The ferry from Chumphon to Koh Tao runs 1 hour 45 minutes on the Lomprayah high-speed catamaran. Songserm runs a slower 3-hour service at lower fare. Chumphon is the fastest mainland origin for Koh Tao, beating the Surat Thani and Koh Samui routes on direct time.

This guide tests the route on the Lomprayah catamaran that anchors the schedule, the Songserm budget alternative, and the Bangkok-to-Chumphon connection that makes Koh Tao reachable in one continuous overnight journey.

Chumphon to Koh Tao at a glance

OperatorDeparturesDurationTypeFrom (one-way)Book
Lomprayah High Speed Fastest 06:00, 07:00, 13:15 1h 45min High-speed catamaran $17 Check availability
Songserm Daily morning 3 hrs Slow ferry $14 Check availability
  • Lomprayah catamaran duration: 1 hour 45 minutes from Lomprayah Pier Chumphon
  • Songserm slow ferry duration: about 3 hours
  • Lomprayah fare: THB 600 (about $17) one way foot-passenger
  • Songserm fare: THB 500 (about $14) one way foot-passenger
  • Lomprayah daily sailings: 3 from Chumphon to Koh Tao
  • First sailing: 06:00 from Lomprayah Pier Chumphon
  • Last sailing: 13:15 from Lomprayah Pier Chumphon
  • Distance: 75 km across the Gulf of Thailand
  • Destination pier: Mae Haad Pier on the west coast of Koh Tao

Why Chumphon is the fastest mainland origin for Koh Tao

Koh Tao sits halfway between mainland Thailand and the larger Gulf islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Three mainland ports serve the island, but the crossing times are not equal.

For travelers arriving from Bangkok by overnight train or domestic flight, Chumphon is the practical choice. The Lomprayah Pier sits 15 km from the Chumphon airport and 25 km from Chumphon train station. The combined train-and-ferry journey from Bangkok lands Koh Tao in about 16 hours including a comfortable sleeper segment.

Two operators on the route and what each one buys you

Two operators run direct service from Chumphon to Koh Tao. The choice resolves on time versus cost, with comfort roughly equal at the seat level.

Lomprayah High Speed Ferries, the route leader

Lomprayah is the dominant operator on the Gulf island routes including the Chumphon-Tao leg. The catamarans hold 200 to 300 passengers in AC interior with open upper deck. Crossing time runs 1 hour 45 minutes reliably.

  • Crossing time: 1h 45min on the high-speed catamaran
  • Daily sailings: 3 from Chumphon to Koh Tao (06:00, 07:00, 13:15)
  • Weekly sailings: 20
  • Fare one way: THB 600 (about $17)
  • Best for: travelers with a same-day onward connection on Koh Tao, or anyone making the morning crossing from a Chumphon-arriving overnight train

Songserm, the slow-ferry budget option

Songserm runs a slower ferry from Chumphon’s Tha Yang Pier to Koh Tao. Crossing time is about 3 hours. The fare runs THB 500 (about $14) one way$0 100 below Lomprayah. The boats are smaller and older than Lomprayah catamarans.

The Songserm trade is the 75 minutes of saved fare versus extra time on board. For backpackers and travelers with time flexibility, Songserm makes sense. For divers heading to a Koh Tao morning dive boat, the Lomprayah speed difference is worth the small premium.

Mae Haad Bay and pier on Koh Tao the destination of high-speed catamaran ferries from ChumphonPhotographer: Dirk Enthoven. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY 3.0.
Mae Haad Pier on the west coast of Koh Tao. Every ferry from Chumphon, Surat Thani, Koh Samui, and Koh Phangan lands here. The pier sits at the south end of Mae Haad village, walking distance from Sairee Beach to the north.

The Bangkok to Koh Tao combined journey

Most Koh Tao travelers reach the island via Chumphon as part of a longer Bangkok-to-Tao trip. Two routes:

Overnight train + ferry combined

Bangkok Hua Lamphong to Chumphon by State Railway sleeper train runs 7 to 8 hours overnight. The combined train + ferry ticket bundles both legs at $35 to $55 total one way. The train arrives Chumphon at 04:00 to 05:00, which lines up with the 06:00 Lomprayah catamaran. Travelers wake on Koh Tao at 08:00.

