1. Train + Bus + Boat to Koh Tao
2. Bus + Boat to Koh Tao
3. Flight + Boat to Koh Tao
4. Taxi + Ferry to Koh Tao
🎫 Book a Tour in Koh Tao
🎫 Book Tickets to Koh Tao
From Bangkok to Koh Tao you can get by bus, train, taxi + ferry / boat.
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- The travel distance from Bangkok to Koh Tao in Thailand spans about 550 kilometers by land via Chumphon, while by plane it’s approximately 420 kilometers. Travelers have four options to reach Koh Tao from Bangkok: traveling by bus + ferry, train + ferry, plane + ferry, or taxi + ferry via Chumphon. As there’s no airport on Koh Tao Island, direct flights from Bangkok aren’t available. However, travelers can opt for a direct flight to Chumphon and then take a ferry to Koh Tao. Alternatively, there are direct flights to nearby Koh Samui, from where ferries connect to Koh Tao. Another land travel option is to take a train, tourist bus, or taxi/car to Chumphon, followed by a ferry ride to Koh Tao.
- Various boats and ferries operate from Chumphon to Koh Tao. Traveling by bus and ferry via Chumphon is the cheapest option, while flying and taking a ferry via Koh Samui is the fastest. From Koh Tao, travelers can further explore neighboring islands by boat, including Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, or Surat Thani. Additionally, travelers can journey via Surat Thani to Khao Sok National Park. Booking bus, train, ferry tickets, or flights from Bangkok to Koh Tao is convenient and straightforward when done online.
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- Koh Tao (also Ko Tao) – literally Turtle Island in the Chumphon Archipelago, is a picturesque destination in Southern Thailand. Spanning approximately 21 km², Koh Tao sits about 30 km north of Koh Phan Gan and roughly 70 km from Chumphon town. The island, nestled in the Chumphon Archipelago, is renowned for its diving and snorkeling spots. Visitors can explore Koh Tao’s beauty by renting a scooter or bicycle. Before planning a trip to Koh Tao, it’s advisable to check the weather forecast for the best experience.
- Travelers have four popular options to reach Koh Tao from Bangkok, including a combination of train, bus, flight, or car via Chumphon + ferry / speedboat. The most economical and common choice is traveling by bus/train + ferry via Chumphon. Travelers can easily book tickets to Koh Tao from Bangkok, Thailand, online.
| Transfer Mode – Bangkok to Koh Tao: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Train + Ferry via Chumphon | 10-13 hours | $40-60/pp |
| Bus / Van + Ferry via Chumphon | 10-15 hours | $25-40/pp |
| Flight + Ferry via Chumphon | 8-12 hours | $50+/pp |
| Private Car + Ferry via Chumphon | 10-13 hours | $220-385 |
How do I get from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
1. TRAIN + FERRY from Bangkok to Koh Tao
The cheapest and most popular land transfer option from Bangkok to Koh Tao is a train and ferry trip via the city of Chumphon. This transport option therefore has 2 steps and the total driving time can take approx. 10-13 hours, but it depends on waiting for the ferry in the city of Chumphon. In the first step, you can use Thai trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station to Chumphon Railway Station, see Thailand Railway Map.
The journey time by train to Chumphon from Bangkok is approximately 7-10 hours, depending on the type of train, each train may have a different journey time. Train transfer is the cheapest transport option to Chumphon and tickets will cost you between $7-52/pp, 3rd and 2nd class train seats are always the cheapest.
The 1st and 2nd class sleeper beds are always more expensive but more comfortable possibilities. For this route, it is more appropriate to choose a seat in 2nd class or a sleeper bed. You can search and buy train tickets to Chumphon from Bangkok online in advance.
In the second step, you will continue with the ferry from Chumphon to Koh Tao. On this route, you can use faster ferries and speedboats or even a slower sleeping boat with beds, it’s up to you what you choose. Ferry and boat transfers from Chumphon to Koh Tao are offered by companies such as Lomprayah, Fame Tour, Axara Travel, Songserm, KP Tripadvisor.
The transfer with a faster ferry or boat from Chumphon to Koh Tao takes about 2-3 hours, and the transfer by a slower boat with sleeping beds takes about 7-8 hours. Most regular travelers will be fine using a faster ferry or boat. Ferry and boat tickets to Koh Tao from Chumphon cost between $18-25/pp, but you can also purchase combo tickets for a bus transfer to the port and then a ferry to Koh Tao.
