Paradoxically, getting to Koh Samui is one of the island’s biggest drawbacks within Thailand.

Not because it’s difficult. But because:

• flying there is expensive
• the alternatives are slower

On the other hand, it’s precisely because of this that Samui retains a slightly more ‘exclusive vibe’ than other islands in Thailand.

Flying to Koh Samui (the quickest, but more expensive)

The easiest option is to fly directly to Koh Samui Airport (USM).

The problem lies in the flight prices. Domestic flights from Bangkok or Chiang Mai are typically up to eight times more expensive than those to Phuket, Krabi and other Thai destinations.

International flights are also usually 2–3 times more expensive than those to other Thai destinations.

The reason for this is that Bangkok Airwaysowns the local airports and therefore has a virtual monopoly.

Which airlines fly to Koh Samui?

Virtually only two:

• Bangkok Airways – the vast majority of flights
  • all domestic flights: Bangkok BKK, Bangkok DMK, Chiang Mai CNX, Krabi KBV, Pattaya UTP, Phuket HKT
  • direct international flights: Hong Kong HKG, Singapore SIN
  • book a flight at bangkokair.com
• Scoot
  • International route toSingapore SIN only

This means:

• no low-cost competition (neither AirAsia, VietJetAir nor Nok Air fly here)
• higher prices than elsewhere in Thailand

How much do flights to Koh Samui cost?

This is usually where the biggest surprise lies.

• Bangkok → Koh Samui: usually 165 usd to 300 usd one way
• sometimes even more (especially around Christmas and New Year, and also during the Chinese New Year celebrations)

Check prices at bangkokairways.com

How do connections work on a single ticket?

This is important – and lots of people don’t know it.

Bangkok Airways partners with dozens of airlines.

What does this mean in practice?

You can buy a single ticket:

• Frankfurt → Bangkok → Koh Samui
• Vienna → Singapore → Koh Samui
• Sydney → Bangkok → Koh Samui
• Tokyo → Bangkok → Koh Samui
• and more

In this case:

• you’ll check your luggage through to your final destination (even if you have a connecting flight in Bangkok)
• you are guaranteed a connection
• you only need to make one booking

However, international connections with a single booking can also be purchased from Scoot.

Compare flight prices to Koh Samui

Which airports serve Koh Samui?

Most common stopovers:

• Bangkok (BKK)
• Phuket (HKT)
• Singapore (SIN)

Bangkok and Singapore are the most common and easiest options.

Find out more useful information and take a look at our experiences:

• 👉 What to do in Bangkok whilst on a stopover
• 👉 What to see in Singapore
• 👉 How to fill in the Singapore arrival card
• 👉 Visa-free entry to Thailand – how to get it

Ferry to Koh Samui (cheaper, but slower)

If you don’t want to fly directly to Koh Samui, you’ll need to take a combination of land transport and a ferry.

• There isn’t just one ‘ferry route’
• There are three main routes, which differ significantly in terms of journey time, price and comfort

Compare ferry prices – 12go.asia

Main routes to Koh Samui

Regular ferries sail from these 3 ports on the Thai mainland

• 1) Donsak Pier– the most common, cheapest and fastest
  • You will usually be taken to this port by bus if you buy a combined ferry and transport ticket from Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat airports
• 2) Surat Thani – directly from the city centre
  • use this option if you are staying overnight in Surat Thani
  • Some companies use this port to transport passengers from Surat Thani Airport
• 3) Chumphon – convenient when travelling overland from Bangkok or Ranong (closer than Donsak / Surat Thani)
  • most boats stop at Ko Tao

Over 90 per cent of boats depart fromDonsak harbour.

1) Surat Thani (Donsak) → Koh Samui

The main route taken by most people

Where exactly do the ferries depart from?

From the Donsak area (approx. 60 km from Surat Thani):

• Seatran Ferry Pier
• Raja Ferry Pier
• Lomprayah Pier

All piers are located in the Donsak area and are always indicated on the ticket.

If you’re travelling to the pier by taxi, Grab or Bolt, always give the exact name of the pier.

We also travelled via Donsak from Surat Thani Airport (with Lomprayah). The pier has a small waiting area, dirty toilets and a mini-shop selling drinks, fruit, sweets and sandwiches.

