Surat Thani to Koh Samui

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 6 min read

Koh Samui is Thailand's most visited island, and the main gateway from the mainland is a ferry crossing from the Surat Thani area. Three established operators run the route, the journey is short and reliable for most of the year, and combined bus-and-ferry tickets make it easy to get from Surat Thani town, the airport or the train station all the way to your hotel in one go.

The three main operators

All three operators depart from Donsak pier, which sits about 1 hour 20 minutes east of Surat Thani town by road. Pick-up transfers from the town centre, the train station at Phunphin, and the airport are generally included when you buy a combined ticket — which most travellers do, since it removes the need to arrange your own transport to Donsak.

Raja Ferry Port

Raja operates a large car ferry service between Donsak and Lipa Noi pier on Samui's west coast. The crossing takes around 1 hour 30 minutes and runs many times a day, roughly from early morning to late evening. Raja is popular with travellers bringing motorbikes and with lorries serving the island, so the boat is spacious and the deck open. The passenger fare is modest; vehicle surcharges are added on top. Lipa Noi is on the quieter western side of Samui, so you will need a songthaew or taxi to continue to your accommodation.

Seatran Discovery

Seatran runs both a high-speed catamaran and a car ferry from Donsak to Nathon pier, Samui's former capital on the north-west coast. The catamaran crossing takes around 1 hour; the car ferry is slower at roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Nathon is useful if you are staying on the northern or western side of the island, though it is less central than some alternatives. Seatran sells joint road-and-ferry packages from Surat Thani and from further afield.

Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran

Lomprayah departs from two mainland piers: Tapee pier near Surat Thani town, and Donsak pier. Services from Tapee generally leave earlier in the morning and can be a convenient option if you are arriving by overnight train, since the Phunphin train station is relatively close. The catamaran to Samui's Nathon pier takes around 1 hour from Donsak, or about 2 hours from Tapee depending on whether there are island stops en route. Lomprayah also sells combined bus-and-ferry tickets and is widely regarded as the best-organised operator in the Gulf. Their catamarans continue beyond Samui to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, so if you are island-hopping, a Lomprayah through-ticket can cover several legs.

Combined bus-boat tickets: the easiest approach

Most travellers buy a combined ticket that covers road transport from Surat Thani to Donsak (or Tapee) plus the ferry crossing. These are sold at the Surat Thani bus terminal, at travel agencies throughout the town, and directly through operator websites. The package typically includes:

• Pick-up from your guesthouse or a central meeting point in Surat Thani town.
• Transfer to Donsak pier by minibus or shared bus.
• The ferry crossing to Samui.
• Occasionally, a short transfer on arrival at Samui pier, though you usually arrange your own onward transport on the island.

If you are arriving by train, get off at Phunphin station (the main station serving Surat Thani) rather than Surat Thani itself. Operators usually pick up at Phunphin, and it is closer to Donsak than the town centre. If you flew into Samui Airport, you are already on the island — no ferry needed.

Travelling from Bangkok to Samui via Surat Thani

Many travellers approach Samui from Bangkok, either by overnight train or long-distance bus to Surat Thani, with the ferry as the final leg. The State Railway of Thailand runs sleeper trains from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong and Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue Grand) stations to Phunphin — the overnight service is a pleasant way to travel and puts you in position for an early ferry. See the Thailand by train guide for help planning the rail leg. Alternatively, direct bus-boat tickets from Bangkok's Khao San Road area or the Southern Bus Terminal bundle coach and ferry into a single booking — convenient and often good value, though journey times stretch to 10–14 hours or more. Full details are in the Bangkok to Koh Samui guide.

Arriving on Samui: which pier suits you?

Samui has several piers and which one you arrive at depends on your operator:

• Lipa Noi (west coast): Raja Ferry arrivals. Quiet location; good for Nathon and Bang Po areas, less convenient for the busier east and south.
• Nathon (west coast): Seatran and Lomprayah arrivals. Nathon has some services and accommodation but is not a tourist hub; most visitors take a taxi east to Chaweng or Lamai.
• Some Lomprayah routes call at Maenam on the north coast before continuing to Thong Sala (Koh Phangan), so check your ticket destination.

Taxis and songthaews (shared pick-up trucks) wait at all piers, but agree the price before you set off. The ride from any west-coast pier to Chaweng Beach typically takes 30–40 minutes.

Seasonal considerations

The Gulf of Thailand experiences its main monsoon from October to December, with November often the roughest period. During this time, ferry services between the mainland and Samui generally continue running — the route is well-established and operators have experience handling moderate swell — but individual sailings can be delayed or, in serious weather, cancelled. If you are travelling in November or December, allow an extra buffer day in your schedule and check forecasts. The rest of the year the crossing is typically straightforward; January to September is high season with full timetables and frequent crossings.

Weather conditions affecting Samui and Phangan can differ from those affecting Phuket and the Andaman coast, which sits on the opposite monsoon cycle. See ferries to the Thai islands for a full comparison of the two coastlines.

Island hopping onwards from Samui

If your plan includes Koh Phangan or Koh Tao after Samui, you can continue by catamaran without returning to the mainland. Lomprayah and Seatran both run inter-island services, and the crossing from Samui to Thong Sala (Phangan) takes around 30–45 minutes. See the Koh Samui to Koh Phangan guide for timetable and pier detail. From Phangan, Koh Tao is another catamaran ride north, covered in the Koh Phangan to Koh Tao guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the ferry crossing from the mainland to Koh Samui?

On a Lomprayah or Seatran catamaran the crossing from Donsak takes around 1 hour. Raja's car ferry takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. If you are starting from Tapee pier near Surat Thani town, the total sea time is longer but the road transfer at the start is shorter.

Do I need to book in advance?

In high season — particularly around Christmas, New Year, and the Full Moon Party periods — booking ahead is advisable, especially for Lomprayah catamarans. In quieter months, turning up at the pier or buying through a local travel agent on the day is generally fine.

Can I take a car or motorbike on the ferry?

Yes. Raja and Seatran both run car ferries that accept vehicles. Raja's Donsak–Lipa Noi route is the main car-ferry option; a vehicle surcharge applies in addition to the passenger fare.

Is there a direct ferry from Koh Samui back to Surat Thani town (not Donsak)?

Lomprayah runs services from Nathon pier back to Tapee pier near Surat Thani town, which is more central than Donsak. Check the Lomprayah timetable for departure times, as the town-pier option typically has fewer daily sailings than the Donsak route.