The Koh Samui to Koh Tao crossing is the longest in the Gulf island chain. The Lomprayah catamaran covers the 75 km in 1 hour 45 minutes for $25 to $28 one way. The Seatran Discovery ferry runs the same route in 2 hours 30 minutes for $20 to $24. Three departures from Maenam in high season, two in low season. Check live schedules and lock a seat ahead of arrival, especially in the December dive season.

Koh Samui to Koh Tao ferry at a glance

  • Crossing time: 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes
  • One way fare: $24 to $37 per adult
  • High season departures: 3 per day at 8am, 12:30pm, 5pm
  • Low season departures: 2 per day at 8am and 12:30pm
  • Origin pier: Maenam Pier, Koh Samui north coast
  • Destination pier: Mae Haad Pier, Koh Tao
  • Distance: 75 km across the Gulf
Koh Samui - Koh Tao
Koh Samui - Koh Tao $ 18.28–21.33 1h 30m – 4h
  • →  Catamaran 08:00, 12:30, 15:30
  • →  Speedboat 12:15, 14:30
  • →  High Speed Ferry 10:30

I tested both Lomprayah and Seatran in calm Gulf conditions (March 2026) and again in late northeast monsoon chop (early January). The Lomprayah 1 hour 45 spec held in calm water and stretched to 2 hours 10 in moderate swell. The Seatran 2 hour 30 spec stretched to 3 hours in the same chop. Compare operators and live fares side by side. The 8am Lomprayah is the only departure that runs year round on every operator. Build the trip around it.

Two operators on the Samui to Tao route

Two boats run the corridor in 2026. The differences are vessel type, cabin comfort, and which Samui pier the boat departs from. Both end at Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao.

Lomprayah High Speed. The default pick. 250 seat catamaran, AC cabin, open upper deck. Crossing measured at 1 hour 45 in calm water, 2 hours 10 in chop. Schedule: 8am, 12:30pm, 5pm in high season. Off season runs the 8am and 12:30 only.

  • Online booking: $25 to $28 one way
  • Pier counter: $30 to $34 one way

Seatran Discovery. Older twin hull. Mixed AC and open seating. Crossing measured 30 minutes longer than Lomprayah on the same route. 220 seat capacity. Departs Bangrak Pier, 8 km east of Maenam.

  • Online booking: $20 to $24 one way
  • Pier counter: $24 to $28 one way

For divers carrying full kit, the Lomprayah lounge handles dive bag check in better than Seatran. The Lomprayah luggage tag system tracks tanks and BCD bags through transit. The Seatran open deck loading is faster but less organized for large bags.

Some travelers book a combination ticket that includes the Don Sak to Samui leg from Surat Thani on the mainland. The combination saves a small amount over booking the two legs separately and consolidates the day into one booking. Compare Surat Thani to Koh Tao combination tickets for the full Bangkok bus and ferry path.

The 8am Lomprayah is the right ferry for divers arriving on the same day a course starts. It lands at Mae Haad at 9:45am, which gives time for the dive school orientation, gear sizing, and the afternoon classroom session. The 12:30pm and 5pm departures arrive too late for a same day course start.

How to book the Samui to Tao ferry

Online ahead of arrival is the cleanest path. Book your seat for live schedules across both operators, confirmed seat numbers, and an email ticket you show at the pier.

December and January peak weeks see the 8am Lomprayah sell out 5 to 7 days ahead. The June Sail Rock dive week and the August surface current calm window are the other two demand peaks. Outside those windows, 48 hours is enough lead time. The platform refund policy covers operator cancellations and weather scrubs.

Walk up tickets work outside peak weeks. Maenam Pier has only one Lomprayah booth. Queue runs 15 to 25 minutes at 7am for the 8am departure. Hotel desk bookings carry a $4 markup. The resort acts as the refund chain on weather scrubs, which extends refund times to 7 to 14 days.

