How to get from Koh Tao to Bangkok with the Lompraya High Speed Catamaran.
This is a basic step by step of how to take the Lompraya Ferry from Koh Tao to Chumpon and Bus from Chumpon to Bangkok. Cost: 1100 Baht per person / USD$31.75
Read about our Koh Tao Experience
Planned Time Schedule: 10am to 8:30pm = 10.5 Hours Total
Hotel Pickup: (Skip this if you did not buy a ticket ahead of time). We were scheduled for pickup at our hotel at 8:15 am and the taxi truck arrived on time, however, we had to wait for one sleeping backpacker until 8:30, and then we were on our way. The pickup was included in our ticket price. Following one more pickup at another hotel, we arrived at the Mae Haad Port by 8:45 am.
Ticket: At this point in time, you have to trade your voucher for a ticket and a sticker, or buy your ticket. Make sure you are in the proper line for the proper destination. Unlike other destinations, there was no line up for Chumpon, so we could pass through quickly! With tickets and sticker on our shirts, by 9am we were seated in one of the town restaurants ordering breakfast.
Boat Boarding: At 9:45 AM we went back down to the port and were shuffled to the proper line, which they knew according to our sticker. Loading was fast and efficient; suitcases outside, backpacks inside at the front.
I kept a sweater with me as the last Lompraya boat ride (read how to Surat Thani to Koh Tao) was freezing – this time the air conditioning did not work.?. Within 30 minutes everyone was sweating and the body odour smells were everywhere. ?
Chumpon: We left promptly at 10 am and arrived in Chumpon at 11:52 am. Chaos ensued with everyone jumping up and scrambling for backpacks. Everyone was informed by loudspeaker to exit the back of the catamaran and everybody lined up there. Then they changed their mind 5 minutes later and opened the front doors!
People start pushing past and through others – such a shameful bunch of rude young adults ?.
Check In: After the walk down the long pier, people were instructed where to go based on final destination. We were corralled into another huge lineup in order to check in for the Bangkok bus. Eventually we got to the front, checked in, got another sticker and were told to be back by 1 Pm for the #2 bus. We had 45 minutes to kill. We decided to have lunch, but fyi there is a beach and lounge chairs and a few people took swims or just lounged around. Our meal of basil fried chicken with rice, and fried chicken noodles, each 80 baht (USD$2.30) were the worst Thai food we have ever consumed?.
Bus Boarding: At precisely 1 pm, 4 buses to Bangkok pulled up to the terminal. As informed, we entered bus # 2 and got shown to our assigned seats; we did not know we had assigned seats, but we got sent up the stairs to seats with zero leg room – right at the front of the double decker bus. Although we tried to change seats, it was not allowed, so we settled in for the 7.5 hours ride.
Rest Stop: At 3:45 pm, the bus stopped at a huge road side rest area for 1/2 an hour. In addition to washrooms, the huge building offered everything from candy, food, chips, snacks and drinks to souvenirs.
Arrival: The bus arrived behind schedule at 9:45 pm for a total travel time of 11 hours and 45 minutes. Not sure if it is always the case, but we were left off at the side of a street, not an actual station.
Where does the Lompraya Chumpon Bangkok Bus end? We were one block from the famous Khao San Road and just around the corner from Rambuttri Road, which is where we stayed.
If I have missed or forgotten anything, please feel free to add it in the comments below.
Arrival Address
