How long is the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?

Between 20 minutes and 1.5 hours depending on the boat. Lomprayah's catamarans from Pralarn pier are fastest at roughly 20–30 minutes; Seatran Discovery from Bangrak takes 30–45 minutes; the Haad Rin Queen about 50 minutes; and Raja's car ferry from Lipa Noi 1–1.5 hours.

How much is the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?

Typically 130–300 baht ($4–9) one way. Raja's car ferry is cheapest from about 130 baht, conventional ferries run 200–250, and the fast catamarans and Haad Rin Queen sit around 250–300. Vehicles cross only on Raja Ferry, priced separately.

Is there a boat directly to Haad Rin for the Full Moon Party?

Yes — the Haad Rin Queen, a wooden double-decker running four daily round trips between Bangrak (Big Buddha pier) on Samui and Haad Rin beach itself, about 50 minutes each way. Every other ferry lands at Thong Sala, a 20-minute songthaew ride from Haad Rin. On party dates it's first-come at the pier desk, so arrive early.

Do I need to book the Samui–Phangan ferry in advance?

Normal weeks, no — turn up 20–30 minutes before a sailing and buy at the pier. The exceptions are Full Moon Party dates and the December–January peak, when popular sailings sell out days ahead: book 3–7 days early then, especially if you're timing a crossing to a Samui flight.

Can I take a scooter or car on the ferry to Koh Phangan?

Only on Raja Ferry from Lipa Noi — it's the route's one car ferry. Check your rental agreement first, though: many Samui scooter rentals prohibit taking the bike off-island, and the deposit is where that argument gets expensive. Renting again on Phangan is usually simpler.

Are there night boats from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?

No. The last crossings in either direction leave around 17:30–18:30, and there's no overnight service on this route (the night boats you'll see mentioned run from Surat Thani on the mainland). After the last ferry, the only way across is chartering a private longtail or speedboat, which is expensive and weather-dependent — plan around the schedule instead.

Specialist Guide

Koh Samui to Koh Phangan Ferry

A 20-minute crossing — if you pick the right pier.

Fastest crossing: ~20 minutes by catamaran
Four operators, four different piers
The only boat direct to Haad Rin
Full Moon Party booking windows

Easy

The Honest Answer: Pick Your Pier First, Then Your Boat

Koh Phangan sits just 15 km north of Samui, and the crossing itself is trivial — 20 minutes on a fast catamaran, an hour on the car ferry, for 130–300 baht. What actually decides your morning is geography: Samui's ferry operators leave from four different piers spread around the island's north and west coasts, and picking the boat that leaves from the pier nearest your hotel matters more than the operator's brand. Staying in Maenam or Bophut? Lomprayah's Pralarn pier is on your doorstep. Chaweng or Choeng Mon? Bangrak is your closest dock — and it's also home to the only boat that sails direct to Haad Rin beach itself. Bringing a rented scooter across, or just hunting the cheapest ticket? That's Raja's car ferry from Lipa Noi. Here's the full pier-by-pier picture, what each boat costs, and how Full Moon Party dates change the calculus.

Plan where you'll stay

Compare hotel rates across Thailand for your dates — lock in free-cancellation rooms now.

Compare prices across sites
Filter for free cancellation
Secure checkout on the partner site

Compare rates on Booking.com

Largest selection

Compare rates on Agoda

Asia-focused selection

Compare rates on Hotels.com

Member prices

Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Samui → Phangan Ferries Compared (2026)

Operator	Samui pier → Phangan pier	Crossing	Typical price
Lomprayah (catamaran)	Pralarn (Maenam) / Nathon → Thong Sala	~20–30 min	250–300 THB
Seatran Discovery (fast ferry)	Bangrak (Big Buddha) → Thong Sala	~30–45 min	~300 THB
Haad Rin Queen (wooden ferry)	Bangrak (Big Buddha) → Haad Rin direct	~50 min	250–300 THB
Songserm (conventional ferry)	Nathon → Thong Sala	~45–60 min	200–250 THB
Raja Ferry (car ferry)	Lipa Noi → Thong Sala	~1–1.5h	from ~130 THB (vehicles extra)

Each operator runs roughly 3–5 departures a day between early morning and late afternoon; exact times shift by season, so confirm when booking. No boats cross at night — last sailings are typically 17:30–18:30.