How often do the ferries run?

Here’s an important difference compared to other destinations:

Ferries run very frequently – practically every hour.

• The first ferries leave around 05:00
• the last ones at around 19:00

How long does the Donsak–Koh Samui ferry journey take?

• Standard ferry (Seatran and Raja Ferry): 1.5 hours
• High-speed boat (Lomprayah): 45–60 minutes

How much does the ferry cost?

👉 Basic fares from Donsak to Koh Samui:

• Seatran / Raja → approx. 200 thb
• Lomprayah high-speed ferries → approx. 450 thb

👉 Combination (bus from Surat Thani / Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport + ferry):

• Seatran / Raja → approx. 530 thb
• Lomprayah high-speed ferries → approx. 850 thb

This combination, booked directly with the ferry company, is cheaper than taking a Grab / Bolt from the airport to the port + the ferry.

As there are three different operators on this route, we used the 12go comparison site, which we always use when travelling around Asia.

Book a ferry ticket – 12go.asia

How long does the whole journey from Bangkok take?

This is key.

👉 Bangkok → Samui via Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat:

• flight + ferry → approx. 5–7 hours
• bus + ferry → approx. 15–17 hours

Compare prices for domestic flights within Thailand

Which ports on Samui do they use?

• Nathon Pier → main (Seatran, Lomprayah)
• Lipa Noi Pier → Raja Ferry

Both piers are situated on the west side of the island.

All operators also offer a transfer service in their own minivans from the pier to all hotels on the island.

You can buy a minivan ticket in cash either directly on board the boat or in advance via the 12go.asia website.

2) Surat Thani city centre → Koh Samui

A good alternative if you’re staying in Surat Thani for one night before travelling to Koh Samui.

The pier is calledTapee Pier.

You don’t need to take a taxi or use Grab/Bolt for a 40-minute journey to Donsak Pier; instead, you can sail directly from the centre of Surat Thani.

How long does it take?

The boat journey is longer than from Donsak and takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.

That’s longer than from Donsak, but you’ll save money on the journey from the centre of Surat Thani by bus or taxi.

The downside is that services are much less frequent: boats run only 4–6 times a day.

How much does it cost?

A single ticket costs around 780 thb.

Book a ferry ticket – 12go.asia

Which ports on Samui do they use?

• Nathon Pier → main (Seatran, Lomprayah)

3) Chumphon → Koh Samui

Although this route is mainly used for crossings to Koh Tao, the ferries do sail as far as Koh Samui.

It is a good option in two situations:

• if you’re travelling overland from Bangkok by bus or train (around 3–4 hours less than travelling all the way to Surat Thani)
• you can find a cheaper direct flight to Chumphon Airport (though flights are much less frequent than those to Surat Thani)

How long does it take?

The ferries take around 4½ to 5 hours and usually stop to let passengers on and off at Koh Tao, and less frequently at Koh Phangan.

How much does a ticket cost?

A one-way ticket from Chumphon to Koh Samui costs 1 200 thb.

Book a ferry ticket – 12go.asia

Which ports on Samui do they use?

• Maenam Pier (Lomprayah)
• Bangrak Pier (Boonsiri)

Both piers are on the north coast of Koh Samui.

🚗 Transport from the pier to Samui (a crucial detail)

People tend to underestimate this – and then end up paying over the odds.

At first, I thought that ferry companies’ offers to take you from the port straight to your hotel were, by definition, a tourist scam.

But the opposite is actually true.

Taxi / Grab / Bolt

This was my first choice.

When I logged into both the Bolt and Grab apps whilst still on the boat, just before we arrived, it showed the fare to our hotel, Homm Chura, at the other end of the island as around 200 thb, which is brilliant!

However, as soon as I confirmed the journey, the price automatically went up.

The actual price from Nathon Pier to Chaweng is between650 thb and 700 thb.

A journey to Bophut will cost around 600 thb.

Furthermore, neither taxis, Grab nor Bolt can drive right up to the boats; you’ll have to walk about 600 metres to the town centre. This is inconvenient if you’re carrying large suitcases.

A better option (which I recommend)

Buy a transfer to your hotel at the same time as your ferry ticket.

