How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samui
Bangkok to Koh Samui by flight from 2,730 baht or overnight bus and ferry from 1,250 baht. Compare train, ferry and private transfer.
Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Contents
Koh Samui is the Gulf's big island: coconut palms, the Big Buddha above the sea, and beaches from busy Chaweng to quiet Lamai. Getting there from Bangkok is a choice between a short flight and an overnight journey by bus and boat, with a train option in between.
Bangkok to Koh Samui by Flight
Flying is the quickest way. Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Samui, and a one-way economy fare including airport tax and ticketing fee is 2,730 baht, and seats per flight are limited.[1] Flights from Suvarnabhumi take from about 1 hour 10 minutes, and from Don Mueang from about 1 hour 35 minutes.[2] Book ahead.
Bangkok to Koh Samui by Bus and Ferry
The bus and boat combination runs overnight and saves a hotel night. Lomprayah's bus and ferry leaves Bangkok (Pinklao) at 21:00 and reaches Samui's Bangrak pier at 11:15 for 1,250 baht. The bus and catamaran leaves at 21:30 and arrives at Pralarn pier at 11:30 for 1,450 baht, or 1,750 baht with a VIP bus.[3]
The Transport Co. runs buses from Mo Chit 2 to Koh Samui at 17:00 and 18:15 for 963 or 619 baht,[4] and the ferry from Don Sak to Samui's Lipa Noi pier sails hourly from 04:00 to 19:00 and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.[5]
Bangkok to Koh Samui by Train and Ferry
Trains run from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Surat Thani, where you continue to a Don Sak ferry. Special Express DRC 43 leaves at 07:30 and arrives at 16:20, which is too late for most ferries. Rapid 171 leaves at 15:10 and arrives at 01:14, and Special Express 37 leaves at 16:10 and arrives at 01:52.[6] Night arrivals mean you wait for the first ferry in the morning.
Bangkok to Koh Samui by Private Transfer
A private car takes you from your Bangkok hotel to the ferry and across to Samui in about 11 hours 20 minutes to 12 hours. On booking platforms it costs about 11,400 to 23,100 baht per vehicle (November 2026), with options from an Economy car for 3 to a van for 10.[2]
Comparing Your Options
| Mode | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Flight (Bangkok Airways) | 2,730 baht[1] | From about 1 h 10 min[2] |
| Bus and ferry (Lomprayah, from Pinklao) | 1,250 to 1,750 baht[3] | About 14 h (21:00 to 11:15) |
| Private transfer | About 11,400 to 23,100 baht[2] | About 11 h 20 min to 12 h |
Tips for Traveling from Bangkok to Koh Samui
- Book flights early: Seats on each flight are limited.
- Pack a layer: Air conditioning on buses and boats runs cold overnight.
- Check your arrival pier: Lomprayah's catamaran arrives at Pralarn pier and its ferry at Bangrak pier, so arrange your taxi to your beach in advance.
- Keep valuables with you: Carry passport, electronics and cash in a daypack at your seat, not in the luggage hold.
Timetable
| Flight Bangkok - Koh Samui $ 82.75–202.07 1h 10m – 1days 3h 10m | |
|
|
| Bus Bangkok - Koh Samui $ 33.40–45.18 10h 30m – 15h 30m | |
|
|
| Taxi Bangkok - Koh Samui $ 338.58–684.67 11h 20m – 12h | |
|
|
| Ferry Bangkok - Koh Samui $ 51.81 10h 30m – 14h 30m | |
|
| Flight Don Mueang Airport - Koh Samui $ 158.10–170.24 1h 35m | |
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the booking tool on this page to compare the transport options currently available from Bangkok to Koh Samui, including current prices and schedules.
The overnight bus and ferry combination is the budget option, with Lomprayah's bus and ferry from Pinklao at 1,250 baht. A one-way economy flight with Bangkok Airways costs 2,730 baht.
Fly. Flights from Suvarnabhumi take from about 1 hour 10 minutes, and from Don Mueang from about 1 hour 35 minutes.
A flight takes from about 1 hour 10 minutes. The overnight bus and catamaran from Pinklao leaves at 21:30 and arrives at 11:30. A private transfer takes about 11 hours 20 minutes to 12 hours.
Suvarnabhumi has the shorter flights, from about 1 hour 10 minutes. Don Mueang flights take from about 1 hour 35 minutes, so choose it if your Bangkok base is in the north of the city.
No. Lomprayah sells the bus and the boat as one ticket, so the bus connects with the boat.
Yes. Lomprayah's bus and ferry leaves Pinklao at 21:00 and arrives at 11:15, and the bus and catamaran leaves at 21:30 and arrives at 11:30. Trains such as Rapid 171 also run overnight to Surat Thani.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Bangkok Airways: Fly to Samui! (domestic fares). Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- [2] 12Go: 12Go Timetable: Bangkok to Koh Samui. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
- [3] Lomprayah High Speed Ferries: Timetable Lomprayah 2026 (update 25/08/69, PDF). Retrieved November 3, 2026.
- [4] BusTicket.in.th (Transport Co., Ltd. ticketing): Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak aka Mochi 2): timetable, services and information. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [5] Raja Ferry Port PLC: Sailing schedule. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- [6] State Railway of Thailand: SRT Timetable Matrix 2026: Southern Line outbound. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
Guide prices and journey times are indicative, not live quotes. A booked package may include transfers and waiting time as well as the main journey. Check the selected offer, pickup point and current conditions before booking.