Bangkok to Koh Tao Overnight to Chumphon, breakfast on the island.
The short answer: Koh Tao has no airport, so every route ends with a boat. The easy way is Lomprayah's combined ticket: a night bus from Khao San Road to Chumphon and the catamaran across, arriving at Mae Haad pier at 08:45 for 1,250 baht. You can also take the sleeper train to Chumphon, or fly to Chumphon and take the boat the same day.
Below: every option with its 2026 times and fares, and the best way back to Bangkok.
Bangkok to Koh Tao at a glance
Times and fares from Lomprayah's 2026 timetable and train and flight times listed by Visit Thailand Today (October 2026) and 12Go.
| Option | Leaves Bangkok | Arrives Koh Tao | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah night bus + catamaran | Khao San 22:00 (Pinklao 21:30) | 08:45 next day | 1,250 baht (VIP seat 1,550; 850 with the slow ferry) | Most people |
| Lomprayah day bus + catamaran | Khao San 06:00 | About 15:00 | 1,250 baht | Travelling by day |
| Sleeper train + Lomprayah | Train No. 85 at 19:50 from Krung Thep Aphiwat | 08:45 next day | Berth from about 730 baht, plus about 900 baht for the van and boat | A bed for the night |
| Flight to Chumphon + Lomprayah | Don Mueang 07:25 (Thai AirAsia) | About 15:00 | Flight often around 1,000–2,000 baht, plus about 1,000 baht for the bus and boat | Saving time |
Compare live times and prices: all Bangkok to Koh Tao options on 12Go.
Which one should you pick?
Take Lomprayah's night bus and catamaran if you want the simple option: one ticket, no hotel night, and you are on the island in time for breakfast.
Take the sleeper train if you would rather lie down than sit up all night. Book the berth early in the high season; the boat connection at Chumphon is easy.
Fly to Chumphon if you are short on time or want to travel by day. Flights to Koh Samui are another way in, but they cost much more and the boat from Samui takes longer.
Lomprayah's bus and catamaran
Lomprayah sells one ticket from Bangkok to Mae Haad pier on Koh Tao. The night bus leaves its office on Khao San Road at 22:00 (21:30 from Pinklao), reaches the pier near Chumphon before dawn, and the 07:00 catamaran lands on Koh Tao at 08:45. A day bus leaves at 06:00 and arrives in the afternoon.
Arrive at the office about half an hour early, and keep a jacket handy for the air-con. In rough weather the crossing can be bumpy and slower, especially from October to December.
Sleeper train to Chumphon
Night trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat stop at Chumphon on the way south. Train No. 85 leaves at 19:50 and arrives in the early morning; Lomprayah's van meets it at the station and takes you to the 07:00 catamaran, on Koh Tao at 08:45.
Some sleepers arrive in the middle of the night, so check the arrival time before you book. See our guide to trains in Thailand.
Flying
Thai AirAsia and Nok Air fly from Don Mueang to Chumphon in about an hour. From the morning flight, Lomprayah's 09:00 bus and boat from the airport reaches Koh Tao at about 15:00.
You can also fly to Koh Samui and take a boat to Koh Tao, but Samui flights are expensive; see Bangkok to Koh Samui and the island ferries.
Going back to Bangkok
Lomprayah's 15:00 boat from Koh Tao reaches Chumphon station at about 17:30, in time for the night trains north; its joint boat and bus tickets also run to Khao San Road. Book a day or two ahead in the high season.
Booking Bangkok to Koh Tao on 12Go
12Go sells Lomprayah's and other companies' bus and boat tickets, the train and boat combinations, and the flights to Chumphon, so you can compare them for your date.
Prices on 12Go can include a booking fee. Lomprayah also sells tickets at its own offices and website.
Bangkok to Koh Tao FAQ
How long does it take from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
About 11 hours on Lomprayah's night bus and catamaran (22:00 to 08:45), or about 13 hours by sleeper train and boat. Flying to Chumphon gets you there in about seven to eight hours door to door.
Is there an airport on Koh Tao?
No. Fly to Chumphon or Koh Samui and take a boat.
Where does the Lomprayah bus leave from in Bangkok?
From its office on Khao San Road, with a pickup at Pinklao. The night bus leaves at 22:00 from Khao San.
How long is the boat from Chumphon to Koh Tao?
About 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours on Lomprayah's catamaran.
Should I go via Chumphon or Surat Thani?
From Bangkok, Chumphon: it is closer, the trains stop there first, and the crossing is shorter. Surat Thani suits you if you are coming from the Andaman side or stopping on Samui or Phangan.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Lomprayah times and fares from its 2026 timetable as published by Visit Thailand Today (October 2026), Baolau and Ticket2Attraction; train No. 85 and the Chumphon connection from Visit Thailand Today and Thailand Train; flights to Chumphon from 12Go and FlightConnections. Timetables change, so check before you travel.