What are your options for getting from Bangkok to Samui with maximum comfort while saving time and money? Let’s explore the most popular routes.
How to Get from Bangkok to Samui as Comfortably as Possible
Thailand is a vast country boasting numerous beach destinations, and one such paradise is Koh Samui. Admittedly, package tours to Samui aren’t the cheapest option; however, for independent travelers, the costs can be quite reasonable. In this article, we’ll explore how to reach Samui from Bangkok on your own.
General Information
So, you’ve decided to treat yourself to Samui’s white-sand beaches and have even booked a hotel, but how do you travel there without breaking the bank or your nerves? Several options exist, including:
- plane;
- plane + ferry;
- train + ferry;
- bus + ferry;
- taxi + ferry;
- rental car + ferry.
Additionally, there’s a particular nighttime ferry option, which we’ll mention at the end.
Plane
You can fly to Samui from Bangkok’s two airports:
- Suvarnabhumi
- Don Mueang
The first is the fastest but least budget-friendly; the second is cheaper but requires more travel time.
Flying from Suvarnabhumi
So, how to get from Bangkok to Samui on your own from the capital’s primary airport? The only option is Bangkok Airways, which operates regular flights on the Suvarnabhumi – Samui route. That’s because Bangkok Airways holds the agreement to run such flights, and the airline, in effect, sets higher fares.
A ticket costs for this flight start at 3,500 baht, and in peak season can even reach 4,000 baht.
It’s possible to catch a decent discount (for instance, instead of 3,500 baht pay 2,500), but you have to keep an eye on the airline’s official site and popular aggregator websites.
Flight times frequently won’t align with arrivals from Europe, so it’s best to use a connecting itinerary (e.g., Emirates). In that case, you needn’t worry about being late due to a separate airline— if your flight is delayed and you miss your Samui flight, they’ll put you on the next one.
Covering the distance from Bangkok to Samui Airport by plane takes only an hour, making the high airfare all the more surprising.
In spite of the steep cost, this route is recommended for families with children, where paying extra for a less time-consuming journey might be worth it.
Flying from Don Mueang
The city’s second-largest airport is about one hour’s drive from Suvarnabhumi, which is the first inconvenience of this route.
Essentially, all international flights arrive at the main airport, so in any case travelers must transfer. Given that flight schedules don’t always sync, some stress or even missing a flight is possible (a solution is to stay overnight in Bangkok and fly out the next day).
Two airlines, AirAsia and Nok Air, operate Bangkok-to-Samui flights through Don Mueang. In fact, these flights don’t land on Koh Samui itself but at nearby mainland airports such as Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat.
After arrival, travelers use a transfer from the airport to the ferry pier, plus the ferry itself. Generally, the transfer and ferry ticket are included in the plane fare.
The big advantage of this longer trip is the relatively low ticket price. You can fly for as little as 1,500 baht, sometimes even less.
Travel times break down as follows:
- Flight — 1 hour
- Transfer — 1–1.5 hours
- Ferry crossing — 2–2.5 hours
Total is around 4–5 hours on the move. Adding wait times for the transfer, ferry, and the trip between Suvarnabhumi, it can become an 8-hour affair. On the other hand, it’s cheap, which is a major plus, given Samui’s pricey reputation.
This style of trip suits travelers without children, or thrifty people counting every baht.
Train
For romantics who prefer a long journey over a quick flight, taking the train to Samui is an option. Naturally, there’s no direct service to the island, so you’ll have one or two connections (ferry, or bus + ferry).
Trains leave from Bangkok’s main railway station, and you can get there in three ways:
- Metro
- Bus
- Taxi
Metro is cheaper but more complex (from the airport, ride to Makkasan station, then transfer at Phetchaburi station toward Hua Lamphong, the last stop).
If you pick the bus, you’ll have to track down route #29, heading for the train station.
