Thailand is a country known for several things, but perhaps the beaches and nightlife are the two main reasons why it attracts so many tourists every year. If your idea of a Thailand vacation is to spend the day at the beach and the night partying or meeting people, there are two places you can’t miss: Pattaya and Koh Samui. Pattaya’s fame as a party destination has made the city world-famous as it has 24-hour bars and clubs, so you don’t necessarily have to go out at night. Walking Street is a street that is bustling day and night. In addition, you can also find good beaches. When you get the most out of Pattaya City, Koh Samui will seem like a pretty peaceful place compared to the first one. Despite this, it also has plenty of nightlife and entertainment options. The beaches on this island are fantastic, and there are also several temples worth visiting to immerse yourself in the local culture.
Travel options from Pattaya to Koh Samui
The only thing you might not like about traveling from Pattaya to Koh Samui is the distance between the two destinations. If you take the land and water route, you will cover 890 kilometers as you will have to drive along the northern coast of the Gulf of Thailand and then continue south as far as Surat Thani, where the Koh Samui ferry departs. As you can imagine, it’s a long journey, but it’s worth it. To travel from Pattaya to Koh Samui this way, you can choose from a variety of bus, van, ferry and even train options. However, to shorten the travel time, many tourists decide to fly from one place to another. We will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each option below.
Flight from Pattaya to Koh Samui
U-Tapao Rayong International Airport in Pattaya © praccha hariraksapita / Shutterstock.com
Although few Thai islands have their own airport, Koh Samui is one of the largest and has an airport. Therefore, traveling here is quite simple if you choose to fly as you won’t have to worry about changing modes to get there. Pattaya also has an airport, U-Tapao International Airport, and there are direct flights from Pattaya to Koh Samui, so this seems like the easiest option to get from one place to another. However, this convenience and speed comes at an additional cost that makes flying an expensive option as other options are much cheaper.
One of the reasons it’s so expensive is that only Bangkok Air offers flights from Pattaya to Koh Samui, so there’s no competition with other airlines. This means that Bangkok Air can basically charge you anything you want on your tickets. Of course, for this additional fee, you can reach Koh Samui in just over an hour. Even adding the time needed to get to U-Tapao Airport and from Koh Samui Airport to the hotel, the total travel time will still be shorter than other transportation options. Bangkok Air flights include 20 kilograms of checked baggage, so you don’t have to worry about your suitcases.
Bangkok Airways plane at Koh Samui Airport © islandboy_stocker / Shutterstock.com
In addition to the price, the flight from Pattaya to Koh Samui has another disadvantage, namely, there is only one flight per day between these two destinations. This may not be a problem as you can book flights through 12Go.asia in advance and arrange to fly to Pattaya at 5:15 PM and arrive in Koh Samui for dinner.
Bus and ferry from Pattaya to Koh Samui
Most bus options include a change in Bangkok © nitinut380 / Shutterstock.com
Due to the huge savings, many travelers choose to travel by bus and ferry from Pattaya to Koh Samui. However, you will need to think carefully if you want to choose this combination as it is a good investment of time. This makes it not the best option for families or anyone who feels overwhelmed by tight spaces. However, there are other benefits to traveling by bus and ferry: most buses run at night, so you save an overnight stay too. Of course, if you find it difficult to sleep in common areas, you will probably find it difficult to rest on the bus. On the other hand, it is easier to align plans with bus schedules, as there are more bus departures than planes daily, which can influence your decision.
There are several different bus companies that serve this route, but whichever you choose, be prepared to change trains in Bangkok. Look carefully at each option as in some cases you have to travel a significant distance from where one bus stops to where the next bus stops and this may mean you have to take a taxi to make a connection. Check out the website about 12Go which allows you to compare several transport options to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui and you will be able to see when you need to change and how long it takes. You can also buy a combined bus and ferry ticket on this page.
With some bus companies, it is also possible to book yourself. For example, Yellow Bus has a good reputation and its route from Rayong to Koh Samui passes through Pattaya, so you can take the bus in this city. You will need to buy a boat ticket at the ferry terminal as there is no possibility to buy combined tickets with this company.
With Yellow Bus or Rong Rueang (another bus company) the whole trip takes about 15.5 hours plus 1.5-2 hours by ferry. Traveling through Bangkok can make the journey longer.
Another option if you want to relax is by van, train, bus and ferry. Adding a stretch by train is a great option to have a different experience in Thailand, but the total journey time is 23 hours. Combination tickets for the entire journey can be purchased via 12Goif you are interested in traveling from Pattaya to Koh Samui with this transport combination.
If money is not an issue, we recommend flying as it is a much easier option. However, if you like adventure and want to see Thailand up close, you can opt for the bus and ferry.