels in Phuket

Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Phuket. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.

The eastern islands, Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood

The third island chain lies near the Cambodian border and is the quietest. Its season is the same as that of the Andaman Sea. Koh Chang is the largest island and is accessible from Bangkok by bus and car ferry. Boonsiri catamarans depart south from Bang Bao Pier at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Koh Mak is an hour away (550 baht), Koh Kood an hour and a half (900 baht), and the trip from Koh Mak to Koh Kood takes 30 minutes (400 baht) with departures at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. This schedule is in effect from October 1st to May 31st. From June to September, Boonsiri offers one departure in each direction daily from Bang Bao at 1:00 PM (600 baht to Koh Mak, 900 baht to Koh Kood). Most other island boats cease operations due to the frequent heavy rainfall, so please check a day in advance. Our guidebook for the route from Koh Chang to Koh Kood describes both directions. Boonsiri also offers a ticket for the overnight boat and bus trip from Koh Kood to Koh Tao. Departure is at 2:30 pm, arrival the following morning at 8:30 am. The price is 2,250 baht and connects the island chain to the Gulf of Mexico without having to return to Bangkok.

Exemplary island hopping routes

The stated number of overnight stays is based on two to three nights per island. All stages of these routes are served by boat during the day according to the timetables above, so apart from the departure to Hat Yai, no overnight stay on the mainland is required.

How to book and travel without problems

Book the day before or a few days in advance for the end of December.

Outside of the Christmas and New Year holidays, and the early morning hours after a Full Moon Party, most boats are rarely fully booked. During peak season weeks, it is advisable to book two or three days in advance.

Take the morning boat

The sea is usually calmer in the morning, and an early boat trip gives you a buffer in case a departure is cancelled. Never plan a trip on the day of an international flight.

Check in 30 minutes before departure.

The staff at the pier will hand out a boarding sticker at their counter. Luggage will be stacked at the front of the boat, so you should keep your passport, mobile phone, and cash with you.

Have cash ready to cover the small fees.

On Phi Phi, the ride from Tonsai Pier costs 20 Baht, the longtail boats on Koh Lipe and the entrance to Tarutao National Park are paid in cash, and there are only a few ATMs on the smaller islands.

Choose the catamaran if you get seasick.

The large ferries and catamarans rock less than the speedboats, which slam hard with every wave. Sit in the back, down low, and take a tablet before boarding.

Island hopping day trips from a single starting point

For those who prefer a more relaxed pace, a speedboat day trip offers the opportunity to visit many islands in one day. The standard tour from Phuket includes Phi Phi, Maya Bay, and Bamboo Island; from Krabi, it visits four islands; and from Samui, it goes to Ang Thong Marine Park. During peak season, it's advisable to book early departure boats one or two days in advance, as these reach Maya Bay before the main crowds arrive and fill up quickly. Maya Bay itself is closed in August and September.

Each stage has its own travel guide with the complete timetable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions about island hopping in Thailand.

Depending on your travel dates, choose a coastline: the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Phi Phi, Lanta, Lipe) from November to April or the Gulf Coast (Koh Tao, Phangan, Samui) from January to September. Travel in one direction using the scheduled ferries and speedboats, spending two to three nights on each island. Book your boats one day in advance, and even a few days in advance at the end of December.

The three islands in the Gulf of Mexico – Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui – are the easiest to reach, as boats run hourly or every two hours year-round. In the Andaman Sea, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta form the classic island chain. From mid-October to May, you can continue your journey via the Trang Islands to Koh Lipe. The best island guides list them all individually.

One week is enough to visit three islands on one coast. Ten days allow you to add Railay or a fourth island, and two weeks are sufficient for both coasts between February and April or for the entire Andaman Sea tour up to Koh Lipe.

Yes. From May to September, you can visit the islands in the Gulf of Mexico, as this is the dry season and the ferry schedule is maintained. Boats on the Andaman Sea continue to operate between Phuket, Phi Phi, and Lanta, however, the sea is rougher, and the speedboats south of Lanta suspend service between May 20th and October 15th.

A direct ferry connection is not possible, as the islands are located on opposite coasts. Lomprayah and Boonsiri offer combination tickets for boat and bus trips from Koh Tao and Koh Phangan to Krabi, Lanta, and Phuket, which take approximately 4.5 to 10 hours. Bangkok Airways offers nonstop flights from Samui to Krabi and Phuket.

One day in advance is sufficient for most years. However, during the two weeks around Christmas and New Year's, as well as on the morning after a Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, it is recommended to book two or three days in advance.

Boat trips cost between 400 and 1,700 baht each way. A 7-day golf trip from Bangkok, including boat and bus fares, costs under 2,400 baht (1,250 baht to Koh Tao, 600 baht to Koh Phangan, up to 500 baht to Koh Samui). Accommodation costs affect the overall price; the travel cost page lists daily rates per island.

Krabi is ideal from November to April, as Phi Phi, Railay, Lanta, and the Hong Islands are all easily accessible by boat. Samui, on the other hand, is recommended from January to September, since Phangan and Tao are right on its doorstep. This comparison between Koh Samui and Krabi comprehensively considers both aspects.

Where to stay in Phuket

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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.

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