How this guide compares to other ferry coverage
The Surat Thani to Koh Samui route has four main operators (Lomprayah, Raja Ferry, Raja Car Ferry, Seatran), tracked in detail by Siam Tickets and Travelfish. Lomprayah’s high-speed catamarans handle the fastest crossing (45 minutes Donsak to Nathon Pier). The car ferries are slower but cheaper and accept vehicles.
You’ve arrived in Surat Thani by night train, overnight bus, or plane. Koh Samui is 70 kilometers and one ferry crossing away (Google Maps, April 2026). The pier is Donsak, not the town pier. The cheapest crossing is Raja Ferry at $4. The fastest is Lomprayah at 45 minutes. This guide tells you which operator to pick, how the land connection from the train station and airport works, and what to do when you arrive on the island.
Why Donsak Pier matters, not Surat Thani town
The main departure point for all ferries to Koh Samui is Donsak Pier (ท่าเรือดอนสัก), 70 kilometers east of Surat Thani town. This matters because the distance is significant. A taxi from Surat Thani town takes 1 hour 30 minutes (Google Maps, April 2026). From Surat Thani Airport it’s 1 hour 20 minutes.
The fastest way to handle this leg is buying a ticket from an operator that includes a shuttle bus. Seatran, Raja Ferry, and Lomprayah all offer land transfers as part of their ticket price (operator schedule, 2026). The bus departs from the operator’s town office and connects directly with your sailing. Check current ferry times and combined tickets →
If you’re arriving by train, note that the train stops at Phun Phin station (พุนพิน), not Surat Thani city center. The two are 14 kilometers apart. From Phun Phin, operator shuttle buses run to Donsak. Buy the combined ticket before you travel or at the station exit. Allow 3 hours from train arrival to being on the ferry.
The town pier in Surat Thani city itself still operates, but only for night boats heading to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. If a tuk-tuk driver offers to drive you to “the ferry” in town, that’s the wrong pier for Samui. Confirm Donsak by name before you get in. The drive there from the city is on Highway 401 and Highway 4142, two lanes most of the way, slower in the November to January rains.
Ferry operators, prices, and journey times
- Raja Ferry: Journey: 1.5 to 2 hrs (Raja Ferry); Fare (USD): $4 to $8; Arrives at: Lipa Noi Pier; Notes: Cheapest. West coast arrival, further from beaches
- Seatran Ferry: Journey: 1.5 hrs (Seatran); Fare (USD): $10 to $14; Arrives at: Nathon Pier; Notes: Reliable, frequent departures
- Lomprayah: Journey: 45 min (Lomprayah); Fare (USD): $17 to $26; Arrives at: Nathon Pier; Notes: Fastest. Includes Bangkok bus ticket option
Ferries run 06:00 to 18:00 daily with around 13 sailings across all three operators (verified by SHA Thailand editorial, April 2026). There’s no overnight ferry on this route. Night boats from Surat Thani go to Koh Tao (เกาะเต้าเปลือย) and Koh Phangan (เกาะพะงัน), not Samui. If you arrive in Surat Thani after 17:00, you’re staying the night and catching the morning boat.
How to pick between the three. If your priority is cost and you don’t mind arriving on the quieter west coast, Raja Ferry is the answer. If your priority is a Nathon arrival close to Chaweng and Lamai without paying premium speed, Seatran is the middle option. If you’re trying to compress the Bangkok-to-Samui leg into a single day and the extra fare is acceptable, Lomprayah’s catamaran is the only operator that pairs a Bangkok bus with a 45-minute crossing.
Getting from Bangkok to Koh Samui via Surat Thani
The two practical land options from Bangkok both pass through Surat Thani.
Night train + ferry. Trains depart Bangkok Hua Lamphong station (สถานีรถไฟหัวลำโพง) from 17:05 (operator schedule, 2026). They arrive at Phun Phin between 05:30 and 08:30. Costs split as follows:
- Second-class sleeper berth: $35 to $43
- Ferry crossing: $10 to $26 depending on operator
- Total journey time: roughly 14 hours
- Total combined cost: $47 to $69
Book the train on the SRT website at least three days ahead on weekends. December and Songkran sleeper berths often sell out a week before departure. If lower berths are gone, upper berths cost slightly less and trade footroom for a narrower bunk.
