Koh Tao is the smallest out of the Chumphon Archipelago islands within the southern area of Thailand, yet that doesn’t depreciate the magical moments it is filled with or amazing scuba diving spots that it hosts – being known for some of the top ones in the country. Surrounded by crystal clear blue waters, wonderful marine life and a beautiful mountainous backdrop, it’s a picturesque paradise that is well worth visiting. To start planning your trip from Koh Samui to Koh Tao, the best way is by booking your ferry via 12Go. This will take you over from one of the piers on Koh Samui to Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao.
HOW TO GET FROM KOH SAMUI TO KOH TAO
This blog post is going to delve into the details of all the options available for you to get from Koh Samui to Koh Tao, this will then make it easier for you to plan and book your journey across.
The commute from one island to the other is made via ferry, there are approximately 6 running per day, with the earliest departing at 8.30am and the latest at 3.30pm from either Maenam or Na Thon pier on Koh Samui. There is also an option of booking a taxi transfer that will take you from your accommodation on Koh Samui down to one of the piers prior to you hopping on a ferry. The average price per ticket for a ferry is around $30 and you will arrive at Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao.
One of the best ways to book your ticket for the trip from Koh Samui to Koh Tao is with 12Go. Here you will be able to compare prices, travel times and find the most suited departure pier for your journey.
BEST WAY TO BOOK YOUR TICKET FROM KOH SAMUI TO KOH TAO
If you are ready to start planning your trip from Koh Samui to Koh Tao and want to book your ticket now without reading this whole article, then you will want to check out all of the options available on 12Go. This is one of the best ways to purchase your ticket as it shows all of the departure and arrival times, the commuting length, where you will depart from and arrive at, plus the travel operator, transport type and finer details you will need to be aware of.
However, if you want to know more about this information before booking your journey from Koh Samui to Koh Tao and having to search through each option yourself, then you will want to carry on reading this blog.
| Ferry Koh Samui - Koh Tao $ 16.37–19.09 1h 30m – 4h | |
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KEY POINTS
First let’s touch on a few key points that are worth knowing before booking your trip from Koh Samui to Koh Tao…
The cheapest ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao
For the most affordable ferry there is a high speed ferry from Na Thon Pier at 10.30am with Songserm travel operator which takes 4 hours travel time before arriving in Koh Tao, costing $25.
The quickest ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao
For the fastest commute which only takes 90 minutes and costs $30 each there are three options with Lomprayah travel operator, these are;
- The earliest catamaran from Maenam Pier at 8.00am
- The afternoon speedboat from Maenam Pier at 2.30pm
- The latest catamaran from Na Thon Pier at 3.30pm
Arrival time before ferry departure
All ferries require check-in (at the latest) 30 minutes before departing from the port. However, to ensure that you have everything you need and do not need to wait in long check-in queues before going from Koh Samui to Koh Tao, I suggest you arrive at the port at least 2 if not 3 hours before the ferry departure time. To choose your ferry, you can find all available options via 12Go.
Luggage allowance for the ferry
When taking a catamaran or speedboat for the journey from Koh Samui to Koh Tao, each passenger is allowed 20kg of luggage included within their ticket booking. Anything over this and up to 30kg will be charged for.
When travelling with a high speed ferry, each passenger is allowed 1 hand luggage item and 1 extra large suitcase within their ticket booking, for an extra piece of luggage you will be charged.
To book your ferry, check out 12Go, which includes all specific details regarding each commute.
Combined taxi and ferry tickets
If you are looking to take a taxi transfer from your accommodation to the pier of departure for the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao then you will need to book the Taxi+Ferry ticket via 12Go. This way you will be guaranteed to make it in time for the ferry once leaving your accommodation. Please note, the taxi will not be able to reach the exact location of all accommodations, so this will need to be clarified before booking.
ROUTES FROM KOH SAMUI TO KOH TAO
There are a two options of ports to depart by when travelling from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. Here are the choices available…
Maenam Pier
From Maenam Pier there are catamarans and speedboats available with the operating company of Lomprayah. These journeys take between 1 hour and 30 minutes up to 1 hour and 45 minutes depending on which option you choose. There are also journeys which include the taxi transfer from your hotel to the pier before catching the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. To book your ticket from Maenam Pier, find all options available via 12Go.
Na Thon Pier
At Na Thon Pier you can take a catamaran which is 1 hour and 30 minutes of travel time, or a speedboat which is 2 hours of travel time, both with the travel operator of Lomproyah to get from Koh Samui to Tao There is also the option of taking the 4 hour long high speed ferry journey with travel operator Songserm. As well as from Maenam Pier, there are options of booking the taxi transfer to the pier before heading over to Koh Tao by ferry. If you would like to book your ferry from Na Thon Pier, check out the options through 12Go.
