Surat Thani to Koh Samui

Surat Thani to Koh Samui

Surat Thani
Koh Samui
Sun, Apr 6
+ Add return
0 Passengers
 
 
 
 
 

Surat Thani to Koh Samui Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
BangkokTaxi24
VIP Van 9pax
Any time
+3h 30m
$211.02
Van
12Go Transport
Minibus + ferry
05:30
09:30
$11.49
Bus
Raja Ferry
Express
06:00
13:00
$15.83
Bus
Raja Ferry
Express
06:25
09:07
$4.40
Bus
Raja Ferry
Express
06:50
08:53
$4.40
Ferry
Seatran Ferry
Ferry
07:30
10:30
$9.96
  4.8
Bus
Raja Ferry
Express
08:00
11:30
$8.50
  4.2
Ferry
Seatran Ferry
Ferry
08:30
11:30
$9.96
  4.8
Bus
Raja Ferry
Express
09:00
12:30
$8.50
  4.2
Ferry
Seatran Ferry
Ferry
09:30
12:30
$9.96
  4.8
Bus
Lomprayah
Express
10:00
11:45
$13.19
  5.0
Ferry
Seatran Ferry
Ferry
10:30
13:30
$9.96
  4.8
Bus
Raja Ferry
Express
11:00
14:30
$8.50
  4.2
Ferry
Seatran Ferry
Ferry
11:30
14:30
$9.96
  4.8
Bus
Raja Ferry
Express
12:00
15:30
$8.50
  4.2
Ferry
Seatran Ferry
Ferry
12:30
15:30
$9.96
  4.8
Bus
Phangan Tour 2000
Bus + Ferry
13:00
16:00
$7.91
  4.3
Ferry
Seatran Ferry
Ferry
13:30
16:30
$9.96
  4.8
Bus
Raja Ferry
Express
14:00
17:30
$8.50
  4.2
Ferry
Seatran Ferry
Ferry
14:30
17:30
$9.96
  4.8

What is Koh Samui notorious for?

Koh Samui is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and wellness retreats. Popular beaches include Chaweng and Lamai, where you can enjoy water activities and beach bars. The island is also home to the Big Buddha Temple and Ang Thong National Marine Park, ideal for day trips. Nightlife is centered around Chaweng and Bophut, offering a range of bars and nightclubs.

Transportation is mainly via rental scooters or taxis, with scooter rentals costing around 150-300 THB per day ($4-8). Dining options range from local street food, like pad Thai and green curry, to international restaurants. Expect to pay 60-150 THB ($2-4) for street food and 200-500 THB ($5-14) at restaurants.

Tap water is not safe to drink, so bottled water is recommended. Always check the weather as the rainy season typically runs from October to December.

Can a tourist work in Koh Samui?

Tourists cannot work in Koh Samui legally without the appropriate work visa or permit. Thailand requires foreigners to obtain a work permit and a Non-Immigrant Visa if they wish to work. Engaging in work without proper authorization can lead to fines, deportation, or being blacklisted from re-entering the country.

For those interested in working legally, securing a job offer from a Thai employer and applying for the necessary visa and permit before arriving is advisable. Additionally, the employer typically assists with the application process for the work permit.

Where do rich people hang out in Koh Samui?

Chaweng Beach is a popular area, featuring upscale beach clubs and high-end resorts. Visitors often frequent Ark Bar Beach Club for its lively atmosphere and beachfront location. Bophut's Fisherman's Village offers trendy restaurants and bars, such as Coco Tam's, known for its cocktails and beachfront seating. For a luxurious dining experience, the Tree Tops Sky Dining & Bar provides a scenic view and gourmet menu.

Nikki Beach Club is another notable spot, famous for its exclusive events and poolside parties. In terms of wellness, high-end spas like Tamarind Springs provide relaxing treatments in a serene environment. Transportation to these areas is convenient via taxi or private car hire, with typical costs around 400-800 THB ($11-$22) depending on the distance. Bottled water is recommended, as local authorities advise against drinking tap water.

