Find out how to get from neighboring cities to Samui: modes of transport, their costs and where to buy a ticket.
Samui Island is located in the south of Thailand, in the Gulf of Thailand in the Pacific Ocean. Consider all the ways to get to the resort from the airport, Bangkok, and other resort towns.
Where to buy tickets
Cheap airfare to Koh Samui can be booked through the tripmydream service. Domestic flights within Thailand can be booked through 12go.co.
Bus, train, and ferry tickets to Koh Samui from anywhere in Thailand can be found:
Offices from tour operators;
At ticket offices at the point of departure (bus station, pier, railway station);
Online at 12 Go Asia.
Air Travel to Samui
Samui International Airport
The fastest way to get to Samui is by airplane. The island has its own airport, built by Bangkok Airways. Although small, it accepts domestic and international flights from nearby countries. However, a significant disadvantage of this method is the high cost of airfare (from 3000 THB).
How to Get to Samui from Bangkok
Direct flights from Bangkok to Samui are provided by 2 companies:
Bangkok Airways
Thai Airways
Flight to Samui
Bangkok Airways
The easiest and cheapest option is to take a Bangkok Airways flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
What you need to know:
The cost of the airfare is from THB 3,200
Interval between flights - 30 to 60 minutes
Schedule of departures - from 06:00 to 21:00
Flight duration - 60 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
Thai Airways
Tickets for a flight from Thai Airways to Samui Airport are more expensive.
What you need to know:
The cost of airfare is from 5,000 THB
Schedule of departures - 07:45 and 15:20 daily
Flight duration - 1 hour
You can also buy a ticket toSurat Thani Airport, and from there take a minibus and ferry to Samui.
Air Flight and Ferry to Samui
The low-cost carriers Nok Air and Air Asia provide a comprehensive ticket to Samui. They involve air travel to Surat Thani followed by a ferry across the bay.
Nok Air
Fare is from THB 2,000. Transfer is included in the total fare. Excluding transfers - from 1100 THB.
What you need to know:
The plane will depart from Don Muang Airport (Bangkok);
At Surat Thani airport, you transfer by minibus to the pier at Donsak;
There you transfer to the ferry to Naton Pier in Samui.
Air Asia
This airline provides a similar option, but there are some nuances. Fare is from 1200 THB.
What you need to know:
Flights operate from Don Muang airport in Surat Thani;
The ferry (from Raja Ferry Port) goes from Laem Thuap Pier to Lipa Noi Pier in Samui (the crossing takes longer, around two hours);
Important! There is no cheap transportation from Lipa Noi Pier, you will need to take a cab into town.
Bus to Samui
It is possible to travel from Bangkok to Samui by bus. Flights arrive at Donsak Pier, and from there you can take a ferry to the island.
Bangkok's Sai Tai Mai (Southern Bus Terminal)
The Southern Bus Terminal has many offerings from different carriers.
What you need to know:
Time on the road is 12 hours;
The bus travels non-stop, as fast as possible;
Ticket price is from 700 THB;
Khaosan Road
This is a budget option to travel by bus. There are low-cost transportation companies on the adjacent streets to Khaosan Road. The bus goes to Surat Thani Airport, there you will need to change to a bus to Donsak Pier.
What you need to know:
Time on the road - 15 hours or more;
Ticket price - from 500 THB.
A return ticket from Samui to Bangkok is quite easy to purchase from any travel agency in Naton at a similar price.
Train to Samui
The longest way to get to Samui is by train. You can take domestic airlines to Surat Thani airport and then make 2 connections. The price of a train ride is from 600 THB.
What you need to know:
First, you need to drive from Hualampong railroad station to Surat Thani;
Take the bus to Donsak Pier;
There you transfer to the ferry to Samui;
How to get from Pattaya to Samui
There are good transportation links between these resorts. You can get there in the following ways.
Airplane
The fastest and most convenient way to Samui is by direct flight from Utapao Airport. Flights are operated by Bangkok Airways.
