I have traveled all around Thailand, and Koh Samui is one of my favorite destinations in the country. So, in this article, I will share with you how to reach Koh Samui from Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Khao Sok and how to get around the island.
Koh Samui is a popular island in South Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and international atmosphere. It is located in the Gulf of Thailand, close to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.
Koh Samui has an international airport and several ports, making it easily accessible by ferries and by air. If you travel by ferry, you will need to reach nearby Surat Thani, Koh Tao, or Koh Phangan first before taking the boat to get to Koh Samui.
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How to Get to Koh Samui from Koh Phangan
I stayed in a hostel near Thong Sala Pier, so I decided to head to Lomprayah Office to buy a boat ticket to Koh Samui. I went there in the morning to buy a ticket for an afternoon boat. The ticket includes a ferry ticket and the transfer from Pralarn Pier in Koh Samui to my hotel in Chaweng.
I came back to Lomprayah Office later before the departure for check in, they gave me a sticker to put on the shirt and the luggage. Their office is located within a few minutes walk from Thong Sala pier, where the ferry departs.
If you don’t stay close to the boat’s office, you can book the ticket online, or via a local travel agency. I suggest you have a look at 12go.asia. They have all the information of different ferry companies, departure time and pier.
I originally booked the ticket for the 5pm ferry, but later, I came back to Lomprayah Office to change it to 6.30pm, which is the last boat to Koh Samui from Thong Sala Pier. I arrived at Pralan Pier around 7.30 and the staff guided me on how to get to their shuttle bus to get to the hotel.
In addition to Thong Sala Pier, you can get a ferry from other locations on Koh Phangan such as Baan Tai Pier or Haad Rin Queen Pier. Check the closest location to your hotel and use that pier.
It is best to ask or check if the boat operator offers a shared shuttle to your hotel as catching a taxi can be expensive on Samui.
How to Get to Koh Samui from Koh Tao
There are several boat companies running between Koh Tao and Koh Samui. I prefer using Lomprayah’s services. They have two trips per day from Mae Haad Pier to Pralan Pier, departing at 3.30pm and 4.40pm. The journey is around 2 hours.
Another boat company is Songserm, offering one boat a day, departing at 9.30. This boat journey takes 3.3 hours and it will stop in Koh Phangan to drop off passengers before heading to Na Thon Pier on Koh Samui. You can book tickets at a local travel agency, at the pier, lomprayah’s website, or 12go.asia.
How to Get to Koh Samui from Bangkok
Bangkok to Koh Samui by air
Koh Samui has an international airport, located in the northern part of the island. It is close to popular towns such as Bophut and Chaweng.
Bangkok Airways operated Samui Airport. You can find direct flights from popular locations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, as well as from Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
There are more frequent flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Samui. The journey is usually only one hour. From the airport, you can easily get a taxi to your destination on the island.
Bangkok to Koh Samui by bus + ferry
Taking a bus and ferry is an economical way to reach Koh Samui from Bangkok. The journey is around 11 hours. I recommend booking a combo ticket bus and ferry transfer to make your travel easier. Companies such as Lomprayah and Raja Ferry operated this route.
You can book tickets at local travel agencies, at the ferry’s office, or online. Lomprayah’s bus departs at Khao San Road then heads to Chumphon Pier (8 hours), the another 4 hours on ferries to Koh Samui.
Bangkok to Koh Samui by train + ferry
If you prefer to travel by train, you can take a train from Bangkok to Surat Thani Train Station. It is a long train ride, I recommend booking the 2nd class or 1st class sleeper train for more comfort. Don’t try the class 3 fan, it is cheaper, but not comfortable. Your back is gonna be hurt after the long journey.
If you plan to take 2nd or 1st sleeper trains, be sure to book in advance, because these options are very popular. You can book it online at dticket.railway.co.th, at travel agencies, or at the train station.
When arriving at Surat Thani Station, you will need to arrange a transfer to get to Don Sak pier for a ferry to Koh Samui. Most ferry companies (Lomprayah, Seatran, and Raja) offer pick up from the train station, and I highly recommend using this option.
How to Get to Koh Samui from Khao Sok
Travel from Khao Sok to Koh Samui will involve a bus from Khao Sok to DonSak Pier, then a ferry from DonSak to Koh Samui, and finally a transfer from the pier to your hotel on Koh Samui.
There are several companies that offer a combo ticket van+ferry+van, which is a more comfortable way of travel than buying separate tickets. They are Phantip Travel, or 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport.
Khao Sok minivan office is located close to the town center and Khao Sok National park, you can easily buy the ticket at their office. Otherwise, book it online at 12go.asia.
I didn’t travel from Khao Sok to Koh Samui, but I did the opposite way. I used the service of Phantip Travel from Koh Samui to Khao Sok and It went well. Since I had a scooter on Koh Samui, I went to their office in Nathon to buy the ticket for the next day.
