There are two genuinely different ways to reach Koh Samui, and which one makes sense depends almost entirely on your budget and how much travel time you’re willing to trade for a lower fare. Flying direct into Samui International Airport is fast but consistently pricier than almost any other route in Thailand, while flying or taking the train to Surat Thani and finishing the trip by ferry takes longer but can cost a fraction as much. This guide breaks down how to get to Koh Samui by both routes with real prices and journey times so you can pick the right one for your trip.
Quick answers
- Fastest: the direct Bangkok Airways flight, 1 h 10 to 1 h 20 from Bangkok, with fares from 2,730 THB.
- Cheapest ferry: about 220 THB on the Raja or Seatran Ferry car ferries from Donsak, 1 h 30, with hourly sailings.
- Fastest crossing: the Lomprayah catamaran from Donsak, 45 minutes, 450 THB, two sailings a day.
- From Bangkok overland: from 1,075 THB with a Krung Siam Tour bus plus ferry ticket (15 h 30), or 1,450 THB with Lomprayah bus plus catamaran (11 h 30).
Flying Direct to Koh Samui (USM)
Bangkok Airways flies direct to Samui Airport (USM) from five cities, which makes it the fastest way onto the island: from Bangkok the flight takes 1 h 10 to 1 h 20. The airline’s own page lists the lowest one-way adult fares in the table below. They are “from” prices rather than a quote for your date. Our Koh Samui airport guide covers what to expect once you land and how to get from the airport to your hotel.
| Flying from | Flight time | Fare from (THB) |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok (BKK) | 1 h 10 to 1 h 20 | 2,730 |
| Phuket (HKT) | about 55 to 60 min | 2,630 |
| Chiang Mai (CNX) | about 1 h 45 | 2,930 |
| Krabi (KBV) | about 45 min | 2,575 |
| Pattaya, U-Tapao (UTP) | about 1 h 05 | 2,250 |
On the airline’s offer page, children aged 2 to 11 pay the adult fare and infants under 2 without a seat pay 25% of it. The route pages list 20 kg of checked baggage, but what you get depends on the fare you buy, and not every flight runs every day.
Flying to Surat Thani, Then Ferry
The usual alternative: fly into Surat Thani Airport, then transfer by road to Donsak and cross by ferry to Koh Samui’s west coast. Three companies run this crossing, each from its own pier at Donsak:
| Operator | Samui pier | Departures from Donsak | Crossing | Adult fare (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raja Ferry (car ferry) | Lipa Noi | Hourly, 04:00 to 19:00 | 1 h 30 | About 220 |
| Seatran Ferry (car ferry) | Nathon | Hourly, 05:00 to 19:00, plus 04:45 | 1 h 30 | 220 |
| Lomprayah (catamaran) | Nathon | 11:00, 15:00 | 45 min | 450 600 with a van to your hotel |
See the sailings and fares for your date.
The boats also run the other way at similar hours, and Lomprayah leaves Nathon for Donsak at 08:30 and 11:45. Raja’s 04:00 and 05:00 sailings sell tickets only at its pier. Between the three operators there are more than 30 crossings a day, so unless you’re arriving very late at night, you’re rarely waiting long for the next boat. Booking a combined Surat Thani airport-transfer-plus-ferry ticket through a platform like 12Go Asia is worth it for the coordination alone, the transfer van to Donsak Pier is scheduled to meet your specific ferry rather than leaving you to arrange it yourself.
From Surat Thani Airport
A shared minivan and ferry ticket takes you from the airport straight to Koh Samui. On Monday 9 November one ticket seller listed these departures and fares for an adult.
| Operator | Departs the airport | Arrives on Samui | Time | Adult fare (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seatran Ferry, minivan and ferry | 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00 | 12:30 to 20:30, at Nathon | 3 h 30 to 4 h 30 | 560 |
| Phantip, bus and ferry | 09:30, 11:30, 15:15 | 13:30, 15:30, 18:30 | about 4 h | 572 |
| Lomprayah, minivan and catamaran | 12:30 | 15:45, at Nathon | 3 h 15 | 739 |
| Raja Ferry, combined ticket | 13:30 | 17:30, at Lipa Noi | 4 h | 620 |
The Phantip ticket lists either Nathon or Lipa Noi, so check the pier on your ticket.
Which Pier on Koh Samui?
Koh Samui has four piers that matter, and the right one depends on your boat:
| Pier | Part of the island | Boats |
|---|---|---|
| Lipa Noi | West | Raja Ferry car ferry from Donsak |
| Nathon | West | Seatran Ferry car ferry and Lomprayah catamaran from Donsak |
| Maenam (Pralarn) | North | Lomprayah boats to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and the Bangkok bus-plus-catamaran tickets |
| Bangrak | Northeast | Lomprayah and Seatran Discovery boats to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao |
Check the full name on your ticket, because Bangrak Pier can mean the Lomprayah stand or the Seatran Discovery stand. Seatran Discovery’s boats are passenger-only and are not the Seatran Ferry car ferry from Donsak.
