Pick the pier before comparing the price
An island name is not a boarding address. On Koh Samui, Lomprayah’s timetable separates Pralarn, Nathon and Bangrak departures. Choosing a convenient time from the wrong pier can add a land transfer before you even reach the boat.
On the mainland, Thung Makham Noi in Chumphon is a departure point for Koh Tao. Surat Thani can mean an airport or station pickup, a city meeting point, or a connection using Tapee or Donsak. Read the itinerary for the actual boat pier and the land leg included in the price.
| Journey | Details to compare |
|---|---|
| Chumphon → Koh Tao | Thung Makham Noi departure, vessel and any station/airport transfer |
| Surat Thani → a Gulf island | Pickup location, mainland pier, boat and island arrival pier |
| Koh Samui → Koh Phangan | Pralarn, Nathon or Bangrak departure; boat-only versus hotel package |
| Koh Tao ↔ Koh Phangan | Direction, vessel and duration; a ferry row differs from a catamaran row |
| Phuket ↔ Ao Nang / Railay | Exact harbour, operating date and the latest departure notice |
Use the transport map to understand the geography, then use the operator’s boarding instructions for the entrance or meeting point. A map marker does not identify your check-in counter.
Gulf fares: boat-only and transfer packages differ
Lomprayah’s published table available in October 2026 gives the following adult one-way boat-only examples. These prices describe particular services, not every boat between the islands or availability on a future date.
| Crossing and vessel | Scheduled example | Boat-only fare |
|---|---|---|
| Thung Makham Noi → Koh Tao, catamaran | 07:00 → 08:30 | 750 THB |
| Koh Tao → Chumphon, catamaran | 10:15 → 11:45 | 750 THB |
| Samui Pralarn → Koh Phangan, ferry | 11:00 → 11:30 | 250 THB |
| Samui Pralarn → Koh Phangan, catamaran | 08:00 → 08:30 | 350 THB |
| Koh Phangan → Samui Pralarn, ferry | 18:30 → 19:30 | 250 THB |
| Koh Tao → Koh Phangan, ferry | 16:30 → 18:10 | 450 THB |
| Koh Phangan → Koh Tao, ferry | 12:00 → 13:30 | 450 THB |
The same table lists 600 THB catamaran crossings between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Do not replace the ferry’s duration with the catamaran’s, or copy one direction’s timetable into the other.
Transfer columns also matter. A 350 THB Samui–Phangan boat crossing can appear beside a 550 THB hotel-transfer package. In the other direction, some equivalent boat-and-hotel rows add 150 THB instead of 200 THB. Read the direction and pickup area before treating two prices as the same product.
See Samui–Phangan and Tao–Phangan for the individual journeys. If starting from a train, confirm how the arrival station connects to the booked pier and which operator supplies that transfer.
Read the newest Andaman departure notice
Ao Nang Travel’s Phuket Town–Ao Nang page illustrates a practical trap: the heading retains an 08:30 departure, but its notice changes Phuket departures to 10:30 from 21 August 2026. Use the newer notice and confirm the selected date, rather than planning from a search snippet or old heading.
The operator identifies Rassada Harbour, counter 7, for that Phuket check-in. Its calendar also has non-operating dates. Do not assume daily sailings or shift the old arrival time by two hours without a current itinerary.
For Phuket–Krabi, compare the road journey with the actual boat destination and land transfer. Ao Nang, Railay and Krabi Town are not interchangeable drop-off points. Where a transfer is included, read the pickup area as well as the final destination.
Check-in, bags and onward connections
Lomprayah’s current terms require check-in at least 60 minutes before departure. They include 20 kg of large luggage and state a 200 THB excess charge, with small personal bags free. These are Lomprayah conditions, not a common allowance for every ferry company.
Before buying, compare the actual vessel, luggage allowance, meeting point and cancellation conditions. Lomprayah states that tickets are non-refundable; follow its specific change rules rather than assuming an unused ticket can be refunded.
Schedules can change with weather and operating conditions. A published arrival time does not protect a separately booked flight or train; Lomprayah’s terms exclude reimbursement for missed onward transport. Leave time for disembarkation, the onward road transfer and the next operator’s check-in, and follow current operator notices for your sailing.
Questions before you go
Is every Surat Thani ferry connection through Donsak?
No. Lomprayah’s published network distinguishes Tapee and Donsak connections. Read the pier and included land transfer on your chosen ticket. An airport, station or city pickup is not itself the boat’s departure pier.
Does the lowest boat fare include a hotel transfer?
Not necessarily. Lomprayah lists separate boat-only and transfer prices. For example, its Samui–Phangan table includes a 350 THB boat crossing and a 550 THB option with a hotel transfer. Compare the exact package and direction.
How early should I arrive for a Lomprayah departure?
The current Lomprayah terms require check-in at least 60 minutes before departure. Include the journey to the correct pier or office in that allowance, and follow any more specific instructions supplied with your ticket.
Can I assume an advertised ferry runs on my date?
No. Use the operator’s dated availability and current notice for the exact route and direction. Published schedules can change, and an empty online result alone does not prove a route has been suspended.
Thailand Transport Hub
Written and maintained from Bangkok. The people behind this site have lived in Thailand for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.