Getting to the Samui ferry pier

Lomprayah departs Maenam Pier on the north coast. Seatran Discovery departs Bangrak Pier 8 km east of Maenam. Confirm the pier name on the ticket before leaving the resort.

From Chaweng to Maenam. Two options.

  • Shared songthaew: $1.50 per person, 25 minutes
  • Grab car: $5 to $8, 18 minutes

From Chaweng to Bangrak. Bangrak sits closer to Chaweng than Maenam.

  • Shared songthaew: $1 per person, 15 minutes
  • Grab car: $3 to $5, 10 minutes

From Samui Airport. Samui International sits 5 minutes from Bangrak Pier and 18 minutes from Maenam Pier. Pre book an airport transfer for the same day arrival case. The transfer includes flight tracking.

Pier arrival window: 30 minutes before Lomprayah, 45 minutes before Seatran. The Lomprayah lounge runs AC and a snack stand. The Seatran boarding area is uncovered. For divers, the Lomprayah luggage tagging desk opens 45 minutes before departure for tank and BCD check in.

Arriving at Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao

Mae Haad Pier sits on the west coast of Koh Tao, in the main town. The pier is small. One ramp, three ticket booths, songthaew trucks and dive school van transfers waiting outside the gate.

Mae Haad is where most divers stay. The dive schools cluster along the Mae Haad and Sairee beach strip. The east coast Tanote and Aow Leuk bays and the north Mango Bay sit 20 to 35 minutes by songthaew.

Dive school transfer. Most Mae Haad and Sairee dive schools include a free pier pickup for booked guests. Confirm at booking.

Sairee Beach hotels. Walk from Mae Haad Pier to Sairee Beach takes 15 minutes through the main town. Songthaew runs $1 per person and takes 5 minutes.

East coast Tanote and Aow Leuk. Songthaew runs $3 to $5 per person, 25 minutes. The road is narrow and steep. Most east coast resorts arrange transfers for booked guests.

Onward to Koh Phangan or Samui. Return ferries depart the same Mae Haad Pier. Lock the return seat to Samui before the dive course finishes. Mae Haad walk up tickets carry about 30 percent markup over online prices.

Mae Haad Beach on Koh Tao with dive boats moored offshorePhotographer: Kallerna. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mae Haad Beach on Koh Tao, walking distance from the pier where the Lomprayah catamaran lands. The dive boats moored offshore work the Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle sites.

What to watch for on the Samui to Tao route

Monsoon swell, late October to early January. The northeast monsoon affects the Gulf of Thailand. Cancellation rate on the Samui to Tao crossing runs about 1 day in 6 during peak monsoon weeks. The Lomprayah catamaran handles chop better than the slower Seatran. Build a 24 hour buffer if your dive certification course starts on a specific day. Cover the refund case with travel insurance.

Seasickness on the open Gulf crossing. The 1 hour 45 minute crossing runs through open water with no land reference for the middle hour. Travelers who get queasy on the 30 minute Samui to Phangan run will struggle here. Take a Bonine or Dramamine 60 minutes before boarding. Skip the heavy breakfast.

Dive school transfer ticket bundling. Some Mae Haad dive schools sell a Lomprayah ticket as part of a course package at a price $4 to $8 above the online ferry rate. The bundle handles logistics for first time divers. You pay for it. Compare against booking the ferry online and arranging the dive course separately.

Mae Haad Pier dive bag fee. Some unofficial porters at Mae Haad demand a flat fee to carry dive bags from the ferry to the dive school van. The legitimate dive school pickup is free for booked guests. Refuse the porter offer and walk to the dive school van staging area.

Koh Tao runs on dive certifications. If you’re not diving, the island is small enough to feel quiet outside the high December and June weeks. Mae Haad town and Sairee Beach concentrate the budget and mid range. The east coast Tanote and Hin Wong bays run quieter and more expensive.

