How to Get To Koh Samui: Don’t Care How You Get There, Just Get There If You Can
Why wouldn’t you wonder how to get to Koh Samui? With white sand beaches, warm tropical water and a lush jungle interior, it’s no wonder that people to flock to Koh Samui for some downtime in paradise. But Koh means ‘island’ in Thai and this water-locked jewel is located some way off the coast of the mainland in the Gulf of Thailand. All this means that you have to put in a bit of effort to get there, but trust us it’s worth it!
There are a few different options for how to get to Koh Samui and some of them are more budget-friendly than others, so we’ve put together this guide to help you on your way. Planning your trip to Bodega Koh Samui only takes a few minutes, so read along!
Getting to Koh Samui By Air (Expensive Flight)
The least wallet-friendly but quickest of the options is to jump on a plane and fly direct. There are dozens of flights a day, and if cost isn’t your biggest concern then you can choose a nice midday timeslot, arrive in the afternoon and be having a beer on the beach at sunset! If you’re not starting from Bangkok then don’t worry, there are direct flights from other Thai hubs like Phuket and Pattaya. At around $125 each way from Bangkok this is the luxury way to go.
Flying to Surat Thani then Taking the Ferry to Koh Samui
If the direct prices are going to eat into your jager budget a bit too much, then how about grabbing a cheaper flight to Surat Thani on the mainland and then hopping across the water on a ferry? Yes, it’s more hassle and the airport – bus – ferry combo will probably add about 3 hours to your journey time, but with flights from Bangkok to Surat Thani starting from $25 with the likes of Air Asia and Lion Air it’s a much more feasible option for most of us.
Taking the Overnight Train from Bangkok then Ferry to Koh Samui
If you want your journey to be more of an adventure then considering throwing a train journey into the mix. Hands-down the best method of long-distance transport, trains are a great way to see the countryside and meet local people and if you choose a sleeper train then you’ll save on a night’s accommodation too. Sleeper berths with fan start from $16 if you buy your ticket at the station and there are buses at the other end to transfer you to the ferry port.
If you’re staying at Bodega Bangkok, you can chat with reception to book your train! We got you!
Taking the Bus from Bangkok then Ferry to Koh Samui
Now we’re moving down to the cheapest, but arguably least agreeable way to get to Koh Samui. Sleeper buses leave Bangkok for Surat Thani constantly (every 15 minutes at peak times) so there’s no need to book, just turn up and head to the window of the most reputable-looking company with a service leaving soon. Seats start from $14 if you’re not too fussed about niceties like leg room or entertainment, and once again there’s a shuttle service at the other end to get you to the ferry.
Just like we mentioned above with booking trains to Koh Samui, we can do the same with buses at Bodega Bangkok. Our reception is super knowledgeable on traveling Thailand and will sort you out no problem!
Here’s what you need to know about the ferry to Koh Samui:
With so many of these options relying on the final ferry crossing we’d better take a look at that too! Ferries don’t leave from the center of Surat Thani, instead you have to head to Don Sak pier to pick up your boat. Lomprayah operates high speed catamaran boats at a higher cost ($45) whereas Sea Trans runs normal services starting from a much more reasonable $7, including the transfer from town. All companies offer a ‘free’ bus transfer from Surat Thani to Don Sak, and the combined journey takes about 4 hours.
Get yourself to Koh Samui!
So there you have it! A ton of great ways to get to Koh Samui to suit all budgets, and no excuse not to go. Whether it be by trains, planes or automobiles, the destination is worth the trip!
