14 days backpacker Gulf: Samui to Tao itinerary
January to September is the useful Gulf window. Book Lomprayah or Seatran by pier name, and pay the 20 THB Tao arrival fee at Mae Haad.
A Lower Gulf fortnight starts with two Bangkok nights, then Samui, Phangan, and Tao. Palace 500 THB is optional if you would rather save the morning for a bus. A 2026 BTS tap is 17 to 62 THB. Fly Bangkok to Koh Samui or use URT plus a boat.
Sleep four nights on Samui, four on Phangan, three on Tao. Lomprayah from Bangrak or Maenam to Thong Sala is about 30 minutes. Haad Rin is where the Full Moon Party is held. Ang Thong is 300 THB. For a tighter hop use Gulf islands 10 days.
Day by day
1 Bangkok landing
Khao San or a BTS bunk. Optional palace 500 THB if you arrive early.
2 City buffer
Chatuchak or Or Tor Kor. Pack for USM or URT.
3 Reach Samui
USM or boat from Donsak. No island hop on landing day.
4 Chaweng or Lamai
Pick a bunk near the sand you want.
5 Ang Thong optional
300 THB if the park is open.
6 Samui buffer
Book Lomprayah. Bangrak or Maenam, not Nathon by default.
7 Boat to Phangan
About 30 minutes to Thong Sala. Sleep west coast or Thong Nai Pan.
8 Bay day
Haad Yuan, Bottle Beach, or Srithanu. Skip Haad Rin unless Full Moon is why you came.
9 Phangan buffer
Snorkel or a viewpoint. Pack for Tao.
10 Boat to Tao
Mae Haad pier. Many tickets add a 20 THB pier fee.
11 Sairee or dive try
Sairee beach day or a Discover Scuba.
12 Second Tao day
Chalok or a fun dive. Confirm the outbound boat.
13 Boat toward USM or URT
Do not cut this to a same-hour flight.
14 Exit
USM premium or URT plus a Bangkok hop.
Two city nights, then three Gulf islands
Keep Phuket off this fortnight. May to September is when the Andaman carries monsoon swell.
| Block | Sleep | Move |
|---|---|---|
| Nights 1 to 2 | Bangkok | BTS 17 to 62 THB |
| Nights 3 to 6 | Samui | USM or URT boat; Ang Thong 300 THB |
| Nights 7 to 10 | Phangan | Lomprayah about 30 minutes |
| Nights 11 to 13 | Tao | Pier fee often 20 THB |
Keep going
Book
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Search flights Chiang Mai to HanoiCommon questions
- USM or Surat Thani?
- USM is short and premium. URT plus a boat is the backpacker fare.
- Full Moon required?
- No. Book west-coast Phangan unless the party is the trip.
- Add Khao Sok?
- Not on this Gulf page. The lake is a different door and a van day.