How to get to Koh Samui
Samui is an island, so you can’t get there by land, only by air or water. It is located in the Gulf of Thailand on the east side of the mainland. Tourist traffic on Samui is very large, so there are many ways to get to the island. In this article I will tell you how to get to Samui in different ways and how to get there cheaply.
All options to get to Koh Samui:
- Plane.
- Plane + ferry.
- Bus + ferry.
- Train + ferry.
- Transfer.
Which option is more convenient and profitable depends on the original starting point of the journey. Most often, travelers first arrive in Bangkok and choose a way to get from there to Samui. So now I will describe in detail all the listed options.
How to get from Bangkok to Samui
Samui island is 600 km in a straight line south of Bangkok. The road trip is 784 kilometers.
There are a variety of ways to get to the island.
Direct plane
Samui has its own airport with regular flights from Bangkok. The flight is only an hour, so this is the easiest and fastest way to get to this place.
Interestingly, Koh Samui Airport is one of the top 10 best airports in the world. It really is very beautiful there, many people remain delighted with it.
In terms of price a ticket Bangkok-Samui will cost about $ 100 (3500 baht). Carried by Bangkok Airways or Thai Airways. And there are no low-cost airlines, so you can hardly get cheaper. Although the regular airlines sometimes have discounts and sales, so if you want you can get a cheaper ticket if you periodically monitor the websites of airlines Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways.
If you know exactly how much time you’ll spend in Thailand, it’s better to buy round-trip tickets at once. This is usually cheaper than buying a return ticket already in Thailand.
You can take a cab from the airport to the hotel you want for a price starting at $10-15. It is cheaper if you walk out of the building and catch a cab. At and around the airport the service may be more expensive.
Plane + ferry
The bulk of budget travelers arrive on the island by ferry. Tourists first arrive in Surat Thani by plane, bus or train, then take a special bus to the ferry. The bus to Dongsak Pier goes directly from the airport.
To get quickly and comfortably, but also save money, you can combine a budget plane from Bangkok to Surat Thani, a bus to the ferry and the ferry itself. Air Asia, the famous Asian low-cost airline, flies to Surat Thani. You can find very inexpensive flights throughout Asia on this airline’s website. We often fly Air Asia, they won’t feed you for free, but the tickets are inexpensive.
For example, the Bangkok-Samui route currently costs $40 (1,500 baht). It’s more convenient to buy one combined ticket, which includes the cost of the flight, bus and ferry.
Bus + Ferry
When you buy a bus ticket in Bangkok from a travel agency or at the train station, you immediately get a bus ticket to Surat Thani, a bus ticket to Donsak Pier and a ferry ticket. Remarkably, you will be taken to all these points, so you will not have any adventures and problems.
The price of such a ticket will be about 30-40 dollars (1000-1400 baht). It takes about 12 hours to reach Samui by bus from Bangkok + ferry. This is the way we usually get to the island.
Thai buses on these routes are large and comfortable. The air conditioning works, and the bags and backpacks you put in the lower luggage compartment. So be sure to take a warm sweatshirt and maybe even socks for chilly people like me. However, the bus gives out warm plaids, but they still need to manage to wrap so that it does not slip off in his sleep.
Also in the bus gives everyone a bottle of water, include a movie in English, chairs are reclining, so you can sleep. But, frankly, the whole night you lie down all over your sides and other places. I have not met the Sleeper bus (Sleeper bus), which go to Samui. But if they are, they are much more comfortable. Instead of a seat for each passenger there is almost a full lie down bed.
Train + ferry
There are trains from Bangkok to Surat Thani. The ticket should indicate Phu Phin station. The trip takes about 10-11 hours. I did not take the Thai trains myself, buses are more popular here. The price of the train varies a lot depending on the class. There are air conditioned comfortable cars, and there are cars with seats like electric trains. It may be cheap (250 baht or $7), but the journey of 11 hours is a dubious pleasure. The price for a complex ticket train + bus + ferry in a first class compartment for two people with air conditioning costs $ 55 (1800 baht).
