| Type | Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferry | Koh Tao Booking Center | Sleeper Boat + Van | 00:00 | 15:00 | $46.47 | |
Ferry | Lomprayah | Express | 09:30 | 14:15 | $17.63 | |
Bus | Lomprayah | Express | 10:00 | 14:15 | $24.03 | |
Ferry | 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport | Bus + Van + Speedboat | 11:00 | 18:00 | $44.86 | |
Ferry | Lomlahkkhirin | Speedboat | 12:00 | 16:00 | $17.63 | |
Bus | Lomprayah | Express | 13:00 | 17:45 | $24.03 | |
Ferry | Koh Tao Booking Center | Long Tail Boat 6pax | 14:00 | 14:20 | $9.61 | |
Ferry | Koh Tao Booking Center | Long Tail Boat 6pax | 15:00 | 15:20 | $9.61 | |
Bus | 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport | Bus + Van + Sleeper Boat | 15:20 | 06:00 | $31.40 | |
Ferry | Ruea Chor Maetapee | Ferry | 17:00 | 06:00 | $20.83 | |
Bus | 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport | Bus + Van + Sleeper Boat | 18:00 | 06:40 | $31.40 | |
Ferry | Ruea Chor Maetapee | Ferry | 18:30 | 07:00 | $20.83 | |
Ferry | Ruea Chor Maetapee | Ferry | 19:30 | 07:00 | $20.83 | |
Ferry | Ruea Chor Maetapee | Ferry | 22:00 | 06:00 | $20.83 |
Exploring Koh Tao alone is generally safe, as it is a popular tourist destination with a welcoming atmosphere. Solo travelers should exercise standard precautions, such as avoiding poorly lit areas at night and securing personal belongings.
Transportation and Connectivity
Renting a scooter is a common way to get around, costing approximately 150-300 THB per day ($4.50-$9). Ensure you have a valid license and wear a helmet.
Activities and Safety
Koh Tao is renowned for diving and snorkeling. Always use reputable operators for excursions. Beach areas and hiking trails are usually safe but stay aware of your surroundings.
Dining and Accommodation
There are numerous dining options, from local Thai eateries to international cuisine. Budget meals start at around 60 THB ($1.80).
Health and Well-being
Tap water is not safe to drink; use bottled water. Be mindful of sun exposure and use insect repellent to avoid bites.
Traveling to Koh Tao can be budget-friendly. Accommodation ranges from budget hostels at around 300 THB ($8) per night to mid-range hotels costing approximately 1,500 THB ($40). Street food and local eateries offer meals for about 100 THB ($3), while dining in restaurants may cost 300-600 THB ($8-$16).
Ferry transfers from Surat Thani or Chumphon to Koh Tao typically cost 500-1,000 THB ($13-$27). Renting a scooter is a common way to explore the island, with daily rates around 200 THB ($5). For activities, snorkeling tours start around 800 THB ($22).
Tap water is not safe for drinking, so plan to purchase bottled water. Overall, with careful planning and choosing local options, visiting Koh Tao can be quite affordable.
Surat Thani serves as a convenient transportation hub with access to nearby islands, while Koh Tao is a popular destination for diving and snorkeling.
Transportation: Surat Thani offers connections via bus, train, and ferry, making it easy to reach other locations. Koh Tao is accessible by ferry from Surat Thani, with travel times around 1.5 to 3 hours.
Activities: In Surat Thani, activities are limited primarily to local markets and temples. Koh Tao, however, is renowned for its dive sites, with PADI courses available.
Dining: Surat Thani has affordable local eateries, while Koh Tao offers a mix of Thai and international cuisine, with meal prices ranging from 100-300 THB ($3-$9).
Water Quality: Tap water is not recommended for drinking in either location; bottled water is advised.
Cost: Koh Tao tends to be more expensive due to its tourist focus. Choose based on interest in convenience or activities.
When you want to get from Surat Thani to Koh Tao, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:
If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Taxi. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Bus+ferry+van ticket.
The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A Ferry ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 28.84. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a ferry as a ferry ticket costs as low as USD 28.04.
If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Surat Thani to Koh Tao. Your trip will be a total of 11 miles (17 km). The flying distance is 11 miles (17 km).
The travel time from Surat Thani to Koh Tao can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 1 to 15 hours.
The cost of the trip from Surat Thani to Koh Tao varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Udomrat Tour: travelling by ferry expect to pay as low as USD 28.04 for your ticket.
However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a Ferry - a one-way Ferry ticket can cost as much as USD 28.84.
Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Surat Thani to Koh Tao:
You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 20.83 to USD 33.33.
Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.
Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 20.83.
Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.
However, with these upsides in mind, you should still understand ferry travel is not for everyone. If you’re prone to seasickness it may be an unpleasant experience. As a rule, a ferry journey isn’t the cheapest way to travel During the high season ferry tickets might be hard to get, so you should always book in advance when possible.
Things to remember: ferry rides are dependent on weather conditions..
How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Surat Thani to Koh Tao? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:
| Cheapest Transport | $21 |
| Fastest Transport | 20m |
| Earliest Departure | 8:15 AM |
| Latest Departure | 10:00 PM |
| Departures per day | 7 |
| Distance | 17 kilometers |
| Transport Companies | 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport, Fame Tour, Jijie Tour and Travel, Koh Tao Booking Center, Lomprayah, Phantip 1970, Ruea Chor Maetapee, Songserm, Udomrat Tour |