Bus or Train from Bangkok, Then Ferry
The cheapest and slowest option: an overnight train or long-distance bus from Bangkok to Surat Thani, followed by the same road-transfer-and-ferry combination described above. Total door-to-door time runs 11 to 15 hours depending on the train schedule and ferry connection, considerably longer than flying, but the total cost can be a fraction of a direct USM flight. This is the classic backpacker route to Koh Samui and the islands beyond it, and combined tickets covering the whole train-bus-ferry chain are widely available through the same booking platforms that sell the Surat Thani ferry connections.
| Train | Departs Bangkok | Arrives Surat Thani | Time | Adult fare, approx. (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RP171 | 15:10 | 01:11, next day | about 10 h | 216 third class seat 354 second class seat from 724 second class air-con sleeper |
| SP31 | 16:50 | 02:20, next day | about 9 h 30 | from 1,004 second class air-con sleeper from 1,572 first class air-con sleeper |
The train stops at Surat Thani Railway Station in Phun Phin, which is not at the pier, so you still need a road transfer to Donsak and then the ferry. Ask about child and infant fares when you book.
Bangkok to Koh Samui in One Ticket
Several operators sell a single ticket that covers the bus and the boat, so there’s no waiting around at Surat Thani:
| Ticket | Departs | Arrives | Total time | Adult fare (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah bus plus catamaran, via Chumphon | Khaosan Road 06:00 | Maenam 17:30, same day | 11 h 30 | 1,450 VIP 1,750 |
| Lomprayah night bus plus catamaran | Khaosan Road 22:00 | Maenam 11:30, next day | 13 h 30 | 1,450 VIP 1,750 |
| Lomprayah night bus plus catamaran | Pinklao 21:30 | Maenam 11:30, next day | 14 h | 1,450 VIP 1,750 |
| Lomprayah night, with a change at Koh Tao | Khaosan Road 21:30 | Bangrak 11:15, next day | 13 h 45 | 1,250 |
| Krung Siam Tour VIP 24 bus plus Raja or Seatran Ferry | Southern Bus Terminal 19:00 | 10:30, next day | 15 h 30 | 1,316 |
| Krung Siam Tour VIP 32 bus plus Raja or Seatran Ferry | Southern Bus Terminal 19:15 | 10:45, next day | 15 h 30 | 1,075 |
With a van to any hotel on Koh Samui, the Lomprayah tickets to Maenam cost 1,600 THB, or 1,900 THB in VIP, and the ticket to Bangrak costs 1,400 THB. The Krung Siam Tour tickets do not list a hotel transfer.
Other Starting Points
From Krabi you can fly direct with Bangkok Airways in about 45 minutes, from 2,575 THB, or buy a bus or van plus boat ticket. From Pattaya the direct flight leaves U-Tapao and takes about 1 h 05, from 2,250 THB. The tables show the one-ticket options we found. Prices are the ticket seller’s lowest listings and depend on the date.
| From Krabi | Ticket | Departs | Time | Adult fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah | Bus and catamaran from the Lomprayah office, to Nathon Pier | 08:00, 11:30 | 3 h 45 to 4 h 15 | 1,100 to 1,160 THB |
| Phantip | Bus and ferry from Krabi Bus Terminal, to Nathon | 10:15, 13:30 | 5 to 5 h 15 | 450 THB |
| Phantip | Bus and ferry from Ao Nang bus stop or Ao Nam Mao | 09:00, 12:00 | 6 h 30 | from 504 THB |
| From Khao Lak | Ticket | Departs | Time | Adult fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call Me Taxi | Minivan and ferry to Nathon | 08:00 | 7 to 7 h 30 | 940 to 1,260 THB, depending on the pier and the seller |
| Call Me Taxi | Minivan and speedboat | 08:00 | 7 h 45 | about 1,425 THB |
| 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport | Bus, bus and ferry to Nathon | 08:20, 09:30, 10:40, 11:30 | 8 h 10 | about 971 THB |
Ground and sea tickets from these places have no single timetable, so book one through-ticket, check which pier you arrive at, and leave a margin before any onward connection.
