Ferries to Koh Tao

Koh Tao's ferry port lies in the Gulf of Thailand and links the diving island with its larger neighbours and the mainland. You reach Ko Phangan in an hour, Koh Samui in 1.5 hours and Chumphon on the mainland in 1.75 hours. Combined boat-and-bus tickets continue to Surat Thani and to Ko Samui airport in 2.5 hours each, to Krabi in 5.5 hours and as far as Bangkok Khao San in 10.25 hours. In all there are 15 destinations and up to 123 departures a day, and the longest service takes 22 hours. The port is served by Boonsiri High Speed Ferries, Lomlahkkhirin, Lomprayah High Speed Ferries and Songserm.

Getting there and the terminal

All ferries call at Mae Haad on the west coast, the island's main village. There is no shared terminal building there: Lomprayah, Songserm and Boonsiri each run their own jetty with their own desk in the bay, which is why they appear in the timetables as Lomprayah Pier, Songserm Mae Haad Pier and Boonsiri Sealine Ferry Pier. Your ticket says which of them is meant, and the names differ by only one word. The difference is a matter of minutes on foot, but luggage and departure times do not always forgive a wrong turn. Check-in is at the desk of the relevant operator on the jetty, not at a shared counter.