How to Get from Hat Yai to Koh Samui
How to get from Hat Yai to Koh Samui: take the train to Surat Thani, a bus to Donsak and the ferry to the island. Train times and ferry hours.
Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Contents
Hat Yai is the busy commercial hub of the deep south. Koh Samui sits in the Gulf of Thailand on the far side of the peninsula, with coconut groves, beaches and sunsets at the end of the day. You travel in three parts: a train to Surat Thani, a bus transfer to the Donsak pier and a ferry across to the island. Plan on most of a day.
Step 1: Hat Yai to Surat Thani by Train
The Southern Line links Hat Yai Junction with Surat Thani station. The evening trains take between about 4 hours 40 minutes and 5 hours: Rapid 172 leaves Hat Yai at 16:05 and arrives at 20:55, Thaksinarath 32 leaves at 17:45 and arrives at 22:24, and Rapid 170 leaves at 18:20 and arrives at 23:28. For a daytime ride, Local 446 leaves at 06:20 and reaches Surat Thani at 13:31.[1]
Step 2: Surat Thani to Koh Samui by Bus and Ferry
Seatran Discovery sells bus-and-ferry transfers from Surat Thani to the Donsak pier and on to the Koh Samui piers.[2] From Donsak, ferries cross to Lipa Noi on Samui every hour between 04:00 and 19:00, and the crossing takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.[3] The Seatran ferry docks at Nathon Pier in the middle of the island.[4]
Timing Your Day
The last ferry leaves Donsak at 19:00,[3] so the evening trains from Hat Yai arrive too late for a same-day crossing. Take the 06:20 local train instead. It reaches Surat Thani in the early afternoon and leaves you time to catch an afternoon ferry.
Comparing Your Options
| Leg | Departures | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hat Yai to Surat Thani by train | 06:20, 16:05, 17:45, 18:20 | About 4h 40min to 7h 10min[1] |
| Donsak to Koh Samui (Lipa Noi) by ferry | Hourly, 04:00 to 19:00 | About 1h 30min[3] |
Tips for Traveling from Hat Yai to Koh Samui
- Avoid the rush hours: The ferries are busiest between 05:00 and 06:00 and between 12:00 and 16:00.[3] Aim for the quieter hours in between.
- Start early: A morning departure from Hat Yai keeps the whole day open and avoids a night in Surat Thani.
- Keep valuables with you: Carry your passport, cash and electronics in a daypack, not in the luggage hold.
Timetable
| Taxi Hat Yai - Koh Samui $ 207.62โ293.11 6h 40m โ 7h | |
|
|
| Ferry Hat Yai - Koh Samui $ 17.47โ21.91 7h โ 8h | |
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the booking tool on this page to compare the transport options currently available from Hat Yai to Koh Samui, including current prices and schedules.
The train to Surat Thani takes about 4 hours 40 minutes to 5 hours on the evening services and about 7 hours on the daytime local. The ferry from Donsak takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. With the bus transfer, allow most of a day.
No. Trains stop at Surat Thani on the mainland. From there you continue by bus to the Donsak pier and by ferry to Koh Samui.
The ferries from Donsak to Lipa Noi run hourly until 19:00, so plan to reach the pier well before then.
No. The evening trains arrive in Surat Thani between 20:55 and 23:28, after the last ferry. Take the 06:20 local train or stay overnight in Surat Thani.
Ferries from Donsak arrive at Lipa Noi or, with Seatran, at Nathon Pier in the middle of the island.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] State Railway of Thailand: SRT Timetable Matrix 2026: Southern Line inbound. Retrieved November 2, 2026.
- [2] Seatran Discovery: Seatran Discovery: bus and ferry transfers. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- [3] Raja Ferry Port PLC: Sailing schedule. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- [4] Seatran Discovery: About Seatran Discovery. Retrieved October 26, 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.