Probably best is a metered taxi, giving the driver fewer chances to overcharge:
- Metro fare — 45–80 baht
- Bus — 50–90 baht
- Taxi — up to 800 baht
Via Chumphon
From land, you can only reach Samui from two places: Chumphon and Donsak. Both have ferry operators. Let’s start with the nearest, Chumphon, about 470 km from the capital. That doesn’t mean the train arrives quickly (For reference, note that Thai trains often take around 4 hours to cover just 120 km).
After reaching the station, you need to buy a ticket to Chumphon for 400–1,200 baht (the higher the class, the more expensive; second class is best). You can buy tickets on-site or online. If you don’t want the hassle of dealing with local ticket offices, you can use the 12go.asia site.
Keep in mind that in Thailand there’s no such thing as a purely digital train ticket, so before departure you’ll have to pick up a physical ticket at the agency, whose address and directions will be on the booking site.
You need trains #167 and #85, as their schedules align best with the catamarans to Samui. Trains in this direction start after lunchtime.
Why is that important? Because catamarans depart from the pier twice daily (7:30 AM and 1:00 PM), and missing those times could cost you at least a day, or two if there’s a weather alert.
You’ll want arrival before 6 AM or before noon.
After arriving in Chumphon, you’ll need to get to the pier (should be easy) by minivan or tuk-tuk, then board the catamaran.
Important! Buy catamaran tickets in advance online— they can sell out at the office.
The ferry from Chumphon to Samui costs 1,000–1,200 baht, taking 1.5–2 hours.
Via Donsak
There’s no direct train to Donsak; you must travel by rail to Surat Thani, then bus to Donsak Pier.
Getting to Surat Thani takes longer than Chumphon (around 13 hours), so you’ll likely want a night train. Before departure, you can wander the area around the central station.
There are three approaches:
- A combined ticket (train-bus-ferry)
- A double purchase (train first, then a combined bus + ferry ticket)
- Separate purchases for each mode
The third option is the least convenient, as it complicates a tourist’s journey. Let’s look at the first two in detail.
Combined Ticket
Traveling on a single ticket is great, except that you have to buy it online and pick up the physical version at the Songserm Express office, which created this route.
The ticket costs 1,200–2,000 baht (depending on train class). Check the company website for schedules.
The second approach is: take the train to Surat Thani, then buy a bus + ferry combined ticket in the square to the left of the railway station exit, for 250–400 baht.
Note that Donsak has two piers that land on different parts of the island (Raja Ferry — Lipa Noi Beach, and Seatran Ferry — Nathon). We recommend figuring out your hotel’s location to decide which arrival point is more convenient.
Raja Ferry Pier
Seatran Ferry Pier
Bus
As already mentioned, land travel from Bangkok to Samui is only feasible via Chumphon or Donsak, so obviously a bus route must end at one of these places.
Let’s start with the closer one, Chumphon. Chumphon’s pier sees catamarans from the Lomprayah company. Lomprayah sells combined bus + boat (catamaran) tickets at fairly low prices. Better still, it’s the simplest solution nerve-wise (they’ll guide you step by step).
Buses leave from the company’s office (location shown on the map) twice a day:
- Morning — departing 6 AM
- Evening — departing 9 PM
The price difference is slight; the evening trip is 1,450–1,500 baht, the morning 1,400–1,450 baht.
Travel time is nine hours, with one stop en route. Lomprayah provides comfortable buses you can sleep in.
Important! In Thailand, the AC is often on full blast, so bring something warm. If you freeze, you’ll be grateful you did.
After arriving at the pier, company employees will guide you onto the ferry, which then takes about three hours.
If you’d rather spend less time at sea, that can be offset by a longer bus segment. The do-it-yourself Bangkok–Donsak route starts at the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok. Getting there from the airport is easiest by a metered taxi (important to remember).
