Koh Samui Transport Travel Guide

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Flying really is the quickest, easiest, and most painless option to get to Koh Samui. Bangkok Airways has done a magnificent job connecting Samui to the rest of the world. There are many connecting flights from Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya, as well as connections from Singapore and Hong Kong. [more]

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By Air

Bangkok Airport T077-425029-30 Note: The airport is privately owned by Bangkok Airways.

Bangkok Airways uses a turbo-prop Franco-Italian ATR-72 to get you to Samui from Bangkok. There is an early morning flight that you can catch if you are coming in from Europe. It leaves at 7:40am and arrives at Samui by 9:10am. There is another flight at 2:00pm that arrives by 3:00pm. If you are in a hurry, Bangkok Airways also has two services a day that use a Boeing 717 that can cut 50 minutes off of your flight time.

Check-in tends to be swift, and the in-flight service is professional. The lounge on Phuket is free of charge, and offers a small selection of light snacks, also free of charge. This is the kind of service you can't get in some US lounges, where you have to pay for the privilege of sitting there! The one downside is the large airport international departure tax (currently between THB 300-500 for domestic and international flights respectively).

Note: If you are taking connecting flights (from Bangkok to Surat Thani) and assume the airline will transfer your baggage for you, will arrive at Samui without any! Your baggage will not be redirected automatically. You have to pick it up yourself, move it to the domestic terminal and check-in your baggage again.

By Boat

There is regular ferry service from one of Surat Thani's piers. The journey takes about 2 hours. If you are coming into the country and landing in Bangkok, you can get service from Bangkok to Surat Thani and get a bus and ferry transfer to Samui. Any travel agent in Bangkok can also arrange a bus and ferry trip to Samui for you.

The price for the bus and ferry part of your travel is approximately THB 2,800 one way. The bus rides on the ferry, and the total bus and ferry trip will take approximately 3 hours. Your hotel will often arrange pickup if given advance warning.

Songserm Travel Seafront Road, Nathon (on Samui) runs express passenger boats from Nathon to Surat Thani, Koh Tao, and Koh Phan Ngan (THB 95-345 depending on location) on the mainland on a daily basis. T077-420157. Office hours are from 0800-1800.

Seatran T077-426001-2 has an hourly service from Nathon to Surat Thani from 0500-1800.

By Rail

State Railway of Thailand (Ph 02223 7010, 02223 7020)

If you wish to travel by rail, you can buy a train ticket at the Bangkok Airport. The overnight train takes 10 hours, and then you transfer to Samui using a bus and ferry transfer as you would if you had taken the bus from Bangkok Airport.

Note: If you are coming into the country from Europe or elsewhere, plan for an overnight stay in Bangkok. You may or may not get a ticket for a trip to Surat Thani that same night.

By Bus or Road

You can take an air conditioned bus to Koh Samui (with the ferry transfer added in) for 750 Baht. If you wish to ride in extra comfort, take the VIP bus service from Sai Tai Mai. This is Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal. They are located on Boromratchchonnani Rd, (Ph 02435 1200). Any bus labeled VIP must have 24 reclining seats or fewer, a food and drink service, and a toilet.

You can take one of two ferries that operate from Don Sak (on the mainland) to Samui. The Raja ferry operates every hour from 0500-1900 in either direction. See above or details about the Seatran Ferry. If you wish to rent a car, it will be easier to do so once you arrive at Samui.