Koh Samui is the island belongs to SuratThani province, located in the middle-south of Thailand. Who ever come to Thailand should not miss the trip to this island because of its famous beauty. However, there have been many tourists struggling to find the best way to travel to this island. As my last experience, I travelled from Phuket to Koh Samui. This time, as the concerns of many tourists in Bangkok, I will continue the travel guide series by a small post about the way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui.
Normally, there are two most common ways to go to the island: by airplane and by ferry. Choosing to fly from to Koh Samui could be considered as a good option, because Koh Samui’s airport is near the beach. If you choose ferry, you can still fly from Bangkok to SuratThani airport, and then take a bus to Donsak ferry. From Donsak, you can easily go to Koh Samui.
Some important tips
As I has mentioned, you can get to SuratThani airport from Bangkok. As my own experience and advices of other travelers, the best choice is to book an early flight at 6:20 am or sleep at the Don Muang airport to save renting hotel fee. This might sound weird to many people but spend a night at the airport was truly one of our most memorable moments as we could play, drink beer and talk several things in a totally strange place.
When you are at SuratThani airport, find the tickets to travel by ferry or bus to Koh Samui. The last time I traveled, the ticket prices for bus and ferry are 150 baht and 200 baht respectively. According to the recommendations of experienced tourists, you should buy both of the tickets above. The most reliable bus brand is Phaptip, which is available at the ferry. From SuratThani, it would take you about 90 minutes to get to Don Sak ferry by bus. The ferry is large enough to carry truck, car. Moreover, there is also air conditioner and food store as well.
From 7 a.m to 7 p.m every day, there will be ferries which appear every one hour. There are also several brands of ferry, however if you choose Phaptip bus, you should also choose Seatrans ferry as they are partners and might serve you better.
Another way
There is one more way which is quite interesting, according to some travellers, which is going by train from Bangkok to SuratThani, then use ferry or bus as described above. The overnight train from Bangkok to SuratThani could create an unforgettable night for you. Tourist can easily check the price of train ticket here.
Overall, choosing the way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui depends on your own opinions and personality. For people who want to save time, airplane seems to be the best choice. However, for those who want their trip to last long and enjoy the whole journey rather than just the destination, going by ferry or train is considered to be appropriate.
Author: Jim
