Thailand's island ferries are the final, often exhilarating leg of any beach trip: a short hop across warm water with your bag at your feet and the next island shimmering ahead. Whether you're heading to the Gulf of Thailand islands — Samui, Phangan and Tao — or south to the Andaman Sea and the Phi Phi archipelago, the ferry network is well established, reasonably priced and generally reliable outside of monsoon season.
The Gulf of Thailand islands: Samui, Phangan and Tao
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao sit in a rough chain running north to south in the Gulf of Thailand, all reachable from the Surat Thani area on the mainland. The three islands share overlapping ferry services, so you can hop between them without returning to shore.
Most travellers arrive at Donsak pier, roughly an hour and a half by road from Surat Thani town (or from the airport if you flew into Samui directly, though Samui's airport is on the island itself). Catamaran and car-ferry services run throughout the day.
Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran
Lomprayah is widely considered the best-organised operator in the Gulf. Their high-speed catamarans run between the mainland and all three islands, with Koh Samui the closest at around 1 hour 15 minutes from Donsak, Koh Phangan in about 2 hours, and Koh Tao in roughly 3 hours. Lomprayah sells combination bus-and-ferry tickets from Bangkok and other mainland cities, which is a popular way to reach the islands in a single day without pre-arranging each leg. Services generally run morning and afternoon, with additional departures around the full moon when Koh Phangan fills up.
Seatran Discovery
Seatran is the other major player on Gulf routes, operating both high-speed catamarans and slower car ferries. Their catamaran crossing to Koh Samui takes around 1 hour, and they run roughly similar timetables to Lomprayah. The car ferries are slower — allow around 2 hours to Samui — but cheaper and useful if you are taking a motorbike or large amount of equipment. Seatran also sells joint road-and-ferry packages from Surat Thani.
Island hopping in the Gulf
Getting between the three islands directly — say, from Samui to Tao — is straightforward. Both Lomprayah and Seatran run inter-island catamarans, and the journey from Samui to Tao takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. There are also smaller, slower boat services that take longer but cost less. If you're building a route across all three islands, it's worth checking timetables before you commit to accommodation, as the last service of the day can catch travellers out.
The Andaman coast: Phuket and Krabi to Phi Phi
The Phi Phi Islands — Phi Phi Don (the inhabited one) and Phi Phi Leh (the dramatic rock formation with Maya Bay) — sit between Phuket and Krabi, making both a natural starting point.
From Phuket
Ferries from Phuket to Phi Phi Don depart from Rassada Pier (also called the Main Pier) on the east side of the island. The crossing takes around 1 hour 30 minutes on a modern catamaran, depending on sea conditions. Several operators run this route, including PP Ferry and Pha-Ngan Ferry. Services generally run once or twice in the morning and once in the afternoon, with more frequent departures in high season (roughly November to April). Tickets are inexpensive by European standards.
From Krabi
Ferries from Krabi to Phi Phi depart from Krabi Town Pier (on the river) or from Ao Nang further along the coast. The journey from Krabi town takes about 1 hour 45 minutes; from Ao Nang it can be slightly faster depending on routing. This is often the preferred departure point for travellers coming from Ao Nang, Railay or the nearby limestone karst islands, and the combination of scenery and short distance makes it one of the more enjoyable ferry legs in southern Thailand.
Speedboats and local longtails
On top of the scheduled ferry services, speedboat charters and shared speedboats run from several piers, reaching Phi Phi in as little as 45 minutes. These are faster but more expensive and considerably bumpier in choppy water. Longtail boats are the standard way to reach beaches on Phi Phi once you're there, and they're inexpensive to hire by the hour.
Timing and monsoon seasons
Thailand has two distinct coastlines with opposite monsoon patterns:
- Gulf of Thailand (Samui, Phangan, Tao): the main monsoon runs from October to December, with November often the roughest month. Some ferry services reduce frequency or temporarily suspend during severe weather. High season is roughly February to September.
- Andaman Sea (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi): the monsoon runs from May to October. Ferry services can be reduced or cancelled in the worst weather, particularly July and August. High season is November to April.
Always check weather forecasts before travelling in shoulder or low season, and allow a buffer day in your schedule for cancellations. Ferry operators typically refund or reschedule if they cancel due to weather.
Booking and tickets
For the major operators like Lomprayah and Seatran, you can book online in advance — useful in high season when boats fill up. Tickets are also available at piers, guesthouses, and travel agencies throughout Thailand, usually at the same price or with a small booking-agent fee. Joint bus-ferry packages from Bangkok are widely available and save the effort of booking each leg separately. For Phi Phi ferries, same-day booking at the pier is usually fine in low season.
See how to book ferries online for general guidance on what to look for when comparing ferry tickets.
What to expect on board
High-speed catamarans typically have air-conditioned interiors with rows of seats, a small snack counter and outdoor deck space at the back. On choppy days the interior can feel stuffy, and the outdoor section wet — a plastic bag for your belongings is always wise. Slower car ferries have open-air decks with seating areas, and are generally more comfortable in rough weather as they roll rather than slam. Life jackets are stowed under seats; staff demonstrate their location before departure.
Seasickness is a real consideration on catamaran crossings in any swell. Sitting at the back, outside, or on the lower deck usually helps; many pharmacies in Thailand stock seasickness tablets.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best ferry operator for Koh Tao?
Lomprayah and Seatran are both reliable for Koh Tao. Lomprayah is often praised for organisation and on-time departures; Seatran's car ferries are cheaper and useful if you're bringing a vehicle. Either will do the job comfortably.
Can I buy a combined bus and ferry ticket from Bangkok?
Yes. Both Lomprayah and Seatran sell joint tickets covering the overnight sleeper bus or train from Bangkok plus the onward ferry to Samui, Phangan or Tao. This is a popular and practical approach for travellers arriving without pre-booked onward transport.
Is there a direct ferry from Phuket to Koh Samui?
Not via a straightforward direct ferry — the two islands are on different coastlines with the Thai peninsula in between. The most common approach is to fly (there are direct services) or to travel by road and then take a separate Gulf coast ferry. Check a journey-comparison site for current routing options.
Are ferries in Thailand safe?
The established operators running scheduled services on major routes maintain reasonable safety standards, with life jackets on board and weather-based cancellation policies. Smaller, unregulated longtail charters carry more risk in rough conditions. Travel insurance is always advisable.
Sources and further reading:
- Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran (lomprayah.com) — timetables and joint booking.
- Seatran Discovery (seatrandiscovery.com) — Gulf ferry schedules and car ferry information.
- Monsoon and weather forecasts: Thai Meteorological Department (tmd.go.th).