Practical guide
Koh Phangan to Koh Tao
An hour across the Gulf, from Thong Sala to Mae Haad
About an Hour, Every Boat From Thong Sala
Koh Tao is about 45 km north of Koh Phangan, and the crossing is one of the easiest in the Gulf. About 14 boats a day make it, all leaving from Thong Sala, Phangan's main pier on the southwest coast, and all landing at Mae Haad on Koh Tao's west coast. Lomprayah runs eight of them between 08:30 and 16:45, Boonsiri three and Songserm three. The fast catamarans and speedboats take about an hour for ฿600, and the slower boats at midday take an hour and a half or so for ฿450–500.
Check live Koh Phangan → Koh Tao times and seats on 12Go
There's no booking rush outside the high season, but buying the day before gets you the departure you want. I'd take the 08:30 Lomprayah catamaran and have the afternoon on Koh Tao.
Arriving in Koh Tao
Where to stay in Koh Tao
This route ends in Koh Tao. Search Koh Tao hotels with your dates, or narrow it to the area you're heading for. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
See Koh Tao hotelsOpens Booking.com with your dates · also on Expedia · Trip.com
Key Facts
About 14 boats a day, 08:30 to 16:45
Lomprayah's eight run from 08:30 to 16:45, Boonsiri's at 08:45, 13:15 and 15:25, and Songserm's at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00.
฿600 on the fast boats, ฿450–500 on the slow ones
Lomprayah's 12:00 ferry is ฿450 and Songserm's 12:00 ฿500. Every other boat is ฿600 at the pier.
The fast boats take about an hour
Lomprayah's 08:30 catamaran lands at 09:30 and Songserm's 10:00 speedboat at 10:55. The 12:00 ferries take 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45.
One boat goes straight to Koh Nang Yuan
Lomprayah's 08:30 catamaran also lands at Koh Nang Yuan, the islets off Koh Tao's northwest tip, at 09:45 for ฿600.
October to December is the rough season
High winds can stop the boats for a day or two, so don't plan a tight onward connection in those months.
Every Boat From Koh Phangan to Koh Tao
| Operator and boat | Leaves Thong Sala | Arrives Mae Haad | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah catamaran | 08:30, 13:00, 13:05, 16:45 | 09:30, 14:15, 14:05, 17:45 | ฿600 |
| Lomprayah speedboat | 08:45, 11:15, 15:00 | 10:05, 12:15, 16:00 | ฿600 |
| Lomprayah ferry | 12:00 | 13:30 | ฿450 |
| Boonsiri catamaran | 08:45, 13:15, 15:25 | 09:50, 14:45, 16:25 | ฿600 |
| Songserm speedboat | 10:00, 11:00 | 10:55, 12:00 | ฿600 |
| Songserm | 12:00 | 13:45 | ฿500 |
| Lomprayah to Koh Nang Yuan | 08:30 | 09:45 (Koh Nang Yuan) | ฿600 |
From each operator's own 2026 timetable. The booking sites sometimes show Boonsiri's afternoon boat 20 minutes later, so check the time on your ticket.
Koh Phangan → Koh Tao
Check live boats from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao
12Go shows every Lomprayah, Boonsiri and Songserm departure from Thong Sala, with the hotel-pickup versions, for your date.
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Which Boat to Take
For most people it's the first boat that suits the morning. Lomprayah's 08:30 catamaran is the early one and lands at 09:30, Boonsiri's 08:45 lands at 09:50, and Songserm's 10:00 and 11:00 speedboats take just under an hour. If you're on a budget and in no hurry, the 12:00 boats are the cheap ones, Lomprayah's ferry for ฿450 landing at 13:30 and Songserm's for ฿500 landing at 13:45. The last departure is Lomprayah's 16:45 catamaran, on Koh Tao at 17:45.
Songserm's speedboats are the small boats on the route, about 47 seats. Lomprayah also sells its speedboats under the name Lomlahkkhirin on the booking sites, so don't be thrown by a ticket in that name.
Getting to Thong Sala, or Being Picked Up
Every boat leaves Thong Sala, so from the beaches you need a ride first. Shared songthaews run from Haad Rin and Ban Tai for about ฿100–200 a person and from Haad Yao or Chaloklum for about ฿150–250, and a whole vehicle from Thong Nai Pan is about ฿400–600, 45 minutes to an hour away.
Both big operators will collect you instead. Lomprayah picks up from any Phangan hotel except in Thong Nai Pan for ฿800, at 07:30, 07:45, 12:00, 12:05 and 15:45 for its morning, midday and late-afternoon boats, and Boonsiri at 07:15, 12:00 and 14:30 for ฿850.
Arriving in Koh Tao
Top-Ranked Hotels in Koh Tao
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Koh Tao. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#1Assava Diving Koh Tao | PADI 5* CDC Scuba Diving Centre & Hotel Beach Resort, Thailand4.9 (2,642 reviews)
A dive school with rooms attached, on Koh Tao's quieter southern bay, built for people who came to get certified.
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#6Sunrise Koh Tao4.6 (328 reviews)
A well-regarded resort steps from Maehaad Pier, ideal for divers and island explorers on Koh Tao.
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#9Nomads Koh Tao Hostel4.5 (320 reviews)
A well-rated hostel on Koh Tao offering a sociable base for divers and island explorers.
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Arriving at Mae Haad
Every boat lands at Mae Haad, the village halfway down Koh Tao's west coast, though Boonsiri and Songserm use their own piers there. Shared pickup taxis at the end of the pier charge about ฿100 a person to Sairee, longtails go round to the east-coast bays like Tanote for about ฿150–200, and many dive schools collect their students. There are ATMs at the 7-Elevens and banks in the village.
Koh Tao as a Day Trip From Phangan
You can see Koh Tao in a day on the scheduled boats, out on the 08:30 and back on Lomprayah's 15:30 catamaran or 16:30 ferry, but a tour is easier. The speedboat trips from Phangan take in Koh Nang Yuan's viewpoint and sandbar, where the island charges a ฿250 entry fee, plus two snorkel stops and lunch.
Planning the rest of the Gulf?
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Koh Phangan to Koh Tao.
About an hour on the catamarans and speedboats, such as Lomprayah's 08:30 (landing at 09:30) or Songserm's 10:00 (landing at 10:55), and 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 on the cheaper 12:00 boats.
฿600 on Lomprayah's, Boonsiri's and Songserm's fast boats, ฿450 on Lomprayah's 12:00 ferry and ฿500 on Songserm's 12:00. A hotel pickup on Phangan costs ฿800 with Lomprayah and ฿850 with Boonsiri.
The first is Lomprayah's 08:30 catamaran and the last its 16:45 catamaran, landing at 17:45. Boonsiri's last leaves at 15:25.
About 45 km, pier to pier, which the fast boats cover in about an hour.
Yes. Take the 08:30 boat over and Lomprayah's 15:30 catamaran or 16:30 ferry back, or join a speedboat tour from Phangan that covers Koh Nang Yuan's viewpoint and two snorkel stops.
Where to stay in Koh Tao
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Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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