How to get from Phuket to Koh Samui: plane, bus, taxi, ferry

How much does the trip from Phuket to Koh Samui cost? Let's consider all the ways to get there cheaply and find out which type of transport is best suited for independent travel: flight by plane, travel by bus, taxi or ferry.

Thailand is the most beautiful country in Southeast Asia, to learn its customs and peculiarities to visit one region is not enough. Going on vacation, you can plan a trip that combines a visit to several resorts.

If you want to visit the islands and choose between Phuket and Koh Samui, do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting both options. Although they are located in different seas and even in different oceans, it will not be difficult to bridge the distance between them.

Distance Phuket-Samui is 339 km, it can be covered by plane, bus, taxi, rented car or bike. In any of the options, except for air travel, you will have to use a ferry, since the island is not connected to the mainland by bridges.

How to get from Phuket to Koh Samui by plane?

If you do not have time, then a suitable way is air travel. Airplanes fly directly between the islands. Boarding the plane at Phuket airport in an hour, you will land at Koh Samui airport. It will not be difficult to choose a convenient time, Bangkok airways carries out transportation six times a day. The ticket price will cost 3,100-3,500 baht. The price depends on the season, holidays and weekends.

• Choose tickets:

There is also a flight Phuket-Samui with a transfer in the capital of Thailand - Bangkok... Flights can be conveniently docked. From Bangkok, a plane will take you to Nakhon Si Tammarat, then by bus to the pier at Don Sak... Ferries run from this area to Koh Samui. They leave every hour, so there will be no problems with landing.

Of course, this option is longer and less comfortable, it is convenient for those who want to walk around the capital. The travel time will be about 15 hours. The cost will be cheaper - 2000-2300 baht, the price includes a bus transfer to Nakhon Si Tammarat.

• Where can I find flights? It is better to look for a cheap flight option on Aviasales, the search engine is looking even among low-cost airlines.

How to get to Koh Samui by bus?

From Phuket to Koh Samui, you can also take a regular bus. This option is the cheapest, the ticket will cost 450 baht, the bus takes 4.5 hours plus the ferry crossing for 1.5 hours. Ferry travel is included in the ticket price.

• Search for bus routes:

The bus station is in Phuket Town, landing from Terminal 2. Departures daily at 9.00 am, ticket offices open at 7.30 am. A significant disadvantage of such a trip is that you have to spend a whole day on the road, unfortunately there are no night flights. Considering that the ferry leaves at 14.00, you will get to the island at 15.30.

When choosing a seat in the bus, sit on the right, this side is not sunny on this route. If you plan to travel in advance, tickets for the Phuket-Samui ferry and bus can be booked on special services.

You can get even cheaper through the city Sarutthani - 300 baht. True, the time is longer - 9 hours. Minibuses run from the city bus station in this direction every hour, and a bus runs every two hours. There are no evening flights, the latest is at 17.00. Having reached Sarutthani, you need to change to transport to the Don Sak pier, then by ferry.

The ferry starts operating from 5.00 am to 19.00 pm.

• You can buy bus tickets to Koh Samui, on the ferry and not only on the 12GoAsia website.

How much does it cost to take a taxi?

This type of transport will be beneficial if you are traveling with a company. The price of a taxi can be the same as the price of a plane ticket, and sometimes even higher. Usually taxi drivers put a price of 4000-5500 baht, but you can bargain for 3500 baht. It takes more than a flight, about 5-6 hours. Plus such a trip for those who like to travel, it is an opportunity to see the beauty of Thailand, you can stop, if you wish, in the villages to buy exotic fruits and take photos.

• Book Kiwitaxi →

How to get from Phuket to Koh Samui by car or bike?

This type of transport is not expensive enough, but at the same time it is dangerous. Traffic on the roads of Thailand is chaotic, it is difficult to get used to it, and it is not easy to understand the road signs. You need to stock up on a road map and a helmet. Once you get to the police, you can be fined for driving without a helmet.

Expect to spend 7-8 hours on the way to the pier in Don Sake. On the ferry, you need to pay 50 baht for a bike and 150 baht per person.

Adventure lovers will like such transport, an unforgettable experience is guaranteed, but you will spend a lot of energy on the road.

By car

By car, you need to drive the distance of 296 km from Phuket to Sarut Thani. It will take you from 4 to 5 hours in time. You must have your driving license with you.

Car rental is convenient when planning a trip with a large company. If there are two of you, then the road will be expensive. But there are also pluses, you are autonomous by personal transport and can stop at any places you like. It is convenient that you can drive your own car on Koh Samui.

You can transport the car by ferry, however, in the tourist season, queues can form, take this point into account when planning your trip.

The cost of travel

You can rent a car in Phuket for 1200-1500 baht per day. Gasoline on the way to the island in one direction will cost 1000-1200 baht. Crossing by car ferry - 470-500 baht, for one passenger 150 baht, children under 5 free of charge.

During the trip, transport can be left on the lower deck and climbed to the second or third. The premises have toilets, air conditioning, TV, you can have a snack and drink soft drinks. There is even a massage therapist on the ferry. The upper deck is open, from which you can admire the sea.

• You may be interested to know how to get to Phuket by all available means.

Ferry to Koh Samui

There is no direct ferry. Such a crossing is carried out only with a combination of the above methods. All ferries run to the island from the docks in Don Sake. From the pier Seatran traffic starts from 6.00 am to 19.00 pm, from Radja from 5.00 to 19.00.

• Price: per person - 150 baht, car transportation - 350-500 baht, bike - 50 baht.

You can view the exact timetable for the departure and arrival of the ferry to Koh Samui, ticket prices, at official sites:

• Seatran Pier - www.seatranferry.com
• pier Raja - www.rajaferryport.com

I recommend using Seatran, the ferry from this pier arrives at the pier - Nathon, there is a more developed infrastructure and it is easier to get to any place.

• How to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok, Moscow ⇒

Where to stay on Koh Samui?

Having reached the island, you may need private accommodation without intermediaries or a hotel room where you can stay for a long time or rest for one night. It is better to book a hotel in Thailand through the search engine RoomGuru, it searches for the cheapest prices on all Internet bases.

We are looking for private accommodation on Samui without intermediaries on Booking.com, the service makes it possible to find good apartments, guest houses or villas. Independent travelers in most cases book the villa.

Summing up the above, we can conclude that the fastest way to get there is by air, at a cost equal to renting a car. In terms of comfort, a taxi or a rented car is in the first place, although this is not the cheapest form of transport. Well, the most budgetary one is the bus.