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How to Get from Koh Tao to Bangkok: All Options

How to Get from Koh Tao to Bangkok: All Options

Bangkok is a unique city, rich with cultural heritage that fuses together the old with the new. There is so much to enjoy from street food markets and spectacular temples and museums, to a vibrant nightlife scene and a relaxing Thai massage experience. It is even well known for being one of the most affordable cities in the world, making it a great place for travellers and backpackers to explore, whether they may be travelling  solo or in a group. If you are looking for the best ways to get from Koh Tao to Bangkok there are several options available meaning there will be at least one that suits you, and most can be found on 12Go.

Koh Tao to Bangkok

HOW TO GET FROM KOH TAO TO BANGKOK

In this blog post, I am going to detail all of the options available for you to get from Koh Tao to Bangkok, expanding on 6 ways for you to make this journey. A great way to find the perfect travel option for you is via 12Go, as it provides a variety of possibilities making it one of the best places to book your ticket to get from Koh Tao to Bangkok.

Within this article, first, I will take you through the different routes possible for you to get from Koh Tao to Bangkok – breaking down the types of transport, travel time and locations that they depart from and arrive at. Following that, I will then go through the key points of travelling with each type of transport, the cheapest option you can book, the most expensive option available, and any other information important for you to know, plus how to then get to your final destination from Bangkok. Finally, I will conclude with the best time to visit Bangkok alongside the must-do highlights of the city.

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Koh Tao to Bangkok

BEST WAY TO BOOK A TICKET FROM KOH TAO TO BANGKOK

If you haven’t got the time right now to read this full article but are ready to start planning your trip over from Koh Tao to Bangkok and want to know the best way to book your ticket, then this is the answer you are looking for. The most affordable and popular way to travel is by booking a combined ferry and bus ticket, with the shortest route being 10 hours, taking you from Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao over to Khao San Lomprayah in Bangkok.

One of the best ways to purchase this route of travel is via 12Go, where you can also find other options available.

However, If you want to delve further into the other travel options and routes available for your trip from Koh Tao to Bangkok, as well as more details around the journey and their key points, then I suggest you keep on reading.

Bus Koh Tao - Bangkok $ 34.10 10h
  •   Express 14:45
Ferry Koh Tao - Bangkok $ 39.55–42.28 10h – 18h 30m
  •   VIP 10:15, 14:45
  •   Sleeper Boat 21:00
Bangkok Transfer

6 OPTIONS OF TRAVEL FOR HOW TO GET FROM KOH TAO TO BANGKOK

To get from Koh Tao to Bangkok you will have the choice between these six options, with all of the journeys starting via a ferry trip from Mae Haad Koh Tao Pier before transferring to another type of transport, which will be either a;

  • Bus
  • Van
  • Taxi
  • Train
  • Plane

Option 1 – Ferry and bus
Booking the ferry followed by a bus is the cheapest and most popular option for budget travellers and backpackers taking the commute from Koh Tao to Bangkok.

The journey starts with taking a ferry from Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao over to Lomprayah Pier in Chumphon, with the quickest journey being 1 hour and 30 minutes, operated by Lomprayah High Speed Ferries. From there you will then be transferred onto a bus which arrives at Khao San Lomprayah, in Bangkok, after about 7 hours of travelling. In total this journey option is approximately 10 hours long as there is a short wait between the ferry arriving and bus departing, as well as it being dependent on which time the ferry is that you book.

The best way to book this route is to purchase a combined ferry and bus ticket for Koh Tao to Bangkok, as this is going to save you money, with your transfer onto the bus also being guaranteed. There are usually two available options per day, one in the morning which then arrives in Bangkok during the evening, and one in the afternoon which then arrives in Bangkok very early hours of the next morning. You can check out the specific times via 12Go.

Option 2 – Ferry and van
There are two time options for travelling by ferry and van from Koh Tao to Bangkok, both leaving Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao during the evening with the overnight ferry. The shortest travel time of the two is 16 hours, arriving the following afternoon at Khao San Boonsiri in Bangkok.

The cheapest ticket available for travelling by ferry and van takes just under 19 hours, arriving at Southern Terminal in Bangkok late afternoon of the following day. This form of transport does not run everyday, so to make sure if this would suit your trip, you can find the routes available via the timetables on 12Go. 

Option 3 – Ferry, bus and van
This is the longest way to get from Koh Tao to Bangkok and requires two changes, from the ferry to a van and then from a van to a bus, making the journey just over 20 hours long. The ferry departs from the same port as the others in Mae Haad and then arrives in Chumphon where you will then hop on a van to take you to Chumphon City and from there take a bus to arrive in Bangkok. The ferry included in the trip is an overnight ferry which is why the journey can take so long.

To book tickets for this, there is only one commute per day which can be found via 12Go.

Option 4 – Ferry and taxi
If you are looking for a more private travel option, that will take you to the exact location needed in Bangkok after taking the ferry from Koh Tao to Chumphon, you can book a private taxi. This works out at the most expensive option to choose. If you are looking to travel via this route from Koh Tao to Bangkok, you can book your ferry tickets from 12Go but the taxi will have to be booked separately. The whole journey can take between 9 and 11 hours altogether.

