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How to get to Koh Samui

Thailand is known as a year-round resort, where the high season moves seamlessly from the mainland to the island and back again throughout the year. The largest and best known are Phuket, Phi Phi and Samui. They are well-developed infrastructure, a lot of entertainment, beautiful beaches and a lot of amazing natural beauty. All this is available to those who know how to get to Samui or other islands separated from the rest of the country by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

How do I get from Bangkok to Samui?

The islands of Thailand are at varying distances from the mainland and can only be reached by air or sea. Samui has an airport that receives flights from Bangkok. The other options involve crossing by ferry.

The overland journey includes several options:

  • bus;
  • train;
  • machine.

Departure points may also be different, as well as the chosen routes. The air route is the most economical in time and the most wasteful in finances. It takes much longer to get there by land transport, but it saves a lot of money.

Plane

There is no direct flight to Samui, the airport only accepts light planes of local airlines. To start the journey, you have to get to Bangkok first, and from there choose the next mode of transport. Often travel agencies deceive, promising to fly directly to the island, not mentioning the transfers and additional costs. There will be at least 1 connection at Suvarnabhumi Airport, there is almost no loss of time, the local carrier departs almost hourly.

There is an interesting situation with the pricing policy. Since Bangkok Airways is a monopolist, it sets its own prices, well in excess of reasonable limits. The flight from Bangkok to Samui will cost 4 – 5 thousand baht. The positive thing is that you don’t have to go to another airport, the transfer is on the spot. The cost is already included in the price of the ticket from Moscow.

If you want to fly with Air Asia, Nokair or Thai Lyon Air alternative airlines, you have to go to Don Miang airport. Fare is free if you show a ticket in the shuttle bus. Time should be calculated with a reserve, if you are late for the flight, the money is not refunded.

It is advantageous to buy a complex ticket, which immediately includes a bus ride and ferry crossing. If you catch the promotion and order in advance, the cost will be $33 instead of $50.

It is even more economical to buy a transfer directly at the airport. Included will be bus fare and ferry to the island. When choosing how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui, you need to consider not only the financial side, but also the time spent. For example, the road by car and ferry takes about 2.5 – 3 hours and costs 350 baht.

Bus

A convenient and inexpensive way for those who prefer to have new experiences while traveling. Tourist and shuttle buses go to the island. On a whim, the tourist ones are not very reliable, tickets are sold only at travel agencies, and comfort leaves much to be desired.

The flights run on a clear schedule with a small gap.

Worth considering! You can pay the fare at the ticket offices at the stations or book in advance on the company’s website.

Depending on the comfort of the bus fare will range from 300 to 1,000 baht. There are no transfers required, the bus is safely ferried to the island. Since it is a long way from the Nathon pier, where the shuttle buses pass, it is more convenient to order a cab or walk 200 meters to the ring road.

By train

How to get to Koh SamuiSurat Thani has a major transportation hub, including a station where trains arrive from Bangkok. If you catch the first train, you have a chance to catch the last ferry. A peculiarity of Thai trains is their floating arrival schedule, so there is a possibility that you will have to spend the night in a hotel near the pier, waiting for the first ferry in the morning. A total of 11 trains run between the cities, the travel time – 8 hours 40 minutes. It takes about an hour and a half to get to the pier.

Another way to get to Koh Samui is to get off a few stations earlier, at Chumphon, buy a ticket that includes a bus and a boat, which goes much faster than the ferry. It has the advantage of saving time and viewing the surroundings, as the way passes the picturesque resorts of Phangan and Koh Tao.

Budget option

It includes two transplants. First you need to get to Bangkok, then fly to Surat Thani, take a shuttle bus to the pier, and then take the ferry. It comes to the pier of Lipa Noi.

The price of a comprehensive ticket from Bangkok includes the flight and both connections. You don’t have to pay anything extra, you don’t have to look for anything either, everything is included and clearly organized. The price is 1,100 to 1,700 baht.

How do I get from Bangkok via Nakhonsitthammarat?

All routes to Koh Samui in Thailand will be composite. If you need to change flights, ground transport will require such an approach. When traveling on your own, a three-step transfer, including a plane, minivan, and ferry, would be advantageous.

First, a plane ticket is purchased from Airasia to Nakhonsithammarat. Flight time will be 1 hour 15 minutes, waiting within an hour. A minivan will take you to the Don Sak pier with a travel time of no more than an hour and a half. The ferry from Surat Thani will take you to Lipa Noi Pier.

The total trip time is 5-6 hours with the fact that the ferry replaces the sightseeing tour in the abundance of impressions, where a variety of pictures of small islands and oncoming boats, catamarans and private boats are leisurely sailed through. The total cost of travel is much cheaper than flying or hiring a cab.

How to get from Phuket?

These two islands are among the prize three most popular resorts. They are separated by a short distance, 270 km could well be overcome in 3-4 hours, but in addition to the sea they are separated and part of the peninsula. Again, it is a journey with connections.

