We traveled extensively around Thailand for many months and spent a month in the Gulf of Thailand islands of Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui.
After traveling between them and the southern destinations of Krabi and Phuket, we have an excellent idea of how to travel there best.
The only real way to get from Krabi to Koh Tao is a 7-hour two-step journey, first by bus or van to the Surat Thani pier and then a boat ride to the island.
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The best way to book transport from Krabi to Koh Tao
The easiest and most hassle-free way to get from Krabi to Koh Tao is to book the combo transfer ticket, which includes a pickup from Krabi, a ride in a bus or van to Surat Thani pier, plus a ferry ride to Koh Tao.
This way, you don’t need to book separate tickets for the two parts of the journey. Plus, the staff guides you through the process.
No matter the company you choose, getting from Krabi to Koh Tao will involve a drive to the Surat Thani pier and then a ferry or speedboat ride to the island. How fast you get there depends on the company you book with.
Our recommended ferry company
In the Gulf of Thailand islands of Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui, we usually travel with the Lomprayah high-speed ferry, which is more comfortable and, in our opinion, safer than a speedboat.
They also operate a comfortable bus from Krabi so that you can book the whole journey with them.
We prefer the ferry over the speedboat also because there’s more space, not only for us but also for our bags. They usually stack the bags and suitcases in front of the seating area inside the ferry so they’re well protected from the possible water splashing in from waves or potential rain.
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Getting to your hotel on Koh Tao
Since the combo transfer options don’t include a drop-off at your Koh Tao hotel, you must organize the transport yourself. We recommend doing it in advance.
The main arrival pier for ferries and speedboats to Koh Tao is Mae Haad Pier, from where you can take a shared taxi (Songthaew) to your hotel.
The taxi fares in Koh Tao are usually fixed and should be displayed, but you should always confirm the price beforehand. If you want to lower your taxi cost, try to find someone else going in the same direction and share the costs.
Taxi fares in Koh Tao:
- Mae Haad to Sairee Beach: 450 THB
- Mae Haad to Chalok Baan Kao: 450 THB
- Mae Haad to Sai Daeng: 550 THB
- Mae Haad to Tanote Bay: 550 THB
- Mae Haad to Shark Bay (Haad Tien): 450 THB
- Mae Haad to Freedom Beach: 550 THB
Grab (Uber) and other ride-hailing apps are not yet operating in Koh Tao, so your only option is the local taxi or the shared pickup trucks (Songthaew).
That’s why we recommend organizing a pickup with your hotel or transport company.
What we recommend
We recommend contacting your hotel in advance and asking about getting picked up from the pier. It’s always possible that they will be willing to do it for a reasonable price, even more so if more people arrive on the same day.
However, if you’re traveling light and are a skilled motorbike driver, you can rent a scooter right from Mae Haad Pier and ride it to your hotel.
A scooter rental in Koh Tao costs around 250 THB, or about 7 USD daily.
TRAVEL TIP
You may need to leave your passport or pay a deposit of about 3000 THB (around $88) to rent a motorbike. We mainly left the cash deposit, as we don’t like anyone else having our passports.
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Krabi to Koh Tao Travel Tips
- Take a hoodie or long-sleeved shirt for bus and ferry journeys from Krabi to Koh Tao. The air conditioning can be pretty strong.
- We always recommend to book your transport in advance, and we always do it ourselves. It’s essential, especially if you want a specific type of transport that gets booked out in the high season.
- Bring some snacks onboard, as stops are limited and may not always have the best choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Koh Tao has no airport, so you can’t fly there from Krabi. The closest airport is in Koh Samui, reachable by a 50-minute direct flight from Krabi, but you still need to take a 1 hour and a half speedboat or 2-hour ferry to Koh Tao.
The bus plus ferry option from Krabi to Koh Tao takes around 7 hours.
The ferry ride from Krabi to Koh Tao takes about four hours, and the speedboat takes two and a half hours, but first, you need to get a two-hour bus ride to the pier from Krabi.
Even with more corals near the shore, we think the beaches in Koh Tao are still better than those in Krabi. And for a small island, you have a great selection of them. So finding one that’s not too crowded isn’t hard.
Our thoughts on getting to Koh Tao from Krabi
Getting from Krabi to Koh Tao is hassle-free, especially if you book a combo ticket and organize a hotel drop-off in advance. That way, there’s little to go wrong and door to door, it should be a 7-hour journey.
Ready to book your transport? Click here to check the prices and timings.
