Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao Ferries between the islands.
The short answer: the three islands sit in a line in the Gulf of Thailand, and boats run between them all day. Samui to Phangan takes about 20 to 30 minutes on a fast boat, Phangan to Koh Tao about an hour, and Samui to Koh Tao one and a half to two and a half hours, usually with a stop at Phangan on the way.
Below: the piers on each island, the cheapest fares and some departure times from 12Go on 6 November 2026, and a few things that catch people out, like Samui boats leaving from different piers.
The three crossings at a glance
Prices are the cheapest one-way fares 12Go listed on 6 November 2026, and they can include 12Go's booking fee. Times on the water vary by boat.
| Route | Time on the water | From → to | Price (one way) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samui → Phangan | About 20–30 min (fast boats); up to about 1 hour on slower ones | Maenam or Bangrak (Samui) → Thong Sala | From about US$6 | Shortest hop. See boats |
| Phangan → Koh Tao | About 1 hour (fastest 55 min); up to about 1h45 | Thong Sala → Mae Haad (Koh Tao) | From about US$7.50 | Several departures a day. See boats |
| Samui → Koh Tao | About 1h30 – 2h30 | Maenam (Samui) → Mae Haad | From about US$22 | Most boats stop at Phangan. See boats |
All three routes run in daylight only. On the day we checked, boats from Samui to Phangan ran from about 06:30 to 18:30, and the last boat from Samui to Koh Tao left around 14:30.
Which boat should you take?
Lomprayah is the name you will see most. Its catamarans link all three islands (and go on to Chumphon on the mainland), they run several times a day, and they were among the cheapest on 12Go. If you just want the easy option, start there.
Seatran Discovery leaves Samui from Bangrak, which is closer to Chaweng and the airport than Maenam is. It took about 45 minutes to Phangan on the timetable we saw.
Speedboats (Lomlahkkhirin, Songserm, Echo Travel and others) are smaller and quick, but expect a bumpy, wet ride when there is wind. If you get seasick, pick a bigger catamaran or ferry.
Some departure times (6 November 2026)
A sample of what 12Go listed for that day, not the full timetable. Times change with the season and the weather, so check your date before you plan around them.
| Route | Operator | Departs | Arrives | Price on 12Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samui → Phangan | Lomprayah (catamaran) | 08:00 and 12:30 | About 20–30 min later | US$5.78 |
| Samui → Phangan | Seatran Discovery | 14:30 | About 45 min later | US$8.98 |
| Phangan → Koh Tao | Lomprayah (catamaran) | 08:30 / 12:00 / 13:00 / 16:45 | 09:30 / 13:30 / 14:15 / 17:45 | US$7.42 – 12.57 |
| Phangan → Koh Tao | Songserm (high-speed ferry) | 12:30 | 14:15 | From US$12 |
| Phangan → Koh Tao | Lomlahkkhirin (speedboat) | 15:00 | 16:00 | See 12Go |
Live times for your date: Samui → Phangan · Phangan → Koh Tao · Samui → Koh Tao
The piers on each island
Koh Samui has several piers, and this is where people go wrong. Lomprayah uses Maenam on the north coast, Seatran uses Bangrak near Big Buddha, and other boats use Nathon on the west side or Big Buddha Pier. Your ticket names the pier, so read it the night before and leave enough time for the drive.
In bad weather a boat can be moved to a different pier on Samui. One traveller on 12Go wrote that their boat was moved from Maenam to Nathon because of the weather, and then back to Maenam on the day itself. If the sea is rough, check with the operator in the morning.
On Koh Phangan, nearly every boat uses Thong Sala, the island's main town. On Koh Tao, boats arrive at Mae Haad, the pier in the middle of the west coast, a short taxi ride from Sairee Beach.
Going straight to Haad Rin
If you are staying at Haad Rin, the beach in the south-east of Phangan where the Full Moon Party happens, there is a boat that skips Thong Sala: the Haad Rin Queen from Big Buddha Pier on Samui. It takes about 50 minutes to an hour and cost 200 baht when we checked. You buy the ticket at the pier; it is not sold online.
Around Full Moon Party dates the boats and rooms on Phangan fill up quickly, so book a few days ahead if your trip lands on one.
Coming from the airport or the mainland
If you fly into Samui and want to go straight on to Phangan or Koh Tao, 12Go sells tickets that include the ride from Samui Airport to the pier. Allow plenty of time between landing and the boat, and check that the pickup is actually included in what you bought.
Phangan and Koh Tao have no airport. From Bangkok you can also reach them without going through Samui at all: by bus and boat via Chumphon (closest for Koh Tao) or Surat Thani. Our Bangkok to Koh Samui page covers those routes.
Booking the island ferries on 12Go
12Go puts Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery, Songserm, Lomlahkkhirin and the smaller speedboat companies on one page for each route, so you can compare the times, the pier and the price before you choose.
Booking ahead is the safer choice in high season and around the Full Moon Party. Prices on 12Go can include a booking fee.
Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao Ferries FAQ
How long is the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?
About 20 to 30 minutes on the fast boats such as Lomprayah, and up to about an hour on slower ones like the Haad Rin Queen.
Which pier on Koh Samui do I need?
It depends on the company. Lomprayah leaves from Maenam, Seatran from Bangrak, the Haad Rin Queen from Big Buddha Pier, and some boats from Nathon. Your ticket shows the pier.
How long is the ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao?
About an hour on the fastest boats and up to about 1 hour 45 minutes on the slower ferries. Boats go from Thong Sala to Mae Haad.
Is there a direct ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao?
Yes, you can book one ticket from Samui to Koh Tao. Most boats stop at Koh Phangan on the way, and the trip takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Do the ferries run at night?
No. On 6 November 2026 boats from Samui to Phangan ran from about 06:30 until about 18:30, and the last boat from Samui to Koh Tao left around 14:30.
Last checked: 6 November 2026. Operators, times and fares from 12Go; Samui to Koh Tao times from 12Go and Ferryscanner; Haad Rin Queen fare from 12Go's route page. Timetables change with the season and the weather, so check before you travel.