Planning your trip from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?
Koh Samui is the largest island in the east coast of Thailand. Known for its gorgeous beaches, oceanfront resorts and lively nightlife scene, it is one of the most famous islands in Thailand.
Getting to Koh Samui from Surat Thani is straight forward. Koh Samui is located just 30 km from the mainland. There’s ferries crossing over about every hour with a travel duration of just 90 minutes or 45 minutes via the high speed catamaran.
The ferries depart from Donsak pier which is located outside of Surat Thani city. Joint tickets that include a transfer from the city, the train station or airport are a convenient and affordable way to reach Donsak followed by the ferry to Koh Samui.
Getting from Surat Thani to Koh Samui
Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang and Koh Lanta are where the majority of tourists are coming from and only pass through Surat Thani to hop on a ferry to Koh Samui or one of the nearby island Koh Phangan or Koh Tao.
If your route starts in one of the above destinations and you don’t plan spending any time in Surat Thani, it is a better option to purchase a joint ticket. These all-inclusive joint tickets conveniently combine a bus and ferry journey. The bus travels directly to the pier where the ferry is waiting. This means there is no additional costs or in-between transfers needed which would cost time and money.
Below are the popular routes which can be clicked to view more details ⤵
Phuket → Koh Samui (joint ticket)
Krabi → Koh Samui (joint ticket)
Ao Nang → Koh Samui (joint ticket)
Koh Lanta → Koh Samui (joint ticket)
Questions and answers
How long is the ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?
Most ferries from Surat Thani to Koh Samui complete the journey in 90 minutes. The Lomprayah high speed catamaran is the fastest with a travel time of 45 minutes.
How long is the seatran ferry from Koh Samui to Surat Thani?
The seatran ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui completes the journey in 90 minutes and departs from the company’s pier in Donsak.
Where does the ferry drop you off in Koh Samui?
There is 3 companies operating between Surat Thani and Koh Samui. The pier for Raja ferries is in Lipa Noi. Seatran docks at Na Thon pier. Both these pier are on the west coast of Koh Samui and about 40 minutes from popular areas like Chaweng, Lamai and Bo Phut. Lomprayah has ferries that dock in Maenam on north Koh Samui which is more convenient.
Surat Thani to Koh Samui Ferries
The ferries to Koh Samui from Surat Thani depart from one of the piers in Donsak which is about 1 hour drive outside the city.
There’s a frequent schedule of ferry departures approximately every hour. The first ferry is operated by Raja ferries and departs at 5:00 am with a travel time of 90 minutes. The last ferry is at 7:00 pm and also offered by Raja ferries. View ferries and schedules.
How to get to the piers in Donsak
There is no buses that go to Donsak pier. The best way to travel from Surat Thani to Donsak is by taxi. While you’ll find metered taxi in Surat Thani, drivers often don’t turn on the meter. Therefore you’ll need to negotiate a reasonable price which should be around THB700. GRAB online taxi isn’t that popular in Surat Thani.
If you book online there is also the option to purchase tickets that include a bus transfer from Surat Thani city, the train station or bus station to the ferry. The bus will take you directly to the pier for whichever ferry you booked. It’s the cheapest and most convenient option.
How to book ferry tickets
While tickets can be purchased directly at the pier in Donsak on the day of travel, I would recommend reserving your seats online. Not only does this give you peace of mind but you can also view ferry schedules and departures and compare prices. Also, online you’ll have the option to book tickets that include transport to the pier.
Arriving in Koh Samui
Raja Ferries docks in Lipa Noi and Seatran docks in Na Thon. Both these piers are on the west coast of Koh Samui. Lomprayah has a daily ferry that goes to their pier in Maenam located on North Koh Samui.
Related | Best time to visit Koh Samui
How to get to hotel from the pier
When arriving in Koh Samui you have a few options to get to your hotel. All the options I will list apply regardless of which pier the boats docks in.
Songtaews are pick up vans fitted with benches in the back and are the local public transport. These vans go to different parts of the island and leave once they are full. Let the one of the drivers know where you are going and they’ll show you which van to hop on. You can also rent out the van similar to a taxi, just agree on a price beforehand.
Taxis are also on option. While the taxis have meters they are rarely used and fixed prices are notoriously expensive. Expect to pay at least THB1000.
