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How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samui (4 Best Options)

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How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samui (4 Best Options)

For getting from Bangkok to Koh Samui there are several fantastic options to choose. The popular holiday island is located in the Gulf of Thailand and, therefore, you have to travel a distance of around 770 kilometers. The fastest and probably the best way, which only takes 70 minutes, is by taking a plane to Koh Samui. But there are also alternative ways to get there, such as by bus or train, and then continue to the island by ferry. By land, the journey can take 15 hours, but is still often the cheapest option on how to get to Koh Samui. But what is actually the best way to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok, and what are the best tips for the transfer to the popular vacation island?

In this travel guide, we will show you all the important information on how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui. In addition, there are useful tips about transport, duration, prices, timetables and where to stay in Koh Samui. Here are the 4 best ways to travel easy to Koh Samui from Bangkok, summarized at a glance:

Maenam Beach

 

From Bangkok to Koh Samui by Flight

Option 1 – Fly direct to Koh Samui

The easiest and, with only 70 minutes flight time, the fastest way from Bangkok to Koh Samui is definitely via a direct flight. Currently, only Bangkok Airlines lands on Koh Samui, which offers nine flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui daily. The first flight departs in the morning at 6:00 a.m. from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport, and the last plane to Koh Samui leaves there at 8:30 p.m. Since the Bangkok Airlines is the only airline that connects the island with Thailand’s capital, the ticket prices are accordingly more expensive and should therefore be booked as early as possible.

Tip: The best way to find cheap flights to Koh Samui is online. We had good experiences with finding domestic flights on flight portals such as 12go.Asia.

Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes | Price: 100–300 Euros

Option 2 – Fly to Surat Thani + Bus + Ferry

Another travel option on how to get to Koh Samui would be to fly from Bangkok to Surat Thani, which is located on the mainland. In this case, the domestic flight is relatively cheap if you book it early enough. Around 23 flights are currently operating daily, including flights with Air Asia, Lion Air, Thai Airways, Smile and Nok Air. The journey from Surat Thani to the ferry port Donsak after the flight takes around 1.5 hours. After another 1.5 hours on the boat or the ferry, you will arrive at the island of Koh Samui. This option is cheaper compared to the direct flight to Koh Samui, but in this case, you have to expect a travel time of at least 5–6 hours.

Tip: On 12Go.Asia you will find fantastic travel packages that include flight + bus + ferry.

Duration: 5–6 hours | Price: starting from 70 Euros for a combination ticket

From Bangkok to Koh Samui

From Bangkok to Koh Samui by Train

For those who prefer to stay on the ground, a train ride to the south of Thailand is highly recommended and a fantastic experience. Of course, you cannot get to Koh Samui by train, but you can still get to Surat Thani, the next big city on the mainland just before the island. It is best to take the night train from Bangkok Bang Sue Central Station to Surat Thani. Then continue by bus to the ferry port and by ferry to Koh Samui. Traveling by train is inexpensive and, certainly, one of the most convenient ways on how to get to Koh Samui. Tickets with seat reservations should be organized in advance.

Tip: You can easily book packages with train tickets (seat reservations) + bus & ferry on 12Go.Asia.

Duration: train 12 hours + 3 hours for bus & ferry | Prices for the combined ticket:  from 44 Euros

Train: From Bangkok to Koh Samui

From Bangkok to Koh Samui by Bus

Probably the cheapest option to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui is by night bus. Here you will also get last-minute tickets because buses from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal are operating on a very regular basis. The bus will bring you directly to the ferry port Pier Donsak and from there you will have to take the ferry to the island. The journey by bus from Bangkok to Koh Samui usually takes place at night, in the morning you can take the boat to the island.

Tip: The combi tickets, which include bus + ferry, can be found here.

Duration: 12 hours bus + ferry 1.5 hours | Price: starting from 25, –

From Bangkok to Koh Samui – Bus

How to Book your Ticket

As already mentioned, you better organize the airline tickets and train tickets from Bangkok to Koh Samui early enough. In high season and holiday season, night trains are often fully booked, and in our experience, flight tickets tend to become rather more expensive than cheaper over time.

If neither is an option for you, you can also use the bus transfer to Koh Samui. Here you should definitely compare reviews, check safety regulations and only choose renowned transport companies.

There is a wide range of transportation options and combination tickets on the online platform 12Go.Asia.

Powered by 12Go system

 

Best Things to Do in Koh Samui

The popular island of Koh Samui is probably one of the most famous vacation spots in Thailand. That’s not without reason, because the island offers really amazing places to visit. The island captivates its tourists with breathtaking dream beaches, great attractions, beautiful temples and plenty of opportunities for exciting excursions and activities. You will find more about this topic here:

Coral Cove Beach
Koh Samui
Overlap Stone

 

Where to Stay on Koh Samui

The most popular places to stay on Koh Samui are definitely Chaweng Beach, Lamai Beach, Bobhut or Maenam Beach. No matter if you are a luxury traveler, an individual traveler or a backpacker – the choice of resorts, hostels and hotels on Koh Samui is huge. Here are our recommendations for lovely places to stay on the island…It’s worth a look!

  • Chaweng Beach: The SALA Samui Chaweng Beach delights with a lovely pool and location right on the best beach section of Chaweng.
  • Lamai Beach: The Rocky’s Boutique Resort is a beautiful boutique hotel on Lamai Beach. The whole area is a little paradise and also the pool is really nice.
  • Maenam Beach: The COAST Adults Only Resort and Spa is one of the absolute best hotels on the island. They have a really great XXL pool and really beautiful rooms.
  • Bobhut Beach: The Smile House is especially recommended! It impresses with wonderful bungalows and a beautiful pool area.
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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. Meaning that if you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

 

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