Koh Samui Ferry Guide: Piers, Operators and Which Boat

Featured image: Dirk Enthoven, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick answer: which Koh Samui ferry should you take?

Start with where you are coming from. From the mainland, Donsak is the pier to know. Operators report about 1 hour from Donsak to Samui on Lomprayah's high-speed catamaran, and you can check current times on the Lomprayah site. Seatran is reported at about 1.5 hours and Songserm at about 2 hours. Raja Ferry is the slowest at about 2.5 hours, but it is the one reported to carry cars and motorbikes. Between islands, Samui to Koh Phangan is a crossing of about 30 minutes. Treat every figure here as a planning estimate and confirm it before you buy.

• Mainland to Samui: Donsak is the main pier for larger and high-speed boats.
• Samui to Koh Phangan: short catamaran hops of about 30 minutes.
• Samui to Koh Tao: longer crossings, reported at roughly 1.5 to 2 hours on the fastest boat.
• Leaving Samui: ferry to Donsak, or fly from the island airport.

Koh Samui ferry piers explained

Pier choice matters more than most visitors expect. Nathon, on the west coast, is the main pier for mainland connections and Phangan sailings. Bangrak, also called Big Buddha Pier, suits travelers staying near the airport, Bophut and Chaweng. Maenam is reported as a quieter arrival point for the north coast. Lipa Noi is reported as the vehicle-ferry pier used mainly by Raja. Operators change piers over time, so read your ticket for the exact departure point. Onward taxi costs can outweigh a small fare saving if you land on the wrong side of the island. For transfers from each pier, see our guide to Getting Around Koh Samui: Best Transport by Area.

• Nathon Pier: west coast, main hub for mainland and Phangan boats.
• Bangrak (Big Buddha) Pier: handy for the airport, Bophut and Chaweng.
• Maenam Pier: north coast, reported use by some high-speed services.
• Lipa Noi Pier: reported base for Raja vehicle ferries.

Ferry operators compared

Five names cover most Samui sailings: Lomprayah, Seatran, Songserm, Raja and Boonsiri. Speed and boat size trade off against each other. Catamarans save time on a 1-hour crossing. Larger car ferries ride more steadily if you get seasick. Raja publishes its own details at Raja Ferry's official site. Any cell marked "check operator" needs confirming before you plan around it.

Getting from Bangkok or Surat Thani to the Donsak ferry

Most overland travelers buy a bus-plus-ferry or train-plus-ferry ticket. Bus plus ferry from Bangkok is reported at 10 to 12 hours. Train plus ferry is reported at 12 to 14 hours, with a bus from Surat Thani Train Station to Donsak of about 1.5 hours. Check sleeper availability on the State Railway of Thailand site. Full route detail sits in our Bangkok to Koh Samui guide. For the mainland-pier side, read our Surat Thani to Koh Samui guide. A combined ticket is simpler, while separate legs give you flexibility. Combined tickets also cut the risk of a late bus missing the boat.

Ferry vs flight: time, cost and luggage

Flying from Bangkok takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Reported one-way fares run from ฿3,500 to ฿6,000, depending on season and booking time. Bangkok Airways is the airline listed for the route. Check its schedule on the Samui Airport site. Ferry combinations cost less but take most of a day. Heavy luggage and children favor the flight. Tight budgets favor the boat. Our Koh Samui airport guide covers arrival logistics. Weigh both options in our complete Koh Samui access guide.

Tickets, prices and how to book

Fares vary by operator, speed and whether you buy a combined ticket. Older listings put standard Donsak-area ferries at ฿250 to ฿600 and Lomprayah at ฿500 to ฿700. Combined bus-plus-ferry tickets from Surat Thani were listed around ฿400 to ฿800. Bangkok bus-plus-ferry packages were listed from ฿900 to ฿1,300. Treat these as rough bands, not current fares. In relative terms, Raja sits at the budget end and Lomprayah at the premium end. Booking platforms may add fees. Carry your passport and check foot-passenger rules before travel. Some operators send an e-ticket, while others want pier check-in. Book ahead for holidays and Full Moon dates on Phangan, and ask the operator about changes or cancellations.

Season, weather and holiday schedule changes

Monsoon weather in October and November can disrupt sailings, so rough crossings and cancellations are possible. Smaller, faster boats are usually affected first. If you have a flight the same day, leave a buffer of several hours rather than a tight margin. Ferry timetables can also change on public holidays and busy seasons. Check the operator close to your travel date and allow extra time at the pier. For official weather information, consult the Thai Meteorological Department before you travel.

Island-hopping: Samui to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao

Samui to Phangan is a hop of about 30 minutes, roughly 4 nautical miles from Nathon to Thong Sala. Booking-site timetables show Nathon departures from about 10:30 to about 17:15, with Songserm, Lomprayah and Boonsiri sailing. Sample departures included 10:30, 12:15, 14:35, 16:00 and 17:15, though timetables change. Standard fares were listed at ฿150 to ฿300 and catamarans at ฿300 to ฿500. Samui to Koh Tao runs about 1.5 to 2 hours on Lomprayah, with fares listed at ฿500 to ฿900. Sequence the loop Samui, Phangan, Tao, then return, so you avoid backtracking. Check the Tao legs first, since they have fewer sailings.

Leaving Koh Samui

To reach the mainland, take a ferry from Samui to Donsak, then a bus or train toward Surat Thani. Allow roughly 1.5 hours by road from Donsak toward Surat Thani. For Bangkok, flying avoids most of that journey. Phuket has no direct ferry from Samui. Travelers go by bus and ferry, reported at 5 to 8 hours. Book airport transfers in advance, and check onward transport in our island transport guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most ferry problems come from planning too tightly. Avoid these errors.

• Booking a tight connection between a bus and the last ferry.
• Showing up at the wrong pier without checking your ticket.
• Assuming same-day tickets will be available on holidays.
• Ignoring monsoon disruption in October and November.
• Picking the cheapest boat when you get seasick.