Option 5 – Ferry and train
For this option, you would take a similar route as to how you would travel via ferry, van and bus. You will need to take a ferry from Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao which will arrive in Chumphon where you will then take a van service to Chumphon Train Station and from here jump on the train which will arrive in Bangkok. Overall these modes of transport can make the journey approximately 13 hours long from Koh Tao to Bangkok. For this option, you can check the specific routes and price plans via 12Go. It is not possible to purchase a combined ticket for this option, so these will need to be booked separately.

Option 6 – Ferry and fly
Once again this journey begins by taking a ferry from Mae Haad Pier in Koh Tao over to Lomprayah Pier in Chumphon which can be booked via 12Go. Once in Chumphon you will then need to take either a taxi or private transfer to Chumphon Airport which can take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes before catching a flight to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The flight lasts one hour but with the beforehand travel and wait times, the whole trip from Koh Tao to Bangkok will take you 6 to 7 hours.

Koh Tao to Bangkok Ferry

KEY POINTS

Things you need to know before travelling by ferry from Koh Tao to Bangkok

  • You can only board the ferry by foot and no pets are allowed.
  • The baggage allowance for the ferry is 20kg per person.
  • You can check in at the earliest one day beforehand and at the latest 30 minutes prior to the ferry departure, so I suggest arriving at least two hours beforehand to ensure there is not a long check in line and that you have everything you need.
  • You can book this journey with a combined bus or van ticket.

Things you needs to know before travelling by bus or van from Koh Tao to Bangkok

  • You will need to show your passport alongside the purchased ticket boarding pass.
  • Check in is 60-minutes before departure time, I suggest arriving before this to ensure you are organised and to avoid queues.
  • You must only board the bus or van stated on the purchased ticket.
  • The baggage allowance for the van option is 7kg per person.
  • You can book these journeys with a combined ferry ticket.

Most affordable option for travel
The cheapest way to get from Koh Tao to Bangkok is via a combo ticket for the ferry and bus which you can easily book via 12Go.

Most expensive option for travel
The highest priced way to take the commute over from Koh Tao to Bangkok is via a ferry service followed by a private taxi.

Bangkok to Koh Tao
Bay and boat trips at Koh Tao,sea view from the island

HOW TO BOOK A TICKET FROM KOH TAO TO BANGKOK

he best and most convenient way to check exact time schedules, pricing plans and ensure that you will make all of the connections needed, is to book your ticket in advance via 12Go, this will also make certain that you get the most suited travel option for you from Koh Tao to Bangkok.

GETTING TO KOH TAO MAE HAAD PIER IN KOH TAO

When you are on Koh Tao island, to get around you can commute by foot, taxi cars, taxi boats, motorbikes and bicycles. With the island only being small, depending on where exactly you are staying there will be an option to most suit you as it won’t take too long, but do consider the commute time before booking any transport to get from Koh Tao to Bangkok.

Koh Tao Walkway

HOW TO GET TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION FROM BANGKOK

As Bangkok is a main city, also being the capital of Thailand, there are several options to navigate around the area once you have arrived and need to get to your exact final destination. 

The best and quickest way to commute around Bangkok is via the sky train, this is also one of the most affordable options and avoids all of the traffic, however another cheap way to travel is via bus. Other forms of transport include by boat or tuk-tuk (which are also must-do experiences in Bangkok) or you can take a motorbike or taxi.

Sky Train in Bangkok

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BANGKOK

With so much to do, see and experience, Bangkok is known for being an all year round travel destination, although, if you are looking to have great weather whilst you are there, the suggested months to go are from November until and including February. Even though these are classed as the winter months, the temperature is not too hot but there is always sunshine, making it ideal to explore around in. During the other months the humidity can be quite intense and their main rainfall period is throughout September and October.

Out of the four month period that is suggested when it is best to visit Bangkok, February can be the cheapest option as it is not classed as such a high season, making it more affordable than the other three months.

Taxi in Bangkok

HOW LONG TO VISIT BANGKOK FOR

You will need at least five days in the capital of Thailand, with seven days being more realistic if you want to embrace all of the impressive culture that Bangkok has to offer. This will mean you won’t be missing out on any of the incredible experiences, delicious food and sites to see that they have. Bangkok has been ranked as one of the top three cities to visit in the world, which shows how incredible this place really is to visit.

Temple in Bangkok

THINGS TO DO IN BANGKOK

Visit the Grand Palace
If you are ready to be in awe of one of the most beautiful buildings, then this needs to be added to your must-do bucket list for Bangkok. It is one of the most famous attractions in the city and with over 214,000 square metres of grounds to explore through.

Book a helicopter tour
For the best views overlooking the city and a thrilling experience, taking a helicopter tour is sensational. Throughout the flight you will be able to see breathtaking views of popular sites such as the Bridge of Bangkok and Chao Phraya River, plus a birds eye view of this incredible location. 

Enjoy a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River
This is also referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’ and when you see it, you will understand the reasoning behind this. All of the canals running throughout Bangkok feed off of this main river. You will be able to see the magnificent buildings in the city as well as hop on and off as you please to check out other areas around the capital.

Relax with a Thai massage
After a full day of exploring around the city, relaxing with a Thai massage is the perfect way to recharge. This is going to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to discover more of the Bangkok culture and attractions.

See The Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho
It wouldn’t be a complete trip to Bangkok if you didn’t check out this 15 metres tall and 46 metres long gold Buddha. There are also 108 bowls situated on the way to the temple which reflect the 108 positive actions the Buddha did on his way to becoming perfect.

Bangkok Culture

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