Mae Haad Pier, Koh Tao: ferries, fees and how to get around

Mae Haad Pier is Koh Tao's main ferry landing. Every passenger boat from Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Chumphon and Surat Thani arrives on the island's west coast at Mae Haad, and there is no airport on Koh Tao. Lomprayah, Songserm, Seatran Discovery and Boonsiri Sealine each run services from their own berth along the same short stretch of waterfront, so the pier is really a cluster of adjacent piers. Check which operator's pier your ticket names.

Location and how to get there

Mae Haad is on the west side of Koh Tao, with Sairee Beach to the north and Chalok Baan Kao to the south. OpenStreetMap maps the Lomprayah, Songserm, Seatran and night-boat piers within a few hundred metres of each other. A single road runs north to south across the island and links Sairee, Mae Haad and Chalok.

• Arriving: boats dock at the pier, and taxi drivers, resort staff and tour operators wait where you step off. Many resorts run a free pier shuttle for booked guests.
• Taxi: Wikivoyage reports taxis on the island cost more than most of Thailand, with a minimum of about 300 THB per taxi or 100 THB per person for groups. Agree on the price before you get in.
• To Sairee Beach: about 10 minutes by road, according to travel bloggers Kate and Mike, by shared taxi, resort shuttle or scooter.
• Scooter: rentals are common near the pier. Photograph the bike before you leave, and be cautious about shops that keep your passport.

Environmental fee: the Koh Tao Municipality charges tourists 20 THB on arrival at the pier. The charge started on 4 April 2022 and pays for environmental management on the island, according to a United Nations Development Programme (BIOFIN) report. Bloggers report paying it in cash at a desk near the pier.

Operators and destinations

Four operators serve Mae Haad. Lomprayah (fast catamarans and speedboats) and Songserm (ferries and speedboats) publish timetables on their official websites. Seatran Discovery and Boonsiri Sealine sell tickets together, and Seatran Discovery's booking page names the Koh Tao point as "Boonsiri Sealine Ferry Pier". Overnight boats also run from Koh Tao, with basic facilities and cheaper tickets.

Lomprayah also sells combined boat and bus tickets from Koh Tao to the mainland. Its 2026 timetable lists connections to Bangkok (departures at 10:15 and 15:00), Hua Hin, Khao Sok, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi (including Ao Nang hotels and Railay), Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Phuket. The Phuket service leaves at 09:30 and arrives at 18:30 for 1,600 THB.

Coming to the island, see Bangkok to Koh Tao, Hua Hin to Koh Tao, Koh Phangan to Koh Tao, Koh Samui to Koh Tao, Surat Thani to Koh Tao and Phuket to Koh Tao. The fastest crossing from Chumphon takes about 1.5 hours, Koh Samui about 2 hours by Lomprayah, and the Lomprayah boat to Donsak about 3 hours 15 minutes.

Tickets and facilities

Book online with the operator or through an agent, or buy at the ticket offices near the pier. Lomprayah's Koh Tao office is reachable on 077 456 176. Routes off Koh Tao are popular, so book ahead for the morning departures to Chumphon, Koh Phangan and Samui and in the high season. The Lomprayah, Seatran and Songserm offices near the pier will confirm a booking you made online.

The pier itself is basic. Around it are small shops, cafés, restaurants and dive shops. Fares in this guide come from the operators' timetables and can change, so treat them as examples.

Tips

• Arrive about an hour before departure to check in, collect tickets and board, as bloggers who use the pier regularly advise.
• Keep 20 THB in cash for the arrival fee.
• The Gulf of Thailand crossing can be rough, particularly in the monsoon months. Take motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to it.
• Know which operator's berth you need. Lomprayah, Seatran/Boonsiri and Songserm are separate piers, and a mix-up costs time on a tight connection.
• Book hotel pickups in advance for late or early ferries, and agree on taxi prices before you ride.