Boats
| Route | Samui pier | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Samui – Koh Phangan | Mae Nam (Pralarn), Nathon, Big Buddha | Thong Sala; some boats go to Haad Rin |
| Samui – Koh Tao | Mae Nam (Pralarn), Nathon | Mae Haad, usually via Koh Phangan |
The fastest catamarans reach Koh Phangan in about 20–30 minutes and Koh Tao in under two hours. Lomprayah, Seatran and Songserm run regular services; Raja Ferry carries vehicles between Donsak, Samui and Koh Phangan. Timetables change with the season and the sea.
Koh Phangan
Larger and greener than it looks from Samui, with a hilly, forested interior. It is known worldwide for the monthly Full Moon Party at Haad Rin, but most of the island is quiet: small beaches in the north and west, yoga retreats, and jungle tracks. Than Sadet waterfall, in a national park on the east coast, closes for part of the rainy season.
Koh Tao
A small granite island further north, one of the most popular places in the world to learn to dive, with many dive schools. Next to it, the three islets of Ko Nang Yuan are joined by sandbars.
Tips
- Upper decks are pleasant on calm days; in rough weather sit low and in the middle of the boat.
- Tickets bought on the day are usually fine outside the holiday weeks and the full-moon dates.
- Combined tickets that include a minibus transfer to your hotel save haggling at the pier.