There are two basic ways to reach Koh Samui. You can fly directly to the island’s own airport, which is fast and comfortable but relatively expensive. Or you can fly, take the train or ride a bus to the mainland province of Surat Thani (or neighbouring Nakhon Si Thammarat) and cross by ferry, which is cheaper and takes several hours longer.
Flying direct to Samui Airport (USM)
Samui International Airport sits in the north-east of the island, about 10–15 minutes from Chaweng, Bophut and Choeng Mon. It is one of the most attractive small airports anywhere — open-sided, thatched pavilions set in gardens — and it was built, and is still owned and run, by Bangkok Airways, which opened it in 1989.
That ownership explains the fares. Bangkok Airways operates nearly all flights, the number of daily movements is limited, and no low-cost airline flies here. A one-way ticket from Bangkok commonly costs several times what a budget flight to the mainland does, especially in high season and when booked late. In return you get a flight of little more than an hour from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK), frequent departures and a short taxi ride at the other end.
- Domestic routes usually include Bangkok (many flights a day) and a small number of others such as Phuket and Chiang Mai.
- International routes have typically included regional cities such as Singapore — schedules change, so check the airline’s current timetable.
- Connecting from long-haul: if you book through to USM on one ticket with a partner airline, your bags are normally checked through and you are protected if the first flight is late.
- To save money: book early, travel midweek, and look at the first and last flights of the day, which are often cheaper.
From the airport, fixed-rate taxis and minibuses are sold at a counter in arrivals; a pre-booked private transfer costs about the same and saves negotiating.
The cheaper way: mainland airport plus ferry
Low-cost airlines fly many times a day from Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) — and some from Suvarnabhumi — to two mainland airports: Surat Thani (URT) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST). From either, a bus or minivan takes you to the ferry port at Donsak, and a ferry carries you across to Samui.
The airlines and ferry companies sell combined flight + bus + ferry tickets, and you can also buy a bus-and-ferry ticket from Surat Thani separately. Door to door from landing, allow about four to five hours via Surat Thani; Nakhon Si Thammarat’s airport is a broadly similar drive from Donsak. For a couple or a family, the saving over direct flights can be substantial — but you lose most of a day.
The ferries
Three companies carry most passengers between the mainland and Samui:
- Seatran Ferry — large car ferries from Donsak to Nathon, Samui’s main town on the west coast. About 1.5 hours.
- Raja Ferry — car ferries from Donsak to Lipa Noi, a few kilometres south of Nathon. About 1.5 hours.
- Lomprayah — high-speed passenger catamarans. From the Donsak area to Nathon takes roughly 45 minutes; the company also runs the Chumphon – Koh Tao – Koh Phangan – Samui route, using its pier at Maenam on the north coast.
The car ferries are slow but large and stable, with snack bars and open decks, and they sail in almost all weather. Catamarans are faster but can be uncomfortable in rough seas. All the mainland ferries arrive on Samui’s west coast, 40–60 minutes by road from Chaweng and Lamai — check whether your ticket includes the onward minivan to your hotel.
| Route | Typical time from Bangkok | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct flight BKK → USM | ≈ 1 h 10 min flight | High | Short trips, families, connecting from long-haul |
| Flight to Surat Thani (URT) + bus + ferry | ≈ 6–7 h in total | Low | Budget travellers with time |
| Flight to Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST) + bus + ferry | ≈ 6–7 h in total | Low | When URT flights are full or dearer |
| Overnight sleeper train to Surat Thani + bus + ferry | ≈ 14–16 h | Low to medium | Rail fans; saves a hotel night |
| Overnight bus + ferry | ≈ 12–15 h | Lowest | Tightest budgets |
By train from Bangkok
Overnight sleeper trains run from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Surat Thani station, which is actually in Phun Phin, some 14 km west of the town. The journey takes roughly 9–12 hours depending on the train. Joint bus-and-ferry tickets to Samui are sold at the station and meet the morning arrivals. Second-class air-conditioned sleepers are comfortable and sell out ahead of holidays — reserve early.
By bus
Overnight coaches leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal for Surat Thani and Donsak, and many are sold as through tickets including the ferry. It is the cheapest option and the least restful. Use government or well-reviewed private operators rather than the cheapest tourist buses sold around Khao San Road.
From Phuket, Krabi and Khao Sok
Bangkok Airways usually flies between Phuket and Samui. Overland, combined minivan-and-ferry tickets link Krabi, Ao Nang, Phuket and Khao Sok with Samui in roughly five to eight hours via Donsak. Because the two coasts have opposite rainy seasons, combining them works best between about January and April, when both are usually dry.
From Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
Ferries and catamarans run all day between Samui’s north-coast piers — Maenam, Bang Rak and Big Buddha — and Koh Phangan (roughly 20–50 minutes). Catamarans continue to Koh Tao, about 2–3 hours from Samui in total. Slower car ferries also link Samui and Phangan.
Arriving: which pier, and how far is my hotel?
- Nathon and Lipa Noi (west coast): mainland ferries. Around 40–60 minutes to Chaweng or Lamai, 30–40 to Bophut and Maenam.
- Maenam (Pralarn) pier: Lomprayah catamarans to and from Phangan, Tao and Chumphon.
- Bang Rak and Big Buddha piers: other services to Koh Phangan, including boats to Haad Rin. About 10 minutes from the airport.
Entry rules for Thailand
Entry rules have changed several times recently, so treat this as a pointer rather than a guarantee. Most foreign visitors are now asked to complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online in the days before they arrive. Citizens of many countries can enter without a visa for a limited tourist stay, but the permitted length has been under review. A long-discussed tourist entry fee of a few hundred baht has been announced and postponed more than once. Check the Thai embassy or immigration website for your nationality shortly before you travel, and only use official government sites for the arrival card — it is free.
