To Koh Samui everyone is hearing. It is the third largest island of the Kingdom of Thailand. And, perhaps, he successfully defends the leadership of tourist sympathies in Phuket. The resort boom in Samui came at the end of the 70s. Since then, coconut groves and the jungle have made room, giving way to luxury hotels. There are legends about the white beaches of Samui . In addition to them, the island also has something to see. Monasteries, impenetrable jungle, waterfalls and elephant farms will create conditions for a rich excursion program. But in this article we are not going to paint the beauty of Koh Samui at all. Focus on the issue of transfer. Indeed, almost all international flights arrive in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. During the tourist season, some charters land in Phuket. How to get from Bangkok to Samui? Read about it below.
Airplane. Transit Flight Option
Samui Island is located approximately 500 kilometers from Bangkok and 40 kilometers from the coast, in the Gulf of Thailand, Indian Ocean. There are several ways to overcome the distance to the desired beaches and gentle waves. The fastest and easiest - transit flight. You don’t even have to leave the air-conditioned Suvarnabhumi Airport to the streets of Bangkok. Simply purchase your Bangkok Airways online ticket. And if you do not have time to buy - it does not matter: planes fly to the resort island from six in the morning to nine in the evening with a small interval, like buses. The flight Bangkok-Samui takes only an hour and ten minutes. On the island, the airport is located in the northern part, in the Bangkok (or Big Buddha) area. The feeling of the resort begins already with the ladder. The plane is served by funny trams that take passengers to a terminal covered with palm leaves. And from Bangkok to the place of rest can be reached by sangtei (jeep combi) or taxi.
Cons of direct transfer
Firstly, you will not see the sights of Bangkok. And this is a significant minus. But suppose you are not the first time in Thailand, or you are not interested in anything except the sea and the beach. But then there is one drawback in direct transfer. This is the price. Unfortunately, the AirAsia low-fire is not allowed on Koh Samui. Recently, Thai Airways flights have appeared, but their prices are slightly lower than those of Bangkok Airlines. Yes, and they fly only twice a day, which often excludes a transit flight. Thus, one ticket will cost you four and a half thousand baht. Quite a substantial reason to look for another solution to the question of how to get from Bangkok to Samui.
Low cost plus ferry
You can reduce the cost of the road from the capital to the island by half using the low-cost carrier AirAsia. The planes of this company fly to cities located on the continent, but not far from Koh Samui. But they are not leaving from the international hub of Suvarnabhumi. You need to get to the small Don Muang Airport. By taxi it will cost 500 baht. But the flight to Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat will cost about 1800 baht. Then you need to get to the pier Don Sak, from which there are ferries to the island. In order not to be tormented by the question of how to get from Bangkok to Samui, you can buy a combined ticket “airfare + ferry”. The price will include a transfer from local airports to the Don Sak pier and a boat ticket.
Train + ferry
So, let's resemble the estimate of the previous option. A trip to another airport, a low-cost flight, a transfer to the pier and a ferry will cost an average of more than two thousand baht per person. Better than with Bangkok Airlines, but still expensive. How to get from Bangkok to Samui even cheaper? Ground transportation only. The southern railway line is always very congested. This means that you can always leave for Surat Thani. About 12 trains depart daily in that direction. Tickets can be bought both online and directly at the box office at Hualamphong Train Station. But it’s best to go to the travel agency and purchase the Train + Ferry service package. It will also include a shuttle to Donsak Pier. Its price will depend on the class of the train, the comfort of the car and even the place. What is the benefit of the package? You will not worry that the delay of the train (and this is not an exception in Thailand, but rather the rule) will entail the fact that the ferry to Samui will leave without you. You will not need to take a taxi to Donsak Pier. And also stand in line for boat tickets.
Estimated option "train + ferry"
You can get from the international airport to the central station by metro - mere pennies. It is most convenient to go to Surat Thani by night train. Wagons in Thai railways, as well as around the world, have a classification. The first category - two people in a compartment, air conditioning. It is such a pleasure 1339 baht. Fortunately, the Bangkok-Samui train (more precisely Surat Thani) has second-class cars. Tourists claim that they are the most ideal combination of low price and high comfort. The second class happens with and without air conditioning. In the second case, the windows are ajar, and the wondrous smells of the night jungle fill the car. Each berth is separated from the general passage by a dense curtain. The lower shelf (wider and softer) costs more than the upper: 768 against 698 baht. There is another option to travel in third class (400 baht), but there are just soft chairs, like in a bus. Total total cost of the trip will be approximately 1,500 baht per person.
Bangkok Samui Bus
This method is the most inconvenient, the longest, but cheaper. If the train travels to Surat Thani for about 8 hours, then the bus is more than eleven. From the airport you need to get to the Southern Bus Terminal. It is best to purchase a ticket for the evening hours. So the bus will arrive at the first ferry, and after an hour and a half travel by sea you will step on the white sand of Samui. On Khaosan Road in Bangkok, you can buy a set of services, like the railway option. In this case, a minibus to the pier will be waiting for you in Surat Thani. You can also choose a ferry, although this has little effect on the price. But much depends on the class of the bus. From Bangkok to Samui can be reached in the first class. The seats in such a bus are wide and recline almost horizontally. But the whole trip in the second class (along with the ferry and transfer) will cost you 800 baht per person.