How To Get to Koh Samui Thailand: The Easiest Ways to Get to Samui Island (2026)

Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s Gulf islands, along with Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and it’s easily one of the most popular resort and beach vacation destinations in the country.

I’ve seen some of the most beautiful turquoise waters of my life here! Between the stunning beaches and some of my favorite hotels and resorts I’ve ever stayed at, it’s one of my top spots in Thailand

But today, I don’t want to talk about how beautiful the island is, no, today I want to talk about the logistics. Getting to Koh Samui can be a little confusing, especially if you’re coming from other islands or trying to look after your budget. 

I’ve traveled here in a few different ways, so I figured I’d put together this little guide on how to get to Koh Samui, how I got there myself, and all the options you have for 2026.

How I Got to Koh Samui – My Experience

I’ve been to Koh Samui twice now, once a few years back and then just recently for a family vacation. And I have to say, I really love spending time on the island, especially when I’m treating myself to a nice resort vacation right on the beach. It’s the perfect place to just switch off.

Anyway, for my very first trip, I flew straight into Koh Samui from Bangkok. Koh Samui actually has its own airport, and it’s honestly one of the coolest and most unique airports I’ve ever seen. It’s all outdoors and feels more like a tropical garden than a transit hub. Also, they have a free snack bar for passengers (yes, for real!), which is such a nice touch.

When I went back recently, I checked the prices for flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui and they were ridiculous. Considering it’s only about a hour-long flight, I just couldn’t justify it. So, I decided to fly into Surat Thani instead and take the ferry from there.

Looking back, I’ll be honest: I would probably only fly straight into Samui from now on. I’ve realized I’d rather just pay more for the comfort and get to the beach faster. When I flew into Surat Thani (which is the airport on the mainland), I then had to jump on an hour-long bus to the ferry port and then wait for the ferry to the island.

Since I was traveling with my family this time, it just felt like a lot of extra hassle that wasn’t worth it for me. I’m definitely “Team Fly Direct” these days! However, if you’re traveling on a budget or you’re backpacking, then saving that money definitely makes sense, the “fly-bus-ferry” route will save you a decent chunk of cash for sure.

How To Get to Koh Samui from Bangkok

Getting from Bangkok to Samui is one of the easiest transfers ever because I’ve always just flown. There are two main ways to do it, and it really just depends on whether you want to save time or save some cash.

Option 1: Fly From Bangkok to Koh Samui

If you want the quickest route, you just fly straight there. Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Koh Samui and back all day long. While I didn’t fly into Samui from Bangkok on my recent trip, I did fly with them from the island back to Bangkok, and I have to say, it was pretty expensive for such a short flight.

I think I paid around $200 USD for a flight that only lasts about an hour, which is kind of wild. But in all fairness, they did give me a really good experience. The plane was comfortable and super spacious, and they even served a proper meal with coffee and drinks, which was actually kind of nice considering we were barely in the air for an hour.

On top of that, the Koh Samui airport is honestly so beautiful. It’s all outdoors and they have a little “Courtesy Corner” with free coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and even popcorn which I had never seen at any other airport before.

Bangkok Airways actually owns the Koh Samui International Airport, which is why they have a total monopoly and the prices are so high, but they do at least try to make it feel like a premium experience.

Option 2: Fly to Surat Thani and Take the Ferry

This is exactly what I did on my most recent trip to Koh Samui because I thought the direct flight was a little too expensive! It was the Christmas holidays, and the prices for a direct flight were just ridiculous.

So, I flew from Bangkok into Surat Thani instead, which is the airport on the mainland. From there, I jumped on an hour-long bus ride to the ferry port and then took the ferry straight to Koh Samui.

• The whole journey from the airport to finally landing in Samui took me about 4 hours.
• It was significantly cheaper though, if I remember correctly. The flight from Bangkok was only about $60 USD and the transfer was maybe $30 USD, whereas the direct flight would’ve been well over $200.

I booked the transfer from Surat Thani airport as a package with a transport company, so they took care of everything once I arrived. 

The service was actually great! This option definitely takes longer and it’s a bit more of a mission, but it’s much cheaper. If you’re traveling on a budget or you’re a backpacker, this is 100% the way to go. I’ll add the links below so you can book those same flight and ferry packages.

Book Here: Bus + Ferry to Koh Samui (Official Website)

How to Get to Koh Samui from Phuket

Getting from Phuket to Koh Samui is pretty much the same story as getting there from Bangkok. You’re basically choosing between saving your time or saving your money, there’s no real middle ground!

