Thailand is considered to be the tropical paradise of the world, with numerous stunning beaches, lush green trees, crystal clear waters, and weather that ties everything together. But what’s great about Thailand is that despite being a relatively small island, it houses countless small island that provides a more nuanced take on the tropical paradisical experience.
And the notable on top for this claim is none other than Koh Samui, an island with white sandy beaches, clear waters, tropical lush green forests, good weather, and a landscape that takes the breath away. Koh Samui is an ultimate getaway destination in Thailand and is a popularly searched place, ‘How to get to Koh Samui’!
To know how to get to Koh Samui, there are few things that to be known, such as the island is located on the Gulf of Thailand, and it is comparatively easy and reasonable to travel to the island as opposed to other parts of Thailand. As the island has its own well-connected Airport that receives national and international flights and apart from it has other commuting options such as busses, trains, ferries and other depending on where you are traveling from and the amount you are willing to spend.
So since we provided a rough gist on how to get to Koh Samui, and before you plan your trip to enjoy the warm sea and cool breeze, you just need to know how to get to Koh Samui from different areas of Thailand in order to discover the best route for your trip and have a hassle-free smooth Thailand trip to Koh Samui.
Travel in Koh Samui
So without further ado, let’s see how to get to Koh Samui from different parts of the country reasonably and conveniently!
The popular visiting city in Thailand and the capital, the town get a large influx of visitors every year and is generally the starting point of the whole Thailand trip. Hence naturally, it is on the top of our list.
So how to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok is a quite common question with an easy solution. There are a handful of options to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui depending on convenience, budget, time constraints, style, and a complete scenic experience. Ideally, you can reach Koh Samui directly through a plane to take a combination of bus and ferry to reach.
Though the most efficient way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui is unarguably through a flight, which is quite convenient too, and there are more than twenty flights daily on average connecting Bangkok to Koh Samui from 6:00 AM till 8:30 PM. It roughly takes around 75 to 90 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Koh Samui Airport, and though this is definitely the most fasted way, but unquestionably the most expensive way to reach the island compared to other options.
However, if you are someone who doesn’t want to splurge quite much on the flight but wants to reach the island comparatively quick, Don’t Worry; we have got you covered. Direct flights can be pretty costly; fortunately enough, how to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok quickly can be done by a flight but at a reasonable price too, how you may ask! Well, you can book a travel combination flight + bus + ferry tickets. From Don Muang Airport, Nok Air, Air Asia, and Thai Lion Air flights depart at regular intervals from 6:00 AM and 10:30 AM and offer combo tickets. The journey through this method takes around 6 to 10 hours. Starting from the Don Muang Airport, this mode of transportation drops you at Koh Samui pier, and from there, you have to book a transport to reach your desired place. The easy way to do all of this is to choose Koh Samui as the final destination place, and once you book the ticket, the airline company arranges all the transportation from Bangkok to Koh Samui without charging any extra amount.
Bangkok Airlines between Bangkok & Koh Samui
If the previous option is not your cup of tea and seems too overwhelming, don’t worry. A popular option is to opt for a bus ride from Bangkok to Koh Samui. Though the bus ride doesn’t connect the two cities directly but there are no multiple drop-off points either—this is a combination of traveling options, buses, and Ferry. To travel to Koh Samui by bus, there are two options to choose from, either opt for the public bus from Sai Tai Mai Terminal in Bangkok (Timings: 5 AM to 8 PM) or can book a tourist bus that departs from Khao San Road area around 8:00 PM. The buses take you from Bangkok and drop you at the Surat Thani pier; this takes roughly around 12 to 14 hours. And from there, you hop on a ferry ride to Koh Samui, which takes 2-4 hours max. This whole journey estimates around 850 to 1400 BAHT, which is quite affordable.
The last popular option is commuting through trains from Bangkok to Koh Samui. This mode of transportation takes around 8 to 12 hours, depending on the train you opt for. However, since the journey is way to long and is in combination with other commuting options to reach the final destination, it is recommended to book an overnight sleeper train, which is not only comfortable but budget-friendly. So the train journey starts from Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok, and it arrives at Surat Thani station, from there wither a bus or mini-van is selected to drive to the Donsak pier to catch a ferry to Koh Samui, this takes roughly 2-4 hours. Hence in totality, the whole trip costs around 1400 BAHT and covers all modes of Transportation. This is by far the most affordable option and the most convenient and comfortable for its price point. This option is the best choice for someone who seeks comfort and ease without wanting to spend tons of money.
Ferry to Koh Samui
Note: It is advised to book tickers to Koh Samui beforehand, especially if traveling in different transports, to reserve seats and avoid being stranded. A pro tip for how to get to Koh Samui with ease.