Once you get to Surat Thani, right next to the train station you will find a few companies that will sell bus and ferry tickets to Samui. But it is easier to buy a complete train + bus + ferry ticket to Koh Samui in Bangkok, so you do not have to worry if you can catch the ferry.
The disadvantage of this method is that the trains in Thailand are often late.
The website of the railway company Thailand will help you decide on the time of departure.
Ferry
Since it is more convenient and profitable to take a complex ticket bus / plane / train + ferry, the ticket prices for the ferry itself, the technology of purchasing tickets, as well as the schedule you do not need to know. The pier from which most ferries depart from Samui is called Donsak.
About the ferry itself you can say that it is a great way to enjoy a boat trip. The views are beautiful, the approaching Koh Samui is a sweet anticipation and the pictures are great.
The ferry has an air-conditioned lounge with comfortable chairs, as well as plenty of benches and outdoor seating. If it’s not crowded, you can even stretch out on the cushioned seats and sleep it off if you couldn’t in the bus. There are restrooms and a small store where you can buy a snack or a drink. The ferry to Samui takes about 1.5 hours.
From the ferry to anywhere you want to go on Koh Samui, you can take a cab or a sonnteo (tuk-tuk) for a price starting at $ 5.
Bangkok-Samui transfers
Of course if you have money and don’t want to deal with all these tickets you can order a car directly to Koh Samui. They will pick up from where you need and bring it to the right hotel.
You can book a transfer on this site.
Summary
The cheapest options to get from Bangkok to Samui are bus, train 2 or 3 class with seating. These are not going to be very comfortable options, considering that it’s a 12-13 hour drive. So I choose the bus + ferry method for $30 (1000-1100 baht) as the best price and comfort.
How to get to Koh Samui from Moscow
One cannot get to Koh Samui from Moscow directly, there are always interchanges. On the ticket search engines (aviasales, momondo, skyscanner) one can find the cheapest option for the necessary dates. It’s best to fly with one connection in Bangkok or Phuket. But there are connection routes with a connection, for example, in Abu Dhabi. If you buy a Moscow-Samui ticket at these sites, you get tickets for all flights at once.
How to get cheap
To get cheap to Samui, you can look for a ticket to Bangkok, trying to catch a burning ticket or a special offer.
From Bangkok you can take a bus and then take a ferry using the methods described above.
How to get from Surat Thani to Samui
Surat Thani is the closest major city to Samui on mainland Thailand. It’s about 60 kilometers from Surat Thani to Donsak Pier.
If flying/driving from Bangkok or other place to Samui, it is more convenient to buy a complex ticket which already includes a bus ticket from Surat Thani to Samui. But if for some reason you find yourself in Surat Thani and you need to Samui, you can buy a bus ticket to the ferry and a ticket to the ferry itself. Such a package can be purchased near the train station, airport and travel agencies in the city. It will cost about $ 8.5 (300 baht).
How to get from Pattaya to Samui
Pattaya is a resort town located 150 kilometers south of Bangkok.
The distance by land between Pattaya and Samui is 917 kilometers.
Plane
Bangkok Airways flies from Pattaya to Samui once a day.
The ticket price is approximately $114 (4,000 baht). The trip will take 1 hour 15 minutes.
Bus + Ferry
The bus trip from Pattaya to Koh Samui takes about 13 hours. The ticket price is 21-31 dollars (from 750 to 1100 baht) depending on the class of the bus. Ticket for the ferry is again included.
How to get from Phuket to Samui
Phuket and Samui are the largest and most popular islands in Thailand, so many people want to visit both. Phuket and Samui are almost opposite each other on opposite sides of the mainland. The distance between them is about 300 kilometers. You can get from Phuket to Samui by the following ways.
Direct plane
The easiest and fastest way. Flies the company Bangkok Airways, the ticket price is about $ 90 (3100 baht). Flights every day, travel time 1 hour. The website of the airline will help you plan your trip.