Koh Samui → Koh Phangan

Check today's sailings: Koh Samui → Koh Phangan

12Go lists every operator's current departures on this crossing side by side with instant e-tickets — the easy way to see which boat leaves next from the pier nearest you, and the safe way to lock in seats on Full Moon Party dates.

Check schedules on 12Go

Sponsored link — we may earn a small commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Which Pier? Match the Boat to Where You're Staying

The 10-minute decision that saves an hour of songthaew

From Maenam or Bophut (Fisherman's Village), Lomprayah's Pralarn pier in Maenam is walkable from much of the beach strip, and its catamarans make the fastest crossing — around 20–30 minutes to Thong Sala, Phangan's main port. Typical departures cluster in the morning and around midday.

From Chaweng, Choeng Mon, or anywhere near the airport, Bangrak — the Big Buddha pier — is your closest dock, about 10–15 minutes by Grab from central Chaweng. Two very different boats leave from it: Seatran Discovery's fast ferry to Thong Sala, and the Haad Rin Queen, the veteran wooden double-decker that is the only boat sailing directly to Haad Rin, the Full Moon Party beach. If your Phangan accommodation is in Haad Rin, the Queen saves you the 20-minute songthaew ride from Thong Sala on the other end.

From Nathon or the west coast, Songserm's conventional ferry and some Lomprayah sailings leave from Nathon town pier. And if you need to move a scooter or car between the islands, Raja Ferry from Lipa Noi is the only option that takes vehicles — passenger tickets are also the cheapest on the route, from about 130 baht, in exchange for the slowest crossing.

Full Moon Party Logistics

The one week a month this route needs planning

In the days around each Full Moon Party, tens of thousands of people funnel through this crossing, and the relaxed turn-up-and-buy routine stops working. Book ferries three to seven days ahead on party dates — longer over the December–January peak — because the popular morning and midday sailings genuinely sell out. Operators add extra boats on party days, but the additions get absorbed fast.

The Haad Rin Queen earns its keep here: four daily round trips from Bangrak straight to Haad Rin beach, no Thong Sala transfer, tickets sold at the pier desk. Party-night boats are crowded and boisterous — keep your bag on your lap and your phone zipped away. Many Samui-based travelers do the party as a night trip and return on the first morning boat rather than paying party-week rates for a Haad Rin room.

Going the other way — staying on Phangan and flying out of Samui — leave more buffer than feels necessary. A missed crossing plus surge-priced pier taxis is the classic way to miss a Samui flight; the last boats leave Thong Sala by early evening, and there is no night crossing to fall back on.

Our rule of thumb: normal weeks, just take whichever boat leaves next from your nearest pier — the crossing is short enough that operator differences barely matter. Party weeks, book ahead, take the morning boat, and if you're staying in Haad Rin itself, take the Haad Rin Queen from Bangrak.

Planning the island-hop? These connect:

Bangkok to Koh Samui Things to Do in Koh Samui Where to Stay in Koh Samui Best Islands in Thailand

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about koh samui to koh phangan ferry.

Four different ones, so match the pier to your hotel: Lomprayah uses Pralarn pier in Maenam (plus some Nathon sailings), Seatran Discovery and the Haad Rin Queen use Bangrak (Big Buddha pier) near Chaweng and the airport, Songserm uses Nathon town pier, and Raja's car ferry uses Lipa Noi on the west coast. Nearly all arrive at Thong Sala on Phangan — except the Haad Rin Queen, which sails direct to Haad Rin.