Koh Tao to Koh Samui

Koh Tao to Koh Samui

NaN Passengers

Other Options

Koh Tao to Koh Samui Schedule

Koh Tao to Koh Samui Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
Koh Tao Booking Center Private Speedboat 10 Pax + Van Any time฿ 41,600
Lomlahkkhirin Speedboat 07:00 - 08:30฿ 800
Songserm High Speed Ferry 09:30 - 13:00฿ 600
Lomprayah Speedboat 15:30 - 17:30฿ 700
Lomprayah Ferry 17:00 - 19:30฿ 550

How to get from Koh Tao to Koh Samui

Crystal clear waters and idyllic beaches, lush tropical greenery and modern ‘island style’ shopping molls, fancy jewellery shops and colourful local markets – you name it – Samui has it all. No wonder that the third-largest island in Thailand, Samui has become popular amongst both luxurious holiday makers and backpackers on a budget who can each find the experience, accommodation, activities and entertainment that they come for. Whether its candle-lit dinners on post-card beaches, wild and adventurous partying through the night, treks through forests and jungles or days spent oiled up on the beach, Koh Samui is the right choice to get it.

Samui makes a great contrast to Koh Tao with its quiet village life and almost no night scene. Though there are diving and snorkelling tours offered on Samui, you’d better make all the underwater explorations on Koh Tao, and dedicate your time on Samui to partying, shopping or sunbathing.

Getting to Koh Samui from Koh Tao

There are three ferry companies which link Koh Tao to Koh Samui via Koh Phangan. They are Lomprayah High Speed Sai 2, Seatran Discovery and Songserm.

Lomprayah takes about 1¾ hr to bring passengers from Koh Tao to Samui, leaving from Mae Haad on Koh Tao and arriving to Maenam on Samui. Tickets cost from THB600 to THB750, depending on the departure time. There are boats at 9.30am and 3pm.

Seatran Discovery offers similar service but is a bit slower and cheaper: transit time is 2½ hrs, the ticket cost is THB 580. On Samui boats moor to Bangrak Seatran Pier. There are three departures a day at 6.30am, 9am and 3pm.

Songserm has only one express boat a day at 10am which arrives to Samui via Koh Phangan at 1.30pm. It costs THB 450 and the hotel pick-ups are included in the price.

Tip: As your sea travel between Koh Tao and Koh Samui will last from two to three hours, have all the necessary medications at hand if you are prone to seasickness. When the sea is choppy, opt for Seatran instead of Lomprayah, as the catamaran actually rides the swell, while Seatran cuts through it, which help avoid endless ups and downs.

Getting around

Koh Samui is large and you will need a way to get around easily, since doing it on foot is very limiting and uncomfortably hot, but there are many far better options available depending on how you like to get around.

Taxis (songthaews) are a great way to travel long distances on the island, or if you want to go out partying and know you shouldn't drive yourself around. While they are convenient and can get you everywhere from anywhere, this is probably the most expensive option, as you can expect to pay between 50 and 100 THB a person which adds up quickly.

Motorcycles are a fantastic way to get around. Motorcycles (and bicycles, too) can be rented from almost every resort on the island. Rentals are cheap, petrol is cheap, and they give you the freedom to go just about anywhere you want to go as you explore the island’s natural wonders. A word of caution though, you will undoubtedly see many tourists about with bandages and scrapes on their arms and legs, almost all of the time these are caused by accidents on scooters. You should be able to find a scooter for less than 200 THB a day. Most of the rental shops insist that you leave your passport behind. While this is a bit unnerving, it is also standard practice throughout Thailand, so be very careful with your scooter if you want to avoid any trouble.

Where to stay

Hat Chaweng is packed with all kinds of accommodation to suit any budget. It is the epicentre of the action, and the northern part of the beach can be quite noisy. Hat Lamai is another popular choice attracting holiday-makers both with its long stretch of white sand and a good choice of restaurants, bars and shops along the main road. In between the two beaches hides a little gem of Crystal Bay with – as the name suggests – crystal clear waters embraced with imposing boulders of a small bay. Hat Bang Rak (or Big Buddha Beach) leis relatively close to the airport (you may hear some noise), but the white sand of its western part compensate for it. Bo Phut is of particular interest not because of the beach but thanks to its trendy boutique hotels peppering Fishermen’s Village where strong Chinese influence can be felt even today. Families often opt for Mae Nam with its gentle sea. The West Coast is not a good choice if you come for the sea, but the sunsets are exceptional there.
Tip: Do not spend all your time on Samui on one and the same beach; try at least a couple of them and you will be rewarded with the diversity which this island has to offer.

Activities

Besides usual diving, snorkelling, kayaking, jungle-trekking and waterfalls find a couple of hours to visit the only rum distillery in Thailand, Magic Alambic. They produce Caribbean rum with a variety of natural flavours (obviously, they have coconut rum, too). They offer tasting sessions and sell rum, too (600-700 THB per 700ml bottle). Located in Baan Bang Kao. Travellers with the little ones in tow will love Paradise Park, which is a considerably large petting zoo, which is also one of the best viewpoints on the island.

Transportation from Koh Tao to Koh Samui

Facts about the transport from Koh Tao to Koh Samui

Cheapest Transport$16
Fastest Transport2h
Earliest Departure9:30 AM
Latest Departure5:00 PM
Departures per day9
Distance100 kilometers
Transport CompaniesKoh Tao Booking Center, Lomprayah, Lomprayah, Phantip 1970, Songserm

Koh Tao to Koh Samui Destination Reviews

LP
Heavy swell, many people threw up. Otherwise all top.
This review was autotranslated
Ferry Catamaran, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Mar 2, 2024
DL
Pier was overcrowded and long wait times with checking in! Boat was also delayed in heading off!
Ferry Catamaran, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Feb 28, 2024
ML
Boarding was unfortunately very chaotic there and back. The rest was very good.
This review was autotranslated
Ferry Catamaran, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Feb 9, 2024
NC
The many waves rocked the boat and made me throw up
Ferry Speedboat, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Dec 27, 2023
JL
Overall, we were very impressed. We travelled on a very rocky and windy day and were stressed based on previous reviews, but the journey was made more comfortable by the size of the boat. It was quick and timely and seats were comfortable. The stop at Koh Phagnan on the way was not an issue at all and didn’t interfere with the journey.
Ferry High Speed Ferry, Songserm (ส่งเสริม), Dec 25, 2023
JF
Advise this over the speedboat, the time difference is marginal and worth it for safety
Ferry Express, Phantip 1970 (พันทิพย์ 1970), Dec 3, 2023
IZ
I took a Lomphrayah speed catamar to Koh Tao which was scary and borderline unsafe. To come back, I took a Songserm ferry and was extremely happy with it, fewer people, so much space for yourself, no scary rocking of the boat, no one puking. I am surprised why more people don’t choose this option over speedboats.
Ferry High Speed Ferry, Songserm (ส่งเสริม), Nov 30, 2023
C
On time / easy check in / well organized
Ferry Catamaran, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Nov 15, 2023
KH
The boat was on time. But it was 100 bahts cheaper to buy at the pier. I don't know of they run out of tickets though.
Ferry Catamaran, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Nov 7, 2023
DK
Transfer that you can book on the speedboat much cheaper than the taxis on the island
Ferry Catamaran, Lomprayah (ลมพระยา), Oct 16, 2023
4.4
1024 customer reviews
5
53%
4
28%
3
14%
2
5%
1
0%