Bangkok to Koh Tao, Koh Samui & Koh Phangan: Bus, Train and Ferry
Bangkok to Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan without flying: Lomprayah and Seatran bus and boat tickets, and night trains to Chumphon and Surat Thani.
📋 Essential Pre-Departure Checklist
- ✓Joint ticket = bus + boat on one booking; the change at the pier is arranged
- ✓Koh Tao is closest to Chumphon; Samui and Phangan are closest to Donsak
- ✓Surat Thani railway station is at Phun Phin, 14 km from town
- ✓Times are from the 2026 timetables; check the operator’s site before booking
Three ways to do it
Without flying, you reach the Gulf islands in two legs: overland to Chumphon or Surat Thani/Donsak, then a boat. The simplest option is a joint ticket from a ferry company, which includes the bus from Bangkok and the boat, with the change at the pier arranged for you. The alternative is a train from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat station to Chumphon or Surat Thani, then a boat or a bus-and-boat connection from the station.
Lomprayah bus and catamaran (via Chumphon)
Lomprayah’s coaches leave Khaosan Road at 06:00 and 22:00 for its Chumphon catamarans: the 06:00 reaches Koh Tao at 15:00, Koh Phangan at 16:45 and Koh Samui (Pralarn Pier) at 17:30; the 22:00 overnight coach reaches Koh Tao at 08:45 and Koh Phangan and Samui by late morning. A cheaper 21:30 bus connects with the ferry instead (Koh Tao 08:15). Night coaches also leave from Pinklao, and from Hua Hin at 08:30 and 23:30. Fares on the 2026 timetable start at 1,250 THB to Koh Tao on the standard bus (850 THB with the ferry).
Seatran bus and ferry (via Donsak)
Seatran runs its own overnight bus to Donsak for its car ferry to Nathon on Koh Samui: 19:00 from Khao San Road (Travel Mart), 17:30 from Hua Lamphong (MRT exit 2) and 17:00 from Phaya Thai (Airport Rail Link/BTS), all reaching Samui at 08:30, from 950 THB. The 19:00 from Khao San also continues to Koh Phangan, arriving at 11:00.
By train
The State Railway of Thailand runs 11 trains a day from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Chumphon and Surat Thani. The day express leaves at 07:30 (Chumphon 13:50, Surat Thani 16:20); the rest leave between 15:10 and 22:50 and arrive overnight. For example, the 16:50 sleeper (train 31) reaches Chumphon at 23:55 and Surat Thani at 02:20. Surat Thani station is at Phun Phin, about 14 km west of the town. From Surat Thani station, Seatran sells connections to Nathon on Samui (06:30, 09:00, 10:00 and 12:00, arriving 3½–4 hours later), and Lomprayah sells connections from Chumphon station to its catamarans.
Bangkok to the Gulf islands: published options
Departure and arrival times as published by Lomprayah (Timetable 2026), Seatran and the State Railway of Thailand (checked 4 October 2026).
| From | Operator | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khaosan Road | Lomprayah bus + catamaran | 06:00 | Koh Tao 15:00; Koh Phangan 16:45; Koh Samui 17:30 |
| Khaosan Road | Lomprayah bus + catamaran | 22:00 | Koh Tao 08:45; Koh Phangan 10:30; Koh Samui 11:30 |
| Khaosan Road | Lomprayah bus + ferry | 21:30 | Koh Tao 08:15; Koh Phangan 10:30 |
| Khao San Road | Seatran bus + ferry | 19:00 | Koh Samui (Nathon) 08:30; Koh Phangan 11:00 |
| Hua Lamphong | Seatran bus + ferry | 17:30 | Koh Samui (Nathon) 08:30 |
| Krung Thep Aphiwat | SRT train 43 (day express) | 07:30 | Chumphon 13:50; Surat Thani 16:20 |
| Krung Thep Aphiwat | SRT train 31 (sleeper) | 16:50 | Chumphon 23:55; Surat Thani 02:20 |
Checked 2026-10-04 against: Lomprayah timetable · Seatran Discovery · State Railway of Thailand D-Ticket. Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take from Bangkok to Koh Tao?
About 9 to 11 hours by joint bus and boat ticket: Lomprayah’s 06:00 coach from Khaosan Road reaches Koh Tao at 15:00, and its 22:00 overnight coach arrives at 08:45.
Can I take the train from Bangkok to Koh Samui?
Partly. Trains run from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Surat Thani (Phun Phin), mostly overnight, and from the station Seatran sells bus-and-ferry connections to Nathon on Koh Samui, arriving 3½ to 4 hours later.
What is the cheapest way from Bangkok to Koh Phangan?
On the published fares, Seatran’s 19:00 bus and ferry from Khao San Road (1,050 THB, arriving 11:00) and Lomprayah’s 21:30 bus and ferry (1,150 THB, arriving 10:30) are the lowest joint-ticket fares.