By Air[edit]
The nearest airports are in Chumphon Airport, Pathio District, Chumphon and Ko Samui Airport. Both offer onward high speed ferry connections to Koh Tao.
Services at the Chumphon Airport [3] The airport has transit agents for onward travel to Chumphon and the islands including Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Ko Nang Yuan and Koh Samui.
Fame Tours and Services have a counter at arrivals hall offering transfer and hotel services. This is the best option for transfers as the airport doesn't have a meter taxi service.
Samui Airport IATA Code (USM)
Samui is fairly well connected to major cities in the region such as Bangkok, Penang and Singapore. Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and Silkair operate from the private airport in Ko Samui and both charge artificially high rates. Bangkok Airways operates more daily flights to and from Ko Samui than Thai Airways. There is a 300 baht departure tax for all flights.
By boat[edit]
From Bangkok via Chumphon[edit]
The closest departure point for the island ferry service is Chumphon. Numerous agents sell tickets for a variety of boats and speeds travelling. The fastest Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran takes about 90 minutes, the slowest night boat almost 5 hours. Lomprayah have a pickup service from your hotel to the pier for 100 baht. The ticket itself is 600 baht wherever you book it.
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From Surat Thani[edit]
If you're coming from the south, you can take a ferry from Don Sak pier, 60km from Surat Thani on the mainland with a travel time of around 3 hours for the morning ferry, or from Ko Samui, 1.5 hours, or Ko Pha Ngan 1 hour. If you're taking a boat from Surat Thani, one possibility might be an overnight ferry. These depart around 23:00 and arrive in the morning, about 06:00 (subject to changes). It's advisable to arrive early to grab a mattress as most of the boats are former cargo boats and so the passenger facilities are basic.