Bus + Ferry
A Phuket-Samui bus ticket includes a ferry ticket and costs $13 (450 baht). The trip takes about 6 hours in total. Buses leave from Bus Termianal in Phuket twice a day.
Phuket-Surat Thani buses run much more frequently and the ticket costs about $6 (200 baht), but upon arrival in Surat Thani you will need to buy a bus+ferry ticket to Samui, which costs about $8.5 (300 baht)
Bus + Boat from Lomprayah
Lomprayah provides transfers from Phuket to Samui and back. This is a faster option, as a speedboat will take you from the pier to Samui, not the ferry. The cost will be 21 dollars (750 baht).
Transfer
Phuket-Samui transfers can be booked online. The price for 4 people is now about $440.
You can also negotiate with cab drivers on the spot. The price will be about $113-170 (4000-6000 baht), here you will need to haggle.
How to get to Koh Samui from Krabi
Krabi is a whole province in southern Thailand.
It is located not far from Phuket.
Plane
You can fly from Krabi to Koh Samui with the same Bangkok Airways airline. Direct flight takes 50 minutes, ticket price from $ 85 (from 3000 baht).
Bus + Ferry
This company provides transportation from Krabi to Koh Samui. The ticket is complex, so bus to Surat Thani, bus to the pier and ferry. The price of $ 13 (450 baht).
Bus + ferry from Lomprayah
As with Phuket, you can also get from Krabi faster with this company. Ticket price $ 17 (600 baht), but the travel time 3.5 hours versus 7 hours by regular bus and ferry.
Transfer
You can also book a transfer on this website or arrange a ride with cab drivers on the spot.
The price for the whole car from $ 85 (from 3000 baht).
Lastly
There are many ways to get to Koh Samui, everyone has his own convenient way. Choose according to your budget, preferences, and individual conditions.
How to fly to Koh Samui on the cheap?
Thailand
How to get to Koh Samui cheaply by plane? Find the best deals from airlines and the best flight options that will not only save you money, but also time.
Koh Samui with its pristine beaches, clear water in the ocean and not many people has long been recognized by Russian tourists as the best resort for a beach holiday. That is why, the question on the minds of all those planning a vacation on this island. The answer to this and many other questions about the island, you will find in this article.
Direct flight or with a connection?
Many people are trying to find direct flights to Samui, but so far, unfortunately, there are none. This is due to the fact that the only airport on the island accepts flights from only a few companies: local – “Thai Airways” and “Bangkok Airways”, the Chinese – “China Southern Airlines”, the airline of Malaysia – “Firefly Airlines”, Singapore – “Silk Air”. So be prepared for at least one connection.
To find a good deal, you need to look for flights not only on the Moscow-Thailand route, but also with connections in neighboring countries. You can choose and independently join each of the flights, or you can trust one of the services like Aviasales, which will do it for you without extra fees and intermediaries.
If you decide to compose your own flight itinerary, don’t forget to include time differences, changes of airports, baggage claim, and to allow plenty of time between flights, so that in case of flight delays you may have time to check in for the next one.
How do I fly to Koh Samui?
As you already know, to get a cheap flight to Koh Samui you will need to look at more than one option. The most popular option is connecting in Bangkok.
If you buy a ticket to the final point, you can avoid a number of inconveniences: your luggage will be checked in immediately to the final point and you do not have to check it again in Bangkok, and if the first flight is delayed, the carrier itself will solve problems with delivery to your final destination. This option to get to Koh Samui from Moscow by Aeroflot or Thai airlines will save you from the stress of a delayed flight.
Flight from Bangkok to Samui
The easiest way to fly with a connection in Bangkok was described above, but if for some reason you can not use the services offered by the above airlines, this guide on how to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok is for you.
- First you need to buy a ticket to Bangkok.
