Due to the impressive limestone cliffs along the shores and bays and the easy access to some paradise islands, Krabi is one of the most attractive areas of Thailand. As the gateway to the Phi Phi Islands and one of the world’s best diving destinations, as well as boasting spectacular beaches, Krabi attracts visitors from all corners of the globe. If you like scuba diving, you will definitely want to explore Koh Tao after visiting Krabi. Koh Tao, meaning Turtle Island, is an important breeding ground for hawksbill and green turtles. The diving community on the island has grown tremendously in recent years. Koh Tao is known as one of the best diving spots in Thailand, but is also an ideal destination for nature lovers who enjoy hiking or rock climbing.
Travel options from Krabi to Koh Tao
If you are thinking of traveling from Krabi to Koh Tao to see the best snorkeling spots in Thailand, there are two different ways to do this trip. First of all, you should know that Koh Tao is located along the west coast of southern Thailand while Krabi is on the east coast. This means that you have to cross the peninsula before boarding your boat to Koh Tao. As the crow flies, the distance between these two places is only 240 kilometers. It doesn’t sound like much, but you’ll have to allocate plenty of time for your trip. The combined ferry and van or bus ticket is the most popular option to get from Krabi to Koh Tao as it is convenient and cheap, but there is another option. From Krabi, you can fly to Koh Samui and take a boat from there to complete your trip. We then explain the details of both options.
From Krabi to Koh Tao by bus and ferry
Although the journey takes approximately 7.5 hours, traveling from Krabi to Koh Tao by bus (or van) and ferry is the most common way to travel between the two destinations. This is practical because you can buy combined tickets for your entire trip with one company, so you don’t have to worry about how to continue your journey or miss your connection. This also helps keep prices affordable.
There are three well-known and respected tour operators in Thailand that offer tickets from Krabi to Koh Tao: Lomprayah, Songserm and Seatran Discovery. The service offered by all three is very similar. The prices are practically the same for everyone, and the journey time is practically the same. Perhaps the only thing that can influence your decision is the schedule, as you will probably ultimately choose the departure time that best suits your plans.
You can book combined bus and ferry tickets from Krabi to Koh Tao via 12Go.asia. Their website is very easy to use and you can make a reservation and get confirmation instantly.
The tour includes a bus or van transfer from Krabi Town to Donsak on the west coast. This leg of the journey takes approximately three hours. You then need to board a ferry that travels through Koh Samui and Koh Phangan on a 3-hour journey. Adding the time of the transfers, the journey takes approximately 7.5 hours.
Flight from Krabi to Koh Tao
Bangkok Airways plane at Koh Samui Airport © islandboy_stocker / Shutterstock.com
Another option that may interest you is to take part of your trip by plane. But flying from Krabi to Koh Tao by plane is not as simple as boarding a plane in Krabi and landing in Koh Tao an hour later as there is no airport on Koh Tao. Instead, you would have to fly to Koh Samui and continue your journey by boat from there. But if we consider that the usual ferry route we mentioned earlier includes a stop at Koh Samui, the truth is that nothing is lost.
The main disadvantage of such a trip is the price, as it is more expensive than a combined bus and ferry ticket. In addition, if you choose to travel by plane, you will need to purchase a plane ticket and a ferry ticket separately. This increases the cost of travel and can also make it difficult to match schedules as there is only one airline, Bangkok Airways, that flies this route and there is only one daily flight from Krabi to Koh Samui. If there is a delay, you may miss your ferry and that would mean you have to spend a night in Koh Samui that you didn’t plan on.
Lomprayah High Speed Ferry © OlegD / Shutterstock.com
The advantage of going from Krabi to Koh Tao this way is that the ferry crossing is shorter, which can be a big plus if you don’t like boating. Ferries from Koh Samui to Koh Tao can complete the journey in 1.5 hours, which is a significant difference compared to 3 hours for ferries departing from Donsak.
If you don’t mind a longer ferry trip and don’t mind spending a few hours in a bus or van, we recommend traveling from Krabi to Koh Tao by choosing the first option: a combined bus or van and ferry ticket. It is longer, but simple and cheap. In addition, this solution allows you to enjoy more views along the way. You can easily book tickets for your entire journey through 12Go.