Bangkok to Koh Samui: every way to get there

Bangkok to Koh Samui: all options compared

Four realistic ways to go, from fastest to cheapest.

If your budget allows, the direct flight saves half a day. Otherwise, the flight to Surat Thani with a connecting ferry is the best compromise: low-cost airlines sell it as a single ticket, with the bus and boat included. To cost the whole trip, try our Thailand travel budget calculator.

In practice, an 8 am direct flight from Suvarnabhumi lands on Samui around 9.05 am, and you can be at your hotel before 10 am. On the Surat Thani route, a morning low-cost flight from Don Mueang connects with the bus to Donsak pier (about 1.5 to 2 hours) and then the ferry (about 1.5 hours): expect to reach Samui in the early afternoon for a Bangkok departure before 8 am.

Flying direct to Koh Samui

Short, comfortable and expensive.

Direct flights leave from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and take about 1 hour 5 minutes. Bangkok Airways operates most of them, with a few Thai Airways flights. Samui airport is small and open-air, 10 to 20 minutes from Chaweng, Bophut and Choeng Mon. Compare these areas in our Koh Samui beaches guide and where to stay on Koh Samui.

• Book early for December to April and July to August, when fares climb fastest.
• Bangkok Airways fares usually include a checked bag and lounge access at Suvarnabhumi.
• Arriving from Europe? A through ticket to Samui avoids reclaiming your bags in Bangkok with some airlines.

Flight to Surat Thani + ferry

The best value, and the option I use most.

Low-cost airlines (Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air) fly from Don Mueang to Surat Thani in about 1 hour 10 minutes. Many sell a "fly and ferry" ticket: a bus meets the flight, drives 1.5 to 2 hours to the Donsak pier, then a ferry crosses to Samui (Nathon pier) in about 1.5 hours. Companies, piers and last departures are in our Surat Thani to Koh Samui ferry guide.

Night train + ferry

The classic overland journey.

Night trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat station reach Surat Thani (Phun Phin station) early in the morning. A joint ticket (train + bus + ferry) is sold by the State Railway of Thailand and by the ferry companies. You arrive on Samui around midday.

Overnight bus + ferry

The cheapest option.

Buses leave the Southern bus terminal in the evening and connect with the morning ferry at Donsak. Choose a joint ticket from a ferry company or the state bus operator rather than a cheap agency bus from Khao San Road.

The night buses to Surat Thani reach the town or Phun Phin in the early morning, in time for the first ferries, which saves a night in a hotel. Keep your valuables with you in the cabin: bags in the lower hold are out of sight for the whole night.

Continue from Koh Samui

Samui is the starting point for island hopping in the gulf.

• Koh Phangan: 20 to 60 minutes by boat from Bangrak, Maenam or Nathon.
• Koh Tao: 1.5 to 2 hours by high-speed catamaran.
• Ang Thong Marine Park: a day trip by boat from Samui.

On arrival, the car ferries from Donsak dock on the west coast, at Nathon or Lipa Noi, and Lomprayah catamarans use Nathon or Maenam. Chaweng and Lamai, on the east coast, are then 30 to 60 minutes away by road. Taxis on Samui work on fixed, fairly high fares rather than the meter, so a pre-booked hotel transfer or Grab and Bolt, which operate on the island, are often simpler. Combined tickets from Bangkok usually include the ride to the main beaches.

Ang Thong Marine National Park is the classic day trip from Samui: around forty limestone islands, kayaking in sheltered lagoons and a steep climb to the viewpoint on Koh Wua Talab. Boats leave in the morning from the north and west coasts and return in the late afternoon; a national park entry fee is charged on top of the tour price.

When to go to Koh Samui

The gulf has a different weather pattern from the Andaman coast.

Between October and December, a spell of strong wind can be enough to delay or cancel a crossing from one day to the next; the large Donsak car ferries handle swell better than Lomprayah's fast catamarans. Build in a spare day before a return flight if you are travelling in this window.

July and August are a good time on Samui while the Andaman coast is in its rainy season, so the island is busy with European summer holidays and prices climb. For those months, and for Christmas and New Year, book flights and ferries a few weeks ahead.

Budget scenarios for Bangkok to Koh Samui

Three realistic ways to do the trip, from cheapest to most comfortable.

Luggage and travelling with kids

What really matters on a multi-leg journey.

On the direct Bangkok Airways flight, checked baggage is usually included in the base fare, unlike low-cost carriers which charge extra by weight tier. On ferries, cases travel in the hold or on deck with no strict checks, but keep documents and electronics with you in case of spray in rough seas.

• A joint flight-or-bus plus ferry ticket normally includes the transfer to the pier, luggage included.
• With young children or a lot of luggage, the direct flight makes the day noticeably simpler.
• The fast catamaran crossing is bumpier than a large car ferry, worth knowing if you are prone to motion sickness.

Mistakes to avoid

What I see most often on this route.

• Comparing only direct flights and missing the much cheaper Surat Thani option.
• Booking a flight and ferry separately without checking the last crossing.
• Confusing Surat Thani airport, Surat Thani town and Phun Phin station.
• Going to Samui in November expecting dry weather.

The most expensive mistake is crossing back on the morning of an international flight from Bangkok. Spend your last night near Samui airport, or in Surat Thani if you fly out from there, so that a cancelled boat does not cost you the flight home.