These combined tickets are a little more expensive and can cost about $20-35/pp, the advantage is a transfer from the city or another place to the port. Once again, you can easily find and buy tickets for ferries and boats to Koh Tao online.
2. BUS + FERRY from Bangkok to Koh Tao
Another, and again cheaper, land transfer option to Koh Tao from Bangkok is a bus and ferry trip again via the city of Chumphon. This option also has 2 steps and the total transfer time is approximately the same as the train journey, i.e. approx. 10-15 hours in total. Some buses have longer travel times than train journeys, e.g. up to 12 hours.
On the route from Bangkok to Chumphon, you can use modern buses of companies such as Transport Co, Suwanatee, Montanatip and others. A bus transfer from Bangkok to Chumphon costs between $14-22/pp, depending on the company.
Buses depart from various locations in Bangkok, such as Mochit, Khao San or Southern Terminal, and arrive at various locations in Chumphon, such as the train and bus stations. You will see this information about departures and arrivals again when searching for tickets. You can easily search and buy your bus tickets from Bangkok to Chumphon online in advance.
The second step is again a ferry transfer from Chumphon to Koh Tao. Faster ferries travel this route in approx. 2-3 hours and sleeping boats travel approx. 7-8 hours. You can easily find and buy tickets for these ferries and boats to Koh Tao online.
Boats and ferries arrive on the island of Koh Tao at the port of Mae Haad and leave in Chumphon from Tung Makham or Chumphon Ferry Pier. You will see this information about departure points and ports when searching for tickets online.
If you are thinking about a land transfer to Chumphon, a more suitable option is to travel by Thai train, as a result, train tickets can be even cheaper.
📅 Bus + Ferry Schedule / Timetable – Bangkok to Koh Tao + Tickets:
| Bus + Ferry Schedule – Bangkok to Koh Tao: | Departs in Bangkok | Arrival in Koh Tao | Bus + Ferry Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | 06:00 | 14:45 | From $35.00 |
| Lomprayah | 21:00 | 08:45 | From $35.00 |
| Bangkok Travel Plus | 19:00 | 08:45 | From $40.00 |
| Montanatip | 19:00 | 08:45 | From $40.00 |
| Fametour | 13:00 | 05:00 | From $40.00 |
| Paradise Travel | 19:00 | 09:30 | From $41.00 |
3. FLIGHT + FERRY from Bangkok to Koh Tao
A faster and more convenient transfer option from Bangkok to Koh Tao is an air and ferry transfer via Chumphon. In theory, you can also fly to Koh Samui and from there you can also take a ferry to Koh Tao. A minor disadvantage of this option is the fact that Chumphon Airport is located approximately 50 km from the city and port of Chumphon, from which boats and ferries to Koh Tao depart.
However, it is still the most convenient transportation option between these places. Another disadvantage of the air transfer is that the flight schedule between Bangkok and Chumphon is very limited. Direct flights from Bangkok to Chumphon are offered by companies such as Thai AirAsia or Nok Air.
Flights are operated from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok to Chumphon Airport. You can then get from Chumphon Airport to the city center by bus or private minivan or another private transfer, such as a taxi. A direct flight to Chumphon from Bangkok takes only about 1 hour, and if you include the transfer to the airport in Bangkok and the wait before departure, the total transfer time can be up to 5 hours.
Flights from Bangkok to Chumphon are relatively cheap, offered in Economy class and cost between $40-70/pp. Flights from Bangkok to Chumphon can again be easily searched and purchased online in advance. The second step is a transfer from the airport to the city of Chumphon and then a subsequent transfer with a ferry to Koh Tao. More information about the boat transfer is already described above.
4. TAXI/CAR + FERRY from Bangkok to Koh Tao
The most expensive, but at the same time, convenient option for a land transfer from Bangkok to Koh Tao is a private car/taxi with a driver and a subsequent ferry transfer via the city of Chumphon. This option also has 2 steps and the total transfer time can be approx. 9-13 hours, but this time can vary a little. Depending on where you are leaving from and where exactly you want to arrive by private car.
Private transfers with modern cars and drivers will be offered by companies such as N and T Travel, Kanokwan Travel, Firstplan Transport Services, Kim Transfers Thailand, Bangkok Taxi 24, Thailand Limo by Datum, Glassflower, MCC VAN.
Most of these private taxi companies have modern smaller cars, SUVs and even larger minivans or modern comfortable minibuses for more people on offer for transfers to Chumphon.
