Getting from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Distance from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Official distance between Bangkok and Koh Samui, 765 km away, but you should understand that this distance may be larger or smaller depending on what kind of transport you choose to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui. The direct distance between the center of the capital of Thailand and this coconut Island is 470 km (or 294 miles). Such a short and direct path can be done only on your own or a rented helicopter that will cost a lot of money and few tourists can afford to pay for such transport. Bangkok is located on the banks of the big river, which flows into the Gulf of Thailand. So in theory it is possible to get to Samui from Bangkok on the water, but this is again an exclusive and very expensive way. And the distance between Koh Samui and Bangkok with using water transport to measure it would be very difficult.

However, the direct distance between the airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and Ko Samui is almost the same and is 465 km (290 miles). Distance between Don Muang Airport in Bangkok and Koh Samui airport is 890 km (556 miles), but the direct flights between the two airports is not, so that distance does not matter much. When using ground transport distance between Bangkok and Koh Samui is divided into two sections. The first of them – the roads on which you need to drive about 730 km. A second section – the ferry to the island of Koh Samui, the distance between the ferry piers on the mainland and on the island – about 35 km.

Flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui

The first and most obvious for many tourists way to get to the island of Samui from Bangkok – use the local airlines. This method is the fastest and most comfortable, however, according to tradition, and the most expensive. Here it should be noted immediately that the direct flights to Koh Samui is currently performed only from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. If you arrive in Thailand at the airport, you can make a connecting flight to Samui and be on the island after only 1 to 1.5 hour flight. It should be remembered that you may need spend some time on the passport control, baggage claim and registration on the flight to Koh Samui, which can be carried out from a nearby terminal.

Using the search form belowбнщг can find a tickets at the best prices. You can find flight options from your nearest airport to Bangkok, and then second ticket for an additional flight to Koh Samui. Also, you can directly search for integrated tickets to all segments of the path to the island. Pick the options that are cheaper in price or more convenient for you. But you have to remember that when you buy individual tickets, you may encounter a situation where due to the delay of the first flight to Bangkok for a few hours you can be late for the flight Bangkok – Koh Samui, and in this case you not receive the compensation.

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If you will buy an integrated ticket to Koh Samui directly with a change in Bangkok, the first flight delay will result in a waste of time for you, but not the money, because you are all the same to deliver on Samui has a ticket on the next flight without having to pay extra. Also, when planning airfare to Koh Samui with transfer in Bangkok, if you fly from another country, you should consider the time it takes for customs and border control at the Bangkok airport (because domestic flights are operated from a different terminal).

Slightly more complex version airfare Bangkok – Koh Samui in when you arrive in Bangkok at  Don Muang airport, but later fly you need from Suvarnabhumi to the island. However, between two airports in Bangkok you can use good transport links, so you only need a little more time between air flights. Details about how to move, including the free, between the airports of the Thai capital can be found in the article “How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.”

If we talk about the price of airfare to Bangkok – Koh Samui, it is from 3500 baht (about $ 100) and up depending on the time of year, the airline and the time remaining until the day of departure. What good is the variant, it’s the fact that almost do not need to waste precious vacation time, because flights are carried out very often, at least once per hour. In the evening and the morning time and at all times there are options for flights to Bangkok – Koh Samui, the difference between the time of departure which is only 10-15 minutes.

Thai Airways ticket office at the Koh Samui airport

If you are sure you want getting from Bangkok to Koh Samui on the plane, but did not dare to buy tickets in advance, you have the opportunity to contact the offices of the main airlines that operate flights along the direction you want. These offices are located at the airport Suvarnabhumi:

★ Bangkok Airways – the office is located on the 4th floor of the passenger terminal in the «F» sector. Tel. +66 (2) 134 38 88 and +66 (2) 134 39 60

★ Thai Airways – also on the 4th floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport, but in «B» sector. Tel. +66 (2) 288 70 00

Flight and Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Previous option is very convenient because of its speed and comfort, because you depart from Bangkok and arrive directly at the small private airport on the Koh Samui, which is located just a few kilometers from the popular beaches. The only drawback for many – a relatively high price, especially if you do not buy tickets in advance. However, there is an option that allows you to get from Bangkok to Samui a little slower, but much cheaper. We are talking about air travel from Bangkok to Surat Thani – the closest to the island of Koh Samui largest city and overcoming the remaining part of the journey by land and ferry transport.

Flights on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani are quite common during the day, and the cost is usually much more democratic. For example, if you use the search form, which is located above on this page in order to find the flights for the best prices from Bangkok to Surat Thani and to search for flights to Bangkok – Surat Thani, in the search results you will see a nice looking figures of $25 – $35 per flight in one side (depending on the airline and departure airport). You must remember that you can not use the ferries to Koh Samui at night. So if you arrive in Surat Thani in the evening – you have to spend the night in this city. On the page “How to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui” you can read more about this situation.

Low-cost airlines – the most affordable way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui by plane

Minimum prices for flights on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani for a long time kept the famous Asian low-cost airlines Air Asia, which fly planes from the Thai capital (Don Muang Airport) to your destination just 1 hour 5 minutes. However, it is now easy to find even more cheap, because the new low-cost airlines active in Thailand in this area – Nok Air and Lion Air. Use the search form you can easily find flights as low as 700 baht ($ 20). To understand a lot or a little is enough to know that the cost of public bus is often the same or even higher at a disproportionately greater duration of the way.

