Koh Samui Travel Info
Getting there by air, car or ferries
Koh Samui is easily accessed by air, land and sea. The majority
of international travellers arrive by air, via Bangkok, Phuket
or Singapore. Bangkok Airways has a number of daily flights
to the island, making this the most convenient way to get
there. Daily ferries operating from several piers along the
mainland coastal area of Surat Thani also carry many passengers
to the island.
By Air:
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Bangkok Airways
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Bangkok Airways operates more than 40 flights a day on its
Bangkok-Samui, Samui-Phuket, Samui-Pattaya (U-Tapao), Samui-Krabi
and Samui-Singapore routes.
Flying time between Bangkok and Samui is about one hour,
while the flights on the Samui-Phuket and Samui-Pattaya routes
take less than 45 minutes.
Whatever you do, don't forget your baggage at the international
terminal in Bangkok! Your baggage will not be automatically
redirected to your Samui flight, so you'll have to pick it
up, move to the domestic terminal and check-in your baggage
again.
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International Terminal 2
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By Car:
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Arriving by Ferry at Nathon Town
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It is possible to hire a car and drive to Samui, finishing
of course with a ferry ride. Departing from either Bangkok
or Phuket, the drive is on nice roads. From Bangkok it is
double lane highway all the way to Surat Thani, usually taking
8-10 hours. From Phuket the roads are good but they are single
lane. The trip takes about 5 hours, passing through some beautiful
scenery. From Hat Yai, there is a double lane highway up to
Surat Thani and the journey takes about 6 hours.
Along the way there are enough gasoline stations for you
to fill up at and take a break. Be aware though, from Surat
Thani it is still another hour's travelling time to the ferry
terminals. You can also expect to sometimes find long queues
at the ferry terminals, so plan ahead.
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By Ferry:
Two ferry companies operate from three piers along the Surat
Thani coast on the main land and from two piers on Koh Samui.
Ratcha Ferry Co.
Their vehicle and passenger ferries run from Don Sak pier
to Thong Yang pier on Koh Samui, departing daily at 8 am,
10 am,12 noon, 2 pm and 5 pm. The crossing takes one and a
half hours and costs about 25 Baht. From Samui's Thong Yang
pier, there are seven daily departures at 7 am, 8 am ,10 am,
12 noon, 2 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm.
Express Passenger Ferry
An express passenger ferry service is offered by Songserm
Travel, departing from Tha Thong pier three times a day, at
7.30 am, 11.30 am, and 2 pm. Songserm Travel also operates
a slow night boat from Ban Don pier in Surat Thani to Koh
Samui. It departs at 11 pm and arrives at Nathon pier around
5 am.
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