Short answer
The quickest way from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan is a speedboat or catamaran from Bangrak Pier, near the airport, to Thong Sala on Phangan. Seatran Discovery says the crossing takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Lomprayah's timetable, valid from 25 August 2026, lists 500 baht with a van pickup from any hotel on Samui, and 700 baht if the van also drops you at a hotel on Phangan. Raja Ferry's slower car ferry from Lipa Noi takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Times and fares change, so check the operator before you travel.
Use Bangrak Pier if you want the shortest crossing
Most travellers leave from Bangrak Pier, also called Big Buddha Pier, on the north coast of Koh Samui. Wikipedia says Samui airport is near the Big Buddha pier, where ferries depart for Koh Phangan, and Seatran Discovery calls the pier a 10-minute drive from the airport. The boats land at Thong Sala, which Seatran describes as the main port and entry hub of Koh Phangan.
Two other Samui piers also have Phangan boats. Lomprayah's 2026 timetable has separate pages for hotel pickups to Pralarn Pier at Mae Nam, Nathon Pier and Bangrak Pier, and lists Phangan departures from all three. Nathon is the island's port town on the west coast. Pick the pier nearest your hotel first, then compare fares, because a short boat ride is not worth a long taxi ride.
How long does the crossing take?
The crossing is short. Seatran Discovery says its high-speed ferry from Bangrak Pier to Thong Sala takes around 30 to 45 minutes, and Lomprayah's timetable for boats leaving Phangan shows a speedboat departing at 07:30 and reaching Bangrak Pier at 08:00. Allow more than the boat time: Seatran asks passengers to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure for check-in and luggage.
The slow option is Raja Ferry. Its own timetable page says the route between its Samui pier at Lipa Noi and its Phangan pier at Thong Sala takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Raja's fare page lists cars, vans and motorbikes, so it is the ferry for people carrying a vehicle. Lipa Noi is on the west coast of Samui, so you need a separate transfer to or from Chaweng or the airport.
What does it cost in 2026?
Lomprayah's timetable, valid from 25 August 2026, prices its Samui pages at 500 baht for a boat to Koh Phangan with a van pickup from any hotel on Samui, and 700 baht if the van also drops you at a hotel on Phangan. The same pages list 400 baht and 600 baht for its slower ferry sailing from Pralarn Pier. These are the prices of the pickup service, not pier-only tickets.
A pier-only fare appears for the other direction. Lomprayah's Phangan timetable lists 350 baht for boats to Bangrak, Pralarn and Nathon piers without a van, and 500 baht with one. The Samui pages we read show only the pickup fares, so ask the operator when you book if you want to skip the van. Raja's fare page that we read lists only its Don Sak routes, so check each operator's booking page for your date.
Speedboat, catamaran or slow ferry: which suits you?
Lomprayah's timetable marks each sailing as a speedboat, a catamaran or a ferry. The Bangrak sailings are speedboats and catamarans, and the Pralarn page shows catamarans and a slower ferry. Wikivoyage's Koh Phangan guide calls the Lomprayah catamaran the best option for comfort and speed and says it costs 100 to 150 baht more than other ferries, but that note was written before the 2026 timetable. Treat it as a pointer, not a current price.
For most visitors the choice is simple: take the speedboat or catamaran from the pier nearest your hotel, and keep the slow ferry for when you carry a vehicle or the fast boats are full. Check the operator before you pay. Wikivoyage's Koh Samui guide, writing about the mainland ferries, advises insisting that the company name and departure times are written on your receipt when you buy a package that includes a pickup.
When do boats run, and when is the last one back?
Lomprayah's Samui-side page for Bangrak lists ten departure times a day, from 07:00 to 16:30. Its Phangan-side timetable lists the last speedboat back to Bangrak at 18:00, and the last sailing back to Pralarn Pier, a slower ferry, at 18:30. If you plan a day on Phangan, the last boat is the time that matters. Add the songthaew or van ride across Phangan to Thong Sala, and do not cut it fine.