Transportation from Surat Thani to Koh Samui

Facts about the transport from Surat Thani to Koh Samui

Cheapest Transport$6
Fastest Transport1h 45m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure5:30 PM
Departures per day88
Distance88 kilometers
Transport Companies12Go Transport, Bangkok Airways, BangkokTaxi24, Firstplan Transport Services, Kim Transfers Thailand, Lomlahkkhirin, Lomprayah, Phangan Tour 2000, Phantip 1970, Raja Ferry, Seatran Ferry, Thai Vietjet, Van2Travel

Surat Thani to Koh Samui Destination Reviews

CZ
Ferry was late about 1 hour. Phangan bus was on time in a harbour.
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Bus Bus + Ferry, Phangan Tour 2000, Mar 26, 2025
AC
I think the coach was late to be on time for 7pm ferry as it arrived exactly at 7pm or maybe fee minutes after. This led to waiting 3hours for 10pm ferry. Unless the 7pm ferry was cancelled I'm unsure but that was confusing situation.
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Bus Express, Raja Ferry (ราชา เฟอร์รี่), Feb 26, 2025
JV
Well organised clean ferryboat
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Ferry Ferry, Seatran Ferry (บริษัท ซีทราน เฟอร์รี่ จำกัด), Feb 8, 2025
TL
Not working efficiently. Lots of stops along the way to pick up and drop off people at various locations, which adds a lot of unnecessary time to the trip. Which made the trip twice as long. None informative service, they just drop you at some point with no explanation and you should wait for a different van/bus to pick you up.
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Ferry Express, Phantip 1970 (พันทิพย์ 1970), Jan 19, 2025
DW
The meet up location was easy to find at the Phantip office in Surat Than. Check in at 11:30 and left a well before 12pm (11:45am) because all passengers were present and ready to go. Driver loaded bags for us. I was forced into the back row of 2 seats on the aisle side with luggage smashing me (and I’m a small human). The driver could’ve at least offered me the front seat. I literally lost feeling in my foot for 5 minutes and had to readjust. Luckily it was only a 1 hour ride to Donsak Pier so it was bearable. The transition happens quick. Once out of the van go straight to gate because boarding gate closes at 12:55pm. We arrived about 12:45pm. At the Phantip office they gave up our receipt with the QR code to scan to board. So no issues going through the gate. Boarding the Ferry was fast, even with cars and bikes loading below. We left promptly at 1:30. The ferry was nice. Aircon and comfy seats below with a mini mark to purchase pretty much anything you can get at 7-11. Upstairs was a massage room and upper deck benches in a covered area. The ride is as primarily smooth with a couple bumps due to extremely rough waters from weather. But the captain did great and even got us there early. Leaving the ferry is chaotic. Cars and bikes exit first then passengers follow. When you exit there will be TAXI TAXI everywhere… walk past them to the end of the walkway and find Phantip workers. They will also be looking for your sticker on your shirt to identify you as a person who boards hotel transfer van in Koh Samui. From there wait about 20-30 minutes for everyone to get off the ferry and get on vans and head to hotel. Van driver in Koh Samui was good. Loaded bags and got us to our location quickly. This time I sat up front with the driver! Overall it was a good experience and I would recommend using Phantip. Will book with them again if available.
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Ferry Express, Phantip 1970 (พันทิพย์ 1970), Jan 7, 2025
JL
Comfortable ferry and very clean
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Ferry Ferry, Seatran Ferry (บริษัท ซีทราน เฟอร์รี่ จำกัด), Jun 24, 2024
SV
Well organized, the company kept close contact via whatsapp. It went very smooth 👌
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, taxi SUV 4pax, Kim Transfers Thailand (Thailand Taxi Airport and Travel), Apr 28, 2024
SC
Smooth journey and very efficient! Thank you!!
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Ferry Ferry, Seatran Ferry (บริษัท ซีทราน เฟอร์รี่ จำกัด), Apr 11, 2024
TH
Chat / Support should be free; telephone numbers were not available;
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Bus Express, Raja Ferry (ราชา เฟอร์รี่), Feb 28, 2024
JR
Seatran office in Surat Thani easy to find. Smooth journey. Very helpful staff. Is a little cheaper (by ~100 baht) to go straight to Seatran office and ferry yourself if feeling more adventurous
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Ferry Ferry, Seatran Ferry (บริษัท ซีทราน เฟอร์รี่ จำกัด), Feb 14, 2024
4.5
348 customer reviews
5
64%
4
23%
3
8%
2
5%
1
0%

How to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui

When you want to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Ferry
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Ferry+van. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Flight ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A Bus+taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 30.25. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus+ferry as a bus+ferry ticket costs as low as USD 10.20.

How far is Surat Thani from Koh Samui?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Surat Thani to Koh Samui. Your trip will be a total of 55 miles (88 km). The flying distance is 55 miles (88 km).

How long does it take to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?