Option 1: Fly from Phuket to Koh Samui

Bangkok Airways offers the exact same deal here as they do from Bangkok. I haven’t actually done this specific flight myself, but I’ve looked into it enough to know it’s the same setup: a super short, 55-minute flight that is, frankly, way overpriced.

Since they own the airport in Samui, they can charge whatever they want, and I’ve seen prices for this tiny hop range anywhere from $100 to $300 USD depending on when you go.

I don’t know about you, but paying $300 for a one-hour flight feels a bit crazy to me! But, if you’re on a short vacation and just want zero hassle, this is 100% the fastest and most comfortable way to get to the island.

Option 2: Bus & Ferry from Phuket to Koh Samui

This is the route I took years and years ago when I was backpacking through Thailand for the first time. Back then, I was taking buses everywhere because I just didn’t want to spend my limited budget on expensive flights. From experience, I can tell you it’s way, way cheaper, but it’s also a much bigger mission.

You can book “combo tickets” from Phuket that include a bus to the ferry port and then the boat over to Koh Samui. It’s not a super uncomfortable journey, it just takes forever, usually about 8 to 9 hours in total, with most of that time spent on the bus.

I know that sounds like a long day, but when you consider it costs around $20–$30 USD compared to potentially $300 for a flight, it’s a pretty great deal for budget travelers. I’ll make sure to link those combo tickets down below if you’re looking to save some cash!

Book Here: Bus + Ferry to Koh Samui (Official Website)

Where I Would Stay in Koh Samui Thailand

I also want to give you a very quick 101 on where to stay in Koh Samui because I’ve met loads of people that make one big mistake: they just type “Koh Samui” into Booking.com and book a random hotel or resort without checking the location first.

One of my biggest problems with Koh Samui is just how different all the areas are. It’s a super big island and it’s very built up, so some parts of Samui literally just look like a city and honestly, they’re often not very pretty. 

Other parts are much calmer and more peaceful with that real island vibe, which is what I personally prefer.

So, my very quick rule of thumb is that the south and west coasts are where I usually want to be. It’s way more peaceful over there and that’s where you’ll find the nicer resorts. There is definitely less going on, but I really like a quiet vacation. Other than that, I also love Lamai Beach, but I always try to stay away from Chaweng Beach since that’s the busy, trashy party area.

If you’re looking for a recommendation, here are two of my favorite resorts I’ve stayed at before and would totally stay at again: 

Book Here: Explorar Koh Samui

Book Here: Moorea Boutique Resort Samui

FAQs About Koh Samui How to Get There

What is the cheapest way to get to Koh Samui?

The cheapest way is almost always by bus and ferry. Especially if you’re coming from Phuket, I wouldn’t even consider flying if you want to save money, the price difference is just too big.

If you’re coming from Bangkok, I’d recommend flying into Surat Thani on the mainland first and then catching the ferry from there. It’s a bit more of a mission, but it’ll save you a fortune compared to the direct flight.

Is Koh Samui worth visiting?

Absolutely! I personally loved it here, but I’ll be very honest: I love it for a chill, resort-style vacation with family or as a couple. I think that is what Koh Samui does best. I wouldn’t necessarily come here if I was looking for a rugged, backpacker “castaway” vibe, but for a proper resort holiday? Yes, for sure.

Can I take a ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Samui?

You definitely can. There are ferries and speedboats running between all the Gulf islands, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, as well as the mainland pretty regularly. I usually use 12go.asia to book my tickets; I’ve used them a bunch of times and never had a bad experience. It just makes the whole thing way less stressful.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samui?

I’ve been to Samui and Thailand a few times now, and from experience, I would only ever come back in late spring or early summer, so around April to June. 

That’s my favorite time because the weather is usually the best and the crowds are at their lowest. You get those perfect sunny days without having to fight for a spot on the beach!

Final Thoughts on Flight or Ferry to Koh Samui

After traveling around Thailand as both a broke backpacker and on a bigger budget for a family vacation, I can say that nowadays I definitely value the comfort of a direct flight. Honestly, I’d usually rather just pay more to fly directly into Koh Samui than spend 7 hours on a bus and another 2 on a ferry.

However, I haven’t forgotten my backpacker roots! I know that when you’re on a tighter budget, saving that extra cash is crucial, and I totally support going the cheaper route too. Thailand’s transportation system is actually pretty great, and even the buses are usually comfortable enough. It really just comes down to whether you have more time or more money to spend.

I hope my little guide helped you plan your next trip to Koh Samui. Happy travels!

Check Out My Other Koh Samui Guides

Is Koh Samui Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

How to Get to Koh Samui: The Easiest Ways to get there

Best Time to Visit Koh Samui: When I Would Come Again

Koh Tao vs Koh Samui: Which One Do I Like Better