How To Get To Koh Tao

Nowadays, it is much faster and easier to get to Koh Tao, than earlier. island is located around 85 kilometers away from Chumphon port, 45 km from Koh Phangan, 65 km from Koh Samui, and 120 km from Suratthani. thus most travelers choose to start from Chumphon, where they could board large speedboat to the island within 2 hours. Some sea transportation companies even make it easier to go there by including the bus trip from Bangkok to Chumphon into the program. by this way it is much faster and easier to get to Koh Tao.

Travel in Thailand - Getting to Koh Tao

From Bangkok - Bus

Route: Bangkok - Chumphon
Buses from the main Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok ("sai dai") leave every hour from 6am - 10pm. The journey takes around 8-9 hours.

From Bangkok - Train

Route: Bangkok - Chumphon
The far better alternative is to take the overnight Sleeper-Train from Hualumphong Station in Bangkok. For around $US 10 you will get your own bed, a food cart/menu and can stretch your legs whenever you feel like it. 
If you leaving before 7.30pm, you will arrive in Chumphon in time to catch all the boats to Koh Tao.
Boat Timetables

Boat Timetables
Route: Chumphon - Koh Tao

Route: Koh Tao - Chumphon

Koh Samui - Koh Tao

Boat Timetable
Route: Koh Samui - Koh Tao

Route: Koh Tao - Koh Samui

Koh Phangan - Koh Tao

Boat Timetable
Route: Koh Phangan - Koh Tao

Route: Koh Tao - Koh Phangan

Surat Thani - Koh Tao

Boat Timetable
Route: Surat Thani - Koh Tao

Route: Koh Tao - Surat Thani