Koh Samui to Koh Phangan Ferry — Times, Prices & Piers (2026)

Overview

The Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferry takes 20-50 minutes depending on the operator and costs 130-400 THB (~3.50-11 USD) one way. Five companies run the route: Lomprayah and Seatran Discovery from Bang Rak or Maenam pier are the fastest and most frequent; Raja Ferry from Lipa Noi is the only option for a car or scooter; Songserm from Nathon is the budget choice; Haad Rin Queen from Big Buddha pier goes direct to Haad Rin. Most boats land at Thong Sala, Koh Phangan’s main pier.

There is no single “best” ferry — the right pier depends on where you are staying on Samui and whether you are heading to Thong Sala or straight to Haad Rin for a Full Moon Party. This guide compares every operator, pier, and price so you can pick the fastest or cheapest crossing from your beach.

Key takeaways

• Fastest crossing: Songserm from Bang Rak, ~20 min. Most frequent: Lomprayah, 8+ daily sailings.
• Cheapest: Raja Ferry passenger fare from ~130 THB (~3.50 USD); most expensive: late Haad Rin Queen departures near 495 THB (~14 USD).
• Only Raja Ferry (Lipa Noi) carries cars and scooters across.
• Haad Rin Queen is the only boat that lands directly at Haad Rin — every other operator lands at Thong Sala, 8 km / ~20 min songthaew from Haad Rin.
• Book ahead in December-January and during Full Moon Party week; expect delays or cancellations in the Nov-Dec monsoon.

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Ferry Routes at a Glance

Five operators cover the Koh Samui to Koh Phangan crossing from four different piers, with a combined 20+ sailings a day between roughly 07:00 and 18:30. Times and fares below are collected from operator timetables and 12Go Asia as of Sep 2026 — always recheck before booking since schedules shift with the monsoon and low-season demand.

Prices vary by season, booking channel and how close to departure you buy — the low end is a walk-up local fare, the high end a same-day online booking through an agent. Children typically ride at 50-70% of the adult fare.

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Lomprayah High Speed Ferries

Lomprayah runs the most frequent and generally most reliable service on this route, departing from Maenam pier (also called Pralan pier) and from Nathon, and landing at Thong Sala in about 30 minutes for 250-400 THB (~7-11 USD). It is the default choice for travelers staying on the north coast (Maenam, Bophut, Bang Po) since Maenam pier sits inside Maenam Beach itself.

1. Book online at lomprayah.com or through 12Go up to a few hours ahead in low season; book 1-2 days ahead in December-January.
2. Arrive 30 minutes before departure at Maenam pier or Nathon pier — Lomprayah checks in passengers by boarding pass, not open queue.
3. Keep luggage under the 20 kg allowance; bags are loaded separately from the passenger cabin.
4. Board the catamaran, ride ~30 minutes, and disembark at Thong Sala pier on Koh Phangan.
5. From Thong Sala, take a waiting songthaew (40-60 THB) or taxi to Haad Rin, Chalok Lam or your resort.

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Seatran Discovery

Seatran Discovery departs Bang Rak pier (the pier beside Big Buddha, also called the Seatran pier) and lands at Thong Sala in roughly 30-45 minutes for 300 THB (~8.50 USD), with 3 sailings a day at 08:00, 13:00, and 16:30. Bang Rak pier sits a few minutes from Bang Rak Beach, making this the natural pick for anyone staying near the airport, Bophut, or Big Buddha.

1. Reserve on seatrandiscovery.com or 12Go — Seatran Discovery is a common bundle with Bangkok/Surat Thani bus-ferry combo tickets.
2. Check in at the Bang Rak pier ticket counter at least 30 minutes before sailing.
3. Larger vessel than the Lomprayah catamaran, so the ride is steadier in light chop — a reasonable pick if you get seasick easily.
4. Arrive Thong Sala pier; onward songthaews and taxis queue at the pier exit.

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Raja Ferry

Raja Ferry is the only operator that carries cars and motorbikes across from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, departing the vehicle ferry pier at Lipa Noi Beach roughly every two hours between 07:00 and 18:00 and reaching Thong Sala in 45-60 minutes. Passenger fare runs 130-140 THB (~3.50-4 USD), motorbikes from ~180 THB (~5 USD), and cars from ~420 THB (~12 USD).

