To enjoy the best landscapes in Thailand, we recommend visiting both coasts in the south of the country. Phuket on the west coast is the best place to see the impressive karst formations of the Andaman coast, and while Phuket has some great beaches, you’ll find even better ones on the pretty island of Koh Samui on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand. So if you’ve been in Phuket for a while, how do you get to Koh Samui? Too easy. There are many travel options from Phuket to Koh Samui. Read on to discover all the possibilities.
Ways to get from Phuket to Koh Samui
As this route is popular with tourists, there are plenty of opportunities to travel between these two fantastic destinations. If you are looking for the quickest option to cover this distance (over 300 kilometers), flights are undoubtedly the best option, although they are also the most expensive. Traveling by car is quite an experience as it gives you the chance to enjoy amazing views along the way, but keep in mind that Koh Samui is an island that is not connected to the mainland, so you would need to take a ferry to get there. Some companies offer combination tickets that also include ferry travel. We will explain to you all the ways to get from Phuket to Koh Samui.
Find out more:
• Flights from Phuket to Koh Samui
• By car from Phuket to Koh Samui
• Bus and ferry from Phuket to Koh Samui
Flights from Phuket to Koh Samui
Bangkok Airways plane at Koh Samui Airport © islandboy_stocker / Shutterstock.com
There is only one airline that flies from Phuket to Koh Samui: Bangkok Air. The good thing is that there are several flights a day, so you can choose the one that best suits your itinerary and budget. Unfortunately, since Bangkok Air has a monopoly on this route, there is no competition from other companies and prices can be quite high. That said, if you compare the duration of a plane trip with the bus and ferry travel times, you will save a lot of time with the flight. It takes less than an hour to travel from Phuket Airport to Koh Samui Airport, and even considering the time it takes to check in and go through security, it’s still the quickest option. With this in mind, flights from Phuket to Koh Samui are without a doubt the best option if you’re on time.
By car from Phuket to Koh Samui
If you’re not in such a hurry and like to explore and stop along the way to get an up-close look at Thailand’s magnificent scenery, driving can be a great way to travel from Phuket to Koh Samui. A rental car gives you a lot of freedom, and if you split the cost between several friends, it’s not very expensive. By road, the route is approximately 350 kilometers (219 miles) and the journey without stops will take approximately 6 hours. But there is no doubt that the advantage of this option is that you can stop along the way to enjoy other cities such as Surat Thani and catch the ferry the next day.
Raja Ferry Port is suitable for private vehicles to access the ferries, so you can take your rental car to Koh Samui and use it to get around the island.
Bus and ferry from Phuket to Koh Samui
Lomprayah High Speed Ferry © Vasit Buasamui / Shutterstock.com
If you prefer someone to drive for you while you take in the scenery, perhaps the best option is to take a bus and ferry to Koh Samui. Believe it or not, there are several options for combined bus and ferry tickets, so you can choose the option that best suits your budget. The cheapest option is to take a bus from Phuket Bus Terminal 2, although the convenience offered by this option is not as good as other alternatives. The bus is air-conditioned and although there is no toilet, it makes two stops along the way to go out and use the bathroom if necessary. The bus will take you to the ferry to Koh Samui, and once you get to Na Thon on the island, you will have to navigate on your own. The bus leaves Phuket in the morning and the journey takes about 8-9 hours.
If the level of comfort is important to you, you can choose from one of the more versatile, albeit more expensive, bus and ferry options. Buses that depart from the Lomprayah office are more comfortable, and then you’ll take the high-speed ferry to Koh Samui, where there’s a cafe where you can enjoy a drink before relaxing in the sun on board to take in the views. The journey time in this case is approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes.
If you spend a little more, you can hire a van to go from Koh Samui port to your hotel. This is an interesting option if you want a door-to-door service, so you don’t have to worry about finding a taxi to your hotel, and the price is reasonable if you buy it with a combo ticket.
As you can see, there are many travel options from Phuket to Koh Samui. Take your time, arrive in a few hours, enjoy more luxury, or go for the cheapest option if you’re backpacking.