Alternatively, you can buy this transfer directly on board the ferry from the crew in cash for around 150 thb per person, i.e. 300 thb for two to Chaweng. And that’s half the price of a taxi / Grab / Bolt.

You can book your hotel transfer straight away via the 12go website, for example.

Find ferries + transfers

How does it work?

If you book a hotel transfer online, you’ll receive your transfer voucher when you check in at the ferry terminal on the mainland or at Surat Thani / Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport.

On board the boat, you’ll be given a sticker for your T-shirt showing the name of the hotel you’re heading to.

After disembarking from the ferry, a member of staff will tell you the number of your minivan, which will be waiting right next to the baggage claim area.

The minibus drops off several passengers at different hotels along the route. The journey therefore takes longer than by taxi, but it is more comfortable and cheaper.

Combination: flight + ferry (best value for money)

In my opinion, this is the most interesting option if you’re travelling from Bangkok and want to save money.

👉 You’ll be flying:

• Bangkok → Surat Thani (more frequent flights, shorter journey from the airport to the port)
• Bangkok → Nakhon Si Thammarat

And then:

• bus + ferry

How does the flight + boat combination work?

The whole process is usually well organised:

1. you arrive
2. at the airport, you’ll find your ferry company’s counter
3. you check in
4. you board the bus
5. which will take you to the ferry
6. continue on to Samui

👉 all in one booking

Buy a ferry ticket including a transfer – 12go

How much does the flight + ferry combination cost?

Roughly between 3 500 thb and 4 500 thb including luggage, which is often more than half the price of a direct flight with Bangkok Airways straight to Koh Samui.

Is it worth flying via Surat Thani?

Yes, if:

• you want to save money
• you don’t mind a longer journey

No, if:

• you want to get there quickly
• you’re travelling with a lot of luggage

💡 The ideal balance between price and comfort.

Compare flight prices from Bangkok to Surat Thani

Connections between the islands

Koh Samui is the main transport hub for the entire Gulf of Thailand.

As well as from the mainland, you can also reach Koh Samui from the surrounding islands.

How do you get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?

This is the easiest and most common route.

• 👉 distance: approx. 15 km
• 👉 journey time: 20–45 minutes

Where do the boats arrive at on Koh Samui?

• Bangrak Pier/ Petcherat Marina → closest to the airport, in the north of the island, most frequent services (several times an hour)
• Maenam Pier→ north of the island, only 6 services a day
• Nathon Pier → west of the island, only 3–4 services a day

How often do the boats run?

Ferries run from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui several times an hour throughout the day.

How much does the ferry to Koh Phangan cost?

• fast boats → approx. 300 thb
• slow ferries → approx. 200 thb

The difference in price isn’t significant; most people choose based on the journey time or the port of departure

Find a ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui

👉 See also: Transport on Koh Phangan

How do you get from Koh Tao to Koh Samui?

The differences are greater here, as some boats sail directly, whilst others stop at Koh Phangan to let passengers on and off.

• 👉 distance: approx. 55 km
• 👉 Journey time: 1.5–2.5 hours

How often do the boats run?

Services are less frequent than to Koh Phangan.

Boats run from around 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, roughly once an hour.

How much does the ferry to Koh Tao cost?

It depends on the specific company, and prices range from 450 thb to 650 thb.

Find a ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Samui

Where do ferries arrive in Koh Samui?

• Bangrak Pier/ Petcherat Marina → closest to the airport, in the north of the island, most frequent services (several times an hour)
• Maenam Pier→ north of the island, only 6 sailings a day
• Nathon Pier → west of the island, only 3–4 services a day

Is it worth making a day trip to Koh Tao?

To be honest – probably not.

• long journey
• Early departure
• late return

It makes more sense to stay for at least one night.

Book a hotel on Koh Tao

How to decide – the best option

👉 Short on time and looking for convenience?
Fly directly to Koh Samui with Bangkok Airways.

👉 Want to save money without wasting a whole day?
Fly to Surat Thani and continue by ferry.

👉 Travelling on a budget and have time to spare?
Choose the train or bus to Chumphon + the ferry.

All flights, bus and train journeys, and ferry crossings can be booked via the 12go.asia website.