The ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui runs 25 to 30 minutes on Lomprayah catamaran or 45 minutes on Seatran and Songserm. Four operators cover the short 20 km crossing with 12 to 15 daily sailings combined, the highest frequency on any Gulf island route.

This guide tests the operator choice on speed versus cost, the Nathon versus Big Buddha pier landing decision that affects same-day airport connections, and the Full Moon Sunday return demand spike.

Koh Phangan to Koh Samui at a glance

OperatorDeparturesDurationTypeFrom (one-way)Book
Lomprayah High Speed Fastest 4-5 daily (Big Buddha Pier option) 25-30 min High-speed catamaran $13-18 Check availability
Seatran 4 daily (Nathon) 45 min Scheduled ferry $10-14 Check availability
Songserm 3-4 daily (Nathon) 45 min Scheduled ferry $8-12 Check availability
Raja Ferry 2-3 daily 50 min Car ferry option $10-14 Check availability
  • Lomprayah catamaran duration: 25 to 30 minutes
  • Seatran and Songserm ferry duration: 45 minutes
  • Raja Ferry duration: 50 minutes
  • Lomprayah fare: $13 to $18 one way foot-passenger
  • Seatran fare: $10 to $14 one way
  • Songserm fare: $8 to $12 one way
  • Daily sailings combined: 12 to 15 across all operators
  • First sailing: 07:00 from Thong Sala Pier
  • Last sailing: 17:30 from Thong Sala Pier
  • Distance: 20 km across the Gulf of Thailand
  • Origin pier: Thong Sala Pier on the south coast of Koh Phangan
  • Destination piers: Nathon Pier (most) or Big Buddha Pier at Bang Rak (Lomprayah)

Four operators on the route and the speed-versus-cost trade

Four companies run direct service on the Koh Phangan to Koh Samui route. The short distance means the time differences are small at the absolute level (15 to 20 minutes between operators). The fare differences are also small. Operator choice resolves on schedule fit rather than dramatic cost or speed gaps.

Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran, the 25 minute option

Lomprayah runs 4 to 5 daily sailings on the catamaran. Crossing time is 25 to 30 minutes. Foot-passenger fare runs $13 to $18 one way. Some Lomprayah sailings land at Big Buddha Pier on the north coast (Bang Rak area), which sits closer to Samui Airport than Nathon does.

Seatran, the standard mid-tier

Seatran runs 4 daily sailings on a 45 minute crossing to Nathon Pier. Foot-passenger fare runs $10 to $14 one way. The schedule depth is reliable and the boats hold large passenger volumes.

Songserm, the cheapest option

Songserm runs 3 to 4 daily sailings on a 45 minute crossing to Nathon Pier. Foot-passenger fare is the cheapest at $8 to $12 one way. The boats are older but reliable.

Raja Ferry, the vehicle-carrying option

Raja Ferry runs 2 to 3 daily sailings on a 50 minute crossing. Raja is the only operator that carries vehicles between Phangan and Samui. Foot-passenger fare matches Seatran. Vehicle fares run THB 600 to 1,200 depending on size.

View from Nathon Pier on the west coast of Koh Samui the arrival point for ferries from Koh Phangan and Koh TaoPhotographer: Christophe95. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.
View from Nathon Pier on Koh Samui. Most Phangan ferries land here on the west coast. The Big Buddha Pier on the north coast is the alternative for Lomprayah sailings connecting to Samui Airport.

Nathon or Big Buddha Pier, the landing decision

The two destination pier options matter for travelers connecting to the Samui airport. Big Buddha Pier (at Bang Rak on the north coast) sits 5 km from USM. Nathon Pier on the west coast sits 25 km from USM.

  • Nathon to USM airport: 25 km, 40 minutes by taxi$0 700 to 900
  • Big Buddha Pier to USM airport: 5 km, 10 minutes by taxi$0 200 to 300
  • Nathon to Chaweng: 30 minutes$0 600 to 800
  • Big Buddha Pier to Chaweng: 15 minutes$0 350 to 500

For travelers heading directly to Samui Airport for a same-day flight, the Lomprayah Big Buddha Pier landing saves 30 minutes and $5 to $6 against Nathon. For Chaweng or Bophut accommodation, the Big Buddha landing also wins on time and cost.

Full Moon Sunday return demand spike

The reverse direction (Phangan back to Samui) sees a predictable Sunday demand spike the day after each Full Moon Party. Travelers ending the Saturday night party return to Samui on Sunday for the airport. The 08:00, 10:00, and 12:00 Sunday sailings sell out 3 to 5 days ahead in Full Moon weeks.

Outside Full Moon weeks the route has ample capacity. Walk-up booking at Thong Sala Pier works on any operator outside of Sunday after Full Moon, Chinese New Year, and the December holiday peak.

Best booking window and the day-trip from Samui math

The route prices on lead time and the Full Moon calendar. Book Sunday-after-Full-Moon Phangan-to-Samui sailings 5 to 7 days ahead. Other periods are flexible.

The route is short enough for a day trip from Samui to Phangan. A traveler can take the 08:00 Lomprayah from Big Buddha Pier, arrive Phangan by 08:30, spend the day on Phangan’s beaches, and catch the 17:00 or 17:30 return.

Gulf monsoon (October to December) brings rough afternoon seas but the short 20 km crossing is less weather-sensitive than the Samui-Tao or Tao-Chumphon routes. Morning sailings cancel less than 3 percent of the time year round.

For the most current 2026 schedules, check current Koh Phangan to Koh Samui ferry schedules across all four operators.

Frequently asked questions about Koh Phangan to Koh Samui

How long does the Koh Phangan to Koh Samui ferry take?
Lomprayah catamaran runs 25 to 30 minutes, the fastest. Seatran and Songserm slower ferries run 45 minutes. Raja Ferry runs 50 minutes. The crossing covers 20 km of the Gulf of Thailand between the two islands.
How much does the Koh Phangan to Koh Samui ferry cost?
Lomprayah catamaran runs $13 to $18 one way. Seatran runs $10 to $14. Songserm is the cheapest at $8 to $12. Raja Ferry vehicle option carries cars for THB 600 to 1,200.
Which Koh Samui pier should I arrive at?
Big Buddha Pier at Bang Rak on the north coast for travelers connecting to Samui Airport (5 km, 10 minute taxi) or Chaweng. Nathon Pier on the west coast for travelers heading to Lamai or Taling Ngam. Lomprayah operates some sailings to Big Buddha Pier; all other operators land at Nathon only.
Should I take Lomprayah or Songserm?
Lomprayah if you have a same-day Samui airport flight or want the 20 minute speed advantage. Songserm if budget is the priority. The fare gap is $5 to $10 per ticket. Both are reliable.
When is the last Phangan to Samui ferry?
17:30 from Thong Sala Pier on most operators. Travelers arriving Phangan after 17:30 are stuck overnight until the 07:00 first sailing the next morning.
Is the Phangan to Samui ferry busy on Sundays?
Yes after Full Moon Party Saturday. The 08:00, 10:00, and 12:00 Sunday sailings sell out 3 to 5 days ahead in Full Moon weeks. Other periods have ample capacity for walk-up booking.
Can I do a day trip from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?
Yes. Take the 08:00 Lomprayah from Big Buddha Pier on Samui, arrive Phangan by 08:30. Catch the 17:00 or 17:30 return ferry. The 8 to 9 hour day covers a beach plus lunch plus a Sri Thanu yoga or Bottle Beach visit.

Where to stay on Koh Samui after the ferry

Three SHA-certified picks across Chaweng, Bophut, and Lamai 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.

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