What you need to know:
Work Schedule: There is only one flight to Koh Samui airport, departing at 17:15;
Flight cost: is from THB 4,300;
Time: in the air is 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Bus
From Pattaya to Samui, you can leave from the central Bus Station on North Street. The carrier company is Roong Reuang Coach (Mukdahan) Co., Ltd. Contact information: 038371388, 0863320377.
What you need to know:
Fare - from 738 THB in a regular bus, from 1198 THB in a VIP bus. Boarding tickets should be purchased in advance on website;
Departure - at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m;
Travel time - from 17 hours.
Through Bangkok
Save a little money by traveling to Samui via the Thai capital:
Take the Southern Bus Station in Bangkok, there change to a shuttle bus to Samui;
AirportDon Muang, from where fly low-costers to Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat, and then take a minibus to Donsak Pier.
From Phuket to Samui
From Phuket to Samui, there are two ways to get there - by air and by ground transportation. Let's explore both options below.
Airplane
The easiest way to reach Koh Samui is by flying to Koh Samui Airport, although it is the most expensive option. The flights are operated by Bangkok Airways.
What you need to know:
Flight duration is 50 minutes;
Ticket price - starting from 2500 THB.
Bus
You can take a bus from Phuket Town Road Station to Samui Island. This is a leisurely option if you're not in a hurry and want to enjoy Thailand's scenery.
What you need to know:
Fare starts from 430 THB (including the ferry);
Departure is at 09:00, once a day;
Travel time is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes to Donsak Pier, plus another hour and a half for the ferry to Naton.
If you prefer a hassle-free journey, you can pre-book transfers through a tour operator or on the 12 Go Asia website.
From Chiang Mai to Samui
The distance between these resorts is 1450 kilometers. The quickest way to get there is by airplane with a direct flight.
Airplane
There is a direct air service from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui, operated by Bangkok Airways.
What you need to know:
Departure schedule: 09:00 and 13:00;
Flight time: 1 hour and 50 minutes;
Cost of airfare: starting from 7000 THB (early booking is cheaper).
Bus
In 2011, a direct bus service to Samui was launched from Chiang Mai Bus Station, although it's quite a long journey considering the distance. The service is provided by Green Bus.
What you need to know:
Route: The bus makes stops in Surat Thani and Chumpon. From there, you'll need to transfer to Donsak pier and take a ferry to Samui;
Travel time: Approximately 20 hours;
Price of a ticket: starting from THB 1,500. You can purchase a ticket on the carrier's website.
Transfer to Your Hotel in Samui
Let's explore the different options for getting to your hotel on Samui Island.
From the Airport
Minibus: A budget-friendly option with fares starting from 100 THB (to Big Buddha Beach) depending on the distance. The shuttle bus departs as it fills up.
Taxi Ride: Taxi fares start from 600 THB (to Lamai). If you're traveling with 2-3 people, the cost of a taxi can be similar to that of a minivan transfer. You can pre-book a taxi in advance on the Kiwitaxi website.
Car Rental: Ideal for independent travelers who want to explore the surrounding areas. Rental companies like Sixt, Avis, Hertz, and Budget have a presence at the airport.
From Nathon Pier
Songteo: These shared vehicles go to Lamai and Chaweng, with fares starting from 60 THB.
Taxis and Motorcycle Taxis: Prices range from 100-200 THB, depending on the distance to your hotel.
Minivan with Air Conditioning: Available for a price starting from 150 THB.
Taxi-Meter: Comfortable cabs with fares ranging from 400-500 THB.
From Lipa Noi Pier
There is no public transportation from the pier, so you can only reach town by taxi.
Taxi fares start from 450 THB depending on your destination.
Important! If you find travel companions, the fare can be lower.
From Big Buddha Pier
Songteo: These shared vehicles go only to Chaweng, with fares starting from 100 THB.
The cost of a taxi is approximately 500 THB for the entire vehicle.
A vacation in Samui promises to be exciting, and there are transportation options for budget-conscious tourists as well as those who value comfort.