You can always budget the fare between individual passengers in the vehicle. Transportation by private car from Bangkok to Chumphon takes about 6.5-8 hours and the fare ranges from $170-450/car. These prices vary depending on the type of car you choose, with smaller cars paying less and larger cars or minivans paying more.
You will see detailed information about departures, journey times and cars and illustrative photos when searching for these private transfers online. You can easily find and book your private car with driver from Bangkok to Chumphon online.
The second step is again a ferry transfer from the city of Chumphon to the island of Koh Tao, again you have to book tickets separately for ferry transfers. A private transfer is not suitable for low-cost travelers, due to the higher price of the fare.
❓ FAQ + TIPS – Travel route from Bangkok to Koh Tao:
1. How to book and buy tickets from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
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- You can book tickets from Bangkok to Koh Tao on 12go.asia ➜ or Baolau ➜.
2. What is the travel time from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
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- Travel by train + bus + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao (via Chumphon) takes about 10-13 hours.
- Travel by bus + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao (via Chumphon) takes about 10-15 hours.
- Travel by plane + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao (via Chumphon) takes about 8-12 hours hours.
- Travel by taxi/car + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao (via Chumphon) takes about 10-13 hours.
3. What is the travel distance from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
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- Travel distance from Bangkok to Koh Tao is about 550 km (via Chumphon).
4. How much does it cost to travel from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
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- To get by train + bus + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao (via Chumphon) costs about $55/pp.
- To get by bus + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao (via Chumphon) costs about $25-40/pp.
- To get by plane + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao (via Chumphon) costs about $50+/pp.
- To get by taxi + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao (via Chumphon) costs about $185-490.
5. From which cities you can take a boat/ferry to Koh Tao?
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- You can travel by boat/ferry from Chumphon or Surat Thani to Koh Tao. There are various ferries.
6. What types of boats you can use from Chumphon to Koh Tao?
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- There are various types of boats from Chumphon to Koh Tao: Ferry, High Speed ferry, Sleeper boat or Catamaran.
7. What is the best way how to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
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- The best and fastest way how to travel from Bangkok to Koh Tao is to travel by plane to Chumphon (direct flights, low-cost flights) and from Chumphon by high speed ferry/catamaran.
8. What is the cheapest way of getting from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
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- Travel by bus and ferry is the cheapest way of transport from Bangkok to Koh Tao. Join tickets start at $25-30/pp.
9. Is there also another way how to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
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- Yes, there are also another ways how to reach Koh Tao. E.g. you can take a direct flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui and from Koh Samui you can travel by boat/ferry to Koh Tao.
- You can also travel to Surat Thani by train or bus and take a ferry or boat to Koh Tao
10. How to go back from Koh Tao to Chumphon or Surat Thani?
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- From Koh Tao to Chumphon or Surat Thani you can travel by boat or high speed ferry.
11. Does Koh Tao have an airport?
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- No, Koh Tao has no airport. The closest airport is in Chumphon, Surat Thani or Koh Samui. If you want to book low-cost flights, you have to travel via Chumphon or Surat Thani. Flights to Koh Samui are the most expensive.
12. Where you can travel from Koh Tao?
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- From Koh Tao you can travel by ferry to Koh Phangan or Koh Samui, the closest island to Koh Tao. Or you can travel to Surat Thani and from this town you can travel by minivan or private car to Khao Sok National Park or Khao Lak.
13. How you can get to Bangkok from Koh Tao?
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- If you want to travel from Koh Tao to Bangkok, you can use the same way how you arrived to Koh Tao. Travel via Chumphon is the best and fast way of transfer to Bangkok. There are boats to Chumphon and trains, buses or private car and flight to Bangkok.
14. How to get from Koh Tao to Koh Samui?
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- From Koh Tao to Koh Samui you can travel by catamaran or high speed ferry. It takes about 1.5-3 hours. There are various boats and ferries of Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery and Songserm. You can book tickets to Koh Samui online. Travel by boat from Koh Tao to Koh Samui costs about $16-23/pp.
15. Which are the most popular and nice islands in Thailand?
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- There are a lot of various interesting, nice and also isolated or tourist islands in Thailand. Most of them are in the Gulf of Thailand or Phang Nga Bay. Read this article: The Best Islands in Thailand.
BOOK a TOUR / TRIP in Koh Tao ➜
