author of the article
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui cheaply?
There are several ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui island: by plane, train (with a change to a shared transfer and a ferry), bus with a change to a catamaran. The flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui take 1 hour 5 minutes, the ticket cost starts from $125. The train Bangkok Koh Samui will take you to the train station in Surat Thani in 10 hours 50 minutes, and from there you will have to get to Donsak Pier by shared transfer (2 hours), and then – to Koh Samui by ferry (its travel time is 1.5 hours). The train ticket cost is from $13, and it also includes the trip by shared transfer and ferry. You can also buy a complex ticket by Lomprayah company and get to Chumphon by bus (7 hours 10 minutes), and from there to Koh Samui by catamaran (3.5 hours). This complex ticket will cost $40. The trip by car will take 12 hours, the cost of a car for 4 passengers is from $420. The distance from Bangkok to Koh Samui is about 600 km.
When planning a trip by any type of land transport, note that both the bus Bangkok Koh Samui and the train Bangkok Koh Samui have strong air conditioning, so don’t forget to take warm clothes. Also, keep in mind that trains from Bangkok to Koh Samui are usually late. Except for a private transfert Bangkok Koh Samui (a pre-booked taxi), there is also a bus running at nighttime. It is better to buy tickets for all forms of transport Bangkok Koh Samui in advance – you can do that online or at ticket offices.
Order a transfer from Samui Airport
Koh Samui island – beach Mecca
Most tourists come to Koh Samui for beach rest. There are all conditions needed for that: this place is clean and inexpensive, and the water is crystal. There are also various activities for active tourists: diving, surfing, etc. If you don’t want to spend the whole day lying on the beach, you can visit one of the parties or shows which are regularly organized for tourists. Also, there are a lot of different sights in Koh Samui, but they are mainly temples (Wat Khun Aram, Wat Plai Laem, the statue of Big Buddha, etc.). Travellers should visit waterfalls Namuang, Hin Lad, and Tarnim which is in Secret Buddha Garden.
Flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui
$125
up to 7.5 h
1 h 05 min
Couple
The direct flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui are operated by Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways carriers. The flight time is 1 hour 5 minutes, the ticket cost is from $125 to $195. Planes depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and operate from 6 a.m. until late in the evening, there are no overnight flights. There are also some low-cost airlines such as Air Asia, Nokair, Thai Lion Air – a seat on these planes will cost $50. However, planes won’t take you to the island: you will arrive at Surat Thani Airport, and from there you’ll have to get to Koh Samui by bus and ferry.
Bangkok-Koh Samui flight:
Direct Bangkok Airways/Thai International Airways flight (flights from Don Mueang to Surat Thani by low-cost carriers AirAsia and NokAir)
Timetable:
From 06:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m.
Route:
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (Don Mueang Airport for low-cost airlines) – Koh Samui Airport
Travel time:
From 1h 5min
Waiting time:
In the morning/evening – from 2h to 7.5h, in the afternoon – from 15min between flights
Comfort level:
Medium: clean roomy cabin, comfortable high seats, latest newspapers
Low (for low-cost airlines)
Cost:
From $48 ($40 – plane, $8 – taxi to the beach)
Clients:
Wealthy tourists, businessmen, aged tourists, those who are in a hurry
How to get from Koh Samui Airport to your hotel:
You can get to your hotel by taxi or shared transfer to the statue of Big Buddha.
Bus Bangkok — Koh Samui
$40
from 16 h
≈13 h
Ind.tourist
There is also another way to get to the island – by using the services of Lomprayah carrier. You can book a ticket for the bus Bangkok Koh Samui through the official company’s website on the Internet or at the bus station ticket office. The complex ticket costs $40 and includes the trip by bus to Chumphon (7 hours 10 minutes) and the trip from there to the island by catamaran. The bus departs from Southern Bus Terminal, and there are some night-time journeys. The bus Bangkok Koh Samui is equipped with all conveniences, but don’t forget about strong air-conditioning.
In Chumphon, you need to change to a high-speed Lomprayah catamaran which will take you to the island in 3.5 hours. It departs twice a day: early in the morning and late in the evening. Please note that you might get seasick during this time, so take some special medicine with you, especially if you are travelling with children.
