About 1-1½ hours · Island to island

Koh Tao to Koh Phangan

An hour of open blue between the diving island and the party island - the Gulf's classic double act.

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An easy hour at sea

All the main operators link Mae Haad and Thong Sala several times a day, so this hop rarely needs planning - outside Full Moon week, when southbound boats burst at the seams. Post-dive travellers: mind the no-fly-style advice about boat bumps less, surface intervals more.

Transport

Tickets & connections

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Route at a glance

Koh Tao to Koh Phangan

Catamaran Mae Haad-Thong Sala: about 1-1¼ hours
Several departures daily in season
Slower boats take about 2 hours
Boats continue onward to Samui and the mainland

Good to know

Before Full Moon, southbound boats fill days ahead - divers time courses around it.
After the party, northbound boats are the packed ones - book the escape too.
One-hour crossing, but add pier time: be at Mae Haad 30 minutes early.
Phangan's quiet north-east makes the perfect post-dive decompression.

Your options

Catamaran - about an hour

Lomprayah's fast boats do the hop as part of the Chumphon-Samui run. Comfortable, air-conditioned, quick.

Slower ferries - about 2 hours

Songserm's steadier pace suits unhurried afternoons and smaller budgets.

Continue the chain

The same services roll on to Samui or back to Chumphon - Koh Tao to anywhere in the Gulf is one booking.

Travel guides

Step-by-step transport guides for this stretch of the Gulf coast.

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