| Travel Guide Samui is an island located about 80 kilometers from Suratthani, the nearest
mainland city. You can fly here with Bangkok Airways directly from Bangkok. They also have
direct flights from Phuket, Krabi and Singapore. Pelangi Airlines now offers 2 charter
flights per week direct from Kuala Lumpur, with availability subject to demand.
Those on a budget can take the trains from any of the above cities for as little as 1/10
the cost of flying. Many people book sleeping berths in the overnight trains from Bangkok.
You will disembark at Suratthani station very early in the morning, from where you are
taken by bus to the ferry for the 1 to 2 hour crossing from the mainland.
Buses are the least expensive option for those on a tight budget. They also travel to
Suratthani from all major cities in the region.
If you have a car or motorcycle that you wish to bring to Samui, you can drive to Donsak
Ferry Terminal and put your vehicle on board.
| Air Plane The direct flight from Don Muang airport in Bangkok to Samui is by far the most
convenient way to come. Samui Airport is privately owned and operated by Bangkok Airways
and the price of the ticket is high by comparison to other comparable destinations
throughout the country, however the airport is a sight for sore eyes (and sore bodies.)
This delightful little facility has won International awards for its environmentally
friendly design and bucolic charm.
Note: Bear in mind you
will be required to pay a 450 baht per person surcharge upon your departure from Samui
airport, payable in baht.
An economical option to
consider is a flight from Bangkok to Suratthani with Thai Airways. The cost of the ticket
is substantially less than the Bangkok Airways direct flight to Samui. However from
Suratthani you will still have to take a bus from the airport to the ferry for the 1 hour
20 minute boat ride across. Because of the ferry and flight schedules, this itinerary
seems more practical going than coming.
Bangkok Airways
October 28th 2001 - 30th March 2002 |
| Bangkok
- Samui |
| Flight |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| PG 111 |
0620 |
0750 |
Daily |
| PG 151 |
0700 |
0830 |
Daily |
| PG 121 |
0720 |
0850 |
Daily |
| PG 113 |
0800 |
0930 |
Daily |
| PG 115 |
0830 |
1000 |
Daily |
| PG 421 |
0840 |
1040 |
Daily |
| PG 153 |
0900 |
1030 |
2, 4, 6 |
| PG 117 |
0930 |
1100 |
Daily |
| PG 143 |
1100 |
1210 |
Daily |
| PG 119 |
1130 |
1240 |
Daily |
| PG 123 |
1230 |
1400 |
Daily |
| PG 125 |
1310 |
1440 |
Daily |
| PG 129 |
1340 |
1510 |
Daily |
| PG 131 |
1430 |
1600 |
Daily |
| PG 145 |
1450 |
1600 |
Daily |
| PG 147 |
1550 |
1720 |
Daily |
| PG 133 |
1630 |
1800 |
Daily |
| PG 135 |
1720 |
1850 |
Daily |
| PG 139 |
1820 |
1950 |
Daily |
| PG 141 |
1850 |
2020 |
Daily |
| PG 155 |
1920 |
2050 |
Daily |
|
| Samui
- Bangkok |
| Flight |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| PG 110 |
0710 |
0840 |
Daily |
| PG 112 |
0730 |
0900 |
Daily |
| PG 114 |
0850 |
1020 |
Daily |
| PG 116 |
0910 |
1040 |
Daily |
| PG 118 |
1000 |
1130 |
Daily |
| PG 150 |
1030 |
1200 |
Daily |
| PG 152 |
1110 |
1240 |
Daily |
| PG 120 |
1140 |
1310 |
Daily |
| PG 122 |
1240 |
1350 |
Daily |
| PG 126 |
1310 |
1420 |
Daily |
| PG 144 |
1430 |
1600 |
Daily |
| PG 128 |
1510 |
1640 |
Daily |
| PG 130 |
1630 |
1740 |
Daily |
| PG 146 |
1650 |
1820 |
Daily |
| PG 132 |
1750 |
1920 |
2, 4, 6 |
| PG 422 |
1750 |
2000 |
Daily |
| PG 134 |
1830 |
2000 |
Daily |
| PG 136 |
1910 |
2040 |
Daily |
| PG 138 |
1930 |
2100 |
Daily |
| PG 140 |
2020 |
2150 |
Daily |
| PG 142 |
2050 |
2220 |
Daily |
|
| Phuket - Samui |
| Flight |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| PG 252 |
0950 |
1040 |
Daily |
| PG 245 |
1540 |
1630 |
Daily |
| PG 256 |
1800 |
1850 |
Daily |
|
| Samui - Phuket |
| Flight |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| PG 251 |
0820 |
0910 |
Daily |
| PG 253 |
1410 |
1500 |
Daily |
| PG 255 |
1620 |
1710 |
Daily |
|
|
| Singapore - Samui |
| Flight |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| PG 504 |
2010 |
2140 |
Daily |
|
| Samui - Singapore |
| Flight |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| PG 503 |
1550 |
1920 |
Daily |
|
| Days |
| 1. Mon |
2. Tues |
3. Wed |
4. Thurs |
5. Fri |
6. Sat |
7. Sun |
| Thai
Airways |
Bangkok - Suratthani
| Flight |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| TG 253 |
10:30 |
11:45 |
Daily |
| TG 277 |
16:15 |
17:30 |
Daily |
|
Suratthani - Bangkok
| Flight |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| TG254 |
12:30 |
13:40 |
Daily |
| TG278 |
18:15 |
19:25 |
Daily |
|
|
|
BUS
While it has certain drawbacks, the bus is easily the most economical way to travel, and
an adventure in itself. You can buy tickets and board at the major Bangkok public bus
stations, or if you are stopping at Khao San Road, you can catch an overnight bus
departing in the evening, to all southern destinations including Samui. You will stop very
early in the morning at Suratthani, which is the mainland access city to Samui, where you
will transfer to another bus for the trip to the ferry that crosses to the island.
