Chumphon Airport is a small single terminal about 30 to 35 km north of town, 30 to 45 minutes by road, and it closes overnight. There is no public bus, so use a taxi, minivan, Grab or a booked car. Many arrivals head straight for Koh Tao on the Lomprayah coach and catamaran from the terminal, about ฿1,000.
By the bookingMentor Travel Desk · Updated · How we research
Chumphon is a quick, uncomplicated airport with a few flights a day. This guide covers the Koh Tao connection, the ways into town, and the little the terminal offers.
Please note: Flights, hotels near the airport and car hire with driver on this page can be booked directly on bookingMentor. We list places on merit, and bookings never affect what we say about them.
What to expect
Chumphon Airport (CJM) is a small Department of Airports terminal in Pathio district, about 35 km north of Chumphon town. It opened in 1998, closed for several years and reopened in 2008, and handled about 191,000 passengers in 2025.
Its only scheduled route is to Bangkok Don Mueang, flown by Nok Air and Thai AirAsia, with a handful of flights a day between them; the flight takes about an hour. Nok Air returned to the route in November 2024 after a break.
For many passengers the attraction is Koh Tao. Chumphon is the shortest sea crossing to the island, and Lomprayah has a counter in the terminal selling a coach transfer to its pier at Thung Makham Noi, south of town, plus the catamaran. A morning flight from Bangkok connects to an afternoon arrival on Koh Tao. The airport is also used by people visiting Chumphon itself and the beaches at Thung Wua Laen and Sai Ri.
The terminal is small: an ATM, a café, a small shop, a tourist information counter, the Lomprayah desk and two car rental counters. There is no public bus to town, so plan on a taxi, minivan, Grab or a pre-booked car.
The 1998 opening, nine-year closure and future plans
The airport first opened on 14 March 1998 in tambon Chum Kho, Pathio district, and the closure that followed lasted nine years before it reopened in 2008. It stands only about 5.5 m above sea level, and its single asphalt runway is 2,100 m long. In 2025 passenger numbers rose by about 1 per cent to 190,929, over 1,381 aircraft movements.
Chumphon is one of four regional airports that Airports of Thailand planned in 2018 to take over from the Department of Airports and expand, as part of a 220 billion baht programme that also covered two new airports. Until that happens, expect the airport to stay small and quiet, with a schedule built around the Bangkok flights and the Koh Tao ferry connections.
Landside and airside
Chumphon has one small terminal. Landside is the check-in and arrivals area, with the café, ATM, rental desks and the Lomprayah counter. Airside is the departure gate area past security, with a coffee and gift shop.
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Good to know
IATA / ICAOCJM / VTSE
Terminals in useMain terminal
OpenFlight times only (closed overnight)
To city centre~35 km
Fastest to the cityCar hire with driver
CurrencyThai baht (฿ THB)
24-hour foodNone
Time zoneUTC+7
About this guide
How we research this airport guide
This guide is written and maintained by the bookingMentor Travel Desk. We check flight and ferry links against airline and operator sources and update the page when schedules change, most recently for Nok Air's return to the route.
Last updated . Ferry fares and flight frequencies change by season; confirm with the operators. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
Checked against trusted sources: Department of Airports informationAirline schedulesLomprayah ferry information
See all 4 sources
Department of Airports information
Airline schedules
Lomprayah ferry information
Travel guide listings
Flight board
Departures and arrivals listed on bookingMentor for Chumphon Airport.
No departures from CJM are listed yetSearch the airlines' fares for your dates instead.Search flights from CJM
No arrivals into CJM are listed yetSearch the airlines' fares for your dates instead.Search flights to CJM
Times are from the flights listed on bookingMentor, not a live departure feed. Always confirm with your airline before travelling.
Airlines at this airport
Different low-cost carriers fly to Bangkok Don Mueang.
Lounge list coming soonLounges at Chumphon Airport are not listed yet. Your airline or lounge programme can confirm access.Ask the travel team
Water, showers & mobile charging
Drinking water
Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Buy bottled water at the small shop or café.
Showers
There are no showers at Chumphon Airport.
Mobile charging
Sockets are limited, so bring a power bank. Thailand uses types A, B, C, F and O sockets at 220 V.
