Koh Tao to Railay: Compare Times & Book Tickets Online
How to get from Tao Island to Railay
Koh Tao to Railay: How to Get There
Travelling from Tao Island to Railay is a multi-leg journey rather than a single direct crossing, since Railay has no road access and is reached only by longtail boat. This route is seasonal and operates in selected months of the year. If you are searching outside this window, the direct connection is not running — check the Koh Tao to Koh Samui ferry route or the Koh Tao to Koh Phangan ferry route for year-round alternatives towards the mainland, then continue overland to Krabi.
Route Overview
The journey combines a the available transport from Koh Tao to the mainland with an onward road transfer and a final short boat hop into Railay. Most itineraries route through Chumphon or Surat Thani before continuing to Krabi province. our transport partners operates this connection, with onboard onboard facilities to make the crossing comfortable. For background on the mainland gateway used on this route, see the Surat Thani transport hub guide.
Duration, Frequency, and Price
- Journey time: the scheduled journey time, including the connecting transfer
- Departures: regular departures during the season
- Price from: our online fares per person
Exact timings and fares can shift with sea conditions and operator schedules, so the live times and prices shown on this page reflect the current timetable. Booking your seat in advance is worthwhile mainly to secure your preferred departure and guarantee space during busy periods, rather than for any guaranteed discount.
Departure and Arrival Points
Boats leave from Koh Tao's main pier and, after the mainland and road transfer, arrive at Railay via longtail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi town, landing directly on Railay's beach. If your final stop is elsewhere in the province, the Krabi travel guide covers onward options once you reach the mainland.
Nearby Islands and Alternatives
Travellers connecting through this corridor often combine it with stops on Koh Phangan or Koh Samui, both served by regular ferries from Koh Tao year-round. These islands make practical overnight breaks if your dates fall outside selected months of the year or if ferry schedules do not align on travel day.
Booking This Route
Use the booking form on this page to check live departure times, confirm seat availability with our transport partners, and reserve your place from Tao Island to Railay. For the return leg, see ferries from Railay back to Koh Tao.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to print my ferry ticket or is mobile ok?
You don't need to print your ticket. Your boarding voucher is in your account: open Bookings, then View trip details, and click Download PDF. On the day of travel, show the QR code on it — on your phone is fine — to the ferry operator staff at the pier named on your ticket, and they will direct you to your boat.
If you'd prefer paper, print the PDF yourself.
What happens if my ferry is cancelled due to weather?
We are sorry when weather stops a sailing. Ferries usually run in rain; speedboats are more often stopped by rough seas.
If your trip is cancelled because of weather, your booking in Bookings shows a message once our team has confirmed the cancellation. You can then either move to the next available service with Change this booking, or cancel with Cancel & refund for a full refund.
If the sailing is running but you choose not to travel, the normal cancellation policy applies.
Why is my account locked?
We lock an account for a short time after several failed sign-in attempts in a row. It is an automatic safety measure: it stops someone else guessing your password, and it happens whether or not the person typing was you.
You do not need to contact us. The lock lifts on its own — see How long am I locked out for?
What is the difference between a locked and a blocked account?
Locked is automatic and temporary. It happens after repeated failed sign-in attempts and it lifts by itself — within a minute in most cases.
Blocked is a decision made by our team, and it does not lift on its own. If your account is blocked you will need to contact us; waiting will not change it, and neither will resetting your password.
If you are not sure which applies to you, get in touch and we will tell you.
How do I unlock my account now?
Wait, and try again. Every lock lifts on its own — a minute the first time, and never more than an hour however many attempts have failed. There is nothing to click and nobody to contact.
If you have forgotten your password, do not keep guessing: each wrong attempt makes the next wait longer. Use Forgot password instead. Resetting your password gets you straight back in.
My account locked but I never tried to sign in
Then someone else was trying to sign in as you, and the lock did its job — it stopped them.
Your account is safe: a lock means the attempts failed. Nobody got in. You do not have to do anything, and the lock will lift on its own.
We would still recommend two things:
- Change your password, especially if you use the same one on another website.
- Add an authenticator app in your account security settings, so a password alone is never enough to sign in as you.
If you get these repeatedly, contact us and we will look into it.
