getting to koh tao

There are several ways for you to get to Koh Tao You can choose to fly to Koh Samui or Chumphon 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 Survarnabhumi Airport (main international airport) to Koh Samui (a neighbouring island), then take a ferry to Koh Tao. You ferry can be booked from the airport but at busy times is wise to book online.

Flying: Fly from Bangkok Don Muang Airport (domestic airport) to Chumphon (mainland town where ferry to Koh Tao departs) then take a ferry to Koh Tao.

Bus: Take the bus from Bangkok to Chumphon, connecting with a ferry to Koh Tao - you should purchase your joint ticket in Bangkok.

Train: Take the train south to Chumphon. There are overnight sleeper options that connect with the morning ferry to Koh Tao. Your ferry ticket can be bought at the train station in Bangkok or Chumphon or online before you travel.

flying to koh samui

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. The flight takes approximately 45 minutes.

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.

If you miss your connecting flight to Koh Samui due to delayed arrival in Bangkok, Bangkok Airways normally 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.

There are three ferry companies offering 5 services a day from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. Boat tickets and pier transfers are available from the airport, at your hotel or from any travel agent. At busy times we do suggest that you book your ticket online before you travel. Remember that the last ferry transfer leaves at lunchtime so if you arrive after the last boat and have to stay the night then we suggest you stay at Maya Buri.

flying to chumphon

Solar Air fly from Don Muang Airport (BKK) to Chumphon and connect with ferries to Koh Tao. Flights leave daily at 9.45am , you will arrive to Koh Tao around 3pm.

As the service runs on small planes the luggage allowance is just 5 kilos with excess baggages charged at 70B per kilo

For more information check out their site.

Nok Air also operates out of Don Muang airport and offer flights to Chumphon too.  The flights leave daily at 8.30am, join with the ferry and get you to Koh Tao by 3pm.

This service has a higher luggage allowance and cheaper excess baggage rate.

For more information check out their site.

Please note that there is currently no mass transit airport link which will connect Survarnabhumi Airport to Don Muang Airport.  (This is not likely for completion until 2016) Currently the only way to connect is by taxi.  This can take as a little as 45 mins however it can also take as long as 2 hours depending on traffic. The distance between the airports is close to 50km and will cost around 500B in a taxi.

bus to chumphon

The Lomprayah offers bus and ferry trips to Koh Tao:

They offer modern coaches for the 8 hour bus ride from Bangkok to Chumphon, followed by high speed ferries that take you from Chumphon to Koh Tao in approximately two hours. The full trip costs around 1,000THB.

They offer 2 trips per day, leaving Bangkok, near Khao San Road.

train to chumphon

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 stretch out in a bed of sorts, in one of the sleeper carriages. You will need to book ahead to ensure a bed and you will find the 'lower' beds a little more roomy. These trains also have a small buffet car where you can eat, drink and even party!

For information on booking Thailands trains, click here.

ferry companies

Three ferry companies connect Koh Tao with Koh Phangnan and Koh Samui and the mainland cities of Chumporn and Suratthani. Each company runs two schedules each day, one first thing in the morning and the other around lunchtime.

The Songserm is is your cheapest option but also the slowest and not so comfortable as the newer boats. This service does dock right next to Master Divers though.

The Seatran connects the islands and the mainland but their mainland connections are further out of the cities of Chumpon and Surathani than the other operators. Their joint buses connect you with Bangkok and Hua Hin too.

The Lomprayah is the fastest carrier and the most comfortable for both their buses and ferries but does cost a little more. Their joint buses connect you with Bangkok and Hua Hin too.

Both the Seatran and the Lomprayah dock only a few mins walk from Master Divers, the Lomprayah being the closest.

Ferry time tables are subject to change so rather than give you bad information, see the links below for bookings and their current timetables too.

http://www.songserm-expressboat.com/

http://www.seatrandiscovery.com/aboutus.php

http://www.lomprayah.com/

At busy times we strongly recommend that you book your tickets online before your travel.

master divers

Once you are here, Master Divers is easy to find – for information and photographs to help you find us click here.