Lomprayah combined ticket. Lomprayah sells a bus + catamaran ticket from Bangkok Khao San Road for $38 to $40 (Lomprayah). Pickup around 07:00, arrival on Samui around 18:00 to 19:00. 11 to 12 hours total. The land-to-sea connection is managed by Lomprayah. If the bus is late, the ferry waits. Book at least two days ahead; a week ahead in December and January. Compare combined Bangkok to Samui tickets →
Two further options exist if the land routes feel too long:
- Fly Bangkok to Surat Thani on AirAsia or Nok Air (1 hour 15 minutes, around $40 to $80 one way) and join the ferry shuttle from the airport. Total door-to-door time drops to about 6 hours.
- Fly direct to Samui’s airport on Bangkok Airways, which skips the ferry entirely but runs higher at $90 to $180 one way.
If price drives the decision, the night train and the Lomprayah bus stay competitive against both flight options.
For all routes between the Gulf islands, the Thailand ferries guide has the full timetable breakdown. For the next crossing after Samui, to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao, see the Surat Thani ferry connections section on this page.
Arriving on Koh Samui at Nathon and Lipa Noi piers
Raja Ferry arrives at Lipa Noi Pier (ท่าเรือลิปะน้อย) on the west coast, 15 kilometers from Nathon town. Seatran and Lomprayah arrive at Nathon Pier (ท่าเรือนาทอน) further north on the same coast.
Onward transport from each pier breaks down as follows:
- Nathon Pier to Chaweng Beach: 30 to 40 minutes by taxi, $11 to $14 (Google Maps, April 2026)
- Lipa Noi Pier to Chaweng Beach: 45 to 50 minutes by taxi, $14 to $17
- Songthaew (สองแถว, shared pickup truck): fixed routes from $3 to $6, slower, may require changes
Taxis do not use meters on Samui. Agree the price before you get in. If you’re heading straight to Chaweng or Lamai, Seatran or Lomprayah saves you $6 to $8 in taxi fare versus Raja Ferry’s Lipa Noi arrival, and the ferry fare difference covers most of it.
If your hotel is on Bophut or Maenam on the north shore, both piers are roughly equal distance. If your hotel is on the southwest coast around Taling Ngam or Lipa Noi itself, Raja Ferry into Lipa Noi is the cheaper and more direct arrival. Always send your driver the hotel’s pin from Google Maps rather than the neighborhood name; place names repeat across the island.
When to cross and when to wait a day
The Gulf of Thailand stays workable for ferries most of the year, with one caveat. The November to mid-January monsoon period produces the heaviest swell on the Samui side. Catamaran services run unless conditions are genuinely unsafe, but the ride is rougher and cancellations happen on the worst days. If you’re sensitive to motion, take a Seatran or Raja Car Ferry rather than the Lomprayah catamaran during this window. The slower boats sit lower in the water and roll less.
March through October is the quieter sea season for this route. February sits between the two and is the most reliable single month on the calendar for crossings. If your travel dates are flexible and you want the lowest chance of a weather delay, aim for February or March.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?
Which pier do ferries leave from in Surat Thani?
Is there an overnight ferry to Koh Samui?
How do I get from Surat Thani train station to the ferry?
Which ferry operator is cheapest?
Where to stay on Koh Samui
STAY
SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort
One of the top-rated properties on Chaweng Beach, with an infinity pool that faces the Gulf and a private stretch of sand. From Nathon Pier, it's 30 minutes and $11 by taxi. The Chaweng Road-facing rooms pick up noise from the strip; ask for a sea-view room when booking if quiet matters more than the view.
STAY
Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut Beach
On the north shore at Bophut Beach, five minutes from the Fisherman's Village night market. Quieter sand than Chaweng, consistent rooms, and a pool that doesn't feel like a crowded theme park. It's further from the airport and piers than Chaweng options. Factor in 45 minutes and $14 taxi on arrival.
STAY
Lub d Koh Samui Chaweng Beach
Rooftop pool, social bar, clean private rooms, and an address on Chaweng Beach that costs a fraction of the resort next door. Rooms are compact. This is not the place if you need space. If you're spending most of your time outside anyway, the price-to-location trade is hard to argue with.
For the full hotel breakdown on Koh Samui, covering all areas and all price ranges, read the best hotels in Koh Samui guide.
Schedules and fares verified at the time of publication. For overarching travel guidance, see the Tourism Authority of Thailand sea-travel notes.
