Koh Samui is Thailand's third-largest island, and there are many different ways to get there. But what's the best way to do it? By bus, train, boat, or even by car. The travel options are huge, but they also depend a lot on your travel budget. The island even has its own small and beautiful airport, built by Bangkok Airways in 1989. It's considered one of the most beautiful airports in the world!
Getting to Koh Samui – By Plane
As mentioned in the introduction, you can fly directly from Bangkok International Airport to Koh Samui. Other destinations in Thailand, such as Chiang Mai or Phuket, are also served by direct daily flights. Because of Bangkok Airways' existing monopoly, direct flights to Koh Samui tend to be quite expensive, which is why many travellers look for other alternatives. Here you can find more information about: Koh Samui AirportGetting to Koh Samui - By Plane, Bus and Boat
A cheaper way to reach Koh Samui is to fly with Air Asia, Thai Lion Air or Nok Air to Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat on the mainland. From both of these airports there are onward bus and boat connections to Koh Samui. Of course, the journey takes a bit longer this way, but you can save a lot of money and still reach the island relatively quickly. At the airports you'll find counters for various bus and boat operators, so you can comfortably choose the right one. You don't have to book in advance, but you can also buy a combination ticket with Nok Air.
Getting to Koh Samui - By Bus and Boat
If flying isn't an option for you, you can also reach Koh Samui from many parts of the country by bus. For the first leg, you can choose between a minivan or one of the large buses that run this route. From Bangkok it takes around 12 hours, but from other places like Phuket or Krabi the journey is much more relaxed and doesn't take too long. The easiest way is to simply go to the bus station in the city of your choice and buy a ticket on the spot. At the bus station you'll also find counters for the onward boat journey. It's worth noting that the bus-and-boat connection is probably the cheapest way to get to Koh Samui.
Getting to Koh Samui - By Train, Bus and Boat
Another exciting alternative is the train connection from Bangkok to Surat Thani. The southern railway line runs from the capital via Hua Hin to Surat Thani. If you like, you can even take this train all the way to the Malaysian border! From the station in Surat Thani, you'll still need to take a short bus ride and then a boat to reach Koh Samui. Right at the station in Surat Thani you'll find a great selection of different operators. The most expensive but fastest option (45 minutes) is with the operator Lomprayah, which runs a high-speed catamaran from Surat Thani to Koh Samui. Other operators include the Seatran, Raja or Songserm ferries. These are cheaper, but it takes about 1 1/2 hours to reach the island.
Getting to Koh Samui - By Rental Car and Ferry
One last option is to rent a car yourself and drive to Koh Samui. You can rent a car on arrival in Bangkok or Phuket and make your way through Thailand's beautiful landscape to Surat Thani. About 70 kilometres from the city is the Donsak ferry pier, where, for a small fee, you can take the Seatran or Raja ferry to Nathon or Lipa Noi on Koh Samui. The crossing takes about 1 1/2 hours and costs 590 Baht, including passenger and car.
Note: To drive around Thailand without any trouble, you'll definitely need an international driving licence!
As you can see, there are quite a few ways to get to Koh Samui. How quickly and comfortably you reach the island depends on which option you choose and what budget you have available. If you have a longer holiday, it makes sense to choose one of the cheaper options. If your holiday time is limited, though, we recommend the direct flight to Koh Samui. It may be a bit more expensive, but your limited holiday time is precious, and it's much more worthwhile spending it enjoying the beautiful island of Koh Samui.
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