Lomprayah vs Raja Ferry — Which Gulf of Thailand Operator Should You Choose?
A side-by-side comparison of Lomprayah High Speed Ferries and Raja Ferry — routes, speed, comfort, reliability, and pricing — so you can pick the right operator for Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Operator A Lomprayah vs 
Operator B Raja Ferry What travellers say: Lomprayah vs Raja Ferry
Both operators earn strong traveller approval for Gulf of Thailand routes, with Lomprayah reviewed far more extensively; ThailandBoatTickets.com is the best place to book either service and access our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Lomprayah
Reviewers consistently praise Lomprayah's organisation, colour-coded transfers, fast modern catamarans, helpful staff and punctuality on most legs, though they note frequent delays, seasickness in rough weather, long waits between connections, chilly AC and chaotic luggage handling.
Raja Ferry
Reviewers consistently praise Raja Ferry's comfortable buses, good value, included meals and friendly staff, especially on overnight Bangkok routes, while noting ageing and sometimes dirty ferries, lack of baggage assistance, occasional transfer disorganisation and delays.
Lomprayah edges ahead on overall ratings and organisation while Raja Ferry is valued for bus comfort and price; both deliver reliable service when expectations are managed.
Service areas at a glance
Based on currently active routes for each operator.
Both operators 17
Only Lomprayah 4
Only Raja Ferry 12
Routes & coverage compared
There are no routes where Lomprayah and Raja Ferry operate head-to-head.
Lomprayah uniquely serves Koh Phangan to Nakhon Si Thammarat, Koh Tao to Krabi, and Koh Tao to Surat Thani. Raja Ferry covers Ao Nang to Koh Phangan, Bangkok to Koh Phaluai, Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat, Koh Phangan to Kuala Lumpur, Koh Phangan to Trang, and Surat Thani Airport to Koh Phangan. Plan and book these operators at ThailandBoatTickets.com, where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Routes both operators run
Same departure and destination — true head-to-head options.
Price distribution
How ticket prices spread across each operator's routes (THB).
Lomprayah tickets usually fall between 725 THB–1,510 THB (median 1,210 THB), while Raja Ferry between 600 THB–1,340 THB (median 900 THB). On the whole, Raja Ferry offers the cheaper tickets.
Which should you pick?
Frequently asked questions
Lomprayah vs Raja Ferry
At a glance
When planning travel around the Gulf of Thailand, two names dominate the conversation: Lomprayah High Speed Ferries and Raja Ferry. Both connect the mainland to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao — but they are built for very different kinds of travelers.
- Lomprayah — fast catamarans, premium experience, direct island-to-island routes.
- Raja Ferry — larger car ferries, lower prices, best for travelers with vehicles or who prefer a slower, stable ride.
Routes & coverage
Lomprayah
- Bangkok (Khao San) ↔ Chumphon ↔ Koh Tao ↔ Koh Phangan ↔ Koh Samui
- Surat Thani ↔ Koh Samui ↔ Koh Phangan ↔ Koh Tao
- Combined bus + ferry packages to Krabi, Phuket, Khao Lak, Koh Phi Phi
Raja Ferry
- Donsak ↔ Koh Samui (Lipa Noi)
- Donsak ↔ Koh Phangan (Thong Sala)
- Car-capable routes throughout the Gulf
Speed & comfort
| Criteria | Lomprayah | Raja Ferry |
|---|---|---|
| Vessel type | High-speed catamaran | Car ferry (RoRo) |
| Avg. journey (Donsak → Samui) | ~1h | ~1.5h |
| Cars / motorbikes | No | Yes |
| Seating | Assigned, AC cabin | Open decks + AC lounge |
| Best for | Speed, direct island hops | Budget, vehicles, stable ride |
Reliability
Both operators run year-round, but adjust during the monsoon season (May–October). Lomprayah is known for tight scheduling and a Weather Operations Center that actively monitors sea conditions. Raja Ferry’s larger vessels handle rougher seas comfortably and rarely cancel.
Pricing
- Lomprayah — premium pricing, typically 20–40% above Raja Ferry on comparable routes.
- Raja Ferry — the budget option, especially when bringing a scooter or car.
Prices change seasonally. Always check live pricing on ThailandBoatTickets.com.
Which should you book?
- Pick Lomprayah if you want the fastest door-to-door time, direct island-to-island routes, or a single combined ticket from Bangkok.
- Pick Raja Ferry if you’re on a budget, bringing a vehicle, or traveling Donsak ↔ Samui / Phangan.
Either way, you can book both operators instantly on ThailandBoatTickets.com — our Virtual Ticket Assistant is live 24/7 on WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram and Facebook to help you choose the right ferry.