Two of the most impressive islands in Thailand, and possibly the world, are Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. While they share some similarities, these islands also differ in several ways. The quieter of the two, Koh Tao boasts many fantastic beaches, spectacular scenery and interesting wildlife and is starting to become a very popular travel destination. The casual atmosphere makes it an ideal place for couples and families. If you want a change of scenery, you can hop on to the bigger and livelier Koh Phangan. Koh Phangan is the fifth largest island in Thailand and hosts the famous full moon parties, so it has a lively nightlife, but the beaches are also great if you want to still enjoy the sand. Read on to find out how to get from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan.
Options to go from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan
The islands of Koh Tao and Koh Phangan are only 44 kilometers apart in the northern part of the Gulf of Thailand. The only way to get from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan is by ferry as none of these islands have an airport, even though an airport has been planned for Koh Phangan for years. The good thing is that since there is no airport on Koh Tao and it is very unlikely that there will be, the island has retained a special charm and tranquility. As it can only be reached by ferry, some tourists do not include this island in their plans, which is fantastic for those who dare to go there. Taking a ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan is not as bad a means of transport as you might think. There are three ferry options available that vary in price, speed, comfort and schedule, so it’s always easy to find one that fits your budget and plans.
The cheapest ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan
Songserm Ferry to Koh Phangan © woraatep suppavas / Shutterstock.com
For budget travelers, it’s always best to find the cheapest option to travel from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan. All ferries are reasonably priced, but Songserm is cheaper than the other two companies. And there’s a reason for that, because the Songserm ferry is the slowest of all. The scheduled crossing time is two hours, although this is only 30 minutes longer than Seatran and 45 minutes longer than Lomprayah. So even if your trip takes longer, the savings can be worth it.
When you decide to book with Songserm, you don’t have to worry about compromising on security. They operate relatively fast ferries that are perfectly comfortable and safe. They have bathrooms and TVs on deck and if you want to enjoy the breeze and scenery you can sit inside or on one of the outside decks.
The downside to booking a Koh Tao to Koh Phangan ferry with Songserm is that it only offers one sailing per day, leaving Koh Tao at 9:30am and arriving at 11:30am. This makes this service less flexible than other companies. But if you want to drive from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan to take advantage of the day, this option may be enough.
The fastest ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan
Lomprayah High Speed Ferry © OlegD / Shutterstock.com
Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran is the fastest service from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan. As you can imagine, this also makes the Lomprayah ferry the most expensive of all. That being said, it’s not much more expensive than a ticket from Seatran. So if you don’t mind spending more than on Songserm, the price difference won’t affect your decision.
The first advantage of the Lomprayah ferry is speed. The crossing from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes by high-speed catamaran. It is a spacious ship with plenty of comfortable seating inside and four outside decks. There is also a snack service in case you get hungry or want something to drink and it has bathrooms of course.
Lomprayah offers various departure times. There are usually at least two ferries daily, although there may be three in high season, with two departures in the morning and one in the afternoon. Ferries depart from Mae Haad Port on Koh Tao and arrive at Thong Sala Port on Koh Phangan.
Seatran discovery from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan
Thong Sala Pier on Koh Phangan
A good alternative is to take a ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan with Seatran Discovery. Seatran’s high-speed ferries are less expensive than Lomprayah ferries and only take a few minutes longer to cross, totaling an hour and a half. The ferries are modern and well-equipped, as are the Lomprayah catamarans, so there is not much difference between the two services. There are always three departures a day from Seatran, something that is not always the case with Lomprayah, and this can make it easier to find available tickets from Seatran. Seatran ferries also depart from Mae Haad and arrive at Thong Sala.
You can buy tickets from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan at any of the three companies at the address 12Go.asia. This is a reliable website that shows results for all ferries, so it’s easy to compare services, times and prices. Booking is easy and fast.
When choosing a ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, if the sea is very rough, departures may be canceled for safety reasons. This is something that can happen, especially in the off-season when water behavior can be unpredictable. Secondly, even in good weather, the water can be choppy, which is especially noticeable when traveling by catamaran. If you are prone to seasickness, you may be better off choosing the Seatran ferry or the Songserm ferry.