Operators such as Lomprayah leave from Donsak or Chumphon – not from a pier in Patong. So you sit in a van first. A cabin costs extra and is usually unnecessary on the day runs: a reclining seat is fine unless you travel overnight.
Koh Tao means Samui or Chumphon plus another ship. Missing a connection in monsoon is realistic. A flight from Phuket to Samui buys back your whole travel day.
The Andaman monsoon puts Phuket’s boats out of action; the gulf runs on its own calendar. Even so, connections are tight – build in a buffer.
Don’t plan a 16:00 meeting on Samui. Pack water, snacks and seasickness tablets. As on any ferry, keep your passport or a copy with you.
From ฿1,500 in the table for the land-plus-sea combination. Older ฿490 figures came from another route and don’t apply here. A flight is a different bill – and often worth the hours it saves.
No. If someone sells you one, they are really selling a van combo. Read the individual legs carefully.
Longer than to Samui. Budget the whole day plus a slice of luck on the connection.
Some combos run at night. Then you sleep in a seat – mainly worth it if the day would otherwise be lost completely.
It’s a long day of waiting around. Flying is far kinder for families. Life jackets apply on the boat legs.
