Bangkok to Koh Samui
Flight time About 1 hour 10 to 20 minutes
In short
Bangkok to Koh Samui is about 1 hour 10 minutes on the direct flight from Suvarnabhumi.
Every way there, side by side
- Time
- About 4 hours door to door
- How often
- Bangkok Airways only, from Suvarnabhumi
- Booking
- Several weeks ahead; December to April sells out first
Bangkok first, then the island
Bangkok then Samui is the classic party trip: the city for two or three evenings, then a villa on the island, with the Full Moon on Koh Phangan a boat ride away.
See our Koh Samui guide.
The fastest way and the easiest way
The direct flight is the fastest and the easiest, about 4 hours door to door. The budget combo saves money but adds a bus, a pier and a boat with everyone's bags.
Direct flight BKK to Samui
- Door to door:
- About 4 hours
- Good to know:
- Bangkok Airways only; the highest fares
Flight to Surat Thani, bus and ferry
- Door to door:
- 5 to 7 hours
- Good to know:
- Budget airlines, then Donsak pier and a boat
Bus and boat
- Door to door:
- 11 to 14 hours
- Good to know:
- Overnight; Lomprayah from ฿1,250
Train and ferry
- Door to door:
- About 9 hours, plus the ferry
- Good to know:
- Train to Surat Thani, then Donsak and the car ferry
- About 1 hour 10 to 20 minutes, Bangkok Airways from Suvarnabhumi
- 5 to 7 hours
- 11 to 14 hours, from ฿1,250 (Lomprayah)
- about 9 hours to Surat Thani, plus the ferry
- Samui airport, near Chaweng
Why is the flight so expensive?
The direct flight takes about 1 hour 10 to 20 minutes. Bangkok Airways owns Samui airport, so there's no competition on the route.
The airport is near Chaweng, a short drive from most villas. Want it private? Ask Tanner to quote a private jet with the rest of the trip.
AIWhen should you book?
Book several weeks ahead, and earlier for December to April, when the seats go first.
October to December is the rainy season on the Gulf, so fly direct and keep a spare day before the flight home.
Put everyone on the same flight, and the cars meet you all at once.
Is there a ferry to Samui?
There's no ferry from Bangkok itself. The budget combo is a flight from Don Mueang to Surat Thani, a bus to Donsak pier and the ferry, 5 to 7 hours in all.
The car ferry from Donsak takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Buy it all as one ticket, so a late flight doesn't cost you the boat.
Can you take the bus or train?
The Bangkok to Koh Samui bus is the overnight bus and boat, from ฿1,250, about 11 to 14 hours to Bangrak Pier, Lomprayah's timetable shows. The special express train to Surat Thani takes about 9 hours, then the Donsak car ferry about 1 hour 30 minutes; check times and fares at the station.
Both are cheap and slow, and cost a group a whole day.
Getting the whole group there
Bangkok to Koh Samui is a busy route, with direct flights, budget flights to Surat Thani, and bus, train and boat combinations.
Most of those are the long way round. The direct flights leave from Suvarnabhumi only, so flying out early, sleep on that side of the city.
On the island side, the luxury van for up to 4 is from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, for the airport run and the first evening out.
Tanner's pick: fly direct. The ferry saves money and costs you a day by the pool.
When you land
Samui airport is near Chaweng in the north-east, and the main villa areas are a short drive away.
Your van meets the group at arrivals, drinks on ice, and takes everyone to the villa together.
The Full Moon on Koh Phangan is a short boat away. See Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, our Koh Samui villas and Koh Samui boats, then plan it with Tanner.
AIBangkok to Koh Samui in short
- Fastest: the direct Bangkok Airways flight from Suvarnabhumi, about 1 hour 10 to 20 minutes in the air.
- Door to door: about 4 hours on the direct flight.
- Budget: a flight to Surat Thani, a bus to Donsak pier and the ferry, 5 to 7 hours.
- Slowest: the overnight bus and boat, 11 to 14 hours, or the train to Surat Thani, about 9 hours, plus the ferry.
- No ferry from Bangkok itself: the boats leave Donsak, near Surat Thani.
- For a group: one direct flight, one van at arrivals, straight to the villa.
Checked November 2026.
Before you travel
Book several weeks ahead; December to April sells first
Direct flights leave from Suvarnabhumi only
Budget way: buy flight, bus and ferry as one ticket
The ferries leave Donsak pier, not Bangkok
No alcohol at public piers or on scheduled boats
Luxury van for up to 4, from ฿6,500 for 10 hours
The alcohol ban at public piers and on scheduled boats runs from 12 May 2026.
Checked Nov 2026
Tanner's offer
The car waiting at arrivals
A luxury van for up to 4 from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, a party van for up to 10, or a coach for 20 and more, there when the group walks out.
See the private option →
Written by Tanner Altman · Updated 7 November 2026
Questions
Questions people ask about Bangkok to Koh Samui
What is the fastest way from Bangkok to Samui?
The direct Bangkok Airways flight from Suvarnabhumi: about 1 hour 10 to 20 minutes in the air, and about 4 hours door to door. It's the only direct route, so book early.
How can I travel to Koh Samui from Bangkok?
By direct flight from Suvarnabhumi, by budget flight to Surat Thani plus a bus and ferry, by overnight bus and boat, or by train to Surat Thani and the car ferry from Donsak.
Is there a Bangkok to Koh Samui ferry?
Not from Bangkok itself. The ferries leave from Donsak pier near Surat Thani, after a flight, bus or train from Bangkok. The car ferry from Donsak takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Is there a Bangkok to Koh Samui train?
Only part of the way. The special express train runs to Surat Thani in about 9 hours, then a bus to Donsak and the car ferry, about 1 hour 30 minutes, finish the trip.
How long is the Bangkok to Koh Samui bus?
About 11 to 14 hours overnight with Lomprayah's bus and boat, from ฿1,250, arriving at Bangrak Pier on Samui. It's cheap, but it costs the group a day.
How do you get from Koh Samui back to Bangkok?
The same routes in reverse: the direct flight from Samui to Suvarnabhumi, or the ferry to Donsak and a flight, bus or train onward from Surat Thani. Tanner times the van to it.
Why is flying to Koh Samui so expensive?
Bangkok Airways owns Samui airport and flies the direct route from Bangkok, so there's no competition on fares. The cheaper way is a budget flight to Surat Thani and the ferry.
What is the best time to visit Koh Samui?
Outside the Gulf's rainy season, which runs October to December. Seats sell first from December to April, so book the direct flight several weeks ahead.
Plan it
Plan it with Tanner
Are you in Thailand now?
Last checked 7 November 2026
Credits: top photo AI-generated image.