Bangkok to Koh Samui bus:
Lomprayah bus with a change to a catamaran
Timetable for Bangkok to Koh Samui buses:
From 09:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Route:
Suvarnabhumi Airport – Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok – Chumphon – Koh Samui
Travel time:
13h 10min (7h 10 min – bus, 2h 30min – transport to Southern Bus Terminal, 3.5h – catamaran)
Waiting time:
From 16h (1h – bus, 15h – catamaran)
Comfort level:
High: soft seats, roomy cabin, air-conditioning, plenty of room for luggage, WC, water, free snacks, blankets
Ticket cost for the Bangkok to Koh Samui bus:
$40.2 ($40 – bus, $0.2 – public transport to the bus station)
Clients:
Couples with children of 6 years and upwards, young tourists, those who want to save money, tourists who have been to Bangkok before and are not afraid to get lost
How to find the Bangkok to Koh Samui bus stop:
You can get from Bangkok Airport to Southern Bus Terminal by bus №556 or by taxi.
Train Bangkok — Koh Samui
$14-40
from 3 h
≈15 h
Ind.tourist
The train Bangkok Koh Samui departs from Hua Lamphong railway station. The train travel time is from 10 hours 50 minutes (depending on the train number), the ticket cost is $13-39. Trains are not available at night, but they are frequent at daytime. In Thailand, trains are usually late. Almost all seats on a train are air-conditioned, so it is better to have warm clothes with you.
The train Bangkok Koh Samui will take you to Surat Thani train station, and there you will need to take a shared transfer (a minibus) to one of the piers in Donsak – Raja Ferry or Seatran Ferry, depending on which train you took to get to Surat Thani. It is easier to show your ticket to the conductor when exiting a train – he will show you the right direction. The duration of the trip to the pier is 2 hours, the journey by transfer is included in the train ticket cost. As trains, minibuses have strong air-conditioning, so take some warm clothes.
The last step of the journey with changes from Bangkok to Koh Samui is travelling by ferry Raja Ferry, the cost of this trip is also included in the train ticket cost (if you buy tickets for each form of transport separately, the ferry ticket will cost $4). The travel time is 1.5 hours, ferries are rather frequent – they operate during the whole day, and there are no night journeys.
Bangkok to Koh Samui train:
Train with changes to a shared transfer and a ferry to Koh Samui
Timetable:
From 08:05 a.m. to 10:50 p.m.
Route:
Suvarnabhumi Airport – Hua Lamphong railway station – Surat Thani train station – Raja Ferry Pier/Seatran Ferry Pier – Koh Samui
Travel time:
From 15h (1h – public transport to the railway station, 10h 50 min – train, 2h – bus, 1.5h – ferry)
Waiting time:
From 3h (from 1h – train, 1h – shared transfer, 1h – ferry)
Comfort level:
Medium: roomy cabin, air-conditioning, each shelf is separated by curtains
Cost:
$14-40 (from $1 – public transport, $13-39 – train)
Clients:
Those who prefer to save money, couples without children, travellers with hand luggage, young tourists
How to find the Bangkok to Koh Samui train platform:
The train departs from Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok.
Taxi and transfer in Koh Samui
$49
5 min
1h 10 min
Family
Having arrived in Samui, you want to quickly jump into the sea instead of looking for a free taxi or waiting for a scheduled bus. To avoid delays, book a transfer from Samui Airport in advance. The car will be waiting for you at the agreed time and will take you to your destination in an hour.
Timetable:
24/7
Route:
To your hotel in Koh Samui or given address
Travel time:
1 h 10 min
Waiting time:
Looking for a taxi can take a few minutes
Comfort level:
Taxi on the spot: fast travel without stops (or by your request) and other passengers
Cost:
From $49 for Economy class
Clients:
Large groups of people, families with children, those who have a lot of luggage or arrive at night, aged tourists, those who are in Thailand for the first time, tourists who don’t know the language and are afraid to get lost
How to find the taxistand at Samui Airport:
Taxis can be found at the taxistand opposite the exit from airport terminals building.
Car rental in Bangkok
from $23
from 1 day
from 1 year
To rent a car without a driver to get from Bangkok Airport to Koh Samui, you have to provide an IDL, a passport, a health insurance, and photocopies of the documents. There are lots of rental companies in Thailand, but as fraud is quite common, choose certified international firms. ThInsurance is included in the price of car rental per day. Cars are often broken into and stolen, so it’s better to purchase the insurance that covers carjackings. A deposit of $28 is charged. It’s possible to rent a car at Bangkok Airport, if you didn’t have time to do it in advance. Try to use secondary roads and drive carefully: in case of an accident the Thai police usually takes compatriot’s side.
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui?
There are a lot of options to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui – both direct and with changes. The journey cost depends on how long the trip will be, so everyone can find the most suitable form of transport Bangkok Koh Samui for them. We wish you a safe journey and a lot of unforgettable impressions!
Read also:
How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya?
How to get from Bangkok to Phuket?