Getting to Samui

 
Since Samui is an island, your choices for getting there are somewhat limited:

Airplane

Samui's unusual and award winning open-air airport.

 
Samui's award-winning airport was built and is serviced mainly by Bangkok Airways flying from Bangkok, other parts of Thailand, and Singapore. There are flights between Samui and Bangkok more or less hourly from early morning until about 9:00 in the evening. The airport underwent a massive re-development in 2007 and 2008, and is now something of a destination in itself.

For advice on getting from the airport to your hotel, see our Getting Around page.

Note: Keep in mind that there is a 400 Baht (10.64 USD) departure tax for international flights payable at Samui airport.

Ferry

There are two main ferry companies operating boats between the mainland and Samui. Most passenger ferries leave the mainland from the pier a short distance from Surat Thani town, while car ferries use the port at Don Sak. Passenger ferries arrive at the main pier in Nathon Town, while car ferries arrive at a special-built pier further south down the west coast (see map).

Ferries to Phangan can be caught at either the pier in Nathon Town or at Bophut on the north coast. Lastly, it's worth noting that there is a combination bus / ferry service from Bangkok. Buses take you from Bangkok to Chumpon and from there a ferry travels to Tao, then Phangan and finally Samui.