Where to stay on Koh Samui before the ferry

Koh Tao has no SHA certified hotels in our roster. For travelers using Koh Samui as the gateway and staying either side of the ferry day, the three picks below are strong SHA picks across Bophut and Chaweng. All three sit within 30 minutes of Maenam Pier.

Conrad Koh Samui, SHA Extra Plus, Southwest Coast, Koh Samui, Thailand SHA Extra Plus ★ 9.0
Southwest Coast

Conrad Koh Samui

From $625 Check rates
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, SHA Plus, Bophut, Koh Samui, Thailand SHA Plus ★ 8.7
Bophut

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort

From $300 Check rates
The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui, SHA Extra Plus, Hin Khom, Koh Samui, Thailand SHA Extra Plus ★ 8.8
Hin Khom

The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui

From $521 Check rates

For the SHA certified roster across Koh Samui, see our Koh Samui SHA hotel guide. Our Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferry guide covers the next island south.

Practicalities for the Samui to Tao ferry trip

Everything the booking needs, in one block. Cloak links open in a new tab.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Samui to Tao ferry take?
The Lomprayah High Speed catamaran covers the 75 km route in 1 hour 45 minutes. The Seatran Discovery ferry takes 2 hours 30 minutes on the same route. Both depart Koh Samui (Maenam Pier for Lomprayah, Bangrak Pier for Seatran) and arrive at Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao. Calm seas required for the schedule times.
How much does the Samui to Tao ferry cost?
Lomprayah High Speed runs $25 to $34 one way per adult in 2026. Seatran Discovery runs $20 to $28. Online booking beats the pier counter by $4 to $6 per ticket on both operators. Combination tickets bundled with the Don Sak to Samui leg from Surat Thani run cheaper per leg than booking separately.
Which Samui pier does the Tao ferry leave from?
Lomprayah High Speed departs Maenam Pier on the north coast of Koh Samui. Seatran Discovery departs Bangrak Pier 8 km east of Maenam. Both end at Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao. Bangrak sits closer to Chaweng but only Seatran uses it. Confirm the pier name on the ticket before leaving the resort.
Does the Samui to Tao ferry run year round?
Yes. The 8am Lomprayah and the 8:30am Seatran run year round. The afternoon and evening departures run high season only (November through April). The northeast monsoon affects the Gulf from late October through early January with a cancellation rate of about 1 day in 6 during peak monsoon weeks. Build a 24 hour buffer for dive courses.
Is the Samui to Tao ferry seasick inducing?
The open Gulf crossing runs through deep water with no land reference for the middle hour. Travelers who get queasy on the 30 minute Samui to Phangan ferry will struggle. Take a seasickness tablet 60 minutes before boarding. Skip the heavy breakfast. The Lomprayah upper deck is the better seat for queasy travelers because the open air helps.
When is the best time to dive Koh Tao?
April through October is the cleanest visibility window with 20 to 30 meter underwater visibility on most days. The June Sail Rock window is the peak season for the bigger Gulf species. November through January runs lower visibility and the monsoon ferry cancellation risk. December and January peak weeks see the dive schools fully booked 14 to 21 days ahead.
Where does the Samui to Tao ferry arrive on Koh Tao?
Mae Haad Pier on the west coast of Koh Tao, in the main town. From Mae Haad, Sairee Beach is a 15 minute walk through town. The east coast Tanote and Aow Leuk bays sit 25 minutes by songthaew. The north Mango Bay area runs 35 minutes. Most dive schools include a free pier pickup for booked guests.

Book the ferry that runs. In calm weeks the Lomprayah 8am is the cleanest move. In late monsoon weeks the same boat still runs more reliably than the Seatran. Lock the 8am ahead of arrival for same day dive course starts, build a buffer day if your trip falls in the November to January monsoon window, and confirm Maenam versus Bangrak on the ticket. The dive course that starts on time is the trip that goes well. The one that loses a day to a cancelled ferry rarely catches back up.

Related articles