1. Drive to the Lipa Noi car ferry terminal on the southwest coast — allow extra time in high season, when vehicle queues form.
2. Buy a vehicle ticket at the terminal counter, or reserve online in advance during December-January and Full Moon Party week when car space runs out.
3. Load your car or scooter onto the vehicle deck following staff directions; passengers can stay with the vehicle or move to the upper passenger deck.
4. Disembark at Thong Sala’s vehicle ramp on Koh Phangan and drive off directly — no need to rent again on the other island.

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Songserm Express Boat

Songserm is the budget option, running from both Nathon pier and the Petcherat Marina at Bang Rak, with crossings of 20-50 minutes depending on the departure point and fares of 200-350 THB (~5.50-10 USD). From Nathon Beach it is the natural choice if you are already near the island’s main port town.

1. Buy tickets at the Nathon pier ticket office or Bang Rak counter — walk-up tickets are usually available outside peak season.
2. Departures run roughly every 1-2 hours between about 09:30 and 17:45; confirm the current timetable at the pier since Songserm adjusts sailings seasonally.
3. Songserm boats are simpler and slower than Lomprayah or Seatran, but the fare is consistently among the lowest on the route.
4. Land at Thong Sala; onward transport to Haad Rin or Chalok Lam is by songthaew.

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Haad Rin Queen

Haad Rin Queen is the only ferry that sails directly between Koh Samui and Haad Rin, Koh Phangan’s Full Moon Party beach, skipping Thong Sala entirely. Boats depart Big Buddha pier at Bang Rak around 07:30, 09:30, 12:30 and 16:00, taking 25-50 minutes and costing 199-495 THB (~5.50-14 USD) depending on the sailing and how it’s booked.

1. Head to Big Buddha pier, next to Wat Phra Yai, about 30-40 minutes before your chosen departure.
2. Buy tickets at the pier counter or through a Koh Samui travel agent — this route is less commonly sold on international booking sites than Lomprayah or Seatran.
3. The wooden-hulled boats are stable in calm seas but rock noticeably in the October-December monsoon swell — sit low and central if you’re prone to seasickness.
4. Arrive at Haad Rin pier, a short walk from Haad Rin beach and the Full Moon Party site — useful if you don’t want the extra songthaew leg from Thong Sala.

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Which Pier Is Closest to Your Area?

Your nearest ferry pier depends on which beach you’re based on, and picking the right one can save 20-30 minutes of transfer time before you even board.

• Chaweng / Chaweng Noi: Bang Rak pier (Seatran Discovery, Haad Rin Queen) is about 15-20 minutes by taxi or songthaew; it’s the fastest option from the east coast.
• Lamai: No pier is truly close — Bang Rak is roughly 25-30 minutes and Nathon about 35-40 minutes; budget extra transfer time either way.
• Bophut: Bang Rak and Maenam piers are both 5-10 minutes away, making Bophut one of the best-placed beaches for this crossing.
• Maenam: Maenam (Pralan) pier is inside the beach itself — walkable from most Maenam Beach hotels, and the fastest option for Lomprayah sailings.
• Nathon: Nathon pier sits in town, serving Lomprayah and Songserm departures directly from Nathon Beach with no transfer needed.
• Lipa Noi: The Raja Ferry vehicle terminal is on this stretch of the southwest coast, so Lipa Noi Beach is the only base with same-beach access to the car ferry.

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Taking a Scooter or Car to Koh Phangan

Raja Ferry from Lipa Noi is the only way to bring your own vehicle to Koh Phangan — every other operator carries foot passengers only. A scooter crossing costs from ~180 THB (~5 USD) and a car from ~420 THB (~12 USD), on top of the passenger fare for each rider, and the crossing takes 45-60 minutes.

Bringing a rented scooter across raises insurance questions: most Samui rental agreements exclude inter-island travel, so check with your rental shop before loading a bike onto the ferry, or rent separately once you land at Thong Sala. Car space is limited and fills fast in December-January and around Full Moon Party dates — book your vehicle slot on 12Go or directly at the Lipa Noi terminal a few days ahead rather than turning up and hoping for space.

