See Also
- Quality Lodging Alternatives in Bangkok
- Best Accommodations for Families in Bangkok
- Where to Lodge in Bangkok
On This Page
- What are the transportation options for traveling between Bangkok and Koh Samui island?
- Which Airlines Provide Transportation to Koh Samui?
- What options exist to reach Koh Samui by rail transportation?
- How to Get to Koh Samui by Coach?
- Photos depicting arriving on the island of Koh Samui
Table of Contents
How do I get from Bangkok to Koh Samui?
There are generally 4 main options for traveling from Bangkok to Koh Samui:
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- Travel by plane from Bangkok to Surat Thani, then cross over to Koh Samui by ferry – This route is less expensive than flying directly to Koh Samui, but the bus ride from the airport to the pier and ferry ride adds about three hours to your trip. Nok Air and Air Asia offer five flights daily from Bangkok to Surat Thani. It`s best to purchase your bus and ferry tickets at the Surat Thani airport after you arrive. Bus and ferry details from Surat Thani to Koh Samui
- Train from Bangkok to Surat Thani and then ferry to Koh Samui β The overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani is an enjoyable option and much preferable over bus travel. Read this detailed post at Seat61 for full details on the train ride to Surat Thani.
- Travel by bus from Bangkok to Surat Thani in Thailand and then ferry to Koh Samui β The most cost-effective method to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui involves bus transportation. No reservations are necessary, simply present yourself at the bus station and you should board a southbound bus within about an hour. The bus will take you directly to the ferry terminal. Be certain to purchase a combined bus and ferry ticket.
Ferry businesses that travel from Surat Thani to Koh Samui: SeaTran Ferries,Lomprayah Ferries,Raja Ferries.
If your finances permit and seating is available then flying directly to Koh Samui is what I recommend. Direct flights to Koh Samui are also accessible from Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore (see below). The Koh Samui airport presents itself with an open-air layout, making for quite an impressive first glance.
Traveling by bus and ferry would be the most affordable way to arrive in Koh Samui. The next least expensive option would involve taking a train and ferry. Then flying there, depending on factors like how far in advance the flight is booked, what type of airline ticket is purchased (website fare, flexible, or non-changeable), and whether the flight goes directly to Koh Samui or first to Surat Thani on the mainland with a connecting ferry ride afterward. Even if paying the standard airfare, the train ride would likely cost less than flying. However, a discounted “web deal” flight could have nearly similar pricing as traveling by train.
Generally, the overnight train provides an enjoyable and fun experience while the bus ride is long and dreary. If youβre deciding between bus and train, definitely opt for the train. Though it does require a bit more effort coordinating the booking process. Taking the bus is as simple as arriving at the bus station and awaiting the subsequent bus. (Additional info below.)
Getting from Phuket or Krabi to Koh Samui can be conducted by bus then ferry (5 to 10 hours), hired vehicle then ferry (around 4 to 6 hours), or by a 50 minute flight on Bangkok Airlines. The clearest and simplest way to get from Phuket and Krabi to Koh Samui is demonstrably by plane.
What airlines fly to Koh Samui?
Here are the flight Options for Koh Samui:
Bangkok to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airlines offers up to 19 direct flights daily from Bangkok to Koh Samui with fares starting at 3200 Baht and a travel time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. Thai Airways provides 2 flights per day
Chiang Mai to Koh Samui
Phuket to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airlines has one direct flight daily from Phuket to Koh Samui that takes around 50 minutes and costs from 2750 Baht.
Krabi to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airlines travels four times daily from Krabi. The flight takes around 55 minutes and rates begin at 2750 Baht.
Pattaya to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airlines provides 2 daily flights from Pattaya to Samui, taking approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes and costing from 3690 Baht.
Kuala Lumpur to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airlines flies daily from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The flight takes approximately an hour and forty minutes and costs from 220 MYR
Malaysia Airlines may also provide flights from KL to Samui though their website offers conflicting information regarding routes and availability.
Singapore to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airlines has one daily flight from Singapore to Koh Samui (flight time 1 hour and 50 minutes and fares starting at 160 Singapore dollars) Reviews
Hong Kong to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airlines has 2 flights daily from Hong Kong to Samui. The trip takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes and fares commence at 2700 HKD.
Flights to Surat Thani
AirAsia (from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur) and Nok Air (from Bangkok)
Surat Thani is a city on the mainland that is 50 miles and 1.5 hours by ferry from Koh Samui. Flights to Surat Thani are usually cheaper than flights directly to Koh Samui making it an appealing option β especially when the cheapest fares to Koh Samui are sold out.
However, traveling from Surat Thani to Koh Samui is not as straightforward as it may seem. Reaching Koh Samui from the Surat Thani airport necessitates a 90-minute bus ride to the ferry dock, potential waits of up to 2 hours for the ferry, and then the ferry journey itself. Thus, even departing Bangkok on a 10am flight may not get you to Samui until around 3 or 4 pm at the earliest. And another 30 to 40 minutes further to reach the beaches of Chaweng or the east side.
If you do fly to Surat Thani be sure to get a flight that lands before 3pm or youβll miss the last ferry to Koh Samui.
How do I get to Koh Samui by train?
Traveling to Koh Samui by train from Bangkok requires boarding a train from Bangkok`s Hualamphong station. The train portion takes between 8.5 hours and 12 hours dependent on the train. From the Surat Thani train station one boards a waiting bus that takes you to the Don Sak ferry dock and then the 1.5 hour voyage over to Samui. The bus and ferry take about 4 hours total. Overnight sleepers are strongly suggested and should be reserved no less than 5 days in advance β but in peak season the sooner the better.
A combination train/bus/ferry ticket option is available and makes the entire trip fairly effortless β though the journey is still quite long.
Travelling to Bangkok`s Hualamphong station is among the most straightforward approaches to reserve tickets. Or for a modest charge utilize a Thai travel operator to book it for you. (Also the travel specialist does not need to be found in Bangkok.) On the off chance that you have to book ahead of time before showing up in Thailand at that point utilize ThailandTrainTicket.com β honestly this is somewhat of an irritation and includes exchanging emails backward and forward a couple times. However it gets the employment done.
How do I get to Koh Samui by bus?
(If possible, take the train. Itβs more enjoyable, easier, and less hassle.)
With bus travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui, you may depart almost immediately. If you arrive in Bangkok and do not want to spend the night or be concerned about reserving a seat on the train, you are able to go straight to the bus terminal and begin heading towards Koh Samui within one or two hours.
The buses go to Don Sak ferry terminal in Surat Thani. From there a 1.5 hour boat ride takes you across to Koh Samui (the same ferry used by the train combination ticket).
Buses take 10 to 12 hours for the trip from Bangkok to Surat Thani and then another 2 to 4 more hours (depending on how long you wait for the ferry) to cross over to Koh Samui.
There are 2 types of buses that travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui.
The most affordable and convenient options are the public buses that depart from Sai Tai Mai terminal in the southern part of Bangkok. Travelers can choose between luxury, air conditioned, and non-air-conditioned buses. They leave between 5am and 8pm. The luxury and AC buses include bathrooms, reserved seating, and modern, clean amenities.
Private transportation options traveling from Khao San Road to Koh Samui are available for tourists. These are typically small vehicles similar to shuttles or vans rather than large public buses. They have restricted space and higher risk of theft. They only depart when near maximum passenger capacity. A benefit is the convenience if staying near Khao San Road. Travel agencies there can arrange bus and ferry ticket packages to Koh Samui.
Photos of Getting to Koh Samui
