Transport to go to Koh Tao / leave Koh Tao
To go to Koh Tao ?
The fastest way to go to Koh Tao is by combining a flight and a ferry trip. Either with a flight to Koh Samui then boat to Koh Tao or a flight to Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat or Chumphon then bus or van to the pier, then ferry. Nok Air and Air Asia offer flight + ferry packages to Koh Tao from Bangkok (Don Muang airport) that you can book directly on their websites. The solution to land in Koh Samui and then take the boat to Koh Tao is the most expensive. You can also take the boat to Ko Tao in Chumphon. There are trains, buses or flights to Chuphon from Bangkok. The cheapest is the train. Lomprayah and other companies also offer bus + boat packages from Khao San Road in Bangkok via Chumphon which you can book online HERE. The same companies have the same types of packages from Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and many more. To go to Koh Tao by rail or by road, it is faster to go to Chumphon than Surat Thani.Note that since Air Asia's direct flight Chiang Mai - Surat Thani has been moved and take off in the evening, it is no longer possible to connect their flight with a ferry. The best option, except if you're ok to spend the night in a hotel in Surat Thani< /a>, is to take 2 seperate flights with a stopover in Bangkok. Plan enough time between the 2 flights and take a flight from Bangkok which leaves from the same airport as the one where your flight from Chiang Mai will land (there are more flights to and from Don Muang). I would say count 2h30 between the 2 flights if you do not change airport. If you take the same company for both flights, they will probably be able to transfer your checked baggage automatically during your stopover if you specify it when checking in at the company's counter.
Boats and ferries to Koh Tao
Leave Koh Tao ?
The first step to leave Koh Tao is always to take a boat. Either a boat to the neighboring islands of Koh Phangan or Koh Samui (from where you can fly to Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Pattaya) where you want to stay or to Chumphon or Surat Thani and then take a plane, a bus or a train. Lomprayah also offers bus + boat formulas to Bangkok (Khao San Road) which also stop at Hua Hin. You can book it online HERE.If you buy a bus + ferry formula be carefull valuable things are often stolen from the luggage in the bus during the ferry trip especially if you go via Surat Thani
Buses and minivans from Koh Tao
WARNING: many buses can only be booked 30 days before depature tops. They won't be displayed in the results on our transportation booking partner's website if not bookable yet.
Boats and ferries from Koh Tao
Transportation in Thailand
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The train is the cheapest way to travel in Thailand especially in 3rd class. This is also where the contact with the population is the most interesting and incredible...
Domestic flights in Thailand
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Travelling by bus in Thailand
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Boats to the islands of Thailand
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