The travel time from Surat Thani to Koh Samui can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 2 to 10 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?

The cost of the trip from Surat Thani to Koh Samui varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Raja Ferry (ราชา เฟอร์รี่): travelling by bus+ferry expect to pay as low as USD 10.20 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a Bus+taxi - a one-way Bus+taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 30.25.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Surat Thani to Koh Samui:

  • Van price : USD 5.86 - USD 22.16;
  • Bus+Ferry price: USD 10.20 - USD 11.96. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 06:00 Surat Thani Bus Raja Ferry until 17:30 Suratthani Town Seatran office
  • Ferry+Van price: USD 10.84 - USD 17.59. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 05:30 Surat Thani Train Station until 15:45 Surat Thani Phangan Tour 2000 Office
  • Van+Ferry price: USD 11.08 - USD 13.31. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 05:30 Surat Thani Town Raja Van until 17:30 Surat Thani Airport
  • taxi+Bus+Ferry price: USD 13.31. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 07:00 Surat Thani Town Transfer until 13:00 Surat Thani Town Transfer
  • taxi+Ferry price: USD 13.78 - USD 203.26. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 00:00 Surat Thani train station until 11:00 Surat Thani Town Transfer
  • Bus+taxi+Ferry price: USD 15.24. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 06:30 Phantip Travel Surat Thani until 15:30 Phantip Travel Surat Thani
  • Bus+Van price: USD 17.23 - USD 18.99. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 06:00 Surat Thani Bus Raja Ferry until 12:00 Surat Thani Town Raja
  • Van+Ferry+taxi price: USD 17.73. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 06:30 Surat Thani Town Seatran until 14:30 Surat Thani Town Seatran
  • Bus+Ferry+taxi price: USD 17.73. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 09:30 Surat Thani Airport until 16:00 Surat Thani Airport
  • Ferry tickets - USD 20.52 to USD 20.52.
  • Bus+Ferry+Van price: USD 20.52. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 08:00 Surat Thani Airport until 09:00 Surat Thani Airport
  • taxi+Ferry+Van price: USD 24.97. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 09:30 Ratchaprapha Dam until 11:30 Ratchaprapha Dam
  • Bus+taxi price: USD 30.25. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 05:30 Suratthani Town Seatran office until 14:30 Suratthani Town Seatran office
  • taxi+Van price: USD 34.12. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 07:30 Surat Thani Airport until 14:00 Surat Thani Airport
  • flight price: USD 206.13 - USD 209.56. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 10:50 Surat Thani Airport until 11:45 Surat Thani Airport

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 185.38 to USD 325.59.

How many trips per day are there between Surat Thani and Koh Samui?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • 48 by Bus+Ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 06:00 Surat Thani Bus Raja Ferry until 17:30 Suratthani Town Seatran office
  • 14 by Ferry+Van from Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 05:30 Surat Thani Train Station until 15:45 Surat Thani Phangan Tour 2000 Office
  • 10 by Bus+Van from Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 06:00 Surat Thani Bus Raja Ferry until 12:00 Surat Thani Town Raja
  • 10 by Bus+taxi from Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 05:30 Suratthani Town Seatran office until 14:30 Suratthani Town Seatran office
  • 5 by Bus+taxi+Ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui starting from 06:30 Phantip Travel Surat Thani until 15:30 Phantip Travel Surat Thani
  • Ferries leave from Surat Thani for Koh Samui 1 times a day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 185.38.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

Ferries

Travelling by ferry is one of the most scenic ways to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui as it combines transportation and sightseeing to some extent.

However, with these upsides in mind, you should still understand ferry travel is not for everyone. If you’re prone to seasickness it may be an unpleasant experience. As a rule, a ferry journey isn’t the cheapest way to travel During the high season ferry tickets might be hard to get, so you should always book in advance when possible.

Things to remember: ferry rides are dependent on weather conditions.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Surat Thani to Koh Samui. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.

Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui.

Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..

The most popular transport from Surat Thani to Koh Samui

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Surat Thani to Koh Samui? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 23% chosen Bus+Ferry
  • 18% chosen Van+Ferry
  • 10% chosen Van+Ferry+taxi
  • 10% chosen Bus+taxi
  • 10% chosen taxi+Van
  • 8% opted for a van.
  • 7% chosen Bus+Van
  • 5% chosen Ferry+Van
  • 2% chosen Bus+taxi+Ferry
  • 2% chosen taxi+Ferry
  • 2% chosen taxi+Ferry+Van
  • 1% Other