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Getting To Koh Tao
To get to Koh Tao, you will catch the boat from either Chumphon, Surat Thani or Koh Samui. ( Map Of Thailand )

Bangkok > Chumphon > Koh Tao ( Boat Timeable )
Heading south from Bangkok to the mainland port of Chumphon, buses leave every hour from the Southern Bus Terminal ("Sai Dai").

The far better alternative is to take the overnight Sleeper-Train. For around $US 15 you will get your own bed, air-con, a food cart/menu and can stretch your legs whenever you feel like it.

*NOTE - You must leave by train no later than 7.15pm to get into Chumphon in time for all the boats!

Surat Thani ( Boat Timeable )
For those coming up from the south of Thailand, you need to head for the port of Surat Thani. From Phuket or Krabi you can only get by bus (4 hours) but from Trang, Hat Yai or even Malaysia, you can catch the train!

Koh Samui > Koh Phangan > Koh Tao (Boat Timeable)
Regular speedboats and express boats run between the three islands of Koh Samui > Koh Phangan > Koh Tao. There is also a luxury Catamaran!