Getting to Samui and Tao in Koh Samui and Koh Tao
Part of the Koh Samui and Koh Tao travel guide — see every topic in All Koh Samui and Koh Tao Guides.
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are in the Gulf of Thailand, off the east coast of southern Thailand. Only Samui has an airport. To reach the other islands, you take a boat. You can fly straight to Samui, or fly or take a train or bus to the mainland and then take a ferry. This guide explains the main routes, so you can choose between speed and cost.
Flying to Samui
Samui airport is a small, open-air airport on the north-east of the island. It was built and is owned by Bangkok Airways. Because of this, very few airlines fly there, and fares can be high. Bangkok Airways runs most of the flights, with many each day from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. It also flies to Samui from a few other Thai cities, such as Phuket and Krabi, though some of these routes stop in the low season. Thai Airways sells seats on some of these flights under its own flight numbers. Scoot flies from Singapore. Book early in the busy months, because flights fill up.
Flying to the mainland and ferry
A cheaper choice is to fly to Surat Thani or Chumphon on the mainland. Many low-cost flights go there from Bangkok. Ferry companies sell joint tickets that include a bus from the airport to the pier and the boat to the islands. From Surat Thani, buses go to Donsak pier, about an hour or more away. From Chumphon, boats leave from Thung Makham Noi pier. This route takes longer than a direct flight to Samui, often most of a day in total. But it can save a lot of money, especially for families.
Lomprayah and Seatran
Two big companies run most of the fast boats. Lomprayah uses high-speed catamarans. It links Chumphon, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Samui, and also runs boats from Donsak. On Samui, its main pier is in Mae Nam on the north coast. From Chumphon to Koh Tao takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. Seatran runs fast boats from Bangrak pier on Samui to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and car ferries from Donsak to Nathon on Samui. The car ferry takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Times change with the season and the weather, so check the timetable before you go.
Island hopping
Boats link the three islands several times a day. From Samui to Koh Phangan is the shortest hop. From Samui to Koh Tao, fast boats take about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours, with a stop at Koh Phangan. Some smaller boats also link Samui and Haad Rin on Koh Phangan. The sea can be rough, especially from about October to December. On rough days boats may be late or cancelled. If you get seasick, sit low and near the middle of the boat, or on the open deck.
By train or bus from Bangkok
You can also travel overland from Bangkok. Night trains run south to Surat Thani and Chumphon. Sleeper berths are comfortable and popular, so book early. At the station, buses take you to the pier. Lomprayah and other companies also sell bus and boat tickets from Bangkok to the islands. These buses usually leave in the evening and the boat arrives the next day. Overland travel is the cheapest way, but it is long. It is a good choice if you have time and want to see more of the country.
Getting to Samui and Tao at a glance
| Getting there | Fly to Samui, or fly, train or bus to Surat Thani or Chumphon, then ferry |
|---|---|
| Main airline | Bangkok Airways from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi; Scoot from Singapore |
| Ferries | Lomprayah and Seatran fast boats; car ferries from Donsak to Nathon |
| Cost | Direct flights cost most; joint bus and boat tickets cost least |
| Best time | About January to September; rough seas about October to December |