Best Way To Get To Koh Tao?

[jackcorbett]

I've tried Krabi, Phi Phi, Phuket, Koh Chang, and Koh Samet for travel destinations to travel to here in Thailand where I can enjoy the beaches and good snorkeling/possible diving and so far I prefer Krabi--Phi Phi over the others. I live just 150 yards from the beach here in Pattaya, but the last man I saw climb into the water for a swim turned green and soon died afterwards from all the pollution. I can fly on the cheap using Air Asia to Krabi City and from there go to Ao Nang Beach, Phi Phi, Railey, and other great spots using the ferry, long tailed boat or speed boat. Didn't care for Chawang Beach too much at Koh Samui and I'm put off by having to use either Thai Airways or Bangkok Air both of which fly to Koh Samui whereas Air Asia does not. There reason is to use just one example......three possible sample flights originating from Bangkok......Thai Airways 13120 baht to Koh Samui. Bangkok Air 16400 baht to Koh Samui. Air Asia 6011 baht to Krabi City. All flights in my samples are for two persons for departures on January 15th with a January 24th return with all taxes included.

Is there a better way to travel to Koh Tao via Koh Samui using Bangkok Air or Thai Airways?

[Samui Coconut]

If you don't like Samui, why travel to/through then ? Why not take a bus from Pattaya to Chumporn and hopp on the next ferry to Tao......

[sbk]

Is there a better way to travel to Koh Tao via Koh Samui using Bangkok Air or Thai Airways?

I am confused. OP you want to travel via Bkk air or thai or did you mean:

other than using Bangkok Air or Thai?

If "Other than", fly to Surat with Airasia, boat to Koh Tao via Samui/phangan.

[smokie36]

Is there a better way to travel to Koh Tao via Koh Samui using Bangkok Air or Thai Airways?

I am confused. OP you want to travel via Bkk air or thai or did you mean:

other than using Bangkok Air or Thai?

If "Other than", fly to Surat with Airasia, boat to Koh Tao via Samui/phangan.

I believe Air Asia don't fly to Utapao.....means a long drive to Bangkok as well....

[PoorSucker]

Is there a better way to travel to Koh Tao via Koh Samui using Bangkok Air or Thai Airways?

I am confused. OP you want to travel via Bkk air or thai or did you mean:

other than using Bangkok Air or Thai?

If "Other than", fly to Surat with Airasia, boat to Koh Tao via Samui/phangan.

I believe Air Asia don't fly to Utapao.....means a long drive to Bangkok as well....

Airasia flies to BKK, CMX, UBP and UTH from Phuket.

Last November was thinking about taking the flight from Phuket - Chiang mai.

One night in phuket and it still be cheaper than flying with Bangkok airways.

[Eureka]

Contact Lomprayah for connections between their new office at Donsak with the Nakon Si Thammarat Airport.

[jackcorbett]

Is there a better way to travel to Koh Tao via Koh Samui using Bangkok Air or Thai Airways?

I am confused. OP you want to travel via Bkk air or thai or did you mean:

other than using Bangkok Air or Thai?

If "Other than", fly to Surat with Airasia, boat to Koh Tao via Samui/phangan.

I believe Air Asia don't fly to Utapao.....means a long drive to Bangkok as well....

Your suggestion appears to be a viable option for me. Airfare via Air Asia to Surat Thani is about the same as it is to Krabi City as you suggest and it appears on the map one must take the ferry to Koh Samui, then Koh Tao. How does this all work out? How many hours does one spend on the two ferries? Does the ferry land at Koh Samui, take on additional passengers, then move on to Koh Tao or does one have to switch to a second ferry? I assume the cost of the ferry is relatively inexpensive like the one that leaves from Ao Nang Beach to Phi Phi and the ferry is similar? Also do you know what time the ferry would leave Surat Thani?

The bus ride from Pattaya would probably be a long one. I once took the bus from Pattaya to Udon Thani and it took 11 hours. That was way too much for me. Flying Air Asia from Bangkok is a snap. Normally takes a tad over one hour to get from my Naklua condo by taxi to the airport and then it's roughly an hour or so to fly to Krabi, Vietnam, etc depending on my destination.

Edited December 29, 2010 by jackcorbett

[smokie36]

Some info on ferries here including phone numbers. Not sure how accurate the times are...might be best to phone them.

Hood luck.

[jackcorbett]

Some info on ferries here including phone numbers. Not sure how accurate the times are...might be best to phone them.

Hood luck.

Although Ko Pha Ngan looks interesting the 11 p.m. night boat straight to Koh Tao might just be the way to go for me. Sure, traveling all night long is far from ideal from someone like me who's an early bird and who does not sleep well in such circumstances. However, it seems much simplier without having to stay in a location that is not my first choice. From what I've read Koh Tao is simply one of the finest diving--snorkeling destinations in the world.

