The ferry from Donsak to Koh Samui runs 45 minutes on Lomprayah catamaran or 1 hour 30 minutes on Raja Ferry and Seatran. Three operators each land at a different Samui pier, which changes the onward access to specific beach zones.
This guide tests the three operator choice on speed versus cost, the Lipa Noi versus Nathon landing decision that affects the onward taxi, and the vehicle-carrying Raja Ferry that travelers moving cars rely on.
Donsak to Koh Samui at a glance
- Lomprayah catamaran: 45 minutes, Nathon Pier, $10 one way
- Seatran ferry: 1 hour 30 minutes, Nathon Seatran Pier$0 180 ($7) one way
- Raja Ferry passenger: 1 hour 30 minutes, Lipa Noi Pier, $5 one way (cheapest)
- Raja Ferry vehicle: THB 800 to 1,500 depending on size, the only vehicle option
- Raja and Seatran schedule: hourly 05:00 to 19:00
- Lomprayah schedule: 2 daily (11:00, 15:00)
- Children under 100cm: free on all operators
- Origin pier: Donsak Pier in Surat Thani province on the mainland
- Distance: 30 km across the Gulf of Thailand
Three operators on the Donsak route and the speed-versus-cost trade
Three companies run direct service from Donsak to Koh Samui. The choice resolves on three factors: speed, cost, and which Samui pier suits the onward beach zone.
Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran, the fastest tier
Lomprayah runs 2 daily sailings on the Donsak to Nathon Pier route at 11:00 and 15:00. The catamarans cover the crossing in 45 minutes, half the time of the standard ferries. Foot-passenger fare runs about $10 one way. The boats are AC interior with open upper deck, comfortable in any sea state.
Lomprayah is the right choice for travelers with a tight Koh Samui timeline or who want maximum time on the island. The schedule is thin at 2 daily so the timing has to match the onward plan.
Seatran Ferry, the standard mid-tier
Seatran runs hourly from 05:00 to 19:00 on a 1 hour 30 minute crossing to Nathon Seatran Pier. Foot-passenger fare runs THB 180 (about $7). The schedule depth is the practical advantage. Travelers arriving Donsak on bus or train can match a Seatran sailing within 60 minutes.
Raja Ferry, the cheapest and only vehicle option
Raja Ferry runs hourly 05:00 to 19:00 on a 1 hour 30 minute crossing to Lipa Noi Pier on the west coast of Koh Samui. Foot-passenger fare is the cheapest on the route at about $5 one way.
Raja is the only operator that carries vehicles to Koh Samui. Cars run THB 800 to 1,500 depending on size, motorbikes around THB 200. For travelers moving cars or motorbikes from the mainland to Samui, Raja is the only option.
Photographer: Christophe95. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.Lipa Noi or Nathon, the landing pier that defines the onward taxi
The three operators land at three different piers on Koh Samui. The landing pier matters because the cross-island taxi cost from each is materially different depending on the target beach zone.
- Nathon Pier (Lomprayah): central west coast, the main ferry pier on Samui
- Nathon Seatran Pier (Seatran): 500m north of Nathon Pier, similar onward access
- Lipa Noi Pier (Raja Ferry): southwest coast, 5 km south of Nathon
Taxi distances from each pier to the most-booked Samui zones:
- To Chaweng: 25-30 km from any pier, 45 to 60 minutes$0 600 to 800
- To Bophut (Fisherman’s Village): 20 km from Nathon, 30 minutes$0 400 to 600
- To Lamai: 22 km from any pier, 40 minutes$0 500 to 700
- To Taling Ngam (west coast resorts): 4 km from Lipa Noi, 8 minutes$0 200 to 300
For travelers headed to Chaweng or Bophut, any pier works similarly. For travelers heading to Taling Ngam or the southwest coast, the Lipa Noi (Raja) landing saves real time and money.
Donsak as the second leg of the Bangkok bus-ferry combo
Most travelers reach Donsak as the second-to-last leg of a Bangkok overnight bus or train combo. The combined Bangkok to Koh Samui bus-ferry route uses Surat Thani as the mainland staging and Donsak Pier as the boat departure.
Typical Bangkok to Samui combo timing:
- Bangkok to Surat Thani by bus: 10-12 hours overnight on Lignite or Sukhumvit Tour
- Surat Thani to Donsak by minivan: 1 hour, included in combined ticket
- Donsak to Koh Samui by ferry: 45 min to 1h30m depending on operator
- Total trip time: 14 to 16 hours door to door
- Combined ticket fare: $30 to $50 total Bangkok-Samui
The combined ticket saves money against the flight option but loses on time. For travelers prioritizing cost, the combo is unbeatable. The companion Bangkok to Koh Samui bus and ferry article covers the full route in detail.
Best booking window and the monsoon morning rule
The route does not require advance booking on weekdays for foot passengers. The high-frequency Raja and Seatran sailings have ample capacity. Lomprayah’s 2 daily sailings sell out faster, especially in high season (December to March) when the 11:00 fills 2 to 3 days ahead.
Vehicle bookings on Raja Ferry require 24-hour advance reservation in high season. Same-day vehicle bookings in low season usually work but carry queue risk.
Gulf monsoon (October to December) brings rough afternoon seas. Morning ferries (05:00 to 10:00) run reliably year round. The 17:00 to 19:00 late sailings cancel 10 to 20 percent of the time in November storms. Check current Donsak Koh Samui ferry schedules for any weather-related changes.
Frequently asked questions about Donsak to Koh Samui
How long does the Donsak to Koh Samui ferry take?
How much does the Donsak to Koh Samui ferry cost?
Which ferry should I take from Donsak to Koh Samui?
Which Koh Samui pier should I arrive at?
Can I take a vehicle on the Donsak to Koh Samui ferry?
How do I get from Bangkok to Donsak?
What time is the last Donsak ferry to Koh Samui?
Where to stay on Koh Samui after the ferry
Three SHA-certified picks across Chaweng, Bophut, and the south coast to anchor the first night.
For all 27 Thailand ferry routes plus operator reliability, seasonal cancellation patterns, and booking strategy, see our complete Thailand ferry guide.