Luggage storage & lockers
No luggage storage details yetLeft-luggage services and rates at Chumphon Airport are not listed yet. Check with the airport information desk on arrival.Ask the travel team
WiFi & connectivity
WiFi details not checked yetWiFi access and login details are not listed yet. A local SIM or eSIM is a reliable backup.Ask the travel team
Food & drinks
Food is limited to light snacks and drinks. Eat in town or on the island.
Terminal café
Main hall, landside
Coffee, soft drinks and light snacks
Daytime hours
Small grocery shop
Main hall, landside
Bottled water, snacks and basics
Daytime hours
Chumphon Coffee and Gift Shop
Near the departure gates
Coffee and local souvenirs before boarding
Daytime hours
No outlets match that filter.
More airport information
Chumphon's terminal covers the basics. Search for "cash", "car" or "ferry".
ATMA cash machine in the terminal.
CaféCoffee and snacks in the main hall.
Car rentalI-Modern Rentals and We Car Rent counters.
Lomprayah counterCoach and catamaran tickets to Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.
ParkingCar park beside the terminal.
ShopA small grocery shop and a coffee and gift shop near the gates.
Special assistanceRequest wheelchair help from your airline before travel.
Taxis and minivansAvailable outside the terminal to Chumphon town and the piers.
Tourist informationA Tourism Authority of Thailand information counter.
Nothing matches that search. Try "sim", "wifi", "bag" or "food".
Airport hours
Terminal
Flight times only (closed overnight)
Check-in opens
2 hrs before
Check-in closes
By airline, typically 45–60 min before
Overnight access
Closed overnight
Chumphon handles only a few flights a day, so the terminal is busy around each departure and arrival and quiet in between. Outlets open around the flight times.
Arriving and departing, step by step
With only a few flights a day, Chumphon is quick in both directions. The main thing to plan is the onward link to the pier or town.
Arriving
From the Don Mueang flight to the Koh Tao boat
1
Baggage claim
All flights are domestic, so there is no immigration. Bags arrive quickly at the single belt.
2
Lomprayah counter
If you are heading to Koh Tao, check in at the Lomprayah desk with your joint ticket, or buy one if seats remain.
3
Coach to the pier
The coach runs to the Thung Makham Noi pier, south of Chumphon town, about an hour's drive. The catamaran crossing takes under two hours.
4
Or into town
For Chumphon town, take a taxi or minivan from outside, use Grab, or meet your pre-booked driver.
Departing
From Chumphon's kerb to the Bangkok flight
1
Coming from Koh Tao
Lomprayah sells tickets from Koh Tao to Chumphon airport. Check that the boat and coach timing leaves enough margin before your flight.
2
Arrive 90 minutes ahead
That is enough at a terminal this size. Bag drop closes well before departure on low-cost airlines.
3
Check in
Nok Air and Thai AirAsia check in at the counters in the main hall. Weigh your bags first if you are carrying dive gear.
4
Security and gate
Clear security into the gate area. A coffee and gift shop is the only outlet past this point.
Getting to & from the airport
There is no public bus to Chumphon town. Choose between the Lomprayah coach for Koh Tao, a taxi or minivan, Grab, a rental car or a pre-booked car with driver.
Lomprayah's counter in the terminal sells a joint ticket: a coach to its pier south of Chumphon, about an hour, then the catamaran to Koh Tao in under two hours. The morning service connects with the first flight from Don Mueang and reaches Koh Tao in the afternoon. Tickets also continue to Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.
Taxi
Best for: Chumphon town
Mid-range
Journey30 – 45 min
PickupOutside the terminal
FareAgree before leaving
Taxis and minivans wait for arriving flights to take passengers to Chumphon town and the piers. Fares are not published, so agree the price before you leave.
Ride-hailing
Best for: App users
Mid-range
AppGrab
PricingFixed in app
NoteFew drivers
Grab works in Chumphon, but there are fewer drivers than in larger cities, so availability at the airport is not guaranteed.
Car rental
Best for: Exploring the coast
Mid-range
FirmsI-Modern, We Car Rent
LocationTerminal counters
BookingAdvance advised
Two rental firms have counters at the airport. Book ahead, carry an international driving permit, and check the car's insurance before you leave.