The van driver picked me up at my hotel in Lamai in the morning, headed to Nathon Pier, for a Seatran boat to get to DonSak Pier. At the Donsak pier, walk to their bus station, and ask around which bus goes to Khao Sok. The bus stopped at their office in Surat Thani, and then we transferred to a van to Khao Sok.
It’s gonna take a whole day to travel between Khao Sok and Koh Samui. I started the trip at 9.30am in Koh Samui and arrived at Khao Sok at around 6pm.
How to Get to Koh Samui from Surat Thani
Surat Thani is a big province in South Thailand and is a transport hub to get to popular islands such as Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan. The city has an airport, a train station, a bus station, so it is easily accessible from mainland Thailand.
There are several boat companies running between Surat Thani and Koh Samui. They include Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery, and Raja Ferry. Most boats will depart from Donsak Pier and arrive at Nathon Pier on Koh Samui. Raja Ferry will arrive at their port in Lipa Noi.
Most companies offer combo tickets including pick up at popular locations in Surat Thani such as airport, train station, town center, or bus station. So, double check with them before booking, or find a way to go to Ferry Pier yourself by taking a taxi or songthaew.
Best ways to get around Koh Samui
Walking
Koh Samui is a big island, while you cannot explore the whole island by walking, you can use your foot to explore each area that you are staying in. If you stay in Chaweng, Lamai, or Bophut, you will be surrounded with lots of tourist amenities.
Many restaurants, bars, and shops in these popular tourist areas are within walking distance from your hotel. You can easily walk to the beach.
Getting around Koh Samui on a rented motorbike
Driving a scooter is always one of the best ways to explore Thailand. It is no exception with Koh Samui. If you are comfortable with driving a motorbike, you can consider renting one. Make sure you have a valid license, insurance, and do some research about road conditions on the island.
While major roads in Koh Samui are generally in good condition, some rural roads can be bumpy, hilly, or poorly lit at night. Be cautious when driving on winding or unpaved roads. Also, traffic in popular areas such as Bophut, Chaweng, and Lamai can be very heavy especially in peak hours.
I also recommend choosing good motorbike rentals by carefully reading all reviews on Google. Check both good and bad reviews to see problems with the shop before renting. Make sure the bike is in good condition with a good helmet. And if you are solo travelers, I highly recommend using a phone holder.
I rented a motorbike at AuBanan Rentals in Lamai and highly recommend it. They deliver the bike to your accommodations for free and will pick it up later when you return. Their motorbike was in good condition, with a good helmet and phone holder. The renting process was easy by checking available bikes on their website, sending them a message on whatsapp, and they will bring the motorbike to you.
Koh Samui on a guided tour
If you don’t drive a scooter, you can use guided tours, hire a private driver, use songthaew, or Uber like services such as Grab, Bolt, or In Drive. These options are more expensive, but they are the only way to explore the island without renting a motorbike.
There are many tours that take you to popular tourist attractions on the island. You can do island hopping tours or jeep tours.
The jeep tour is very fun, as you will sit in a 4×4 car and visit highlights of the island such as Hin Ta & Hin Yai, Mummified monk, Na Muang Waterfall, Magic garden, Wat Teepangkorn, and Big Buddhaa.
Explore Koh Samui by Songthaew, Grab, Bolt, and Indrive
You can find Songthaew, Grab, Bolt, and InDrive at all popular tourist towns or at the piers. If you take a songthaew pick up truck, you’ll need to bargain with the driver. If you want to avoid bargaining, you can use Uber-like Apps like Grab, Bolt, and InDrive.
I personally use Grab to travel between my hotel in Chaweng to my new hotel in Lamai. It is around 500 baht one way. Not cheap at all. When traveling between the pier and hotel, I tried to use the transfer services of a boat operator to avoid paying expensive taxi or private songthaew.
I didn’t use InDrive in Koh Samui, but use it in other parts of Thailand, and I absolutely love it. It is cheaper than Grab and Bolt, and you pay the driver by cash. Being said that, for the best price, open both three apps and use the best options at the time. Prices fluctuate depending on traffic conditions.
Sometimes, you just check the price on the apps to know how much it costs to get to your destination, then negotiate the price with a taxi that is close to you.
See more:
- Where to Stay in Koh Samui
- How to Spend 3-5 Days In Koh Samui Itinerary
- 30 Amazing Things to Do in Koh Samui
- Which is better, Koh Samui or Koh Tao?
- Is it better in Koh Phangan or Koh Samui?
Koh Samui has an airport, making it easy to access from Bangkok within an hour. If you are on a budget, you can take the combination of bus + ferry or train +ferry. I hope by now you know how to reach Koh Samui from anywhere in Thailand. I’ve also shared the best ways to get around the island. Have a great trip on Koh Samui and stay safe!