The ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan runs 1 hour on Lomprayah catamaran and 1.5 hours on Songserm or Seatran. Three operators cover the route year round with about 9 daily sailings between Mae Haad Pier and Thong Sala Pier.
This guide tests the operator choice on speed versus cost, the Thong Sala arrival reality, and the Full Moon Party demand spike that catches Koh Tao divers heading south for the monthly weekend.
Koh Tao to Koh Phangan at a glance
- Lomprayah catamaran duration: 1 hour
- Songserm and Seatran ferry duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Lomprayah fare: $20 to $22 one way foot-passenger
- Songserm fare: $14 to $17 one way
- Seatran fare: $16 to $19 one way
- Daily sailings combined: 9 across three operators
- First sailing: 09:30 from Mae Haad Pier (Lomprayah)
- Last sailing: 15:00 from Mae Haad Pier
- Distance: 45 km across the Gulf of Thailand
- Origin pier: Mae Haad Pier on the west coast of Koh Tao
- Destination pier: Thong Sala Pier on the south coast of Koh Phangan
Three operators on the route and the speed-versus-cost trade
Three companies run direct service on the Koh Tao to Koh Phangan route. The choice resolves on speed versus cost. Comfort is roughly equal on all three at the seat level. Cancellation rate is roughly equal in monsoon.
Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran, the 1 hour option
Lomprayah runs 3 daily sailings on the route at 09:30, 10:30, and 15:00. The catamarans cover the crossing in 1 hour reliably. Foot-passenger fare runs $20 to $22 one way. The boats are AC interior with open upper deck, comfortable in any sea state.
Lomprayah is the right choice for travelers with a same-day onward connection or who want maximum time on the destination island. The schedule depth is the highest of the three operators.
Songserm, the cheapest tier
Songserm runs 3 daily sailings on a 1 hour 30 minute crossing. Foot-passenger fare is the cheapest on the route. The boats are older than Lomprayah but reliable. For backpackers and divers with flexible timing, Songserm saves a few dollars per ticket against Lomprayah.
Seatran, the mid-tier alternative
Seatran runs 3 daily sailings at 1 hour 30 minute crossing time. Foot-passenger fare sits between Songserm and Lomprayah at $16 to $19. The operator has the strongest on-time record across the year per published OTP data.
Photographer: Per Meistrup. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.Thong Sala Pier on arrival and the Phangan onward transfer
Thong Sala Pier sits on the south coast of Koh Phangan at the island’s main commercial town. The pier opens directly onto Thong Sala village with songthaews, motorbike taxis, and shops. Most Phangan accommodation is a 15 to 45 minute drive away from the pier.
Transfer options from Thong Sala to popular Phangan zones:
- Haad Rin (Full Moon Party beach): 12 km southeast$0 100 to 150 per person shared songthaew, 20 minutes
- Baan Tai (mid-south coast): 6 km east$0 100 per person, 15 minutes
- Sri Thanu (yoga and wellness zone): 5 km north$0 100 per person, 15 minutes
- Haad Yao (west coast resorts): 12 km north$0 150 to 200 per person, 25 minutes
- Bottle Beach (north tip): 25 km north$0 250 to 350 per person or longtail boat, 45 minutes plus boat
The standard Phangan songthaew is a fixed-route shared truck. Solo travelers may need to wait 15 to 30 minutes for the truck to fill before departure.
The Full Moon Party demand spike that catches divers
Koh Phangan’s monthly Full Moon Party (held at Haad Rin on the night of the full moon) creates a predictable demand spike on the Tao-to-Phangan ferry. Divers ending a Koh Tao course often catch the Friday or Saturday ferry to attend the party. Booking pressure peaks 5 to 7 days before each full moon.
- Full Moon Friday to Saturday departures: book 5 to 7 days ahead, all operators sell out
- Day after Full Moon (Sunday return): Tao-bound demand surge from Phangan, ferry sells out
- Half Moon and Black Moon parties (twice monthly): smaller demand spike, 2 to 3 days ahead booking enough
- Non-party weekends: walk-up booking usually fine, especially on Songserm slow tier
The Lomprayah morning sailing (09:30 from Mae Haad) is the most-booked Full Moon connector because it lands Thong Sala by 10:30 with full afternoon to settle in before the night-time Haad Rin party.
Best booking window and the monsoon morning rule
The route prices on lead time and the Full Moon calendar. Outside Full Moon weekends, walk-up booking at Mae Haad Pier works on the Lomprayah and Songserm tiers. Inside Full Moon weeks, 5 to 7 days advance booking is the floor.
Gulf monsoon (October to December) brings rough afternoon seas. Morning sailings (09:30, 10:30) cancel less than 5 percent of the time. The 15:00 afternoon Lomprayah cancels 10 to 20 percent in November storms. Book the morning ferry online when traveling in monsoon or in Full Moon weeks.
Frequently asked questions about Koh Tao to Koh Phangan
How long does the Koh Tao to Koh Phangan ferry take?
How much does the Koh Tao to Koh Phangan ferry cost?
Which Koh Phangan pier does the Tao ferry arrive at?
Should I take Lomprayah or Songserm?
How does Full Moon Party affect the ferry?
What time does the last ferry leave Koh Tao?
Can I continue from Phangan to Koh Samui on the same day?
Where to stay on Koh Phangan after the ferry
Three SHA-certified picks across Thong Sala, Sri Thanu, and the east coast to anchor the first night.
For all 27 Thailand ferry routes plus operator reliability, seasonal cancellation patterns, and booking strategy, see our complete Thailand ferry guide.