Comparing All Three Routes
| Route | Total time | Roughly | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct flight to USM | About 1 h 10 to 1 h 20 from Bangkok | From 2,730 THB | Time-pressed travelers, international connections |
| Fly to Surat Thani + ferry | ~3-4 hours total | Depends on the date | Most travelers balancing time and cost |
| Overnight train/bus + ferry | 11 to 15 hours total | Cheapest option | Budget travelers, those combining it with sightseeing en route |
Arriving from Koh Phangan or Koh Tao
If you’re island-hopping rather than arriving from the mainland, Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery and other operators run regular ferry services directly between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, journeys of 20 to 35 minutes to Koh Phangan and 1 h 30 or more to Koh Tao, leaving from Maenam, Bangrak or Nathon depending on the operator. These interisland routes run far more frequently than the mainland crossings and rarely need to be booked more than a day ahead outside of the Full Moon Party period on Koh Phangan, when boats fill up fast. See our Koh Phangan ferry guide and Koh Tao ferry guide for timetables.
Which Option Should You Choose
If you’re on a fixed, short trip and value your time, or you’re connecting through an international codeshare, book the direct USM flight and don’t overthink it. If you’re on a more typical two-to-three-week Thailand trip and have a free morning to spend on the journey, flying to Surat Thani and taking the ferry is the better value call for most travelers, and it’s the route most seasoned Thailand travelers default to. Save the overnight train-and-bus route for a genuinely tight budget or if you want to build in a stop in Surat Thani or along the rail line itself.
Money-Saving Booking Tips
Bangkok Airways lists its direct fares as “from” prices that depend on the date and on seat availability, so check your date on its booking page before you decide. For the Surat Thani route, comparing the three ferry operators’ schedules before booking matters more than comparing their fares, since the gap between 220 THB and 450 THB is small next to the value of catching a departure that actually matches your flight or train arrival time. Whichever route you choose, arriving with a plan for the last leg matters: once you’re on Koh Samui itself, see our guide to getting around Koh Samui for how to reach your hotel and get around once you’ve landed or docked, and our where to stay in Koh Samui guide for choosing which coastal area to base yourself in.
Bringing a Vehicle: The Car Ferry Option
Raja Ferry, which lands at Lipa Noi, and Seatran Ferry, which lands at Nathon, both run vehicle-capable ferries alongside their passenger services, useful if you’re driving down from Bangkok or another part of the mainland with your own car or a rental you plan to keep for the whole trip. Vehicle fares are charged separately from passenger fares and scale with the size of the vehicle. Raja Ferry charges 640 THB for a car, jeep, pickup or minivan with its driver and 260 THB for a regular motorbike, while Seatran Ferry charges 700 THB for a car and 280 THB for a motorbike. During peak holiday periods it’s worth arriving at Donsak Pier with some buffer time, vehicle boarding is generally slower than the walk-on passenger lanes and can fill a sailing before all vehicles in the queue make it aboard. For most travelers renting a car on Samui itself, rather than bringing one across, is simpler and avoids this altogether.
Children, Baggage and Check-In
Rules differ by operator, so look at this before you pack:
| Operator | Children | Baggage | Arrive at the pier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raja Ferry | Child fare of 100 THB for children over 100 cm and up to 120 cm, sold only at the pier | See your ticket | See your ticket |
| Seatran Ferry | Under 100 cm free; 100 to 150 cm half fare, sold only at the pier | See your ticket | See your ticket |
| Lomprayah, Donsak to Nathon | Under 2 free; child fare 225 THB | 20 kg, then 200 THB extra; small bags free | 60 minutes before |
| Lomprayah, Bangkok to Maenam | Under 2 free; child fare 725 THB | 20 kg, then 200 THB extra; small bags free | 60 minutes before |
| Krung Siam Tour bus plus ferry | No child fare is listed when booking | Up to 3 pieces on VIP 24, up to 2 on VIP 32 | 30 minutes before the bus |
Find a Room Near Your Pier
Move the map to the part of Koh Samui you want and set your dates to see current room prices.
For the main boat routes across Thailand in one place, see our Thailand ferries guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to fly to Surat Thani than direct to Koh Samui?
It depends on the date. Bangkok Airways lists direct fares to Samui from 2,250 THB from Pattaya to 2,930 THB from Chiang Mai, so compare them with a flight to Surat Thani plus the road and ferry legs for your dates.
How long does the ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui take?
Around 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the operator, Lomprayah’s high-speed catamaran is the fastest at 45 minutes, while Raja Ferry and Seatran Ferry both take about 90 minutes.
How much does the ferry from Donsak to Koh Samui cost?
A walk-on adult ticket costs about 220 THB on Raja Ferry and Seatran Ferry, and 450 THB on the Lomprayah catamaran.
Do I need to book the ferry in advance?
It’s not usually essential outside of major holidays, since there are more than 30 combined daily departures, but booking a combined transfer-plus-ferry ticket in advance removes the hassle of arranging the Donsak Pier transfer yourself. Raja’s 04:00 and 05:00 sailings can only be bought at its pier.
Can I get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao directly?
Yes, Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery and Songserm all run frequent direct interisland ferries that don’t require going back through the mainland.