Seatran says to book tickets in advance during Full Moon Party periods and peak holiday seasons, and to arrive at the pier early. Raja Ferry's timetable page adds extra sailings from 30 December to 30 April when many vehicles are waiting, which shows how busy the high season gets. Sailing times are revised during the year, so treat any timetable you read, including this one, as a guide and check it again a few days before you go.
Full Moon weeks and the wet months
Plan more carefully around the Full Moon Party. Wikivoyage's Koh Phangan guide advises booking ferries to and from the island ahead near the party, because the limited ferries fill quickly, and warns that boats are packed the day after. Seatran's booking form lists a Haad Rin Queen pier on both islands. See our Full Moon Party guide for the dates and the safety advice.
Weather matters too. Wikipedia, citing Thai Meteorological Department data for 1971 to 2010, says the heaviest rain on Samui falls from mid October to early December, and Wikivoyage says Samui is wet from October to December while much of the country is drier. In that window crossings can be bumpier. Keep your plans flexible, avoid tight flight connections, and ask the operator what happens to your ticket if a sailing is cancelled. Our Koh Samui in November guide covers the month.
If you mainly want clear water, a day trip passes Phangan anyway
A ferry is not the only way to see the islands north of Samui. On our Koh Tao and Nang Yuan day trip, from $55 per person, the speedboat leaves a pier in the north of Samui at about 9:00 and passes Koh Phangan on the way to Koh Tao. We do not stop on Phangan, and the tour is not a transfer service: it brings you back to your Samui hotel at about 4:00 to 5:00 pm.
The day suits swimmers who want one full day on the water. Hotel pickup is between about 7:30 and 8:30 am, and on our tour a Thai lunch and snorkelling gear are included. Island entrance fees are paid in cash on the day, 250 baht per adult and 120 per child. It does not suit guests with back problems or heart conditions, or pregnant women. If you want to sleep on Phangan, take the ferry and read our Koh Tao ferry guide for the next hop.
Practical checklist
- Choose the pier nearest your hotel: Bangrak for the airport side, Pralarn at Mae Nam, Nathon on the west coast.
- Check the operator's timetable and fare for your own date, and keep the booking page or receipt with the company name on it.
- Decide whether you need a hotel van: Lomprayah lists 500 baht with a pickup on Samui and 700 baht with a drop-off on Phangan.
- Book ahead for Full Moon Party weeks, and note the last boat back to Samui, listed at 18:00 to 18:30.
- In October to early December, leave a buffer before flights and ask what happens if a sailing is cancelled.
Questions and answers
How long is the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?
Seatran Discovery says its high-speed ferry from Bangrak Pier to Thong Sala takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Raja Ferry's timetable page gives about 1 hour 30 minutes for its slower route from Lipa Noi.
Which Samui pier is closest to the airport?
Bangrak Pier, also called Big Buddha Pier. Wikipedia says the airport is near it, and Seatran Discovery calls it a 10-minute drive from the airport.
How much is the Lomprayah boat from Samui to Phangan?
Lomprayah's timetable valid from 25 August 2026 lists 500 baht with a van pickup from any hotel on Samui, and 700 baht with a hotel drop-off on Phangan too. Check the operator's page for your date.
Can you visit Koh Phangan and come back the same day?
By the timetable, yes. Lomprayah's Phangan-side page lists boats back to Samui until 18:00 to 18:30. Check the last boat on your date before you plan the day.
Do you need to book the ferry in advance?
Seatran Discovery recommends advance booking during Full Moon Party periods and peak holiday seasons. Wikivoyage says the same, and warns that boats are packed the day after the party.
Does your Koh Tao day trip stop on Koh Phangan?
No. On our Koh Tao and Nang Yuan tour the speedboat passes Koh Phangan on the way to Koh Tao and does not stop there. The tour is from $55 per person with hotel pickup on Samui.