Security & safety
Chumphon Airport is small and low-risk. The things to watch are transport availability and ferry timings.
1Book transport for late arrivalsTaxis wait for flights, but after the last arrival there may be none. Pre-book a car if you land in the evening.
2Check ferry timings in the monsoonCrossings to Koh Tao can be delayed or cancelled in rough weather, particularly from about October to December. Leave a margin before onward flights.
3Buy island tickets from the operatorUse the Lomprayah counter or official booking channels rather than unofficial agents.
4Agree taxi fares in advanceFares are not metered on this route. Confirm the price for the whole vehicle before getting in.
Pro tip: book the flight and the Lomprayah coach-and-boat together, or at least on the same morning, so a flight delay is easier to sort out at the airport counter.
The sea crossing is shorter from Chumphon, but there are fewer flights. Surat Thani has many more flights but a longer boat ride.
Lomprayah uses Thung Makham Noi, south of Chumphon town, about an hour from the airport.
Yes, at the Lomprayah counter, but book ahead in high season when seats sell out.
No. The terminal has a café and a gift shop only.
Yes, a Tourism Authority of Thailand counter in the terminal.
Yes. Overnight trains from Bangkok reach Chumphon in the early hours and connect with Lomprayah vans to the pier.
Still looking?
Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown through Chumphon Airport.
Sleeping at the airport
Chumphon's terminal closes when there are no flights, so overnight waits mean a hotel in town or by the beaches.
Rest & relaxation zones
There are no rest zones; the terminal has standard seating only.
Cots for sleeping
Cots are not provided. If your flight is cancelled, Nok Air or Thai AirAsia handles rebooking.
Sleep pods, day rooms & transit hotel
No sleep pods or day rooms listed yetHotels near the airport are listed below; pods, day rooms and transit hotels are not listed here yet.See hotels nearby
Hotels near the airport
No hotels near Chumphon Airport are listed yetSearch hotels for your dates in the airport's area instead.Search hotels
Layover sightseeing
Chumphon is quiet and relaxed. The beaches north and east of town are the main draw for a long wait.
No sights listed near Chumphon yetBrowse attractions on bookingMentor to plan a long layover.Browse attractions
Layover planner
Tell us how long you have and whether you can leave the secure area.
How long is your layover?
Immigration, security and Chumphon traffic are already factored in.
Everything travellers ask before flying through Chumphon. Checked against airline, ferry operator and travel sources, October 2026.
Getting there
About 30–35 km north of the town centre in Pathio district. Allow 30 to 45 minutes by road.
No public bus links the airport with Chumphon town. Use a taxi, minivan, Grab or a pre-booked car with driver.
Buy Lomprayah's joint ticket at its counter in the terminal or online. A coach takes you to the pier at Thung Makham Noi, about an hour from the airport, and the catamaran crosses in under two hours. The coach-and-boat ticket is about ฿1,000.
Nok Air and Thai AirAsia, both from Bangkok Don Mueang. There are no flights from Suvarnabhumi or to other cities.
Yes, on a morning flight. Thai AirAsia's early departure from Don Mueang connects with the Lomprayah coach and catamaran, reaching Koh Tao in the afternoon.
No. The terminal opens around the day's few flights and is quiet in between.
Yes, there is an ATM in the terminal. Take out cash before leaving, as taxis and the ferry desk may prefer cash.
Yes. I-Modern Rentals and We Car Rent have counters in the terminal. Booking ahead is wise, as there are few cars at a small airport.
Only light options: a café, a small shop and a coffee and gift shop near the departure gates. Eat a proper meal before you arrive.
About 90 minutes before departure is enough at such a small terminal. Low-cost airlines close bag drop well before the flight, typically 45 to 60 minutes.
Pathio railway station on the southern line is a short taxi ride from the airport, but Chumphon station in town has far more trains.
Booking
Usually two to three a day in total, depending on the season. Check the current schedule with the airlines before planning a ferry connection.
Grab works in Chumphon, but drivers are fewer than in big cities. Have a taxi or pre-booked car as a backup.
General
No. All flights use Don Mueang, Bangkok's other airport. If you land at Suvarnabhumi, allow at least an hour to transfer by road.
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