How to get to Koh Samui [From Bangkok, Phuket and more] (2023)

Thailand is home to picturesque beaches and captivating skyscrapers, easily making it a favorite holiday destination for many.

Boasting tourist attractions such asKoh Samui,phuket,Bangkok,Krabi, and the Phi Phi Islands, it is no surprise that tourism makes up a significant portion of the national GDP. Plus, the country's historical and cultural heritage contributes to its popularity.

So if you are planning to visit Koh Samui, one of the most famous islands in Thailand, here is what you should know to get there from different places.

Scroll down to the bottom of the post to read about a scam you should avoid.

In this guide you can find out how to:

• Came from Bangkok to Koh Samui
• Get to Koh Samui from Phuket
• Travel from Surat Thani to Koh Samui
• Came from Krabi to Koh Samui
• From Koh Phi Phi to Koh Samui
• Get from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui

Which airport do you fly into for Koh Samui?

The wonderful thing is that Koh Samui has its own international airport. So the easiest way for international tourists to reach Koh Samui is simply to take a connecting flight via the capital city of Bangkok. The flight will take 1 hour and 5 minutes.

We love to useCheapo Air for our flight tickets. You can find a good offer by clicking here.

It's not the cheapest option, so if you're on a budget, you might prefer to check out some of the other options below.

How to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok

The easiest way to reach Koh Samui fromBangkokis with a short 1-hour flight. For those on a budget, you can also look at options such as by road/train and then catch a ferry. All the options are listed below.

1. By plane

The distance between Bangkok and Koh Samui is about 760 km by road. Therefore, the fastest route to Koh Samui from Bangkok is by plane, which will take just over 1 hour. We recommend booking tickets early to obtain cheaper offers.

Grab your flight ticket here through CheapOair

2. By plane + ferry

If you want to squeeze in another resort, you can fly to Surat Thani from Bangkok, spend a day or two there and then take a ferry to Koh Samui.

This option is significantly cheaper than flying directly to Koh Samui, but may be inconvenient for some as the change of transport adds about three hours to your commute time.

Get your flight ticket to Surat Thani here through CheapOair

How long is the ferry from Bangkok to Koh Samui?

So it is important to clarify that there is no direct ferry from Bangkok to Koh Samui. You need to get to Surat Thani first (either by flying or by road). From Tapee Pier Lomprayah in Surat Thani, you can catch a speedboat that will take about 1 hour 45 minutes to get to Koh Samui.

3. Bus + Ferryy

You can choose a bus plus ferry combination to get to the island. The bus is much more cost effective than flying, but it is a long journey. Expect to spend around 14 – 14 hours and 30 minutes on your transit to Koh Samui.

Fortunately, it's very easy to buy a combo bus and ferry ticket, which means you don't have to struggle to get from the bus terminal to the ferry port.

Get your combined bus and ferry ticket here:

4. Can you take a train from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Another option is to take a train from Bangkok to Surat Thani. It's a long journey (about 12 hours by train), but if you take a night train and leave Bangkok in the evening, you can arrive in Koh Samui around lunchtime the next day.

The train leaves Bangkok's Hualamphong train station and arrives atSurat Thani Railway Station. You will get a (45-minute bus) ride to Don Sak Ferry Terminal. You may have to wait a few hours for the next ferry, so don't expect to jump off the train and hop straight on the bus to get to the terminal.

You can buy a combination ticket for train/bus/ferry at the train station.

How to get from Phuket to Koh Samui

The easiest way to reach Koh Samui fromphuketis with a short 55 min flight. You can also look at the other options listed below for those on a budget.

1. By plane

A quick and convenient option is to fly from Phuket to Koh Samui, which will take 55 minutes. It shouldn't be too difficult to get a reservation as Bangkok Airways operates throughout the week and offers the route five times a day.