If you’ve already booked accommodation in Koh Samui, make sure to check if they offer a shuttle service. Certain high end properties may offer this service free of charge.
On board the ferry you may also have the option to book a shared transfer. These transfers usually cost around THB150.
Where to stay in Koh Samui?
Koh Samui is a big island with different areas to stay that offer a different atmosphere.
The majority of tourists stay somewhere in the northeastern portion of the island. This is where the best beaches are found and also the largest concentration of hotels and restaurants are in this area.
Below are the 3 most sought out places to stay in Koh Samui. Or you may want to read this detailed guide about the best areas to stay in Koh Samui.
Chaweng
At a glance: nightlife (clubs and bars) – dining – shopping – nice beach – busy
Chaweng is home to the most popular beach in Koh Samui. Consequentially, Chaweng is also the most popular place to stay in Koh Samui. It’s the most developed part of the island and is where you’ll find the largest concentration of hotels, restaurants, bars, tour agents and even the liveliest nightlife scene.
The best places to stay in Chaweng ⤵
| Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| → Lek Lek Samui RoomXCoffee Bar | $25 | 8.8/10 |
| → COSI Samui Chaweng Beach | $29 | 8.8/10 |
| → Chaweng Garden Beach Resort | $59 | 8.7/10 |
| → Dara Samui Beach Resort | $68 | 8.2/10 |
| → Buri Rasa Village Samui | $121 | 9.1/10 |
| → The Library Hotel | $197 | 9.0/10 |
You may also like → The best beachfront resorts in Chaweng
Lamai
At a glance: nightlife (bars) – dining – nice beach – laid back
About 20 minutes drive from Chaweng, Lamai is a favorite area to stay in Koh Samui among families and couples because of it’s laid back atmosphere. There’s a number of accommodation on offer from budget to luxury. And along the main beach road is where the majority of hotels, restaurants and bars are located. Lamai is still lively but not quite as busy as Chaweng.
The best places to stay in Lamai ⤵
| Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| → Utopia Resort | $26 | 8.4/10 |
| → Marina Beach Resort | $29 | 8.1/10 |
| → Aura Samui Best Beach Hotel | $55 | 9.0/10 |
| → Pattra Vill Resort | $76 | 9.0/10 |
| → Samui Jasmine Resort | $95 | 8.9/10 |
| → Wild Cottages Luxury and Natural | $129 | 9.3/10 |
Fisherman’s village
At a glance: dining – nice beach – family friendly – romantic – luxury
For those seeking a really nice atmosphere that is more organized and tourist friendly, Fisherman’s village is the answer. It’s a pedestrianized road parallel with a white sandy beach. The hotels are mid to high end and there is a variety of western restaurants, chic cocktail bars, cafes and beach lounges such as the popular Coco Tams which has a popular evening fire show.
The best places to stay in Fisherman’s village ⤵
| Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| → Enjoy Beach Hotel | $29 | 8.1/10 |
| → The Waterfront Hotel at Fishermans Village | $48 | 8.3/10 |
| → Hacienda Fisherman’s Village | $68 | 8.7/10 |
| → Riviera Beach Hotel | $59 | 9.4/10 |
| → Hansar Samui Resort | $120 | 9.0/10 |
| → Cielo Samui Boutique Hotel & Spa | $220 | 8.8/10 |
Because you’re going to Koh Samui
Below are the best rated and most booked tours in Koh Samui. Whether you book these online or through an agent is up to you but I can highly recommend these 3.
Where to go after Koh Samui?
Where are you going after Koh Samui? There are various places to go after Koh Samui. An option is to jump onto a boat and island hop the nearby islands Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. You can easily reach these via a 1 hour to 2 hour fast ferry.
Other places worth considering are Krabi, Ao Nang, Phuket, Khaosok or even Phi Phi island.
All these destinations can easily be reached from Koh Samui with the most popular travel option being the ferry+bus combo tickets. Or if you’re going to Phuket to book a direct flight.
You can click on any route below and view departures after entering your travel date ⤵
→Koh Samui to Krabi
→Koh Samui to Ao Nang
→Koh Samui to Phuket
→Koh Samui to Khaosok
→Koh Samui to Koh Phi Phi island
Also related to Koh Samui
→Koh Samui 4 day itinerary
→Best beaches in Koh Samui
→How to get to Koh Tao from Koh Samui
HEY, just so you know…
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