Koh Samui is one of the most popular Thai Islands for backpackers. With plentiful sunshine, beautiful beaches, temples, jungle and lots of beachside bars, it’s easy to see why people flock here. It’s easy to reach the island on the Surat Thani to Koh Samui ferry.
Key Takeaway: There are three companies that operate ferries from Surat Thani to Koh Samui with the fastest journey time of under two hours, and prices starting at 400 Thai Baht ($12). Book your ticket today with Direct Ferries.
I took the trip on the Koh Samui ferry when I visited the island on a trip from China. It was a great way to arrive on the island, and I even saw a couple of dolphins swimming in front of the boat (but wasn’t quick enough to grab my camera unfortunately).
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Why Take the Surat Thani to Koh Samui Ferry?
Although Koh Samui has a small airport, flights are not cheap and you can save money by taking the overnight train from Bangkok and then taking the ferry Surat Thani Koh Samui.
- Enjoy a leisurely trip without the stress of flying
- Cheap – tickets from just $12.00
- Amazing views of the Gulf of Thailand
- Spot dolphins and other marine life
- Relax on some of the most picturesque beaches in the world
There are many reasons to visit the fun-packed and beautiful island of Koh Samui. Kick back under the palm trees of Chaweng Beach, hit the bar street for a night of entertainment or trek to beautiful waterfalls on the island.
Book today with Direct Ferries
How to Get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui by Ferry
There are three ferry services between the city of Surat Thani on the mainland and the island of Koh Samui. Ferry tickets include a shuttle service from the city centre, train station or the airport, so choose the relevant service depending on where you will arrive.
The services are operated by Seatran, Raja Ferry and Lomprayah with slightly different routes, fares and crossing time. See below for the up-to-date prices and timetables for each.
How Long is the Surat Thani to Koh Samui Ferry?
The ferry to Koh Samui takes between three and three and a half hours. The quickest service is
Surat Thani to Koh Samui Ferry Timetable
SeaTran Timetable
| From | Departs | Arrives | Duration |
| Donsak | 08:30 | 11:30 | 3hrs |
| Donsak | 09:30 | 12:30 | 3hrs |
| Airport | 09:00 | 13:30 | 4h30m |
| Airport | 10:30 | 14:30 | 4hrs |
Lomprayah Timetable
| From | Departs | Arrives | Duration |
| City | 10:00 | 11:45 | 1h45 |
| City | 13:00 | 15:15 | 2h15m |
Surat Thani to Koh Samui Ferry Price
Sea Tran 476 Thai Baht ($13.50)
Raja Ferry 406 Thai Baht ($11.50)
Lomprayah 650 Thai Baht ($18.40)
How to Book
It’s easy to book your Surat Thani Koh Samui ticket online with Direct Ferries. You can use the form below or click here to book.
You’ll receive an e-ticket which you can use to board the boat.
Getting to Surat Thani
I took the overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani which takes around 12 hours in a comfortable sleeper. There are 9 trains per day travelling between the capital and Surat Thani. You can find more details here.
There is a shuttle bus from the railway station, city centre and airport to the main ferry port.
Surat Thani Port
Address: 25/1 Suratthani Mittraphap, Sikhio District Suratthani, 84220. Click here for directions.
Some of the ferries leave from the port at Donsak and the shuttle bus is included in the price.
Donsak address: Don Sak, Don Sak District, Surat Thani 84220, Thailand. Click here for directions.
The Crossing
There isn’t much shade on deck so be sure to bring a hat and put on plenty of sunscreen if you want to sit outside and enjoy the incredible views of the archipelago around Koh Samui. There are also seats inside if you want to keep in the shade.
Keep your eyes open for dolphins breaching which was one of the highlights of taking the ferry Surat Thani Koh Samui for me. You’ll get to see lots of islands that make up the Angthong Marine Park archipelago, which is well worth a day trip. Click here for more info.
Arriving on Koh Samui
The ferry to Koh Samui arrives at Nathon Pier on the west side of the island. From there it’s an hour by bus to the main resorts of Chaweng and Lamai.
Getting into Town
You can jump on one of the open-backed buses or jeepneys to reach your final destination. It takes about 40 minutes to get to Chaweng Beach from Nathon Pier, and another 20 minutes to Lamai.
Things to Do on Koh Samui
There’s tons to do on Ko Samui. If you just want to kick back and relax on the beach or at one of the beachside bars, this is the perfect place.
Although the water is crystal clear, box jellyfish can pose a threat so it’s best to swim in the netted areas (you’ll find these on all the major beaches like Chaweng and Lamai).
Top Things to Do on Koh Samui
- Take a tour of Angthong Marnie Park
- Visit Namuang Waterfall
- See Chaweng Beach
- Enjoy Lamai Beach
- Visit the Big Buddha
- Take a dip at Crystal Bay
Where to Stay
I stayed at Samui Sunset Hostel a stone’s throw from the beach at Nathon. Click here to check prices.
FAQs
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the crossing from Surat Thani to Koh Samui:
The ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui takes from just two hours and 15 minutes. The total journey time including transfers from the city centre takes three to four hours.
The fastest ferry to Koh Samui is with Lomprayah High Speed Ferries which takes just over two hours to make the crossing.
Ferries to Koh Samui leave from the main port in the city or the one at Donsak. Ferry tickets include transfers from the city centre, railway station or airport, so select the ticket which best fits your arrival destination in Surat Thani.
There are no car ferries to Koh Samui. However, once on the island, you can rent a car or motorcycle.
Conclusion
Now you know how to take the Surat Thani ferry to Koh Samui, which is definitely the most fun way to reach this gorgeous Thai island.
With multiple sailings each day and a short crossing that can be combined with a shuttle from the city or airport, it’s a super convenient way to get there. Book your ticket with Direct Ferries today.
You might also like my other articles about Thailand:
About the author:
Steve Rohan is a writer from Essex, England. He has traveled to over 60 countries, lived in Armenia, China and Hong Kong, and is now living the digital nomad life on the road.
Steve prefers “slow travel” and has covered much of the world by train, bus and boat. He has been interviewed multiple times by the BBC and recently featured in the documentary Scariest Places in the World. See the About page for more info.
Where I am now: Yerevan, Armenia 🇦🇲
Hi
Thanks for the information it’s been helpful in planning our next trip.