How to get from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao by Ferry

Being the smallest out of 45 islands in Chumphon Archipelago, Koh Tao is a beautiful paradise destination with some of the best diving and snorkelling spots around. The whole island only equates to 21 km² in size yet is filled with 20 golden sand beaches, surrounded by glistening bright blue waters and offers a breathtaking backdrop of mountain views. It’s a picturesque place to explore around where you can enjoy a laid back way of life whilst getting involved with the many activities they have on offer. If you are looking to travel from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao by ferry then the best way to find and pre-book your ticket is via the online platform 12Go.

HOW TO GET FROM KOH PHANGAN TO KOH TAO BY FERRY

Throughout this blog I am going to delve into the details of how you can make the journey by ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao, starting off with the best way to book your ticket, key points that are great to know ahead of booking and the routes available for you to take. Following on from this I will also break down transport before and after your ferry, the best time to visit Koh Tao, how long to spend there and some great activities to do on your visit.

There are a handful of ferry options available per day from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao which you can book a ticket for through 12Go, with two departure stations in Koh Phangan – Lomprayah Office and Thong Sala, and just one arrival station in Koh Tao – Mae Haad. All ferries take from 1 to 2 hours in commute time and are either a speedboat or high speed ferry, with prices costing from just $12 up to $25 per ticket.

BEST WAY TO BOOK A FERRY TICKET FROM KOH PHANGAN TO KOH TAO

If you are too excited about your trip from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao, and ready to book your ferry ticket without reading this full blog, then you are going to want to head over to 12Go. Through this convenient and reliable online booking platform you will be able to find out all of the ferry options available for you on your chosen day of travel, alongside their arrival and departure times, commute length and price per ticket. 

Having said that, if you are looking to also understand more about the best time of year to visit from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao, how long to spend there and some of the top activities you will not want to miss out on, then carrying on reading this article is ideal for you.

KEY POINTS

Here are a few key points that are good to know before booking your ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao…

Quickest ferry available
The fastest ferry you can take to get from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao is one of the speedboat options which only takes 1 hour in commute time, run by the travel operator Lomprayah, with a few in operation per day. The cost of this journey per ticket is either $12 or $25 depending on which departure time you choose to go with.

Cheapest ferry ticket option
The most affordable ferry ticket option for getting from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao is only $12 per person and is the first ferry to depart each morning, run by travel operator Lomprayah. This ferry leaves Koh Phangan at 8.30am and arrives into Koh Tao at 9.30am making it also one of the fastest travel options available.

Arrival time before boarding each ferry
Each ferry requests that you check in no later than 30 minutes before the departure time on your ticket. With that being said, getting to the departing station at least an hour before you are due to leave is never a bad idea. This allows you to make sure you have everything you need as well as avoid any check in or boarding queues that may occur before travelling from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao.

Luggage allowance for each ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao
When travelling with the operating company Songserm via a high speed ferry, each passenger is allowed to take 2 pieces of luggage with them. This is 1 hand luggage piece and 1 checked in XL luggage piece, if you are to need a third piece of luggage you will be charged extra.

When travelling with the operating company Lomprayah via a speedboat, each passenger is allowed to take a piece of luggage weighing 20kg. You can take up to 30kg on the ferry but will be charged 20 THB per extra kilo.

Entrance fee when arriving to Koh Tao
When arriving from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao you may be charged 20 THB per person for anyone 12 years and above, as this may not be included in your ticket booking price so please take note of this before purchasing your ticket.

ROUTES AVAILABLE FROM KOH PHANGAN TO KOH TAO

There are currently two routes you can embark upon to get from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao by ferry. They are as follows…

Thong Sala Koh Phangan to Mae Haad Koh Tao
At the moment there is one ferry running via this route from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao and is with a high speed ferry operated by Songserm. This option departs Thong Sala in Koh Phangan at 12.30pm, taking 2 hours in commute time, arriving at Mae Haad in Koh Tao for 2.30pm. Each ticket for this trip costs $21 per person and can be pre-booked via 12Go.

Koh Phangan Lomprayah Office to Mae Haad Koh Tao
With this option of travel route there are approximately 4 ferries running per day with a speedboat and operated by Lomprayah. The earliest departure for these ferries is 8.30am with the latest being 4pm from Lomprayah in Koh Phangan, meaning the earliest arrival to Mae Haad Koh Tao is at 9.30am and the latest at 5pm. The commute times are between 1 hour and 1 hour 15 minutes, with the cost of a ticket being either $12 or $25 per person. To find out more around these routes, check out 12Go.

