Tao Island
Koh Tao Ferry
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Tao Island Information
The premier way to travel to the amazing dive island of Koh Tao is by ferry. Ferries travel frequently between Koh Tao and Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Surat Thani making these incredible places so accessible. Plus it's a joy to travel to these places by ferry, either out on the deck or sitting in the comfortable seats inside, watching the awesome surrounding scenery in the Gulf of Thailand. The ferries are very safe and strong, plus they're frequently carrying around 180-300 excited travelers to their destinations. The pier at Koh Tao is called Mae Haad Pier, which is to the southwest of the island. With Koh Tao being such a major scuba diving island, on arrival to the pier you'll often see a colorful parade of boats all lined up as if to say "hi" as you enter in. You'll be captivated by the first sights of Koh Tao because it's a really nice island. Good news for FerrySamui.com customers, all of the ferry operators know us well and are familiar with our e-tickets and customer service processes. Just make sure you get to the pier around 30 minutes early with your printed e-ticket in hand. The staff will exchange your ticket with a destination sticker - its all plain sailing from there. Don't forget to check our Travel Tips page so you're prepared for the day, and keep in touch with us - we'd love to get a journal update if you get the chance! Bon voyage...
Attraction Points
Popular Routes
Popular crossings to Tao Island — pick a route to book.
Departures from Tao Island
The first 8 of 66 departures leaving Tao Island today — pick one to choose your date and book.
- 45mDirect11 kg CO₂Estimated CO₂ · per passengerEstimated CO₂ emissions per passenger for this trip. That is higher than similar trips in the industry.LowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 1h 25m1 stop15 kg CO₂Estimated CO₂ · per passengerEstimated CO₂ emissions per passenger for this trip. That is higher than similar trips in the industry.LowMediumHighInstant confirmation Hotel drop-off Refund available Amend available
- 2h 55m2 stops28 kg CO₂Estimated CO₂ · per passengerEstimated CO₂ emissions per passenger for this trip. That is higher than similar trips in the industry.LowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 3h 40m3 stopsEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 3h 55m4 stopsEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 5h 55m3 stopsEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 8h 25m3 stopsEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 1h 15mDirect0.86 kg CO₂Estimated CO₂ · per passengerEstimated CO₂ emissions per passenger for this trip. That is lower than similar trips in the industry.LowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
Pick-Up
Drop-Off
Arrivals in Tao Island
The first 8 of 70 services arriving in Tao Island today — pick one to choose your date and book.
- 3h 15m1 stopEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 2h 30mDirect1.30 kg CO₂Estimated CO₂ · per passengerEstimated CO₂ emissions per passenger for this trip. That is lower than similar trips in the industry.LowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 2h 45m1 stopEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 2h 45m1 stopEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 9h1 stopEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 2hDirect1.62 kg CO₂Estimated CO₂ · per passengerEstimated CO₂ emissions per passenger for this trip. That is lower than similar trips in the industry.LowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 1h 45mDirect1.30 kg CO₂Estimated CO₂ · per passengerEstimated CO₂ emissions per passenger for this trip. That is lower than similar trips in the industry.LowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
- 2h 30m2 stopsEstimated CO₂ · per passengerLowMediumHighInstant confirmation Refund available Amend available
Hop onward from here
Piers
Mae Haad Pier
Koh Tao Boonsiri Pier
Koh Tao Information
Koh Tao at a glance
Koh Tao ("Turtle Island") is an amazing island of about 21 square kilometers, sitting just north of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. It is one of the best places in the world for scuba diving for beginners to the greatly experienced, issuing more dive certificates to new divers than almost anywhere else in the world.
Ferry travel is frequent from Phangan, Samui, and Suratthani, which makes Ko Tao surely as accessible as it is beautiful. And just how beautiful; crystal clear waters, mountainous island terrain, hidden beaches awaiting discovery, and exotic accommodation to retreat to at the end of your intrepid island exploring days.
The island is small enough to cross in a day and varied enough to keep you busy for a week. Most visitors base themselves on the west coast, where the main pier, the dive schools, the restaurants and the sunset views are all within a short walk or a quick taxi ride of one another.
How to get to Koh Tao
There is no airport on the island, so every arrival is by sea. The standard approach is to travel overland or by air to a mainland transfer point, then continue on a scheduled crossing to Tao Island. Because Tao Island sits in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand island chain, it is equally reachable from the mainland to the west and from the neighbouring islands to the south.
Our booking system currently lists 100 routes bookable routes serving the island, so most journeys can be arranged as a single ticket rather than pieced together on arrival. Combined tickets are common on this corridor: one booking can cover the land leg to the coast and the sea crossing that follows, with the transfer between them already arranged.
Places connected to Koh Tao
Direct and combined services link the island with a wide spread of mainland and island points, including:
- Bangkok — the usual starting point for international arrivals heading south.
- Chumphon and Chumphon Train Station — the closest mainland crossing point, and the natural pairing for anyone arriving by train.
- Donsak — the mainland pier area serving the Samui Archipelago.
- Hua Hin — a useful stop-off if you are working your way down the gulf coast.
- Khao Sok National Park — for travellers pairing jungle and limestone scenery with island time.
Beyond these, a further eight or more places connect through to the island, including the neighbouring islands and the Surat Thani region referenced above. Use the search box to see the full, current list for your travel date.
Operators serving the island
Services are run by established Gulf of Thailand companies, among them Boonsiri High Speed Ferries, Lomlahkkhirin High Speed Ferries and Lomprayah High Speed Ferries Co., Ltd. Availability by operator changes with the season and the day of the week, so the live results page is the reliable place to compare several operators departures, journey times and fares side by side.
