Day trips to Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Ang Thong National Marine Park - ferry operators, boat types, costs in THB, the best season to go and how to book.
Koh Phangan sits right in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand's best island cluster - Koh Samui is a quick 30-minute hop away, Koh Tao's dive sites are within reach for a longer day trip, and the karst islands of Ang Thong National Marine Park are a signature day tour from Thong Sala Pier. Here is how island-hopping from Koh Phangan actually works: what each destination offers, the boat and ferry options, what it really costs in Thai baht, the best season to go, and how to book.
Just south across the strait, Koh Samui is the easiest hop from Koh Phangan's Thong Sala Pier - Lomprayah, Seatran, Raja Ferry and Songserm all run multiple daily crossings of roughly 30 minutes to Samui's Bangrak, Nathon or Mae Nam piers, with close to 80 sailings a week on this route. Ideal for a shopping run, a bigger-island night out, or connecting onward to Samui's airport - easily done as a half-day trip or combined with a longer Ang Thong tour.
Thailand's diving capital sits about 1-1.5 hours north by speedboat or ferry from Thong Sala Pier, with Lomprayah, Seatran and Songserm running multiple daily departures (fares typically 270-500 THB one-way depending on operator and time). Along the route lies Sail Rock, one of the Gulf of Thailand's best dive sites. Clear water and healthy reefs make Koh Tao worth the longer crossing, though a same-day round trip means a fair amount of time on the water - many visitors stay a night instead.
A cluster of 42 limestone karst islands roughly 45 minutes by speedboat from Thong Sala Pier, protected as a national marine park with no scheduled public ferry - the only way in is an organized day tour, run by operators such as Orion (Phangan Boat Trips) and Lomlahk Khirin. Full-day trips typically include a light breakfast at the pier, a Thai buffet lunch, snorkeling and kayaking, plus a hike up Koh Wua Talap for the archipelago viewpoint and a stop at the Emerald Lagoon on Koh Mae Koh.
The standard for day trips to Ang Thong, Koh Tao and Koh Samui - noticeably quicker than a scheduled ferry but a rougher, wetter ride in swell, with smaller groups than a big catamaran.
Lomprayah, Seatran and Songserm run larger passenger ferries on fixed timetables linking Koh Phangan with Koh Samui and Koh Tao (and onward to the mainland at Surat Thani or Chumphon) - slower but steadier, with more deck space and toilets, and the simplest option if you're travelling with luggage rather than joining a tour.
Raja Ferry runs roll-on/roll-off car ferries between Thong Sala and Koh Samui (Nathon), and on to the mainland at Don Sak - the option if you're bringing a car or motorbike rather than travelling as a foot passenger.
Speedboats available for private full- or half-day charter out of Thong Sala, letting you set your own island itinerary rather than following a fixed group schedule. Priced per boat rather than per person, so it becomes more cost-effective the larger the group splitting it.
From roughly 200-350 THB per person one-way on Lomprayah, Seatran, Raja Ferry or Songserm, with close to 80 sailings a week across the various piers - one of the most frequent inter-island routes in the Gulf of Thailand.
From roughly 270-500 THB per person one-way depending on operator and departure time (Songserm's single daily service tends to be the cheapest, Lomprayah's multiple daily speedboats the priciest) - journey time is around 1-1.5 hours.
Full-day speedboat tours from Thong Sala Pier commonly run about 1,900-2,200 THB per person including breakfast, lunch, snorkeling and kayaking, which excludes the national park entrance fee - a further 300 THB for foreign adults and 150 THB for foreign children (ages 3-14), paid at the park.
Priced per boat rather than per person and negotiated directly with the operator - competitive for groups of 6-10+ splitting the cost, in line with charter rates elsewhere in the Samui-Phangan-Tao cluster.
Like the rest of the Gulf of Thailand side (Samui, Phangan, Tao), the calmest sailing window is roughly December to April, while the wettest stretch tends to fall around October-November - the opposite low season to Phuket or Krabi on the Andaman coast. Always check the forecast, and be ready for an Ang Thong tour in particular to be rescheduled in rough weather.
Thong Sala Pier on the island's west coast is the main departure point for almost all ferries, speedboats and day tours - to Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Ang Thong and the mainland. Confirm your exact departure point and pickup time when booking, since some operators also offer a shuttle from Haad Rin or other beaches to Thong Sala before departure.
Book through your hotel's tour desk, a Thong Sala travel agent, or online platforms (12Go, Klook, GetYourGuide, Viator) that let you compare operators and lock in a fixed price with hotel pickup. Ferry-only tickets (no tour) are simplest booked directly with the operator (Lomprayah, Seatran, Songserm) or via 12Go.
Reef-safe sunscreen, a light cover-up, a dry bag for phones and cameras, cash in small denominations for the park fee and drinks, and motion-sickness tablets if you're prone to seasickness - the Koh Tao and Ang Thong crossings in particular can be a rougher ride in swell.
Ang Thong National Marine Park and the reefs around Koh Tao are ecologically sensitive - don't stand on or touch coral, don't feed wildlife, and take all litter back with you; tour staff will brief groups on current rules, which can change seasonally.
Ang Thong National Marine Park is the classic choice for scenery - the Emerald Lagoon and the Koh Wua Talap viewpoint - while Koh Samui is the easiest and cheapest half-day hop if you'd rather keep it simple. Koh Tao is worth the longer trip specifically for diving and snorkeling, with a stop at Sail Rock on some routes.
A one-way ferry to Koh Samui starts around 200-350 THB, and to Koh Tao around 270-500 THB. Organized Ang Thong day tours run roughly 1,900-2,200 THB per person, plus a separate 300 THB national park fee for foreign adults.
No - there's no scheduled public ferry to Ang Thong, so it's only reachable via an organized speedboat day tour booked through a tour operator, hotel desk or online platform, departing from Thong Sala Pier.
Yes - the crossing is roughly 1-1.5 hours each way by speedboat or ferry, so a same-day round trip is realistic, though many divers choose to stay a night or two on Koh Tao instead of rushing back.
Almost everything departs from Thong Sala Pier on the west coast. Some tour operators offer a shuttle pickup from Haad Rin and other beaches to Thong Sala before departure - confirm this when booking.
Booking at least a day ahead is recommended, especially in high season (Dec-Apr) and around the Full Moon Party dates, since morning departures and the best-reviewed tour operators can sell out.
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Browse Koh Phangan areas near the main pier - the departure point for island-hopping trips to Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Ang Thong.
Hero photo by Nghia Tran on Pexels. General information only; confirm current schedules, prices, park fees and seasonal closures with ferry operators and tour companies before booking. Prices in Thai baht (THB) and are indicative.