HOW TO BOOK A FERRY TICKET FROM KOH PHANGAN TO KOH TAO

The best and most convenient way to book your ferry ticket from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao is through 12Go. This is an online booking platform that allows you to view all of the travel options available, which day they operate on, arrival and departure times, the length of commute and how much a ticket costs per person.

Another great benefit for using 12Go is that if you need to change any of your travel details for your trip from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao or if something changes with the ferry you have booked, you have a point of contact which you can use to get in touch with them, or for them to get in touch with you.

GETTING TO DEPARTURE STATIONS IN KOH PHANGAN

In the recent years Koh Phangan has renovated their roads which has made it alot easier for you to commute around the area. Options you can use to get to your departure station ahead of making the trip from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao by ferry are;

• Scooter hire
• Car hire
• Taxi car
• Longtail boat
• Bicycle
• By foot

With several options to choose from, I suggest making note of which time you need to be at your departure station for and then comparing that to how long it will take you to get there via each form of transport. Another helpful tip for you to decide how to commute is by deciding how much you would like to spend on this and then looking into how much each option costs.

HOW TO GET TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION IN KOH TAO

Once you arrive from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao you will have a handful of options available for you to commute from Mae Haad Pier to your final destination on this gorgeous island. As the island is only small a great option, and the most affordable, is to go by foot but this will depend on how far you need to go as to if it is possible. Other options include;

• Taxi car
• Taxi boat
• Motorbike
• Bicycle

There are no options for other forms of public transport or car hire but this is no problem as Koh Tao is only 7 km long and 3 km wide so there is never too much ground to cover. Another option if you need to go to a different bay is to take a longtail boat from Mae Haad Pier. Before arriving from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao I suggest you discover the distance between the pier and your final destination to decide which commute option is most suited to you.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KOH TAO

Ultimately the best time to visit Koh Tao for you to appreciate the glorious sunshine and least rainfall is during the month of March, which is also known as part of their hot and dry season. Throughout this period the temperatures are at a high of 29 degrees each day, with rainfall only expected for one day out of the entire month. The atmosphere is a bit more lively than normal too with all of the bars and clubs being open, but the ocean visibility is not at its best.

However, if you are visiting Koh Tao for their fantastic diving and snorkelling, then you will want to book your trip from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao for the month of February as this is when the ocean visibility is at its prime with the waters being up to 30 degrees in temperature. Offering such a great underwater world with a lot of sea life you will want to make sure you visit during this time if this is what you’re most interested in doing.

The two months that are not encouraged for travellers to go are October and November as these are known for being their monsoon season.

HOW LONG TO SPEND ON KOH TAO

Even though Koh Tao may be small, it definitely has a lot for you to enjoy. You will want to make sure that you get to spend at least 3 days on this island, potentially even 4 if it’s possible for you to do. Things you can do range from wandering around their golden sand beaches, hiking up to gorgeous viewpoints, relaxing with a cocktail whilst watching a sunset and of course exploring around some of their 25 diving and snorkelling spots.

I suggest you check out exactly what you want to do before making the trip from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao so you don’t miss out on anything. It is also a great place to enjoy the authentic Thai lifestyle in a very relaxed environment.

MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN KOH TAO

Diving and snorkelling
This is a favourite activity to do for many travellers who visit Koh Tao. Hosting over 25 different diving and snorkelling spots across the island, with over 60 diving schools who can take you to explore the underwater world, you will be truly spoiled. There is also the opportunity to gain your scuba diving certification with some of the diving schools on the island.

Go kayaking
For another great activity to explore across the vibrant turquoise waters surrounding the island, kayaking is a brilliant way to check out other bays and also see some of the sea life in the ocean. It offers a tranquil atmosphere and if you go on a day when the waters are calm, you won’t even need to be doing that much paddling. If you fancy a bit more of a sporty water activity, you also have the opportunity to hire paddle boards.

Admire mango viewpoint
This is the highest viewpoint on Koh Tao, where you will be able to admire magnificent panoramic views overlooking the island. The hike up to the viewpoint can get a little bit tough in certain points but for the breathtaking result it is definitely worth the effort.

Explore the beaches
Boasting 20 beaches located around the island that are filled with golden sand whilst overlooking glistening clear blue waters, you are going to want to discover as many as possible to soak up their beauty. You can spend your days relaxing along the shores, or snorkelling in the ocean, however you choose it will be a wonderful way to spend your time.

Enjoy a cooking class
After being spoiled with the delicious flavours of authentic Thai cuisine you will not want to leave it behind, but here is the solution to that problem – book a cooking class. Here you will learn how to create three wonderful dishes that you can then make at home for yourself, family and friends. It is a very fun activity to do and also introduces you to Thai culture even more.

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