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Getting to Koh Tao, Thailand

The most sensible and economical point to enter Thailand is Bangkok's main international airport (Suvarnabhumi). You'll then need connecting transport to transfer to Koh Tao, for which there are many options.

We try to coordinate PADI diving internship start dates so that several people start around the same date. If that's in the case, we'll let you know the contact details of other people arriving at the same time, so you can travel from Bangkok to the island together. If required, we can sort out transfer tickets on your behalf. Staff from Simple Life often visit Bangkok, so again, if one of us is in Bangkok when you arrive we'll be sure to meet you and join you for the journey to Koh Tao.

Here are the two best ways to travel from Bangkok to Koh Tao:

Option 1: The 'Save Money' Route - Joint Coach and Catamaran Ticket

A company called Lomprayah offer a fast and convenient joint coach and catamaran service from Bangkok to Koh Tao, departing twice daily. The service is reasonably comfortable and very cheap, with the ticket costing less than 1000 baht.

Here's how to do it:

From the airport, head outside and grab a meter taxi to the famous Khao San Road (Bangkok's central hub for travelers). The taxi shouldn't cost more than a few hundred baht - best is if they run the meter for you. (Stay away from Tuk-Tuks - more often than not these guys are out to take advantage of travelers with extortionate rates).

When you reach Khao San Road, head into any tour or travel agent and book your Lomprayah ticket to Koh Tao. The bus departs twice daily, very early in the morning, then again early each evening. The journey involves taking an air conditioned coach from Bangkok to Chumphon (a mainland port), where you transfer to a high speed catamaran ferry which brings you direct to Koh Tao. Staff from Simple Life will be waiting at the pier to welcome you to the island.

There service isn't too bad - there are western movies on the coach and ferry to keep you entertained, and the price is very reasonable. You can see all the timetable information and even book tickets online through the Lomprayah website [http://www.lomprayah.com].

Option 2: The fast route - Fly to Koh Samui

If cash isn't too much of an issue, faster and more comfortable is to take an internal flight from Bangkok down to Koh Samui, then grab a ferry across to Koh Tao. This route is much faster, but obviously costs a bit more. Prices fluctuate throughout the year, but you're looking at about 3,000 baht for the flight, followed by another 500 baht for the ferry transfer, so not too painful.

Koh Samui airport is operated by Bangkok Air - you can book flight tickets online through their website (http://www.bangkokair.com/).

For the ferry, again check out the Lomprayah Catamaran website [http://www.lomprayah.com]. Tickets can be booked online.

One thing you must be aware of, is that the last ferries from Koh Samui depart early afternoon around 13:30 pm. So if you want to make it to Koh Tao the same day, you'll need to make sure you get an early morning flight down from Bangkok to Samui in time to make the ferry. If you arrive too late you'll need to spend one night on Koh Samui, then take a ferry the following morning (so time-wise you'd have been better off traveling by coach and ferry).

To get from the airport to the pier, jump in a taxi outside the airport. Again, shouldn't be more than a few hundred baht.

Other Travel Alternatives

Clearly there are many other ways you can travel overland from Bangkok to the ferry pier in Chumphon. Taking an overnight train is a good option and not expensive if you're not a fan of coaches.

One thing to be careful of - there are many different companies offering coach travel and ferries, with considerably different prices, durations and standards of service. We recommend Lomprayah as it's fast, convenient, professional and reasonably comfortable. You can get slightly cheaper tickets elsewhere, but we don't recommend it - sometimes it's worth just paying a tiny bit more and being comfortable (and safe).

If Lomprayah is unavailable or full, another reasonable option is the equivalent joint coach and high speed ferry service with Seatran [http://www.seatrandiscovery.com/].

Other Gap Year Thailand Information: