Transportation in Koh Samui

This Koh Samui transportation guide gives a breakdown of getting to and getting around Koh Samui. General travel information can be found in our Thailand transportation guide. There are also some interesting local Koh Samui tours to help you get the most out of your visit to the island.

Koh Samui is located 30 miles from Thailand's eastern coast, and about 430 miles south of Bangkok. The best way to reach Koh Samui, Thailand is by catching a flight from Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket or Singapore. The other option is to take a ferry or catamaran from Don Sak on Surat Thani, located on the mainland.

If you are travelling on a budget, the best way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui is to combine a sleeper train or bus with a ferry ride.

Koh Samui Transportation Guide

By Plane

There are several flights to Koh Samui Airport (USM). During high season, there are daily flights to and from Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, U-Tapao, Singapore and Phuket, and almost hourly flights between Samui and Bangkok (20-23 flights per day).

For a long time, Bangkok Airways was the only airline serving Koh Samui and they still remain the main operator. Thai Airways and Silkair are now available. Berjaya Air and Firefly Airlines connect USM to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 The Koh Samui airport is well connected by buses and taxis. The 20-minute minibus ride to Chaweng costs 100 baht per person, while a taxi ride costs around 150 to 300 baht. Visitors are advised to negotiate the taxi fare before getting in, as it is quite common for taxi drivers not to use meters. A recent addition to the ground transport is a regular shuttle bus service; its prices are listed and seats can be booked online. For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.

A potentially cheaper but less convenient option is to fly to Surat Thani Airport (URT) with Thai Airways and no frills airline Air Asia. From the airport, there are numerous agents selling combined bus + ferry services to Ko Samui, costing between 200-300 baht (it should be no more than 300). It is a one-hour bus ride to Don Sak pier and then a 90-minute ferry ride.

Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Thailand or search for Flights to Koh Samui

How to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui by train

Taking the train from Bangkok to get to Ko Samui costs more than taking the bus, but it is the more comfortable way to travel. Overnight trains depart Hualamphong Station in Bangkok in the evening and reach Surat Thani in 11-12 hours (Surat Thani is the mainland city that is your gateway to Koh Samui). Taking the overnight train means being able to save on accommodations and sleeping through most of the long journey.

The sleeping cars on Thailand’s trains are very comfortable. In both 1st class and 2nd class sleepers, there is air-con (sometimes too much!) and clean linens are provided. The lower beds are more expensive than the upper ones, but the upper bunks are narrower.

For detailed instructions and info on how to buy tickets, see our section on how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui by train.

By Boat

Express boats leave Surat Thani three times a day. The trip costs around 150 baht and takes 3 hours. Slower night boats take 6 to 7 hours for the same journey.

Depending on the type of boat taken, ticket costs and travel times vary; prices can range from 150 to 350 baht while travel time ranges from 2.5 to 6 hours. Combined bus-boat or train-boat tickets can also be purchased. Travel agents usually ensure that travellers are met at the station in Surat Thani and directed to the shuttle leaving for the pier.

Travelling by boat requires some degree of patience since there is always a lot of waiting around to be done. Ferry times are known to change quite often too. Touts from various travel companies meet all trains and buses in an attempt to solicit business.

By Bus

The most economical way to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok is of course by bus. Catch the VIP bus from the Southern Bus Terminal at Boromrat Chonnani Road or from the famous Khao San Road. The AC buses are not as comfortable as the VIP buses. Almost every Bangkok travel agency sells bus tickets and the price usually includes the cost of the ferry ride as well.

To avoid any problems during the long journey of close to 13 hours, it is best to buy a combined bus and ferry ticket. A VIP bus ticket costs around 800 baht and the ferry ride costs just a little more.

A combined bus and ferry service from Surat Thani train station costs around 200 to 300 baht. The journey may combine an hour-long bus ride with a 90-minute ferry ride, or a 30-minute bus ride with a longer ferry ride.

Getting around Koh Samui

Mountain bikes, motorcycles and jeeps are widely and cheaply available for hire. Roads, however, can be dangerous so it is essential that you drive carefully.

By paying around 50 baht per person, travellers can make use of the public taxi service to get from one Koh Samui beach to another. A private car used for the same trip costs around 200 baht. Taxis are easily available after dark too, especially around popular nightspots Lamai and Chaweng, but prices can be absurdly high since drivers do not like to use their meters. Rather unsafe, but using the much cheaper motorbike taxis is another way to get around.

Songthaews, which are converted pick-up trucks with bench seats, are another popular mode of public transport. These trucks have no fixed routes or stops, they can be hailed anywhere by waving or shouting. Fares have to be negotiated before getting in, and to get off the truck, hit the roof of the truck loudly or ring the bell. Songthaew fares start from around 20 baht, and are to be paid at the end of the journey. These trucks drive around the island all day and are easily found – you will hear their honks well before you see them coming down the road!

The newest mode of Koh Samui travel transport these days is the Quad Bike. These bikes are available for hire but since most of them are neither insured nor registered for road use, you are advised to exercise great care when riding one.