Bangkok to Koh Samet: bus, ferry or taxi?

Bangkok to Koh Samet: every option compared

Three ways to get there, from the cheapest to the most comfortable.

The minibus + ferry is the most common option: one ticket, one departure from Ekkamai, a transfer to Ban Phe pier and the crossing to the island. A private car costs far more per vehicle, but the price is shared and you leave from your hotel whenever you like.

Leaving from Ekkamai bus station

The Eastern bus terminal, on the BTS line: the starting point for almost every ticket.

Ekkamai is Bangkok's Eastern bus terminal, served by the BTS station of the same name. This is where the minibuses of the companies selling the trip to Koh Samet leave from. Even with a ticket booked online, you have to check in at the company counter: that is where you are given your seat.

1. 1Take the BTS to Ekkamai so you are not at the mercy of traffic jams.
2. 2Go to your company's counter with your booking.
3. 3Collect your ticket with its seat number and have your bag weighed.
4. 4Wait for your minibus to be called near the bay you are given.

• From Sukhumvit or Siam, the BTS drops you at Ekkamai without sitting in traffic.
• From Khao San, allow for a taxi or a Grab and leave early: crossing the city takes a long time at rush hour.
• From Suvarnabhumi airport, the train into the city and then the BTS avoid the roads.
• Eat before you leave or buy a snack in the station: there are stalls and minimarts on site.

Ekkamai is small and easy to navigate, which makes it a far simpler starting point than Bangkok’s big northern or southern bus terminals. The company counters are grouped in the main hall, with their names posted in English, and staff are used to foreign travellers. Arrive a little early for check-in and luggage weighing, especially on Fridays and the day before public holidays, when the queue grows. If you have not booked, simply ask at the counter for the next departure with free seats: on weekdays there is almost always one during the morning.

Which company should you choose?

Three operators run most of the departures.

The differences are mainly about the type of boat and where it lands. If your hotel is on a beach far from the main pier, KKP's speedboat option saves you a songthaew ride on the island. For a stay around Sai Kaew, the standard ferry is more than enough.

Whichever company you choose, the routine at Ekkamai is the same: check in at the counter, get your seat and wait to be called. Booking online simply guarantees you a seat on the departure you want, which matters most on Friday evenings and on the morning of public holidays.

Ferry or speedboat: what is the difference?

The ferry lands at the main pier, while the speedboat can drop you on your beach.

The ferry is the default: it lands at the main pier, where songthaews leave for the beaches. The speedboat costs more, but it saves you hauling bags from a boat to a taxi, and it is often easier for the southern beaches and the west coast.

Luggage: what you need to know

The only common bad surprise on this route.

The ticket includes 20 kg of luggage. Above that, or for a bulky item, the company charges a supplement at check-in, from 20 to 100 THB depending on the case. It is not a scam, just the rule on minibuses: there is little room at the back.

• Keep a little cash for this supplement at the Ekkamai counter.
• Travel with a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase, it is easier to stow.
• Keep your passport, money and phone in a small bag at your feet.
• Leave your big bag at your Bangkok hotel if you are coming back after Samet.

Private car or taxi to Ban Phe

The comfortable option, good value as a group.

A private car picks you up at your Bangkok hotel and drops you at Ban Phe pier, where you catch the boat to the island. The price can reach 4,600 THB per vehicle: expensive for one person, reasonable for four. You leave whenever you want, without going through Ekkamai.

A taxi or a car booked through an app does the same trip: agree on or check the total price before you leave, tolls included. Either way, the boat crossing from Ban Phe is bought separately, at the pier.

Arriving on Koh Samet

A small island with beaches close to one another.

Koh Samet is a national park: visitors pay an entry fee on arrival, so keep some cash handy. At Na Dan pier, shared songthaews take you to the beaches. To choose your area, see where to stay on Koh Samet and our Koh Samet page.

The island is small and easy to get around: many travellers switch beaches during their stay, on foot along the coastal path or by songthaew. So it does not matter much if you do not find the perfect hotel on the first night. Scooters can be rented, but the inland tracks are in poor condition, and walking plus songthaews is plenty.

How do you get back to Bangkok?

The return trip follows the same route in reverse.

The companies that brought you also run the return: boat to Ban Phe, then minibus to Ekkamai. Buy your return ticket as soon as you arrive on the island or online, especially for a Sunday, when everyone heads back at the same time. Your hotel can often book it for you and tell you where to wait for the boat.

• Ask whether the return minibus can drop you somewhere other than Ekkamai, such as near your hotel or a BTS station.
• Leave a big margin if you have a flight on the day you return: traffic coming into Bangkok is unpredictable.
• Keep your return ticket and seat number on your phone, and as a screenshot.

When should you go to Koh Samet?

Samet can be visited all year, but the Thai calendar matters as much as the weather.

What really changes the experience is the crowd: at weekends and on Thai public holidays, the island fills up with visitors from Bangkok, minibuses sell out and hotels raise their prices. On a weekday, the same beaches are far quieter. More in the Koh Samet weather page.

• Turning up at Ekkamai on a Friday evening without a booking.
• Skipping check-in at the counter and looking for your minibus in the bays.
• Leaving without cash: the luggage supplement, the park entry fee and songthaews are all paid in cash.
• Taking the speedboat in rough seas with children who get seasick.

Where next?

Samet pairs well with the rest of the east coast.

• Pattaya is on the same road: see our Bangkok to Pattaya guide.
• For a bigger, wilder island further east: see Koh Chang.
• To compare with the southern islands: see our guide to the Thai islands.
• Every ferry route in the country, with operators and seasons: see our Thailand ferries overview.