Private Speedboat to and from The Sanctuary

We can organize a ‘Private Speedboat’ booking for you at 7,500 THB one way.

The driver can collect you from Koh Samui airport, take you to the boat and bring you directly to The Sanctuary. We can also arrange a return journey when leaving The Sanctuary.

For safety purposes, the driver will not operate after dark.

Please book at least one week prior to your arrival with us via Reservations (holidayasiabookings@gmail.com) and at least one day prior to your departure from The Sanctuary with Reception. 

By Plane to Koh Samui

The most direct way to get to Koh Phangan is to fly from Bangkok to Koh Samui Island with Bangkok Air. Note that Bangkok Air has a very flexible ‘change your ticket’ policy and they have 20 flights a day to and from the islands.

Fast Data and Signal Tip For you:

We highly recommend purchasing an AIS sim card when you arrive in Thailand as this works well on Haad Tien. We do have good WIFI here, however, you may be required to reconnect to The Sanctuary WIFI every time we change our generators (3 times a day).

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is a mandatory online form for nearly all non-Thai visitors entering Thailand (by air, land, or sea) since May 1, 2025, replacing the old paper TM6 card to streamline immigration, enhance security, and speed up arrivals. You must fill it out within three days before your arrival, providing passport, travel, and accommodation details on the official immigration portal at tdac.immigration.go.th, and show the confirmation upon arrival to avoid delays or denial of entry. 

1. Go to the Official Site: Visit tdac.immigration.go.th.
2. Provide Details: Enter personal info (name, passport), travel itinerary (flight/transport), and accommodation details in Thailand.
3. Upload Passport: You can upload a photo or manually enter passport details.
4. Submit: Review, agree to terms, and submit; you’ll get an email confirmation and a downloadable card.
5. Present on Arrival: Show your confirmation at immigration. 

From Koh Samui Airport

Taxi & “Haad Rin Queen” Ferry Ticket to Haad Rin Pier in Koh Phangan

The easiest option once you have collected your luggage is to ask at one of the travel desks upon leaving the airport for a taxi & “Haad Rin Queen” ferry ticket to Haad Rin pier, Koh Phangan.

Alternatively, you can catch a taxi from the airport to Big Buddha Pier in Koh Samui, to purchase a ferry ticket to Haad Rin in Koh Phangan (please see below, The Haad Rin Queen ferry**).

Ferry from Samui to Koh Phangan – The “Haad Rin Queen” Ferry

The ferry departs from Big Buddha Pier Koh Samui to Haad Rin (Koh Phangan) daily at:

• 10:30am
• 3:00pm (fast boat)
• 5:00pm .

Please double check it is the correct pier for the HAAD RIN QUEEN FERRY, as there are 2 Big Buddha Piers

Echo Travel Speedboat Service

Prebooking Required: Please prebook your ticket before arriving on Koh Samui.

Route: From Koh Samui Airport, take a taxi to Petcherat Marina. Board the Echo Travel Speedboat (see schedule below) which will drop you off at Baan Tai Pier. From Baan Tai Pier, take a taxi to Haad Rin Beach, then proceed to The Sanctuary Haad Tien.

Schedule:

From Koh Samui (Petcherat Marina)

• 9:00 – 9:30 (500 THB)
• 11:00 – 11:30 (500THB)
• 13:00 – 13:30 (500 THB)
• 16:00 – 16:30 (500 THB)
• 18:30 – 19:00 (600 THB)
• 20:30 – 21:00 (900 THB)

BOOK YOUR ECHO SPEED BOAT TICKET HERE

Please double check it is the PETCHARAT MARINA pier for the ECHO SPEEDBOAT, as there are 2 Big Buddha Piers-

From Koh Tao to Koh Phangan – The Lomprayah Ferry

If you are travelling to us from Koh Tao, please catch the fast ferry (Lomprayah) to Thong Sala Pier. At Thong Sala, please catch a taxi truck (20 minutes, approx. 150 baht per person) to Haad Rin town.

From Haad Rin (in Koh Phangan) to The Sanctuary

By Taxi Boat:

When you arrive at Haad Rin Pier, there will be taxi boat drivers waiting for customers bound for Haad Tien (where The Sanctuary is located). Please ensure you ask the taxi boat driver to transport you to Haad Tien.

To improve your chances of getting a boat / taxi quickly with other passengers, head to the ferry port when the boats from Koh Samui arrive at:

The cost of a taxi boat taxi is approx. 500 baht depending on how many customers are taking the boat with you. If the waves are high or there are few customers, the boat drivers may charge a higher price.

By Truck

If the waves are too high for a taxi boat, there will be a taxi jeep waiting.

This journey is quite an adventure! It takes about 40 minutes over mostly rough jungle tracks.

The taxi truck journey costs approx. 500 THB to 1,500 THB (depending on the weather) per person.

From the City of Surat Thani

Many ferry companies offer boats directly to Koh Phangan, or via Koh Samui.

The journey from Surat Thani/Donsak to Thong Sala pier in Koh Phangan takes around 2.5 hours.

The boats land at Thong Sala and you can get a taxi truck to Haad Rin, where you then catch a taxi boat or taxi jeep to The Sanctuary.

Please Note For our arrivals after dark, we suggest that you stay overnight somewhere local in Koh Phangan. As it may feel a bit daunting catching a boat / taxi in the dark for the first time, or by road truck as it can be a bumpy ride!

Depending on the strength of the waves, the taxi boat may drop you at the end of Haad Tien beach, requiring you to walk across the beach to The Sanctuary. If this is the case, you are more than welcome to contact us via our WhatsApp general enquiries number for assistance with your suitcase: – WhatsApp message us on: – +66 (0) 93 657 9534 GMT+7 (Available between 8am – 5:30pm).

Returning Home

The ferry times back from Haad Rin (Koh Phangan) to Koh Samui take 50 minutes and run daily at:

• 9:30am
• 12:30pm (fast boat)
• 4:00pm.

If your flight out of Koh Samui is before midday, you will need to either spend your last night in Koh Samui or travel by private speedboat.

Thai Visas

Most travellers are issued a one or two month tourist visa upon arrival in Thailand at one of the country’s international airports.

Most passport holders can obtain a further 30 days at the local Koh Samui Immigration office – However it is recommended you visit your own country’s Thai embassy for specifics, as countries do differ.

If you think you will want to spend more than 1 month in Thailand, we recommend getting a tourist visa in your own country.

If you cross the Thai border by road you will only be given a 30 to 60 day visa.