Bangkok to Koh Tao

There are two main routes to get to Koh Tao, depending on whether you wish to fly via Koh Samui or travel by surface transport (bus or train) via Chumphon. Whichever method you choose, the last leg will be a ferry ride to the island.

Flying: Fly from Bangkok to Koh Samui (a neighbouring island), then take a ferry to Koh Tao.

Bus: Take the bus from Bangkok to Chumphon, connecting with a ferry to Koh Tao.

Train: Take the train south to Chumphon with the option of making stops en-route, then take a ferry to Koh Tao.

Flying to Koh Tao

Flying is by far the easiest and fastest method to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao.

Bangkok Airways has regular services from Bangkok to Koh Samui (a short ferry ride from Koh tao) 19 times a day.

Booking online well in advance (at least a month before your travel date), you can take advantage of their special "promotional fares" for the first and last flights of the day. The promotional fares aren't really explained on their website, but it is for a standard seat on the first and last flights of the day, leaving Bangkok at 06:00 and 20:30, cutting the price of a flight from 3,645THB each way to 2700THB.

If you choose to forego the pleasures of a brief stay in Bangkok in favour of rapid transport to Koh Tao, advise the airline you fly to Bangkok with of your Bangkok Airways connecting flight. Your luggage will be moved for you and you won't need to go through immigration at Bangkok Airport.

Should you miss your connecting flight to Koh Samui due to delayed arrival in Bangkok, Bangkok Airways normally just put you on the next plane to Koh Samui without surcharge, but it's still worth giving yourself a few hours grace between flights to make your life easier, and it gives you time to do a spot of duty free shopping in the airport.

The flight takes aproximately 45 minutes.

Koh Samui Airport is worth seeing in its own right. Most of the buildings appear to have been designed with the same criteria as a typical beach bar; wooden construction with coconut matting on the roof instantly lets you know that you're on a tropical island. Beautiful gardens with organically designed wooden seating are frequented by numerous butterfly breeds, and the fact that a golf course crosses the runway gives you an idea of the laid back approach here. On your return journey, you'll find a post office for those last minute post cards and a restaurant with good, cheap meals.

Bus and Ferry to Koh Tao

There are two main companies offering bus and ferry trips to Koh Tao:

Both offer modern coaches for the somewhat purgatorial 8 hour bus ride from Bangkok to Chumphon, followed by high speed ferries that take you from Chumphon to Koh Tao in approxmately two hours. Both services cost around 1,000THB.

Lomprayah's twin-hulled vessels look pretty cool and they're great in fine weather, but on a windy day they bob about like a cork in a cauldron which makes for a pretty sickly experience. As the weather can change from a perfect day to a perfect storm in the space of a few minutes, we recommend the Seatran ferries which are considerably more stable and have more generous seat space.

You'll also get to visit the famous Farang Bar in Chumphon en-route to freshen up, enjoy a fine meal and stretch tired muscles.

Both services will pick you up in Bangkok near Khao San Road.

Train and Ferry to Koh Tao

Train travel is cheap in Thailand, but not very fast. An overnight train from Bangkok to Chumphon will be in the region of 600-1,000THB.

Probably the best reason to choose travel by train is the opportunity to stop off at a few different places en-route though. There are numerous stations along this largely coastal route, most of which aren't mentioned on the timetables, and you can just take pot luck when you see somewhere you like. The next train may not be until the next day though, so it pays to choose carefully if time is limited. You might like to try:

Prachuap Kiri Khan

The name translates as "place of many mountains", and it certainly is. About halfway to Chumphon and approximately 12 miles from the mountains that mark the border between Thailand and Myanmar, the views are excellent, and the bay is dotted with mountainous islands. People here are amazingly friendly, and it's quite normal for locals to wave and greet you as you pass by.

Visiting Khao Chong Krajok, a hill with a 417 step staircase constructed on the side, topped by a shining temple and chedi is an absolute must, if only for the views from the summit and the company of the hundreds of monkeys that live here. Keep your belongings in monkey-proof pockets and bags: they've learned that they can swipe stuff from you and be "lured" back by food to return the item, but sadly they dont treat cameras and such with the respect they deserve. Bring some fresh mangoes and peanuts to keep them sweet, and you'll get hundreds of close-up photo opportunites.

Also worth a look is Ao Manao (lime beach), which is actually inside the local airforce base and you must sign in before going on to the beach (you may need ID). Take a taxi or a long walk in the blistering heat. Tiny crabs burrow all over the broad white sandy beach which is backed by sighing casuarina trees providing welcome shade. There's plenty of cafes along the quiet road that runs next to the beach. It's a bit commercial, but it makes for a pleasant afternoon.

Booking a Ferry

From Chumphon, you can organize a sea crossing to Koh Tao. Farang Bar acts as a ticket agent for all the Koh Tao ferry services, and you will be picked up from here to go to the ferry terminal.

Staying in Chumphon

Chumphon is a busy town with plenty of shopping opportunities, but the town itself is inland from the coast and ferry terminals. If you take a taxi ride or hire a bike, there's a decent beach just to the north.

For the budget conscious, we recommend staying at Farang Bar, where you can book your ferry ticket to Koh Tao and enjoy a good meal, usually in excellent company. Basic rooms cost 200 Baht per night.

If you prefer something a little more salubrious, try Chumphon Gardens Hotel across the street, where 550 Baht will secure you a jolly nice air-conditioned double or twin room.

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