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FERRIES · BUSES · TRAINS

Get to Thailand's islands, beaches and cities

Pick where you're going and see every step: the bus or train to the pier, the boat across, how long it takes and what it costs, with 2026 fares and a link to book.

FerriesBusesTrainsPiers & stations

Ferries and island transfers

Most island trips are two or three legs: a bus or train to a mainland pier, then a ferry, catamaran or speedboat. Tap a route on the map or pick a card to see each leg.

Route map loads when in view
Ferry / speedboatBus / songthaewTrain

Bangkok to Koh Chang

About 6–7 hours
  1. Bus Ekkamai Bus Terminal → Trat5–6 h
  2. Songthaew Trat → Ao Thammachat PierAbout 60 baht
  3. Car ferry Ao Thammachat Pier → Ao Sapparot, Koh Chang25–35 min, 06:30–18:30 · 90 baht adult, 200 baht car, cash

Use Ao Thammachat: the Centrepoint ferry has been suspended since July 2024. Ferry fares rose in April 2026. visitThailandToday, Oct 2026

Check times & book ↗Koh Chang guide →

Koh Chang to Koh Mak and Koh Kood

1–1.5 hours
  1. Boonsiri catamaran Bang Bao Pier → Koh MakAbout 1 h · 550 baht
  2. Boonsiri catamaran Koh Mak → Koh KoodAbout 1.5 h from Bang Bao · 900 baht from Bang Bao

Departures 09:00 and 13:00; only the 13:00 boat runs from June to September. visitThailandToday, 2026

Tickets sold at the pierKoh Chang guide →

Bangkok to Koh Samet

About 4–5 hours
  1. Cherdchai bus Ekkamai Bus Terminal → Ban Phe Pier3–4 h; 07:00, 09:00, 11:00 · About 190 baht
  2. Wooden ferry Ban Phe Pier → Na Dan, Koh SametAbout 40 min · 50–70 baht (catamaran 150, speedboat 200–500)

National park fee on arrival: 200 baht per foreign adult, 100 baht per child. visitThailandToday, Oct 2026

Check times & book ↗

Pattaya to Koh Larn

About 45 minutes
  1. Public ferry Bali Hai Pier → Na Baan, Koh LarnAbout 45 min · 40 baht

No need to book: buy at Bali Hai Pier. Shared speedboats cost about 150–300 baht one way. Pattaya Mail, Apr & Aug 2026

Tickets sold at the pierPattaya guide →

Bangkok to Koh Samui

Overnight plus 3–4 hours
  1. Overnight sleeper Krung Thep Aphiwat station → Surat Thani (Phun Phin)Arrives early morning · See live fares
  2. Coach (joint ticket) Surat Thani (Phun Phin) → Donsak PierIncluded in joint ticket
  3. Raja car ferry or Lomprayah Donsak Pier → Koh SamuiRaja about 1.5 h; Lomprayah about 45 min · Raja about 220 baht; Lomprayah about 450 baht

Joint coach-and-ferry tickets from Surat Thani cost about 330–1,000 baht; the last ones leave around 16:00. visitThailandToday, Oct 2026

Check times & book ↗Koh Samui guide →

Koh Samui to Koh Phangan

20–30 minutes
  1. Haad Rin Queen Big Buddha Pier, Samui → Haad Rin, Koh Phangan20–30 min · About 250–300 baht

For Thong Sala instead of Haad Rin, take the Seatran from Bangrak. Thailand Boat Tickets, 2026

Check times & book ↗Koh Samui guide →

Koh Samui to Koh Tao

About 1.5 hours
  1. Lomprayah catamaran Koh Samui → Mae Haad, Koh TaoAbout 1.5 h · About 650–700 baht

Slower Seatran and Songserm ferries also run. The crossing can be rough from October to December. Thailand Boat Tickets, 2026

Check times & book ↗Koh Samui guide →

Phuket to Koh Phi Phi

1–2 hours
  1. Ferry or speedboat Rassada Pier, Phuket → Tonsai Pier, Phi PhiFerry about 2 h; speedboat about 1 h · Ferry about 500–700 baht; speedboat 750–850 baht

Last ferry 15:00, last speedboat 15:30. Pay the 20-baht island fee in cash at Tonsai. visitThailandToday, Oct 2026

Check times & book ↗Koh Phi Phi guide →

Krabi to Koh Phi Phi

45 minutes – 2 hours
  1. Ferry or speedboat Klong Jilad Pier, Krabi → Tonsai Pier, Phi PhiFerry 1.5–2 h; speedboat 45–60 min · Ferry about 450–650 baht; speedboat about 600–900 baht

Ferries leave Klong Jilad Pier near Krabi Town; from Ao Nang, use Nopparat Thara Pier. Thailand Boat Tickets, 2026

Check times & book ↗Koh Phi Phi guide →

Krabi to Koh Lanta

1.5–3 hours
  1. Speedboat Nopparat Thara Pier → Saladan, Koh Lanta90–120 min · About 700–1,000 baht

Or go overland by minivan with the short car ferry, about 2–3 hours. Thailand Boat Tickets, 2026

Check times & book ↗Krabi guide →

Fares are indicative figures from the dated sources on each card, not live prices. Map positions are approximate. For boat trips and island tours rather than transfers, see the Water Sports, Boating & Yachting hub.

