Ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Samui
We connect Koh Tao and Koh Samui daily — a direct hop south through the Gulf of Thailand that takes around 85 minutes on the fastest service. Ferries leave from Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao's west coast and land you at your choice of pier on Samui. Fares from THB 500.
- 1h 25m
- Crossing
- THB 500
- From
- 7
- Operators
- ~30
- Departures
Departure schedule
| Time | Operator | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:05 | Lomlahkkhirin | Ferry | 1h 25m |
| 09:15 | Lomprayah | Ferry | 1h 45m |
| 09:15 | Boonsiri High Speed Ferries | Ferry + BusCombined ticket: hotel/town transfer + ferry, booked as one. | 3h 00m |
| 09:15 | Seatran Discovery | Ferry | 2h 15m |
| 09:30 | Lomprayah | Ferry | 2h 00m |
| 09:30 | Phantip 1970 | Ferry + CharterCombined ticket: hotel/town transfer + ferry, booked as one. | 4h 30m |
| 09:30 | Songserm | Ferry | 3h 30m |
| 11:30 | Lomlahkkhirin | Ferry | 1h 30m |
| 12:30 | Lomlahkkhirin | Ferry | 1h 40m |
| 12:30 | Lomprayah | Ferry | 1h 40m |
| 12:30 | Songserm | Ferry | 1h 30m |
| 12:30 | Songserm Express | Ferry | 1h 30m |
| 15:30 | Lomprayah | Ferry | 3h 00m |
| 16:30 | Lomprayah | Ferry | 4h 00m |
Typical daily departures — check the live schedule and book above.
Transport types explained
- Bus
- Coach leg by road, used when part of the trip runs overland.
- Charter
- Speedboat or charter — the fastest crossing, with fewer seats and a higher fare than the ferry.
- Ferry
- Larger boat, lowest fares and the steadiest ride — slower, but takes the most passengers (often vehicles too).
- Van
- Minivan transfer — often the hotel or town pick-up leg of a combined ticket.
Operators on this route
Boonsiri High Speed Ferries
Lomlahkkhirin
Lomprayah
Phantip 1970
Seatran Discovery
Songserm
Songserm Express
Piers on this route
Departing Koh Tao
Arriving Koh Samui
All southbound boats depart from Mae Haad Pier, Koh Tao's only main landing point and the centre of the island's dive community. On arrival at Koh Samui, you can choose to disembark at Bangrak Pier, Mae Nam Pier, or Nathon Pier depending on your onward plans — select the one closest to your accommodation when you book. Several operators run this route, with sailings spread across the morning.
When to travel
Most services depart between 07:05 and 12:30, with a handful of options across that window. The Gulf of Thailand stays navigable year-round, and conditions are rarely severe enough to cancel service. The fastest crossings take around 85 minutes; some vessels are slower or make a stop at Koh Phangan, so check the schedule if your time is tight.
Koh Samui offers the largest airport connection in the region, making it the natural exit point after time on Koh Tao. With 22 sailings a day and fares from THB 500, there's enough frequency to fit around most travel plans. We recommend booking the day before during the December–April peak, when Koh Tao fills with dive students.