Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao — Inter-Island Ferries, Which Pier to Use, and Timing Around the Full Moon Party
Hopping between the three Gulf islands is easy but the piers are confusing. Which company sails from where, how long each leg takes, and how to plan around Full Moon Party dates when boats and beds sell out.
The three Gulf islands lie in a line: Samui in the south, Phangan in the middle, Koh Tao about 60 km further north. Ferries link them several times a day, but each company uses different piers, and choosing the wrong one can add an hour of island taxi to a 30-minute crossing.
Journey times
| Leg | Fast boat | Slow ferry |
|---|---|---|
| Samui ↔ Phangan | About 20–30 minutes | About 45–60 minutes |
| Phangan ↔ Koh Tao | About 1–1.5 hours | About 2–3 hours |
| Samui ↔ Koh Tao | About 1.5–2 hours (via Phangan) | About 3 hours |
Companies and piers
- Lomprayah (high-speed catamarans) uses Maenam and Nathon on Samui, Thong Sala on Phangan and Mae Haad on Koh Tao. Fast, comfortable, and the most frequent between all three.
- Seatran Discovery uses Bangrak (Big Buddha pier) on Samui and Thong Sala on Phangan, continuing to Koh Tao.
- Haad Rin Queen sails between Samui's Big Buddha pier and Haad Rin on Phangan, the Full Moon Party beach, which saves the taxi from Thong Sala if that is where you are staying.
- Raja Ferry and Songserm are the slower, cheaper options, useful in rough weather.
Check where your accommodation is before buying: on Samui, Bangrak is convenient for Chaweng and Bophut, Nathon for the west coast; on Phangan, Thong Sala is central, Haad Rin is the party end.
- Compare boats and piers Samui–Phangan: open 12Go · Phangan–Koh Tao: open 12Go · Samui–Koh Tao direct: open 12Go
Full Moon Party timing
The party is held on Haad Rin beach on or near each full moon (dates shift around Buddhist holidays; check the official calendar).
- Boats to Phangan fill up on the day before and the day of the party; buy tickets a few days ahead.
- Accommodation in Haad Rin books out weeks ahead and often demands minimum stays; staying elsewhere on Phangan and taking a songthaew is common.
- Leaving the morning after, boats are packed with tired party-goers and taxis on Samui side are in short supply. If you have a flight from Samui the next morning, stay on Samui the night before instead.
Seasons
The Gulf's rough season is roughly October to December; catamarans are cancelled more often than slow ferries, and the Koh Tao leg is the most exposed. In those months, choose the bigger boat and keep a buffer before any flight.
Common mistakes
- Buying a ticket to Nathon when staying in Chaweng. The taxi across Samui costs more than the ferry.
- Assuming Samui to Koh Tao is direct. Most fast boats call at Phangan; the time in the table already includes it.
- Booking a flight out of Samui the morning after the Full Moon Party.
Summary
Pick your ferry by pier, not by brand, and match it to where you sleep. Book early around Full Moon Party dates, take the slow boat when the Gulf is rough, and never schedule a Samui flight for the morning after Haad Rin.