There are two parts to the journey by train from Hat Yai to Koh Tao. The first part of the journey is by train from Hat Yai to Chumphon. The second part of the journey is by bus and ferry from Chumphon Railway Station to Koh Tao.
Part 1: Hat Yai to Chumphon
There are 4 trains a day from Hat Yai to Chumphon.
- Buy tickets from Hat Yai to Chumphon.
| Train | Hat Yai | Chumphon | Service |
| 172 | 16:05 | 23:38 | Rapid |
| 32 | 17:45 | 00:44 | Special Express |
| 38/46 | 18:05 | 01:17 | Special Express |
| 170 | 18:20 | 02:22 | Rapid |
Part 2: Chumphon to Koh Tao
There are currently 4 joint bus and ferry services a day from Chumphon Railway Station to Koh Tao available to book online.
- Buy tickets from Chumphon Railway Station to Koh Tao.
| Train Station | Koh Tao | Ticket | Company |
| 06:00 | 08:45 | ฿900 | Lomprayah |
| 06:00 | 08:45 | ฿904 | Boonsiri High Speed Ferries |
| 11:30 | 14:15 | ฿904 | Boonsiri High Speed Ferries |
| 12:00 | 15:00 | ฿900 | Lomprayah |
Location of Hat Yai Train Station
Read more about Hat Yai Junction Railway Station.
Location of Chumphon Train Station
Read more about Chumphon Railway Station.
Location of Koh Tao Ferry Pier
Bus and ferry services from Chumphon Railway Station to Koh Tao arrive at a ferry pier in the island’s main town, Mae Haad.
About Train Travel from Hat Yai to Koh Tao
By train the journey from Hat Yai to Koh Tao is scheduled to take from 14 to 20 hours depending upon which train you take, and which connecting bus and ferry service you take from Chumphon to Koh Tao.
Trains from Hat Yai to Chumphon
All 4 daily train services from Hat Yai to Chumphon depart in either the late afternoon or early evening, and arrive in Chumphon either just before midnight or in the early hours of the next day. Whichever train you take you will to wait at least 3 hours before the first connecting bus and ferry service to Koh Tao departs.
By train the journey from Hat Yai to Chumphon is scheduled to take from around 7 to 8 hours depending upon which train you take. Some trains complete the journey more quickly than others primarily because of the number of stops they make en-route from Hat Yai to Chumphon:
- Fastest Train:
- Train #32
- Departing at 17:45
- Scheduled to complete the journey in 6 hours 59 minutes
- Slowest Train:
- Train #170
- Departing at 18:20
- Scheduled to complete the journey in 8 hours 02 minutes
The 4 daily train services from Hat Yai to Chumphon also vary in terms of onboard facilities for passengers, particularly the range of seat types available. Sleeper berths are available on all 4 trains, however, the most sought after seat type (1st Class A/C Sleeper) is only available on the 2 Special Express services.
| Train | Seating Options |
| 172 | 2nd Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class Fan Seat, 3rd Class Fan Seat |
| 32 | 1st Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class A/C Sleeper |
| 38/46 | 1st Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class Fan Seat, 3rd Class Fan Seat |
| 170 | 2nd Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class Fan Sleeper, 2nd Class Fan Seat, 3rd Class Fan Seat |
- For leisure travellers the most popular seat type for the Hat Yai to Chumphon route is 2nd Class A/C Sleeper.
- The least expensive sleeper berth on the Hat Yai to Chumphon route is 2nd Class Fan Sleeper, which is only available on Train #170 departing at 18:20.
Learn to scuba dive in Koh TaoWaiting Time in Chumphon
Trains from Hat Yai to Chumphon are scheduled to arrive between 23:38 and 02:22. This means a wait of several hours until the departure of the first joint bus and ferry services from Chumphon to Koh Tao at 06:00.
Travellers need to decide in advance whether they wish to check into a hotel when they get to Chumphon, or whether they want to wait at the train station until 06:00. In terms of deciding which train to take what we advise is:
- If you plan to stay at a hotel take Train #170 departing at 16:05 because it is scheduled to arrive in Chumphon at 23:38.
- If you don’t plan to stay at a hotel take #170 departing at 18:20 because it is scheduled to arrive in Chumphon at 02:22 which means waiting time of only 3 hours 38 minutes before the scheduled departure of the first connecting services to Koh Tao.
If you do plan to stay overnight in a hotel there are plenty of places to choose from within easy walking distance of Chumphon Railway Station. Two budget hotels near the train station tend to be the most popular leisure travellers:
- Chumphon Euro Boutique Hotel (850 metres from Chumphon Railway Station)
- Salsa Hostel (550 metres from Chumphon Railway Station)
The closest shop to Chumphon Railway Station which will be open after midnight is the 7-Eleven in the PTT petrol station on the Taweesinka Alley, 280 metres walking distance to the south west of the ticket hall at the train station.
Bus and Ferry Services to Koh Tao
There are two companies operating joint bus and ferry services direct from Chumphon Railway Station to Koh Tao, Lomprayah High Speed Ferry and Boonsiri High Speed Ferries.
The service that these two companies provide is very similar:
- Both services depart from the same place, which is from the car park in front of the ticket hall at Chumphon Railway Station.
- Both services use high speed catamaran ferries to complete the sea crossing to Koh Tao.
- Both services take about the same length of time to complete the journey, which is 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.
The only major difference between the two services is that the ferries they use depart from different places. Boonsiri High Speed Ferries services travel to Koh Tao via a ferry pier that’s located 17 km by road from Chumphon Railway Station. Lomprayah High Speed Ferry services travel by a ferry pier that’s located 27 km from Chumphon Railway Station.