Ko Tao Transportation

Take the ferry-night train route. It is the most comfortable way of travelling up to Bangkok from Ko Tao, and you also save on a night's accomodation.

Leave the pier at 230pm. Reach chumpon at about 7pm. The train leaves around 8pm, which gives you an hour to grab a bite or buy some snacks.

Get the first class aircon sleeper if you have a travel companion with you. It costs only approx 1000BHT per person. You get your own lockable room, with 2 beds and a sink. Very clean and comfortable. Before you know it, you're already in Bangkok! If you're travelling alone, you will have to buy two tickets for your own room. An alternative will be the second class sleepers - you still get a bed, except no private room.

We arrived at 6am in Bangkok's Hualamphong Station (next to Chinatown). The tourist information was very helpful in helping us book a hotel room and apparently the rates offered are better than walk-in rates.

Theme: Train

Website: http://www.railway.co.th/


	Night Boat	Tip Rating:

By bijo69

on December 10, 2005

by bijo69
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We took a night boat from Koh Tao to Suratthani. It's leaves at 9pm from the pier in Mae Haad and arrives between 4 and 5 am in Suratthani. You get a mattress asigned, so you can stretch and even get some sleep.
If I remember it correctly the fare was 500 THB.

Theme: Ship/Boat


	Motorcycles for rent	Tip Rating:

By AudK

on November 25, 2004

Motorcycles for hire all around the island for around 120 to 150 BHT a day . Gasoline is very cheap - a full tank cost us about 70bht and lasted 4 days! Deposit = your passport.

The "roads" can prove to be very challenging, many a times no more than dirt tracks with loose gravel and potholes. So proceed with caution!

To go to beaches like Sai Daeng that are less accessible, I would strongly recommend taking the longtail boat or the pickup-taxi.

Not to mention the perils of having a coconut fall on you! Ok, a coconut didnt' fall on me, but a huge branch, leaf whatever you call that, from a coconut tree DID hit me on the face while I was cruising happily along the road!

We rented a bike from Tim Travel. Do remember to check signal lights, brakes etc to make sure they are all working :)

Theme: Motorcycle


	Motorbike	Tip Rating:

By phil_uk_net

on March 9, 2003

by phil_uk_net
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Local transport

Koh Tao is very small and there are many dirt track roads. I walked or took taxis to get around. If you want your own transport the only viable option is a motorbike.
I met an English guy who had just arrived to start work at a dive shop. He had bought a second-hand bike for about 3000 baht which is very cheap.

The picture shows a local man riding with his daughter who was a real little cutie!

Theme: Motorcycle


	Joint ticket from BKK to Ko Tao	Tip Rating:

By wynlim

on July 19, 2005

by wynlim
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The Pier at Chumphon

You can purchase a joint ticket (VIP Bus + Ferry) to Koh Tao from BKK. It's about 7 hours road journey plus 2 hours ferry....Just go to any travel agent at Khao San road but if you want you can go direct to Lomprayah Ferries...they're one of the newer and bigger ferry operators around...and the tickets can be booked online. The joint ticket costs us about 850 baht per person.

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.lomprayah.com/E/index.aspx


	Boats	Tip Rating:

By phil_uk_net

on December 8, 2002

I went to Koh Tao from Koh Samui by speedboat for 500 baht. It was fairly quick and fairly smooth.
Coming back was a different story. There was no speed boat - just the regular boat which leaves once at 10:30am and I also believe there is an overnight boat that leaves at 9:30pm which has mattresses so you can sleep on it.
The sea was a little rough and the ride was like a roller coaster. At one point I thought the boat was going to capsize. The boat was full and some considerate backpackers had laid across 4 seats to get some sleep. When asked to move they were quite indignant.
The boat makes stops at Koh Phangan and Koh Samui on the way back to Surat Thani.

Theme: Ship/Boat


	Getting to Ko Tao	Tip Rating:

By SLLiew

on February 5, 2008

by SLLiew
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Without an airport, the only way to get to Ko Tao is by boat.

You can take the ferry service from Chumphon or from Suratthani on the Thai mainland.

Or another boat ride if you are already in Ko Samui or Ko Phangan.

Important to check the departure time so that you will not miss the boat when leaving the island. Better be early and wait.

The ferry or boat terminal is at Ban Mae Haad, Ko Tao.

Theme: Ship/Boat


	Taxi Boat	Tip Rating:

By bijo69

on December 10, 2005

by bijo69
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You can find taxi boats everywhere along the beaches. You can hire them for Round-the-Island trips for about 1500 THB (that's for a couple of hours) or to get to snorkelling places.

Theme: Ship/Boat


	Hire a motorbike, cheap and efficient!

Updated By sugarpuff

on January 27, 2007

by sugarpuff
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This little fella was having a whale of a time on his daddy's bike, and he was too adorable not to take a photo of! But in all seriousness, this is the way around! They have brand new motorbikes for rent, both automatic and manual and they are cheap to hire for 24hours (between 200 - 350Baht) depending on where you hire from. Have a look around first before hiring one to get best price and best model to suit you.

You can only ride around on the west side of the island so you really could even just walk if you knew you were staying at one particular beach. But to get from the ferry pier to Sairee Beach, motorbike is the best option. Two people with rucksacks fit on one bike and the gas is very cheap so just fill it up half way and that should cover you for the 24hours. To get round the other side of the island, you need to take a taxi boat.

Theme: Motorcycle


	Renting a bike is the best deal

Updated By Bradut

on August 28, 2005

If you get to Koh Tao and need to move around, the best thing to do is to rent a motorbike (scooter). Even if you take one trip per day, it's still effective. And this is why you won't get a taxi ride for less than 100 baht (1 way), depending on the time, place, destination and negociation skills.
A bike is about 150-200 Baht per day (4-5 USD) and you can get a better price for a longer rental period. The island is tiny, so you won't encounter serious traffic and you can ride slowly because there's no where to hurry.
There are rent-a-bike offices everywhere.
Please note that the fuel consumption of these vehicles is very low, so don't fill the tank unless you want to keep on moving for the whole vacation.