HOW TO GET TO DEPARTURE PORTS ON KOH SAMUI
There are several options to travel around Koh Samui with, making it accessible and easier to get the pier you need to depart by when going from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. Booking the taxi+ferry ticket via 12Go is the best option, as it will take you directly to the specific pier for the right time and either exactly from your accommodation or a point nearby it.
If you have rented a car whilst on the island and have the option of using it to get you to the pier then that will be the most convenient choice for you to use. Other transfers to the pier can be made by booking a taxi, you can choose between a motorbike, scooter, songthaew (a fun and authentic way to get around the island), or a normal car.
Before organising your transportation to take you from your accommodation to the pier, ensure that you have planned enough time to arrive there 2-3 hours before the departure of your ferry.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKET FROM KOH SAMUI TO KOH TAO
The simplest way to book your ticket is to plan the time you would like to arrive in Koh Tao and search via 12Go for the most suited trip. The benefits of using this platform to book your tickets from Koh Samui to Koh Tao are that you can see the specific times, types of transport and different commute lengths available, this will also mean that you are guaranteed to get the exact journey that you want. If you were to wait until you are at the port, there may be queuing times to purchase your ticket as well as the chance that you will miss out on the ferry you were thinking of.
SCHEDULE AND PRICE FROM KOH SAMUI TO KOH TAO
There are usually at least 6 ferries that leave from Koh Samui to Koh Tao per day, with the earliest departure from Koh Samui at 8.00am and the latest 3.30pm. Ticket prices for these are $25-$30 dependent on the pier you depart from and with which travel operator you book with.
If you would like to purchase the taxi+ferry combined ticket, each day has approximately 3 booking slots available. The earliest option available is around 6.45am, with the latest being around 10.30am. These commutes can cost between $32-$36 and take between 2 hours 45 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes.
HOW TO GET TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION ON KOH TAO
Once you arrive at Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao you have a few options of how to then commute to your final destination. If you know where you need to go and how to get there then renting either a scooter or motorcycle would be a good choice, or if you don’t need to go far you could go by foot. As the island is only 21 sq km, there are no options for public transport or renting a car.
If you are unsure of exactly how to get to where you need to be, booking a taxi would be a good choice for you, these are either via motorbikes or pick up trucks, which are also known as songthaews. Alongside these options, there is also the chance to take a longtail boat depending on your final destination location, as this form of transport only goes to certain bays.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KOH TAO
Depending on what you are looking to do on Koh Tao, depends on which is the best time to visit. The two months that are not encouraged for travellers to go are October and November as these are known for being their monsoon season.
If you are looking to experience great diving, the best weather conditions and not too many tourists, then the month you will want to visit is February. However if that doesn’t suit you but you want to have clear waters for diving, July through to and including August is also a great time to go.
HOW LONG TO SPEND ON KOH TAO
You want to ensure that you have at least 3 full days on the island of Koh Tao to really enjoy all of the amazing water activities, breath-taking viewpoints and golden sand beaches. For that extra insurance of not leaving before you are ready to, you can easily spend 4 days here. Famous for having world class snorkelling and scuba diving spots, spectacular sunset views plus their mouth watering Thai cuisine, you may never want to leave this little paradise at all. Booking an early ferry over from Koh Samui to Koh Tao will also allow you more time to spend exploring this paradise island.
THINGS TO DO IN KOH TAO
Scuba diving and snorkelling
This has to be on the top of your to-do bucket list in Koh Tao. With over 25 diving spots located around the island, and over 60 diving schools to take you to them, you are going to be left with a very memorable experience.
Check out mango viewpoint
Known for being the highest viewpoint on Koh Tao, here you will be able to see an incredible panorama of the island with views overlooking every direction. It can be a bit of a mission getting up there but is definitely worth the trip.
Kayaking over the ocean
If you are looking to spend some time out on the crystal clear waters but don’t fancy taking a diving trip, kayaking is the next best thing. You will be able to explore close to the island and around the other bays, if you’re feeling more daring, try out a paddleboard.
Take a cooking class
To embrace the culture of Koh Tao, attending a cooking class is perfect to learn more about the flavours of the island whilst understanding how you can then recreate them after your visit. It’s a fun experience to do and by the end you will have learnt how to create three authentic Thai dishes.
Go beach hopping
With 20 beaches situated across the island, spending a day or two checking them out is a must. Golden sands, vibrant blue waters and beautiful views, this is a great way to soak up the Koh Tao atmosphere. You can also snorkel within the bays to explore some of the underwater world.
MORE THAILAND BLOGS
If you are looking for more places to visit in Thailand, how to get there and the best activities to do, then these are some great blogs you will want to check out…
20 BEST OVERWATER BUNGALOWS IN THAILAND
HOW TO GET FROM KOH SAMUI TO KOH PHANGAN BY FERRY: COMPLETE GUIDE
15 AWESOME VIEW POINTS ON KOH SAMUI, THAILAND