Ports, piers and arriving on the island
Arrivals concentrate on the island's western shore, close to the main village and the bulk of the accommodation. Different companies use their own pier facilities, so check the pier name printed on your ticket rather than assuming all services land in the same spot — they are close together, but not identical.
On the mainland side, the departure point depends on the route you choose: gulf-coast towns to the north and the Donsak pier area to the south each serve different parts of the network. Your confirmation will name the exact departure point, and it is worth allowing extra time to find it on a first visit.
Popular routes to and from Koh Tao
The busiest journeys are the short island hops to the south and the mainland connections to the west and north. Island-to-island travel makes it easy to string several stops into one trip, while mainland routes suit travellers arriving from Bangkok or continuing to the national parks and the Andaman coast.
To compare timings and fares for a specific pairing, open the route pages for Koh Tao to Koh Samui ferries, Koh Tao to Koh Phangan crossings, Koh Tao to Chumphon services or Bangkok to Koh Tao travel options. Fares on the network start from ฿450.
Practical travel information
A few things worth knowing before you book:
- Weather matters here. Sea conditions in the Gulf of Thailand vary through the year, and crossings can be delayed or cancelled in rough weather. Avoid booking a same-day onward flight.
- Book ahead in peak season. Seats on the most popular departures sell out, particularly around holidays and in the dry months.
- Check baggage rules. Allowances and any excess charges are set by each company and shown with the fare.
- Arrive early at the pier. Check-in usually closes well before departure, and ticket exchange counters can be busy.
- Getting around on arrival. Taxis meet the boats; the island's roads are steep and unsealed in places, so factor that into your plans.
What to see and do
Diving and snorkelling are the headline draw, with shallow reefs and training sites that suit first-time divers as well as more demanding dive sites offshore. Freediving schools and technical courses are also available.
Away from the water, the granite ridge running down the island rewards walkers with viewpoints over the bays, and the quieter east-coast beaches are reachable by boat or by a bumpy road trip. Longtail boat tours circle the island and stop at the small islet just off the north-west coast, a popular half-day outing.
Book your trip to Koh Tao
Enter your departure point and travel date to see live timetables, seat availability and prices across all 100 routes routes, then book in a few steps with instant confirmation. Search availability for Tao Island now.
Highlights
Dive Paradise
Koh Tao is a glorious year-round diving location, attracting divers of all levels to its coral-lined, fish-abundant shores. The ferries and boats each day bring new underwater adventure seekers. Apparently, only Cairns in Australia hands out more PADI diving certificates each year, which is testimony to the dive paradise that Koh Tao has become. In some of the busiest beach areas you can find dive centre after dive centre lining up to provide you with an unforgettable dive experience. Out in the waters, you can find barracudas, sea turtles, stingrays, reef sharks and there's even been some rare sightings of whale sharks. The great thing about Koh Tao diving is that underwater visibility remains great all year long (approximately 20-40m apart from perhaps November). Convincing enough? Surely Koh Tao is worth a visit.
Koh Tao Beaches
Most beach activity revolves around two main beach areas in Koh Tao; Sairee Beach and Chalok Bay. Sairee Beach is just north of Mae Haad Pier, which is where your ferry will arrive/depart from. Sairee Beach is long, sweeping, and so beautiful with its golden sands and turquoise shores. Many of the dive centres, restaurants and shops are found here just off the beach, and when evening comes the nightlife is fun and lively too. Chalok Baan Kao Beach is just a small trip to the south of the ferry pier and is much more relaxed and still really tropically special. FerrySamui.com recommends picking up your snorkelling gear and renting a long tail boat around the Koh Tao shores where you'll discover some stunning hidden bays to snorkel around.
Getting Around Koh Tao
Koh Tao is one place where hiring a motorcycle is a good thing to do, that's of course if you can and you have the necessary skills. Getting around Koh Tao on a motorcycle is fun, there's lots of cool little scenic viewpoints and hidden coves to explore. A lot of rental scooters have off-road tyres so you can navigate the dirt tracks to places such as Freedom Beach, Mango Bay, Shark Bay, Hin Wong Bay and Tanote Bay. Be careful though, because the roads are basic and need to be navigated with caution. Simply get a map, a water bottle and apply your sunscreen, and off you go. Make sure you check out John Suwan Mountain Viewpoint in the south and Fraggle Rock in the north for some pretty stunning views.
Eating and Drinking
With Koh Tao becoming one of the tropical diving destinations of the world, many restaurants and bars have sprung up over time that make Koh Tao a really nice place for eating and drinking. Lots of good Thai food options are available, maybe try the Phad Thai (stir fried noodles with prawns), Krapaew Gai Khai Daow (chicken with spicy chilli, basil leaves and fried egg), or Gaeng Kia Wan (Thai green curry). They're delicious! Naturally, seafood is both cheap and incredible too, whether barbecued, boiled or deep fried. The island bars of Koh Tao are fun and lively. Most have some kind of happy hour or special theme night so it's good to check out when stuff is happening early on during your stay. Most bars are likely to close at around 1am leaving the nightclubs to keep you dancing till bedtime or morning comes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the tourist seasons ?
Phuket
Phuket really just has two seasons, which are known as "high season" and "low season" (or "green season"). During the low season months (May–September), boat numbers are reduced. During the high season (October–April), boats to the surrounding islands are increased so you will have some more options.
Koh Samui
There are three distinct weather seasons on the tropical island of Koh Samui: the dry season (December until February), the hot season (March until August) and the rainy season (September until November).
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