Krabi to Koh Samui

The fastest way and the easiest way

Lomprayah's bus and high-speed boat is the fastest by land and sea, about 3 hours 45 minutes. The easiest is your own van from the villa to Donsak, about 5.5 hours door to door, with a van waiting on Samui.

Phantip's bus and ferry is the cheap way, 5 to 8 hours once the wait at the pier is counted.

Ask Tanner which way suits your group.

When the buses leave

Lomprayah leaves its Krabi office at 8am and 11:30am (Ao Nang at 7:20am and 10:45am) and lands at Nathon at 11:45am or 3:45pm. Lomlahkkhirin leaves at 9:30am for Pralarn pier in Maenam at 2pm. Phantip leaves Krabi Bus Terminal at 10:15am (1:30pm from November) and lands at Nathon at 3:30pm (checked October 2026).

Nathon and Lipa Noi are on the west coast, across the island from Chaweng and Lamai, so the van waits at the pier.

Ask Tanner to have the Samui van at your pier.

Can you fly?

Yes. The flight from Krabi to Koh Samui is Bangkok Airways' nonstop, about 50 minutes, leaving at 2pm in October and 1:45pm in November, with an evening flight added by mid-December. One-way fares ran about ฿3,900 to ฿4,550 for October to December (checked October 2026).

Connections through Bangkok take 4 to 8 hours, no faster than the bus and boat. Insider tip: in November and December, when the Gulf crossing can be rough, the flight is the comfortable pick.

Ask Tanner to book the seats early for December and January.

Is there a direct ferry?

No. There's no direct ferry from Krabi to Koh Samui: Krabi is on the Andaman coast and Samui is in the Gulf, so every ticket crosses about 210 km by road to Donsak Pier first.

Coming from Koh Lanta? Get to Krabi first, then take the bus. See every route on Getting around Thailand.

Ask Tanner to plan the road leg from wherever you're staying.

The Krabi to Koh Samui bus and ferry

The Krabi to Koh Samui bus and ferry is one ticket: a coach or van across the peninsula, then the boat from Donsak. Lomprayah's catamaran crosses in about 45 minutes; the car ferries take about an hour and a half (checked October 2026).

Here's the tip: buy the combo as one ticket, so the boat waits if the bus runs late.

Most boats land at Nathon, on the west coast, so the Samui van meets you there, not at the airport.

Tanner's pick: your own van from the villa at 8am. No changes, no wait at Donsak, and the bags stay in one car.

Ask Tanner which crossing fits your day.

Why the group goes by private car

Your own van leaves the Krabi villa when you're ready, timed to the boat at Donsak, with a van waiting on Samui. Leave at 8am and you're at the Samui villa by early afternoon.

A luxury van for up to 4, a party van for up to 10, or a coach for 20 and more. Ask Tanner your number, and he books the vans and the boat.

When to go

Krabi is driest from December to March and wettest from May to October. Samui's rainy season runs October to December, with November the wettest month, the Thai Meteorological Department says (checked November 2026).

Boats run all year, but November and December crossings can be rough. Insider tip: on a winter trip, do Krabi first and Samui after Christmas.

Ask Tanner which order suits your dates.

Krabi or Samui?

Krabi is the Andaman side: Ao Nang, Railay and the boats to Phi Phi. Samui is the Gulf side: pool villas, beach clubs and the Full Moon next door on Koh Phangan.

Do both: Krabi first for the islands, then Samui and Phangan for the party. The fast boats cross from Samui to Phangan in 20 to 30 minutes.

See Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, Krabi to Phi Phi and Koh Samui nightlife, then plan it with Tanner.

Krabi to Koh Samui in short

• Krabi to Koh Samui takes 4 to 8 hours by bus and boat: about 210 km of road to Donsak Pier, then the boat.

• There's no direct ferry; the nonstop flight takes about 50 minutes.
• Fastest by land and sea: Lomprayah's bus and boat, about 3 hours 45 minutes.
• Cheapest: Phantip's bus and ferry, 5 to 8 hours.
• Most boats land at Nathon, on Samui's west coast.
• For a group: your own van, with another waiting on Samui. See Koh Samui villas.

Checked October 2026.