Transport to go to Koh Samui / leave Koh Samui
To go to Koh Samui ?
Koh Samui has its own airport. It belongs to Bangkok Airways, which intends to make it profitable and has the monopoly on the flights to Samui. A monopoly that allows them to charge much higher prices than on routes with competition. Bangkok Airways offers direct flights to Samui from the 2 Bangkok airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang), Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang Mai or Phuket. The prices are quite expensive compared to the average price of domestic flights in Thailand. However, the more you book in advance, the lower the price is. Except for exceptional promotions which would allow you to have an even better price. Otherwise, you can get to Samui island by boat from Surat Thani (actually, Donsak which is 1h30 drive from Surat Thani) accessible by plane, train (from Bangkok, I recommend a sleeper train because the journey is long, you can book your train tickets to Surat Thani here< /a>) or bus. There are bus + boat packages from Bangkok, like the ones offered by Lomprayah that leave from the Khao San Road district (online booking HERE) and get you on the ferry near Chumphon. But these are quite long journeys. Nok Air and Air Asia offer flight + bus + ferry packages to Ko Samui via Chumphon, Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat. A good compromise to go to Samui island without a too long trip (allow 5-6 hours of journey) while escaping the high price of direct Bangkok Airways flights. When you buy a Surat Thani - Koh Samui ticket, the bus or van ride to the pier is included. There are bus departures from Surat Thani Railway Station, Surat Thani Town or Surat Thani Airport. The trip to Donsak Pier is about 1h30. Keep your valuables on you, there are thefts in the bus during the ferry crossing or night bus journeys.From the neighboring islands Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, between the different ferry companies, you have almost a boat to Samui every hour. Lomprayah, Seatran and Phantip offer bus + boat packages from Krabi, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta or Khao Lak in particular.
Note that Air Asia's direct Chiang Mai - Surat Thani flight is once again on a schedule which allows you to continue with a ferry to Koh Samui.
Domestical flights to Koh Samui
Buses and minivans to Koh Samui
WARNING: many buses can only be booked 30 days before depature tops. They won't be displayed in the results on our transportation booking partner's website if not bookable yet.
Boats and ferries to Koh Samui
Leave Koh Samui ?
To leave Koh Samui, the faster way is obviously by plane. There are direct flights to Bangkok"s both airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang), Krabi, Pattaya and Phuket. Otherwise, you can take a boat to the mainland, Chumphon or Surat Thani and from there continue by bus, plane or train depending on your final destination and the budget that you are willing to spend. If you take a bus + ferry formula via Surat Thani or Chumphon (online booking HERE) be carefull valuable things are often stolen from the luggage in the bus during the ferry tripDomestical flights from Koh Samui
Buses and minivans from Koh Samui
WARNING: many buses can only be booked 30 days before depature tops. They won't be displayed in the results on our transportation booking partner's website if not bookable yet.
Boats and ferries from Koh Samui
Transportation in Thailand
Travelling by train in Thailand
The train is the cheapest way to travel in Thailand especially in 3rd class. This is also where the contact with the population is the most interesting and incredible...
Domestic flights in Thailand
Taking the plance to travel in Thailand is often not that much more expensive than the bus especially with the numerous specials offers and it is so much faster !
Travelling by bus in Thailand
The train does not go everywhere in Thailand. It does not serve some destinations tourists love. But by bus you can get almost anywhere in Thailand...
Boats to the islands of Thailand
Thailand has many many islands with beautiful beaches and except for Koh Samui and Phuket, the boat is the only option to get on the islands.