  • Sleeper train Bangkok to Chumphon: 7-8h, $20-30 second-class sleeper
  • Lomprayah catamaran Chumphon to Koh Tao: 1h45m, $17
  • Combined ticket savings: $5-10 below split booking
  • Total Bangkok to Koh Tao door-to-door: 16 hours

Flight + ferry combined

Bangkok to Chumphon Airport (CJM) on Nok Air runs 1 hour 10 minutes. The morning flight pairs with the midday 13:15 Lomprayah catamaran. Total trip time about 5 hours including transfer.

  • Nok Air flight Bangkok to Chumphon: $40 to $80 one way
  • Lomprayah ferry Chumphon to Koh Tao: $17 one way
  • Combined flight + ferry total: $60 to $100

The flight option is faster but more expensive than the train.

Mae Haad Pier on arrival and the Koh Tao distances

Mae Haad Pier sits on the west coast of Koh Tao at the south end of Mae Haad village. The pier opens onto Sairee Road, the island’s main route north. Songthaews (red trucks) wait at the pier for ferry arrivals.

Transfer options from Mae Haad to popular Koh Tao zones:

  • Sairee Beach: 1.5 km north, 20-minute walk or THB 50 to 80 songthaew
  • Mae Haad village: walking distance from the pier (the village starts at the pier itself)
  • Hin Wong Bay: 4 km east$0 200 to 300 songthaew or motorbike taxi
  • Tanote Bay: 5 km east$0 250 to 350
  • Chalok Baan Kao: 4 km south$0 200 to 300

Koh Tao is small (21 sq km) and easy to navigate. Most dive shops cluster around Sairee and Chalok Baan Kao. The hotel pickup is the default for booked stays. Confirm pickup arrangement before the Chumphon ferry departs.

Best booking window and the dive-season pattern

The route prices on lead time and the diving calendar. The 06:00 and 07:00 morning Lomprayah departures sell out fastest in dive high season (March to May, September to October). Booking 5 to 7 days ahead in those months secures the cheaper Lomprayah fare. The 13:15 afternoon departure holds more inventory.

Gulf monsoon (October to December) brings rough afternoon seas. Morning sailings cancel less than 5 percent of the time year round. The 13:15 afternoon sailing cancels 10 to 20 percent in November storms.

For the most current 2026 schedules, check current Lomprayah and Songserm schedules for the Chumphon to Koh Tao crossing.

Frequently asked questions about Chumphon to Koh Tao

How long does the Chumphon to Koh Tao ferry take?
The Lomprayah high-speed catamaran runs 1 hour 45 minutes. The Songserm slow ferry runs about 3 hours. The crossing covers 75 km of the Gulf of Thailand.
How much does the Chumphon to Koh Tao ferry cost?
Lomprayah catamaran runs THB 600 (about $17 USD) one way foot-passenger. Songserm slow ferry runs THB 500 (about $14) one way. Combined train + ferry packages from Bangkok run $35 to $55 total.
What time does the ferry leave Chumphon for Koh Tao?
Lomprayah runs 3 daily sailings: 06:00, 07:00, and 13:15. The 06:00 and 07:00 morning departures line up with the overnight Bangkok-Chumphon sleeper train arrivals. The 13:15 covers travelers arriving on the morning Nok Air flight to Chumphon Airport.
Which Chumphon pier does the Koh Tao ferry leave from?
Lomprayah uses its own Lomprayah Pier on the Chumphon coast, 25 km from Chumphon town and 15 km from Chumphon Airport. Songserm uses Tha Yang Pier. The Lomprayah and Tha Yang piers are 5 km apart, confirm the right pier matches your operator ticket.
Where does the Koh Tao ferry arrive?
Mae Haad Pier on the west coast of Koh Tao, at the south end of Mae Haad village. Sairee Beach is 1.5 km north, 20 minutes walking. Most dive shops and accommodation cluster around Sairee and Chalok Baan Kao on the south coast.
Should I take Lomprayah or Songserm?
Lomprayah if you have a same-day onward connection or value the 75 minute time savings. Songserm if budget is the priority and you have a flexible afternoon. The fare gap is THB 100 (about $3).
How do I get from Bangkok to Koh Tao via Chumphon?
Two options. Overnight sleeper train Bangkok to Chumphon 7-8 hours plus morning Lomprayah ferry 1h45m, total 16 hours door to door for $35 to $55. Or fly Bangkok to Chumphon Airport 1h10m plus midday Lomprayah ferry, total 5 hours for $60 to $100.

Where to stay on Koh Tao after the ferry

Three SHA-certified picks across Sairee and Mae Haad to anchor the first night on Koh Tao.

For all 27 Thailand ferry routes plus operator reliability, seasonal cancellation patterns, and booking strategy, see our complete Thailand ferry guide.

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