Be aware that not all buses are the same. Spending a few baht more can make a significant
difference in comfort. The most comfortable are probably the overnight "Super
VIPs." These air-conditioned double decker vehicles have toilets, seats that lean
back quite far with leg rests at the bottom, and they also supply blankets for the
journey. All buses stop at least once for refreshment, but little or no food or drink is
served on board. An evening video is almost always shown on an overhead TV, and played at
volumes that may make sleep difficult. However once the film ends around 10:00 pm, if
you're lucky, you may sleep through much of the night.
Khao San Road
Known to readers of every budget traveler's guide, this little corner of the city is the
first stop for many first-time travelers to Thailand who wish to spend a little time in
Bangkok before continuing their journey. Catering especially to "backpackers",
most find Khao San Road a very hospitable place, and the easiest way to ease into the
country with a minimum of culture shock. All the merchants and travel agents speak
English, there are second-hand bookshops, coffee shops and inexpensive guesthouses, and
many spend a few very comfortable days there chatting with travelers from all over the
world before moving on to their next destination.
AIR-CONDITIONED COACH
Tour buses run directly from Bangkok to Samui, and Samui to Bangkok via the vehicle ferry
from Donsak in Suratthani Province.
Southern Bus Terminal :
Boromratchchonnani Rd, Bangkok Tel: (662) 435-1200, 434-7192
|
Bangkok - Samui
| Class |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
Price |
| **2nd |
19:30 |
08:00 |
Daily |
308 baht |
| **1st |
20:00 |
10:00 |
Daily |
390 baht |
|
Samui - Bangkok
| Class |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
Price |
| **2nd |
13:30 |
04:30 |
Daily |
308 baht |
| **1st |
14:30 |
05:30 |
Daily |
390 baht |
| *VIP |
17:00 |
06:00 |
Daily |
700 baht |
|
Notes
**Price not including ferry ticket.
*Price including ferry ticket.
SONGSERM
Joint Ticket - Bus and Express Boat
Kaosan Road, Bangkok, Tel: (662) 629-0781
Price 450 baht |
| Bangkok- Suratthani -
Samui |
| Departure |
Arrival |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 17:00 |
06:00 |
08:00 |
10:30 |
Daily |
| 19:00 |
06:00 |
08:00 |
10:30 |
Daily |
|
| Samui - Suratthani -
Bangkok |
| Departure |
Arrival |
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 14:00 |
16:30 |
19:30 |
05:00 |
Daily |
| 14:00 |
16:30 |
20:00 |
06:00 |
Daily |
|
PANTHIP BUS CO LTD
All prices below include ferry ticket (vehicle ferry Donsak - Samui) |
Suratthani - Samui
price 100 baht
| Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 06:30 |
10:00 |
Daily |
| 08:30 |
12:00 |
Daily |
| 12:30 |
16:00 |
Daily |
| 14:30 |
18:00 |
Daily |
| 15:30 |
19:00 |
Daily |
| 16:30 |
20:00 |
Daily |
|
Samui - Suratthani
| Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 07:30 |
11:00 |
Daily |
| 09:30 |
13:00 |
Daily |
| 11:30 |
15:00 |
Daily |
| 13:30 |
17:00 |
Daily |
| 14:30 |
18:00 |
Daily |
| 16:30 |
19:30 |
Daily |
|
Had Yai - Samui price
320 baht
| Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 08:00 |
15:30 |
Daily |
|
Samui - Had Yai
| Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 07:30 |
16:00 |
Daily |
|
Samui - Krabi price
290 baht
| Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 07:30 |
14:00 |
Daily |
|
Krabi - Samui price
290 baht
| Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 10:00 |
19:00 |
Daily |
|
Samui - Phuket price
330 baht
| Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 07:30 |
14:30 |
Daily |
|
Phuket - Samui price
330 baht
| Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| 10:00 |
19:00 |
Daily |
|
|
|
| TRAIN You can
economize by making the trip from Bangkok (or elsewhere) to Samui by taking the train, and
if you have the time, it can be good fun. Most people opt for a second-class berth in a
fan-cooled or air-conditioned compartment, while a private first-class cabin for two can
be very romantic! Either way, the cabin service is usually quite good
While the trip is long and
the noise of the train may wake you up often, new friendships are sometimes made during
the journey. Don't forget to take a bottle of water and tissue paper on board with you.