Buses and trains between cities

Air-conditioned coaches reach almost every town; overnight sleeper trains cover the long hauls north to Chiang Mai and south to Surat Thani for the Gulf islands.

Bangkok to Pattaya

About 2 hours
  1. Coach Ekkamai Bus Terminal → PattayaAbout 2 h · About 144 baht

Airport coaches from Suvarnabhumi cost about 122–190 baht. Going back, ordinary train No. 284 costs 31 baht and the weekend Sprinter No. 998 170 baht. visitThailandToday, Oct 2026

Check times & book ↗Pattaya guide →

Bangkok to Chiang Mai

9–14 hours
  1. Overnight sleeper Krung Thep Aphiwat station → Chiang Mai12–14 h; No. 9 leaves 18:40 · 2nd-class berth about 771–1,041 baht

Tickets open 90 days ahead. Day train No. 7 leaves 07:30 (about 558 baht). VIP buses from Mo Chit take 9–11 h for about 850–1,050 baht. visitThailandToday, Sept 2026

Check times & book ↗

Sleeper train

Best for long hauls: you save a hotel night and can lie flat. Lower berths sell out first; trains often run 30–60 minutes late.

VIP coach

Often faster than the train and leaves more often. Reclining seats and toilets; the air-con is cold, so bring a layer.

Minivan

Quickest on short routes such as Bangkok to Pattaya, but cramped with big luggage.

Ferry vs speedboat

Ferries are slower, steadier and cheaper; speedboats are faster but rough in a swell.

Know your terminal and pier

The most common mistake is going to the wrong terminal or pier. These are the ones the routes above use.

Bangkok bus and train terminals

  • Ekkamai (Eastern): Pattaya, Ban Phe for Koh Samet, Trat for Koh Chang
  • Mo Chit (Northern): Chiang Mai, the north and north-east
  • Sai Tai Mai (Southern): buses to the south
  • Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue): long-distance trains, including sleepers to Chiang Mai and Surat Thani
  • Hua Lamphong: some ordinary trains, including the Pattaya line

Main ferry piers

  • Rassada, Phuket: ferries and speedboats to Phi Phi
  • Klong Jilad and Nopparat Thara, Krabi: Phi Phi and Koh Lanta
  • Donsak, Surat Thani: car ferries to Koh Samui
  • Bali Hai, Pattaya: Koh Larn
  • Ban Phe, Rayong: Koh Samet
  • Ao Thammachat, Trat: Koh Chang car ferry; Bang Bao on Koh Chang for Koh Mak and Koh Kood
Book sleepers earlyTrain tickets open 90 days ahead (cut from 180 in April 2026).
Carry cashIsland and national-park fees are collected in cash on arrival.
Arrive 30 minutes earlyBoats leave on time even when buses don't.
Bring your passportNeeded for train tickets and some ferry check-ins.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Bangkok to Koh Chang?

Take a bus from Ekkamai to Trat, about 5–6 hours, a songthaew to Ao Thammachat pier, then the car ferry to Ao Sapparot, 25–35 minutes. Since April 2026 the ferry costs 90 baht per adult and 200 baht per car, in cash.

How do I get from Bangkok to Koh Samui?

Fly, or take an overnight sleeper train to Surat Thani (Phun Phin) and a joint coach-and-ferry ticket via Donsak pier. Joint tickets cost about 330–1,000 baht; the last ones leave around 16:00.

How much is the ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi?

Big ferries from Rassada Pier to Tonsai cost about 500–700 baht and take about 2 hours; speedboats cost 750–850 baht and take about 1 hour. The last ferry leaves at 15:00.

How much is the ferry from Pattaya to Koh Larn?

The public ferry from Bali Hai Pier costs 40 baht each way. Shared speedboats cost about 150–300 baht one way.

How long is the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

About 12–14 hours on the overnight sleeper from Krung Thep Aphiwat. Second-class air-conditioned berths cost about 771–1,041 baht, and tickets open 90 days ahead.

Do I need to book Thai ferries in advance?

For sleeper trains, holiday weekends and island boats in high season (November to April), yes. Short local crossings such as Bali Hai to Koh Larn are bought at the pier.

Plan the rest of your trip

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Sources: visitThailandToday route guides (September–October 2026), Pattaya Mail (April and August 2026), Thailand Boat Tickets (2026). Fares and timetables change; check live times before you travel. JLIT may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you. Updated November 2026.