How to Get to Koh Samui

Koh Samui sits about 25-35 km by sea from the mainland pier at Donsak, so every arrival is either a flight or a boat.

Option 1 - fly directly. Samui Airport (USM) is a small, mostly open-air airport on the island's northeast coast, privately owned and operated by Bangkok Airways since 1989. Most flights connect through Bangkok. Because competition is limited, fares are higher than typical Thai domestic routes. On arrival there is no public bus and Grab cannot pick up inside the airport: use the official taxi counter (fixed zone prices, about 400-1,200 THB; roughly 400-500 THB to Chaweng), a shared minivan (about 100-130 THB per person, leaves when full), or a pre-booked transfer.

Option 2 - mainland route (much cheaper). Fly, or take a train or bus, to Surat Thani (airport URT, about 60-90 km by road from Donsak pier - sources differ) or Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST, roughly 100-115 km from Donsak). Combined bus-plus-ferry tickets from Surat Thani town or airport cost roughly 500-650 THB. From Donsak, car ferries (Raja to Lipa Noi pier, Seatran to Nathon pier) take about 1.5 hours; foot passengers pay roughly 80-180 THB depending on the operator and source. The Lomprayah fast catamaran to Nathon takes 45-60 minutes and is quoted around 200-350 THB. Last ferries leave Donsak around 19:00 - do not plan an evening arrival.

Know your arrival pier. Ferries land at five different piers on different sides of the island: Nathon (west, main terminal), Lipa Noi (southwest, Raja car ferry), Maenam (north, Lomprayah fast boats), Bang Rak and Big Buddha Pier (northeast, boats to Koh Phangan). Taxis at piers are unmetered and negotiated; Lipa Noi has notably fewer and pricier taxis. In the October-December monsoon, rough seas can delay or cancel ferries - keep your last travel day flexible and check conditions before you set off.