Phuket to Koh Samui

No two Thai islands are the same; this is why you will experience a refreshing yet equally alluring contrast when travelling from Phuket to Koh Samui.

While the former has all the charms of being by the Andaman Sea, the latter reveals the best of the Gulf of Thailand.

Phuket to Koh Samui, Flights, Trains & Ferry Times, Distance & Prices

The best part is that the journey is straightforward and affordable. The most convenient option is to book a bus and ferry combination ticket offered by most ferry operators here.

There are several ways you can go about the travel; one is to take a bus from Phuket’s town centre and head to the Laem Thuat pier located in Donsak. From here, hop on a catamaran which takes you directly to Koh Samui. The trip will take around 6.5 hours.

Another option is to follow the same bus route, but from Donsak you board a cheaper ferry to Koh Samui. Since it’s cheaper, there may be unexpected changes, so be prepared for that, as well as around 7 hours of travel time.

There is also a bus line that services the Phuket to Surat Thani route, which takes 4.5 hours. Once in Surat Thani, go to the Donsak pier and then purchase a bus and ferry combination ticket to take you to Koh Samui.

If you take a government-operated bus, keep in mind that they may take a detour to Krabi to pick up passengers, and this may add a considerable amount of time to the journey. Additionally, all government-operated buses are mandated to pick up passengers on Saturdays and Sundays, so if you are travelling on these days, expect the trip to take a little longer.

If you have a car, you can also drive from Phuket to Koh Samui aboard the Saphan Thepkasattri bridge which connects the northernmost part of Phuket to the province of Phang Nga. However, if you’d rather take your car with you instead of drive it, larger ferries can accommodate vehicles, and you can find them at the Donsak pier.