Located in the North of Thailand, Chiang Mai is 1440 KM away from Koh Samui Island. Hence naturally, there are various options you can choose from to reach the island. How to get to Koh Samui is pretty standard from Chiang Mai. You can either opt for a direct flight through Bangkok Airways, that daily departs from Chiang Mai Airport daily at 9:00 AM and at 12:50 PM, and reaches Koh Samui Airport by 10:45 AM and 2:35 PM, respectively. This is by far the quickest way to reach the Island but definitely expensive.
There is another relatively cost-friendly option; if you happen to travel by flight, you can have a connecting flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to Koh Samui. Or another option could be to have a combination commuting system; you can fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and from there opt for bus and ferry respectively to reach Koh Samui. Comparatively quick and not too pricy.
The other modes of transportation require touching Bangkok for sure and are in combination. For example, you can choose to commute via a train paired with the ferry. Starting from the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong train station and from there hop on a train to Surat Thani and from their a ferry to Koh Samui pier.
The other alternative is a combination of bus and ferry, starting from Chiang Mai to Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal; from there, you need to go to Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal called Sai Tai Mai. From there, in an hour, you will reach Surat Thani, and from there a ferry ride away is Koh Samui, located. This is definitely a long ride, 17-18 hours in total, but quite budget-friendly.
How to get to Koh Samui from Phuket or better how to get to one popular destination spot from another. Phuket is a very popular tourist destination point in Thailand. From there to Koh Samui is relatively easy ad done through either by flight, ferry, bus, and even taxi.
The quickest way to reach Koh Samui is undoubtedly through a direct flight and maybe the most time-effective way. It only takes 55 minutes to get to the island through Bangkok Airways, and the flights take off six times a day between 9:45 AM to 4:35 PM. The other option is opting for a flight in combination with bus and ferry, a comparatively cost-effective option and takes only 7 hours to reach the destination.
The other and most popular option is Bus and ferry combination. The Lomprayah offers the fastest journey; their busses depart daily at 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM and connects to Laem Thuat pier, where a ferry takes you to Koh Samui. The whole journey takes around 7 hours and costs 800 BAHT.
Phantip 1970 is another popular way to reach the destination and offers the same combo; however, it is way cheaper but a bit time consuming; it can take 9 hours to reach the destination. The route is from Phuket to Donsak pier to Koh Samui.
Bus and Ferry to Koh Samui
Krabi offers numerous mode of transportation to reach Koh Samui; whether you opt for air, road, or water, the time of the journey is very fast and prices very low.
You can take a direct flight from Krabi to Koh Samui, which is the fastest way to reach the island in around 40-50 minutes. There is daily a flight departing from Krabi to Loh Samui at 1:45 PM.
The next option is the combination of Bus and ferry. This affordable option takes around 4 to 6 hours to reach the island and costs around 700 BAHT. However, since a lot of agencies are offering this option, the prices can vary and the duration along with the time of departure too.
Hiring a private taxi is also a great way to go to the island, though it is a pricy alternative but a very comfortable one and on the way, you can go sightseeing too. This option is very convenient; the taxi will pick you from your hotel or desired destination and drop you exactly where you want, whether it is the hotel or the beach. And the best part is the Taxi-hailing services are excellent here; drivers are competent and respectful, vehicles are spacious and clean, fairs are relatively economical. However, one thing that needs to be noted is that it is not a direct journey. From Krabi, you will be dropped at the pier, where the ferry will bring you to Koh Samui, and from there, another taxi will pick you. It may sound a bit overwhelming but trust us; it is indeed a great option.
Taxi and Ferry to Koh Samui
All of these islands are located in close proximity with another, hence commuting between them is relatively easy and ideal so that the beauty of all of these three islands can be enjoyed thoroughly.
Located at the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Phagnan to Koh Samui is around 115 Kilometers; in contrast, the distance from Koh Tao to Koh Samui is only 67 Kilometers. And since these are not landlock islands, the journey is typically covered through a ferry trip and arranged by Lomprayah High-Speed Catamaran, Songserm, and Seatran Discovery companies.
How to get to Koh Samui is very easy from these two islands, as explained already, but the real question here is what company to go for? If you are seeking the quickest ride, Lomprayah High-Speed Catamaran company is your best bet as it takes 1 hour 50 minutes. But Seatran Discovery is great too, as it only takes 2 hours. While Songserm takes 90 minutes. And similarly, the prices differ, from most expensive to least.
With that said, here is where we end our rundown of how to get to Koh Samui, a must-visit place for a relaxing paradisiacal getaway.
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