Beach-loving travelers to Southeast Asia during the European summer know that the Gulf of Thailand receives less rain during the monsoon season. However, this stretch of sea is somewhat isolated from the rest of the country, so it’s important to know how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui easily if your destination is the largest island in the area.
A word of caution: the quickest way to get there can be more expensive than what travelers usually pay.
There are over 700 kilometers between Koh Samui and Bangkok, and it’s not yet possible to reach it by road alone. There is a bridge under construction to connect the island to the mainland, but it’s still far from completion. Currently, Koh Samui can only be reached by air or sea.
Koh Samui Airport is one of the most unique in all of Asia, with most services being open-air and offering a very charming island atmosphere. However, this comes at a price: it’s a private airport accessible only to Bangkok Airways, and the cost of flights is quite high.
Round-trip tickets usually start at around 150 euros or more between Bangkok and Koh Samui. These are comfortable one-hour flights that also include in-flight meals, but at this price, this option is best suited for those who want to get there as quickly as possible.
The most cost-effective way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui is to fly to a more affordable airport and then travel by land to the port that connects to the island.
Surat Thani is the ideal airport for this route, and upon arrival, there are several options available to book a transfer to the port and then to Koh Samui.
To avoid any confusion, it’s best to purchase a complete ticket with AirAsia that covers all parts of the journey. They will guide you from the moment you board the plane in Bangkok until you arrive in Koh Samui. Prices typically range from 30 to 45 euros for the entire journey.
Alternatively, you can arrange it yourself by booking a flight to Surat Thani and then securing a transfer from the airport to the island. This option generally costs about the same. In total, the journey will take five to seven hours, with only two of those hours being the road trip between the airport and the ferry.
Those who have more time and prefer not to worry about the logistics of getting from Bangkok to Koh Samui can simply visit the Lomprayah agency office in the backpacker area of Khaosan Road and buy a combined bus and ferry ticket to the island. This can also be purchased online.
This option is the slowest because you need to travel over 700 kilometers by bus to the port before boarding a ferry, which differs from the one used by AirAsia for its combined flight service. Ticket prices start at 1,450 baht one-way, approximately 40 euros. Once you arrive in Koh Samui, the ferry drops you off at Pralarn Port.
As you can see, there are multiple options to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui by air, land, and sea. We usually recommend the intermediate route of flying to Surat Thani but taking the bus can also be a pleasant experience if you have the time. Flying with Bangkok Airways is a great alternative if budget isn’t a concern.