Grab your flight ticket to Koh Samui here through CheapOair

2. Ferry

Another fairly easy way to reach Koh Samui from Phuket is by taking a ferry which takes between 4-5 hours. The direct ferry departs from Phuket Lomprayah and arrives at Na Thon Koh Samui. This works well if you have a car and can drive yourself to the port. Otherwise, you might prefer to buy a combi car + ferry ticket below.

3. By road + ferry

If you have more time to kill, you can even choose a bus and ferry or van and ferry combination. The bus + ferry is cheaper, but takes a few hours longer than the van plus ferry option.

Find the best combination ticket for yourself here:

How to get to Koh Samui from Surat Thani

Like the previous locations, it may be possible to reach Koh Samui from Surat Thani through various modes of transport such as bus, ferry, taxi and more.

1. Ferry

First, you can take a ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui, which usually takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Check the ferry service you choose to know how often you travel. Also note that the arrival point may vary for different ferry routes, so make sure you are well versed in the details.

Click here to book your ferry ticket to Koh Samui.

How to get to Koh Samui from Krabi

To reach Koh Samui fromKrabiis also quite practical, as you can choose to travel by plane, by road or via a car ferry. Whichever mode of transport you choose, you can enjoy Instagram-worthy views, making this route quite popular with tourists!

1. By plane

Although we usually tend to go for the fastest and easiest way to get to our destinations (which means we typically pay more for the convenience of a flight), the flight from Krabi to Koh Samui has to go via Bangkok. This means it will take over 4 hours, excluding the check-in time required before the flight.

So in this case it might make more sense to catch the ferry. As it becomes much easier. If you are stuck flying, you can find the best price by clicking the link below.

Grab your flight ticket to Koh Samui here through CheapOair

2. Ferry

The ferry from Krabi Town Maharaj to Na Thon Koh Samui Songserm takes 3 hours 50 minutes including transfers and departs three times a day.

As you can see, it will be faster to fly, but it's heaps cheaper to grab a ferry ticket instead.

The best way to do this is to get a combination ticket so that the van can pick you up from your hotel or a nearby meeting point and take you straight to the ferry port.

Find the best combination ticket for yourself here:

How to get to Koh Samui from the Phi Phi Islands

So you've enjoyed the amazing Phi Phi Islands and want to hop over to Koh Samui. This is not the easiest trip, so let's look at the options below.

1. By ferry + plane

Another method is to take the ferry to Krabi and then choose to fly from Krabi to Koh Samui. However, this option is a bit expensive, more so if you book your flights at the last minute.

The ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Krabi will take about 2 hours and 15 minutes.Click here to buy your ferry ticket.

Unfortunately, however, the flight from Krabi to Koh Samui goes via Bangkok, which means it will add another 4 hours to your travel time.

It still seems like a much shorter journey compared to the option below, so if you'd prefer to save some time, grab a ticket below.

Buy oneticket to Koh Samui here through CheapOair.

2. Ferry + Van + Ferry

For more affordable travel, we recommend taking a ferry from Phi Phi to Krabi, then a van to the port, then another ferry to Koh Samui. This method will take about 9 hours and 30 minutes for you to reach Koh Samui.

Grab the most convenient ticket here:

How to get to Koh Samui from Koh Phangan

Finally, let's look at the options on how to get from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui.

1. Ferry

You can get to Koh Samui via a slow boat ferry, which will take approximately 90 minutes in total, or via a speedboat, which will only take 30 minutes. So the journey will be quick and convenient.

Click to buy your ferry tickets.

Conclusion

With that we are finally at the end of this comprehensive guide explaining the different modes of transport available to get to Koh Samui. As you know by now, there are plenty of options to suit any budget, so it all comes down to your preference.

Ready to start planning your trip?You can check outbest time to visit Koh Samuihere, choose some of thembest beaches on Koh Samuito visit here, thethe best things to do in Koh Samuihere, and we also have lots of useful blog posts on oursThailand travel blogside.

You may also want to know:

• The best restaurants in Koh Samui
• Samui or Phangan
• Where to stay in Koh Samui with children