The conductor will waken you prior to your early morning arrival in Suratthani, but you
might want to take a small alarm clock with you in case.
NOTE: If no sleeping
berths or (reclining) seats in second class carriages are available, think very carefully
before buying a third class train ticket. The seats are straight backed and fairly rigid,
and the carriages can get very full and warm. It might be the longest journey of your
life.
When you disembark at
Suratthani, employees of the bus company will be waiting to stow your bags in the correct
bus that will take you to the ferry pier for the boat ride to Samui.
When you board the ferry, if
you're still sleepy, you can buy a seat in the "VIP" aircon lounge for 40 baht.
The seats recline and are very comfortable.
These Rail-Bus-Ferry tickets
can be purchased at the train station in Bangkok. For the return trip from Samui, you can
buy them on the island at Songserm and other travel agents.
STATE RAILWAY OF THAILAND
Thon Buri Station Southern Line
Advance tickets are available
at all principal stations or the Bangkok Advance Booking Office.
Tel.(662) 225-0300 ext 5200-3.
| Bangkok - Suratthani |
| Train |
No: |
Class |
|
|
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| Express |
83 |
1,2,3 |
A/C |
SCA |
17:05 |
04:42 |
Daily |
| Rapid |
173 |
2,3 |
|
|
17:35 |
05:23 |
Daily |
| Rapid |
167 |
2,3 |
|
SCA |
18:20 |
06:25 |
Daily |
| Express |
85 |
1,2,3 |
|
SCA |
19:15 |
07:20 |
Daily |
| Express Diesel Railcar |
39 |
2 |
A/C |
|
22:30 |
07:35 |
Daily |
| Express Diesel Railcar |
41 |
2 |
A/C |
|
22:50 |
08:01 |
Daily |
| Suratthani - Bangkok |
| Train |
No: |
Class |
|
|
Departure |
Arrival |
Days |
| Express Diesel Railcar |
40 |
2 |
A/C |
|
10:25 |
20:00 |
Daily |
| Rapid |
174 |
2,3 |
|
SCA |
16:20 |
05:05 |
Daily |
| Express |
86 |
1,2,3 |
A/C |
SCA |
17:37 |
06:05 |
Daily |
| Rapid |
168 |
2,3 |
|
SCA |
18:20 |
07:15 |
Daily |
| Rapid |
172 |
2,3 |
A/C |
SCA |
19:52 |
08:35 |
Daily |
| Express Diesel Railcar |
42 |
2 |
A/C |
|
20:30 |
06:35 |
Daily |
| Express |
84 |
1,2,3 |
|
SCA |
20:57 |
09:05 |
Daily |
| Rapid |
170 |
2,3 |
A/C |
SCA |
21:17 |
09:45 |
Daily |
| Express Diesel Railcar |
38 |
1,2,3 |
SP |
SCA |
22:38 |
10:35 |
Daily |
| Express Diesel Railcar |
36 |
1,2 |
SP |
SCA |
23:08 |
11:00 |
Daily |
Notes
A/C- Air-conditioned second
class day coach
SCA- Sleeping car accommodation
SP- Special Express
Fares (in baht)
Train |
1st class
A/C
double cabin |
2nd class |
3rd class |
Sleeping car |
Day coach |
A/C |
Fan |
A/C |
Fan |
| upper |
lower |
upper |
lower |
| Express |
1099 |
588 |
628 |
438 |
508 |
428 |
308 |
167 |
| Rapid |
- |
508 |
558 |
388 |
438 |
- |
| | |