It is quick and very expensive to get from one island to another by air. There is a direct Bangkok Airways flight that takes only 1 hour for a ticket price of 3,100 baht. Flights take place six times a day.

The cheapest popular way is to take a shuttle bus and change to a ferry. A comprehensive ticket costs no more than 450 baht. Tickets are sold openly and are always available, there is no rush, no advance order is required. The crossing of the bay ends at Nton wharf or the new bus terminal. It’s convenient to call a cab from there.

A transfer in Surat Thani involves taking a bus or minivan. The former are more comfortable, the latter go more often. The cost is about the same and is in any case lower than airfare.

Phantip Travel offers a convenient shuttle service, but you need to keep a close eye on your belongings as you transfer to the ferry. Romantic travelers who can not wait to get to the island, we recommend services of Lomprayah, the company has its own fleet, a clear timetable, the sea part of the journey is overcome by catamarans. The fare is 750 baht.

Cab becomes profitable only when traveling in the company of 3 – 4 people. In this case the benefit is obvious and the fare will be lower by 1 than by airfare. The advantage of traveling will be convenience and speed.

Leased transportation is designed for independent people. Complete freedom of action in choosing the speed of travel, stops, snacks in small cafes and spontaneous stops in the villages along the way are guaranteed. The cost of renting is much lower than a cab fare, and the comfort exceeds that of shuttle buses, sometimes stopping on and off. The ultimate goal is considered to be Raja or Seatran pier. Then you need to take the ferry, and cross with your car or bike.

Plan the time with a reserve, otherwise you will have to spend almost a day on the trip.

How to get from Chiang Mai?

How to get to Koh Samui?

Once again, air travel is beyond competition in terms of speed and convenience. There are direct and connecting flights to Surat Thani. Routes that include a bus and a ferry are in demand. There are no problems with tickets, they are freely available at the box office and on the website. The trip is long, but from the window you can see the real country, not only adapted for tourists villages and mini-markets.

Another option is a trip with a Green Bus tour bus The benefits of the trip include:

  • a clear travel schedule, which is rare in Thailand;
  • free ticket sales;
  • comfortable and cool interior.

The bus arrives at the suburban station, from where you have to get to the ferry on your own.

How do I get from Koh Samui Airport to my booked hotel?

The island is small by geographical standards, but hiking after a long road is uninspiring. Therefore, several options are considered for delivering a tired tourist to the hotel. Terminals for ordering all types of transport are located at the reception.

  1. A bus ride. Tickets range from 100-200 baht depending on the distance. The most expensive fare is to Taling Ngam, which is located at the other end of Samui.
  2. Cabs are profitable for companies. The cost is charged per rental car, not per number of people. Goes quickly, no need to wait for departure time or the moment when all the seats on the bus are occupied by passengers. Bringing exactly to the address, on the way possible stops on demand.
  3. Four companies offer car rental. The conditions are about the same. Before signing the contract, it is desirable to take pictures of the car from several angles, so that then there is no dispute because of old dents and scratches left by previous customers, as auto repair on the island is very expensive.

How to get to the hotel from the ferry?

There is always a horde of cab drivers on duty near the pier, with very good deals at first glance. If you look around, they offer practically the same thing, but at different prices. Proudly called a cab can be an ordinary sunteo with a fare of about 60 baht. But the name of the cab immediately raises the bar to 100 – 150 baht.

Those who like comfort should take care of tickets in advance and buy them on the ferry, and then load into a comfortable minivan and enjoy the ride.

The cost of the carrier will be 150 baht, the advantages will be no fuss, a fixed ticket price, sufficient space for luggage.

Travel from Bangkok to Samui – the best options

Koh Samui - how to get there?

Experienced travelers choose routes based on two parameters: time and money.

Expensive, comfortable, fast

Only the flight meets this requirement. It is operated by central Bangkok Airways and three third-party carriers. The choice is small, the pricing is about the same, but the time gain is enormous. The disadvantages include not being able to view the surrounding beauty, as the connection is made at the airport of arrival for Bangkok Airways. In other cases, you will have to try to reduce the waiting time to a minimum when you move to another airport and again will not be to nature.

Quiet, comfortable, reliable

For such a trip the best choice would be a combination: plane, bus, ferry. For convenience, travelers are offered combined tickets that include all connections. It remains only to obey instructions and move from one transport to another. For those who set out to see as much as possible from the window, it is worth stopping by train, minivan, or cab with a self-drive ferry. There is a risk of not catching the last flight, but the experience will be a lot.

Cost savings

The most budget option involves the use of shuttle buses with connections to the ferry and further travel around the island by local transport or renting a vehicle. An interesting suggestion for those who do not suffer from seasickness is a train and a catamaran.

Any kind of travel will bring new experiences and will pay off several times over with a sense of satisfaction upon arrival at the place of rest and admiration for the surrounding landscapes, beautiful beaches and a sense of boundless freedom from the shackles of civilization.

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