Speed Boat Services: Getting Around Koh Samui

Author: johnsteffen | Posted: 29.12.2011

Koh Samui lies 700 kilometers south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand plus 50 kilometers from the Gulf's western shore city of Surat Thani. Daily flights are the most suitable way to arrive on the island. For the more budget conscious, trains, buses and Ferry Samui are available. Independent car or motorcycle drivers can use one of numerous car ferries.

By Air

Koh Samui's small open airport welcomes both domestic travelers and international arrivals from Singapore, Hong Kong also Kuala Lumpur.

Domestic Flights

Hourly flights depart Bangkok's Suvunarbhumi International Airport for Koh Samui between 6am also 9pm daily. Bangkok Airways offers flights just about hourly and Thai airways offers two to three flights a day. Prices range between 2200 and 3500 baht on Bangkok Airways moreover can rise as high as 7400 baht on Thai Airways. Flight time is just about 1.15 hours.

For travelers with both time and price constraints, Air Asia's inexpensive flights (600 baht to 900 baht) from Bangkok (Suvunarbhumi) Airport to Surat Thani make an eye-catching choice.

International Flights

Bangkok Airways flies direct flights from Hong Kong (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), Kuala Lumpur (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) as well as Singapore (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday).

By Train and Ferry

Train and ferry tickets can be purchased independently. This option requires travelers to find local transport from the train station to the pier and then buy Ferry Samui tickets. To avoid long delays, check Ferry Samui schedules ahead of time. Booking trains from Bangkok to Surat Thani online can be tricky with credit card plus handling fees tacked on to ticket costs. Do-it-yourself travelers as well run the risk of having to wait for a boat to Koh Samui or overpaying for local transport to the pier.

Purchasing a combination train/shuttle/ferry ticket from one of the hundreds of travel agencies scattered around Bangkok is far easier and more suitable than arranging each stage of the travel separately. Two trains leave Bangkok's Hualamphong station daily taking around 8 hours to reach Surat Thani. With combination tickets, ticket holders are met plus shuttled to the ferry then which takes 1.5 hours to reach Koh Samui. Prices range from just over 1000 baht to around 1700 depending on the class of train seat selected for the trip.

By Bus (or coach) and Ferry

For budget-minded travelers, bus moreover Ferry Samui travel, Speed Boat Services are the way to go. Air-conditioned overnight buses leave Bangkok's southern bus terminal every day. Scheduled departures are late afternoon plus early evening. Buses are ferried to Koh Samui, upon arrival in Surat Thani Province. Bus fares are between 300 and 400 baht depending on the class of service you choose for and travel time is approximately 14 hours.

Private companies run coaches with pick-up in numerous locations around Bangkok. These usually allow travelers to purchase a combined coach/express boat tickets from local travel agents. Travel by bus and high Speed Boat Services or catamaran to Samui is approximately 13 hours. Prices range from 350 to 650 baht depending on class of service plus include express boat tickets.

All air-conditioned overnight buses and coaches stop along the way for food and toilet breaks. Daily buses also run from Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi.

By boat

Speed Boat Services to Koh Samui runs from nearby Koh Tao and mainland ports in Chumphon and Surat Thani. Regular ferry service and smaller boat services are as well available. Long-tail boat service runs scheduled trips to and from Koh Phangan.

By car or motorcycle

Ferry service runs each hour from 06:00 to 18:00 from both Donsak Pier about 1.5 hours east of Surat Thani and Samui Ferry Pier. Ferry time is around 1.5 hours.



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