Once at the bus station, buy a ticket (if purchasing on-site). The trip is 12–13 hours. There are two ticket types:
- Standard — 800–900 baht
- VIP — 1,400–1,500 baht
For such a lengthy journey, we recommend not skimping on the upgraded ticket. The VIP seat can almost fully recline. And yes, bring warm clothes, because AC is run at full blast here, too.
Donsak has two piers, as noted above.
If you don’t want to wait in lines, try the popular 12go.asia site for tickets (click here). Buying them there ensures you don’t end up missing a seat, and you can easily choose a comfortable route.
Car Rental
Have you ever driven on a road with left-hand traffic? If yes, you can consider renting a car and driving it onto Samui. If not, here’s your chance for a new experience.
Renting a car is not the worst idea if you have an international driver’s permit and you’re at least 21. Rental prices vary, but expect 1,000–1,200 baht per day, or if you rent more than five days, about 800 baht/day.
- If you drive at a leisurely pace with stops for rest and meals, the drive takes about nine hours.
- The ferry crossing with a car costs 500 baht (driver plus car), plus 150 baht per passenger.
- You’ll spend about 2,000 baht on fuel (around 60–80 liters).
- All told, 3,500 baht one-way for a solo driver. Also remember an extra fee (up to 2,000 baht) may apply if you drop off the car in another city (e.g., Samui Airport). If you keep it more than five days, the company usually waives that fee.
Important! Never leave your passport as collateral—only cash.
Taxi
Not the cheapest method: the cost effectively doubles because the driver has to return empty. If your persuasive skills are weak or money is tight, you might want to skip a taxi, as any Thai driver will likely ask no less than 10,000 baht—and often more—for such a trip.
You can lower that amount by using freelance drivers who live on Samui, found on social media or via transfer-service sites. Another good option is kiwitaxi.com, where you can often get a decent price for local standards.
Always negotiate and confirm the price in writing or via SMS to avoid any misunderstandings.
Overnight Ferry
Surat Thani offers a special overnight ferry service, departing from a pier on the river inside the city at 9:30 PM, arriving on Samui at 3:30 AM. It carries only passengers, unlike the ferries in Donsak (which take cars). Tickets cost 200 baht.
If you miss the ferry in Donsak, it’s more sensible to spend the night in town rather than rush to Surat Thani. The taxi fare between them might run around 1,500–1,600 baht. It’s easier to book a hotel and catch the catamaran the next morning at leisure.
You’ve Arrived on Samui—Now What?
Another important matter: how to get to your final destination on the island. You have a few choices:
- Taxi
- Transfer
- Minivan
- Songthaew
It’s best to book a taxi on kiwitaxi.com. Over the years, it’s been reliable, and often cheaper than a hotel’s transfer service.
If you plan on finding a taxi on the spot, expect negotiations with drivers who rarely want to use the meter. If you do succeed with the meter, the fares are: 50 baht boarding + 50 baht service fee, and 12 baht per kilometer. If not, it might run 400–1,000 baht depending on distance.
Transfer is straightforward — depends on your hotel arrangement.
Minivans typically wait at the airport, pricing is directly proportional to the number of passengers. For instance, seven people can travel for 900 baht total, while a solo ride might cost 400 baht for the same route.
The songthaew is the most budget-friendly transport: 20 baht for going within one beach area, or up to 100 baht across half the island. However, that price applies only until 6 PM; after that, it’s much higher.
Where to Board?
As mentioned, there are three piers where ferries arrive, plus the airport. Each has distinct setups for vehicles:
- Lomprayah Pier (from Chumphon) — either taxi, the company’s minivans, or walk to the ring road to catch a songthaew.
- Raja Ferry Pier (from Donsak) — taxi or a pre-arranged transfer. There’s an open-air stand where vehicles wait.
- Seatran Ferry Pier (from Donsak) — at the pier’s end you can hire a taxi or catch a songthaew; or pick the minivan service from a particular company.
- Airport — taxi, minivan, or transfer.
In short, plenty of ways to get to Samui for any taste and budget— the choice is yours!
