Phuket to KOh Tao options

[PiPiFFS]

Hi. I am going to spend some time on Koh Tao and wondering what the travel options are from Phuket ? I'm on Phi Phi at present but having a quick look round here the only option seems to getting the night boat there and arriving at 05 00 in the morning. Just thought there may be more options getting there from Phuket ? Cheers in advance chaps

[HooHaa]

look into your options to samui, no need to take the night boat.

depending on your budget you could even fly Phuket - samui Bkk air

or fly phuket surat then ferry to samui via donsak -- air asia

once on samui take lompraya to tao.

I beleive there is even a lompraya service from phuket samui with bus included, but not sure

[mikebike]

The quickest boat is from Surat town to Tao. Mini bus from Phuket to surat 4 hours about 200 - 300 baht. If you go to Donsak there is no direct boat, you must go Samui - Phangan - Tao.

Edited March 6, 2014 by mikebike

[keestha]

Take a bus to Surat Thani, and ask to be let off at the Lompraya terminal. Busses to the pier which connect with the speedboat leave at 09.00 and 14.30.

[davethegull]

I've done this trip very recently. The best option is to fly, Bangkok Airways have several flights per day for around 2,950 THB one way. Then Lomprayah to Tao. The alternative is too horrible to contemplate, do not do it unless you have a lot of time or broke. Lomprayah used to run a bus and fast cat service but this is no more. Now all that seems to be available is P P Service which I think stands for P##s Poor Service. They will pick you up in an old decrepit mini van, which is cramped and uncomfortable. The driver will then proceed to risk your life to get to Surathani as quickly as possible for no apparent reason because once you arrive at PPS holding station you will sit for 2 hours waiting for another bus to take you to Donsak where you will wait for another hour. The ferry then takes 90 minutes or so. It's a 12 hour nightmare. The return trip is worse. This is where the Samui agent sells you a VIP minibus 4 hour to Phuket service. Do NOT believe them. You WILL go to the PPS holding station again for another 2 hour wait before being transferred to the Pornthip office to be shovelled onto their horrendous crates. The whole thing is bull. I was picked up in Samui at 6-30am, transferred to Nathon pier for an 8am ferry and then to PPS. I was still in Surathani at 13-30!! I arrived at Phuket town bus station at 18-30 where we then had to pay to take a tuktuk or taxi to Patong or in my case Kamala.

If you can, fly and save yourself a lot of grief.

[simon43]

As mentioned above, avoid all minibus services like the plague - they are dangerous with aggressive and rude drivers.

Your problem is that you need to first travel from Phi-Phi to the mainland, before you can take a long-distance bus. The ferries leaving Phi-Phi in the morning are scheduled such that you cannot catch the best bus service - the Samui VIP coach which goes direct from Phuket to Samui.

My best suggestion is not to go to Phuket - that will add several hours to your bus journey. Instead, take the 10.30am ferry to Krabi, a short tuk-tuk (3-wheeled motorbike) to Krabi bus station, then the bus to Surat Thani, another short bus to Donsak Pier, boat to Samui, another taxi to the Koh Tao ferry, then the ferry itself.

As you can see, it is not an easy journey by public transport...... flying from Phuket to Samui will save you a lot of time

Simon

Edited March 7, 2014 by simon43

[Old Croc]

Can you drive there? Using a car ferry of course.

From Phuket not Phi Phi.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Old Croc

[NamKangMan]

I would fly with Bangkok Airways Phuket - Samui and then get the boat. A look quicker and a lot safer.

[grumpyoldman]

Take a bus to Surat Thani, and ask to be let off at the Lompraya terminal. Busses to the pier which connect with the speedboat leave at 09.00 and 14.30.

+1 This is the program OP, some of these others seem to be fussy travelers.

[simon43]

Busses to the pier which connect with the speedboat leave at 09.00 and 14.30.

Correct, but in order to catch either of these buses, he will have to leave Phi Phi the previous day, which might be a hassle...

[snorkelador]

Lomprayah actually has been running their catamarans from Don Sak for about a year. You will still have to change boats in Koh Phangan, including a 1h wait. They also run a minivan service from Phuket town, which brings you straight to their pier. The minivan is one of the more comfotable ones (not those horrible 14 seaters) and they use the 44 (dual carrigeway).