Of course, $20 or even $40 is not the whole cost of the road from Bangkok to Samui, because you need later to get to the ferry pier Donsak by bus or minibus (for about 200 baht), as well as to pay the ferry costs to the Koh Samui, which is 150 baht today. Those, airfare to Bangkok – Surat Thani should add approximately $ 11- $ 12. However, this amount is still at least two times lower than the direct flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui. More information about the ferry to the island of Koh Samui and other nearby islands are available in the article “The ferries to Koh Samui: schedule and cost.”

Bus from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Despite the opportunity to buy online cheap flights, many tourists from all over the world prefer to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui on the bus, breaking the last part of the way on the ferry. Most often, this option is preferred by those who still do not know how to overcome the fear of flying in an airplane, or those travelers who are not able to pre-plan your vacation and buy cheap air tickets online. However, the option with the bus, there are some other benefits that will appreciate all the fans of budget travels.

Bus 1-st class on the way from Bangkok to Koh Samui

If the convenience of bus seats in the way –  it’s not so important parameter for you, you can buy a bus ticket to Koh Samui for less than 500 baht. If convenience is important for you, it is better to buy a ticket on the VIP bus, which costs about 950 baht, because the travel time to the island up to 10 hours +/- 5 minutes, depending on the bus company and the selected bus terminal in Bangkok, from which you are starting your way.  I recommend using the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, because every day from this station depart several buses to Koh Samui.  But if you choose the North Bus Terminal in Bangkok and arrive at the terminal shortly before the departure of the bus, you can have problem with vacant seats in the bus because there is only one bus daily from Bangkok to Ko Samiui from this bus terminal.

As I have already told in the article “How to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui: transport and fares”, advantage of VIP seats in the broader and comfortable chairs that are arranged, almost to the state of the bed, which is very important at night trip. By the way, the use of night buses in Thailand allows all travelers with a small budget to be able to get some savings. Because when you spend the night in the bus, you do not have to pay for accommodation at the hotel that night. I myself often use such a possibility, which can save both money and valuable vacation time in Thailand and other countries. In the night buses are usually cool, but most reputable bus companies give all passengers traveling rugs.

VIP-bus – the best way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui

As a rule, when you travel by bus you arrive to the one of the ferry piers: Chumpon or Donsak. The first pier uses Lomprayah ferry company, and the second – the companies Seatran Ferry and Raja Ferry. I draw your attention that the ferries of named companies arrive on Samui island is not in the same place (to the various piers). Thus, the ferries of Lomprayah company arriving to the island pier in Maenam. Ferry of Seatran ferry company arrive at the main pier on Koh Samui – Nathon. And the ferries of  the Raja company will take you to the pier Lipa Noi in Koh Samui. On the page “Koh Samui piers – location and review” you will find more information about the ferry piers Koh Samui and will be able to see location of these piers on a map of the island.

If you want to plan your entire trip in advance, you can order tickets for the integrated bus + ferry  online on the page farang.12go.asia. Also (when you stay in Bangkok) you can use alternative option: to apply to one of the street travel agencies that offer options for sometimes more affordable price with buses, which departing directly from Bangkok’s famous Khao San Road. However, many of these buses for a long time do not have a very good reputation because of the theft of items during the journey. So be careful. In the photo below – integrated tickets from Bangkok to Samui. They include directly VIP tickets for the night bus (paper) and plastic cards to pay for the ferry to the island (such card must be inserted into the turnstile at the ferry pier in Donsak).

Two tickets to the VIP bus Bangkok – Samui and tickets for the Seatran ferry

Train from Bangkok to Koh Samui

The last option, which will be discussed in this article, it’s a train in Thailand, with which you can get from Bangkok to Samui. By choosing the variant, you need get to the main train station Hua Lampong in Thai capital, which is located near the eponymous station subway MRT Bangkok. Also, due to the relatively low cost compared to the metro of Bangkok, you can use a taxi, especially if there are no major traffic jams on the streets.

When you arrive at the railway station, you need to purchase a train ticket on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani (Surat Thani) The original name of the same station – Phun Pin Railway Station. I have not traveled on the Thai trains, but familiar advised to buy a ticket with air conditioning on the bottom shelf (there are cheaper tickets with the fan). Trains go to the desired station, about 11 hours, which is better to spend lying down and without suffering from the heat, especially at night.

Not a very popular way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui – the use of the train

Generally a day from Bangkok to Surat Thani go about 11 trains (data 2016), while their cost ranges from $ 20 (600 baht) and to nearly $ 60, depending on the type of train and carriage class. Those. the most expensive option – a compartment in the fast train, and the cheapest – in the usual train wagon with seating. There is something like the trains with even lower cost, but do not think that is the best option to get from Bangkok to Samui, because in the travel better have fun and not feel uncomfortable. By the way, for more information about the classes and types of Thai train you can read the article “Train in Thailand: a detailed overview” (article in preparation).

After arriving by train to Surat Thani, and you all have to get to one of the ferry terminals in local songthaew or buses, or use the more convenient option in my mind: to buy an integrated ticket to Koh Samui. This can be done directly at the exit from the railway station in Surat Thani, where after the train arrival you can find several bus, ready to take you to the island of Koh Samui for 250-300 baht. This price including the cost of the ferry from the pier Donsak (150 baht), so it is a good option. Travel time from the train station to the Koh Samui island will be about 2.5 hours, and later get to your hotel or the selected beach on the island, will help you transport of Samui.

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Hopefully, after reading this article until the end, you will be able to decide for themselves how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui: fast and expensive or cheap and with less comfort. Bon voyage and enjoy your holidays on Koh Samui!

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