- Then you need to buy a ticket from Bangkok to Samui on the official website of Bangkok Airways
Of course, you can also buy a ticket upon arrival in Bangkok, but keep in mind that the price may increase several times, and there may be no tickets. So the best solution is to buy a ticket well in advance, but not before you buy a ticket to Bangkok.
Flights to Samui fly every hour, but keep in mind that during high season they are all full. The main disadvantage of such a flight is the possibility of missing the flight to Koh Samui because of the delay of the first flight. In this case, you are likely to lose money for the missed flight and you will have to look for how to get to Samui from Bangkok cheap. If this happens, you can try to buy a ticket for the next flight. In case there are no tickets available, you can:
- Book a hotel, close to the airport and try to fly the next day;
- Go to another airport – Don Muang and from there to Samui. However, it is not that easy: planes don’t fly to Koh Samui; they land about 100 kilometers away from the island. From there you can get to the island by ferry. Airlines usually offer a single ticket, which includes the cost of the ferry.
- Buy a ticket for the bus and ferry. This is also a single ticket, which can be purchased on a street in Bangkok or at a bus station. The travel time will take about 13 hours.
- Buy a train ticket to Chumphon Station and from there take a catamaran to the island. About all ways, prices and routes read a separate article.
Flight from Moscow
To fly to Koh Samui from Moscow there are several ways: with one or more change. We discussed flight with one connection above, so let’s consider a multi-bus transfer flight.
A service like Avisales.ru offers a large number of options with multiple connections. For example, with a connection in the United Arab Emirates or Qatar. Not always having a large number of connections guarantees a low ticket price. Most often, the price is the same or slightly lower. However, very often the large airlines hold special sales and you can buy tickets to Samui at a reduced price.
Here all the same advantages as when buying a single ticket to Koh Samui with one connection: the airline will take care of the problems caused by delays on one of the flights, and the luggage will be issued to the final destination.
Moscow-Phuket-Samui flight
One can also fly to Koh Samui via Phuket. It is much closer to the island than Bangkok, though the flight time from Phuket to Samui is not much affected: the difference is only 10 minutes. Aeroflot airline flies directly from Moscow to Phuket. Other carriers offer connecting flights to Phuket. And then as well as from Bangkok you will need to buy a ticket for a flight with “Bangkok Airways”.
We wish you a pleasant and comfortable flight!
How to find an inexpensive hotel?
Book a hotel in Samui on your own with the help of the popular service Booking.com, which directly and without intermediaries offers travelers some of the best deals. You only need to choose the dates of the flight, indicate the number of tourists and choose the appropriate option in terms of cost and services.
Housing market on Koh Samui is very extensive and offers a variety of accommodation options from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. By the way, Thailand is famous for its affordable accommodation prices. For example, a night in a small guest house Little Austria Tams Guesthouse will cost only 263 rubles, however to the beach will have to walk about 12 minutes, but if you are not confused, then this option will be fine.
A night in the hotel Asian Secret Resort 4 *, located just 900 meters from the beach will cost 2806 rubles for two.
In short, the site you can find the accommodation that suits you in terms of price, quality and location.
- Be sure to study the material about the cost of recreation on Koh Samui. Here we review all the prices from food to transportation.
How to save money on your trip? Working tipsters!
- We recommend searching for the best hotel prices on ROOMGURU . The search engine searches among all the hotel databases on the internet, even from giants like Booking, and compares prices. If you like to use your smartphone, the Lodging Search app is a must. It’s very convenient to open your options upon arrival and book immediately.
- Advantageous to insure your health and life while traveling will help service TRIPINSURANCE, the search engine shows the results of all major insurance companies. You need to choose only the most favourable option, but we advise you not to save on your health!
- Airfare? We advise you to use AVIASALES, it is still the no.1 search engine among independent travelers.
My name is Sergei, and I work as a guide in various cities in Europe, Asia, eastern Russia, also work as a manager in a large travel agency. During my travels I experienced a lot of emotions, learned useful information about rest and prices, saw unique places which I hurry to share on the pages of my blog about tourism.