[H2oDunc]

Get the night train to Chumphon then the ferry to Tao. It is the route that is the shortest for you from BKK. To go via Surat means you having to change ferries and spending more time on the water.

[jackcorbett]

Get the night train to Chumphon then the ferry to Tao. It is the route that is the shortest for you from BKK. To go via Surat means you having to change ferries and spending more time on the water.

I like it. First off I've always enjoyed train travel. Also it eliminates all those "middlemen"..that is having to go through other islands to get to Koh Tao. Prices are lower than Air Asia if I opt for a 2nd class sleeper and a little higher if I go the first class route.

[smokie36]

Get the night train to Chumphon then the ferry to Tao. It is the route that is the shortest for you from BKK. To go via Surat means you having to change ferries and spending more time on the water.

I like it. First off I've always enjoyed train travel. Also it eliminates all those "middlemen"..that is having to go through other islands to get to Koh Tao. Prices are lower than Air Asia if I opt for a 2nd class sleeper and a little higher if I go the first class route.

Reckon this is the best option too....safer than the buses as well.

[jackcorbett]

Looks like I'll be making plans to go to Koh Tao then. Anyone have any ideas as to a good time to go? I'd like to avoid Songkran like the plague. Now getting to be eight, nine days of it in Pattaya (upgraded since when it was one solid week). Ideally then a one week trip to Koh Tao during Songkran (which is in mid April) would be the berries. However......what is the weather likely to be then? Not that we can predict the weather, however. First time I went to the Krabi area during low season it rained everyday. Since I want to do a lot of snorkeling and possibly diving, the weather will be a big factor.

Edited January 17, 2011 by jackcorbett

[itishothere]

Anyone have any ideas as to a good time to go? I'd like to avoid Songkran like the plague. Now getting to be eight, nine days of it in Pattaya (upgraded since when it was one solid week). Ideally then a one week trip to Koh Tao during Songkran (which is in mid April) would be the berries. However......what is the weather likely to be then?

Now I'm confused. You want to avoid Songkran, but a week on Koh Tao during Songkran would be 'the berries' ?

Let's put it this way. Bring a friend. You will need them to put to suntan cream on your back for the snorkelling.

[jackcorbett]

Anyone have any ideas as to a good time to go? I'd like to avoid Songkran like the plague. Now getting to be eight, nine days of it in Pattaya (upgraded since when it was one solid week). Ideally then a one week trip to Koh Tao during Songkran (which is in mid April) would be the berries. However......what is the weather likely to be then?

Now I'm confused. You want to avoid Songkran, but a week on Koh Tao during Songkran would be 'the berries' ?

Let's put it this way. Bring a friend. You will need them to put to suntan cream on your back for the snorkelling.

Sorry about the confusion. What I was getting at is an outing to Koh Tao around April 20th is almost getting into the low season where the prospects for rain are greater. As for my commenting that going to Koh Tao during Songkran would be the berries, I meant that 1. I'd be avoiding 8 to 9 days of pandemonium while being a target in Pattaya and 2. being at a place I really want to visit so I'd wind up with two big pluses.

[jumbo]

Thinking about driving to Chumpon and take the car with me to Koh Tao

Is it OK to drive there? Is it, driving, like for example, Koh Chang??

[JUDAS]

Thinking about driving to Chumpon and take the car with me to Koh Tao

Is it OK to drive there? Is it, driving, like for example, Koh Chang??

I live in Chumphon and Koh Tao. I keep my truck in Chumphon and use a bike on KT, would never bring my truck there, narrow roads and the island is only roughly 6km by 4 km. Parking places virtually non existent.

[jumbo]

Thinking about driving to Chumpon and take the car with me to Koh Tao

Is it OK to drive there? Is it, driving, like for example, Koh Chang??

I live in Chumphon and Koh Tao. I keep my truck in Chumphon and use a bike on KT, would never bring my truck there, narrow roads and the island is only roughly 6km by 4 km. Parking places virtually non existent.

thx for your advise.

[itishothere]

Sorry about the confusion. What I was getting at is an outing to Koh Tao around April 20th is almost getting into the low season where the prospects for rain are greater. As for my commenting that going to Koh Tao during Songkran would be the berries, I meant that 1. I'd be avoiding 8 to 9 days of pandemonium while being a target in Pattaya and 2. being at a place I really want to visit so I'd wind up with two big pluses.

OK, Songkran over here is only mild pandemonium by comparison!

And you might want to check out the average temperatures and rainfall for the area. It is the hottest time of the year, and not far off the driest too. We have just had our rainy season.