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Full Moon Party Night Boats

On Full Moon Party nights, operators add extra late sailings from Koh Samui piers direct to Haad Rin, and independent speedboats supplement the scheduled Haad Rin Queen and Lomprayah services. Standard evening crossings run until around 18:30, then a second wave of party-specific boats departs in the early hours, with return sailings back to Samui running roughly hourly from about 01:00 to 05:00 and extra morning departures after sunrise.

Expect to pay 300-600 THB (~8.50-17 USD) each way on party night — noticeably more than the daytime fare — and expect crowded piers and slower boarding. Buy a round-trip ticket in advance through your hotel or a Samui travel agent rather than relying on a same-night walk-up ticket, and confirm the last return sailing time before you leave the pier, since it varies by operator and season.

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Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

The Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferry is generally reliable, but a handful of recurring issues catch travelers out.

• Monsoon cancellations (Nov-Dec): Rough seas during the northeast monsoon regularly delay or cancel sailings, especially the smaller Haad Rin Queen and Songserm boats. Check conditions the morning of travel and build in a buffer day if you have a flight to catch.
• Overbooking in peak season: December-January and Full Moon Party week sell out fast, particularly Raja Ferry’s limited vehicle slots. Book 1-3 days ahead rather than walking up.
• Wrong pier confusion: Samui has four separate departure piers (Maenam, Nathon, Bang Rak, Lipa Noi) plus Big Buddha for Haad Rin Queen — turning up at the wrong one is a common mistake. Double-check the pier name printed on your ticket, not just the operator name.
• Thong Sala vs Haad Rin: Most tickets land at Thong Sala, not Haad Rin. If your destination is the Full Moon Party beach, budget an extra 20-30 minute, ~100-150 THB songthaew ride, or book Haad Rin Queen instead.
• Luggage limits: Standard allowance is around 20 kg per passenger; oversized bags or surfboards may incur an extra fee, particularly on Lomprayah and Seatran.

First time arriving on Koh Samui rather than continuing onward? See our guide to how to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok and other hubs.

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FAQ

How long is the ferry from Samui to Phangan?

The crossing takes 20-50 minutes depending on the operator and pier. Songserm from Bang Rak’s Petcherat Marina is the fastest at around 20 minutes; Raja Ferry’s car crossing from Lipa Noi and some Haad Rin Queen sailings take closer to 50-60 minutes. Lomprayah and Seatran Discovery both average around 30-45 minutes to Thong Sala.

Which ferry goes to Haad Rin, not Thong Sala?

Haad Rin Queen, departing Big Buddha pier at Bang Rak, is the only scheduled operator that lands directly at Haad Rin. Every other operator — Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery, Raja Ferry and Songserm — arrives at Thong Sala, Koh Phangan’s main pier, roughly 8 km / 20-30 minutes by songthaew from Haad Rin beach.

How much does the Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferry cost?

Fares run 130-400 THB (~3.50-11 USD) one way on the regular daytime schedule, and up to ~495 THB (~14 USD) on premium or late Haad Rin Queen sailings. Raja Ferry’s passenger fare from Lipa Noi is typically the cheapest at around 130-140 THB (~3.50-4 USD); Full Moon Party night sailings cost 300-600 THB (~8.50-17 USD).

Can I take a scooter or car on the ferry to Koh Phangan?

Yes, but only with Raja Ferry from the Lipa Noi vehicle terminal. Scooters cost from ~180 THB (~5 USD) and cars from ~420 THB (~12 USD), plus the passenger fare per rider. No other operator carries vehicles, so a rental scooter must cross on this specific ferry.

What’s the best day-trip option from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?

Take an early Lomprayah or Seatran Discovery sailing (around 08:00-09:30) from Maenam or Bang Rak pier to Thong Sala, and return on a mid-to-late-afternoon departure — most operators run their last boats back to Samui around 16:30-18:30. Confirm the return time at the pier when you arrive, since schedules shift seasonally. For a full multi-day plan that includes Koh Phangan, see our Koh Samui itinerary guide.

Do I need to book the ferry in advance?

It’s not strictly required outside peak periods, but book 1-3 days ahead in December-January and during Full Moon Party week, when Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery and especially Raja Ferry’s vehicle slots sell out. Off-season, walk-up tickets at the pier are usually available.