Getting Around Ko Samui

If you are not flying into Ko Samui, you will probably get there through Suratthani.

There are overnight backpacker buses that you can get to Suratthani from Bangkok or by mnivans from the south from Haadyai or Penang island, Malaysia or from Phuket and Krabi.

Another route is by railway from Bangkok or Butterworth, Malaysia or Haadyai and Sungai Kolok.

The ferry terminal is not walking distance from the town center and so you get on a van or tuk tuk to get there from the transport arrangement made when you buy your boat ticket to Ko Samui.

You can also catch a train, a bus or drive.........the train and bus takes about 14 hours from Bangkok you then have to catch a long boat journey from Surat Thani ............cheap and an adventure but i'll leave this for now

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Bangkok Airways built its first airport at Koh Samui and it owns it so it's the only airline to fly there. The airport is the custest I ever saw. Very tropical with coconut trees and nice gardens, very colourful.

Located within the airport, passengers can dine on delicious traditional Thai cuisine at its open-air Thai restaurant. The latest additional to Samui Airport is the “Soul to Sole” spa where passengers can loosen up to a traditional Thai massage before boarding their flight.

The major debate when taking a vacation on a cruise ship is whether you can find your own activities, and risk not making it back to the ship on time, or just taking the organized tour bus, paying a little more, but ensuring you are there to leave (or they wait).

On this occassion, I was fairly happy with our tour. It included bus transfers, a elephant trekking excursion, monkey show, and thai cooking display. In addition it had some time to go enjoy Chaweng Beach Road (or we could have gone to the beach itself).

The bus tour was definitely worth it in Koh Samui, even though taxis are cheap. It was worth it to not have to fight or negotiate price on the taxi, wait in between stops, and we then did not have to pay to get into all the adventure stops.

This kind of red car can be flagged down on the main road as it loops around the island. Establish the price beforehand or ask about from your guesthouse so you'll not be overcharged. Press a ring if you want to get off.

This is the best form of transport i have seen around thailand!! The entire floor of this ferry is made into a huge bed, with lots of pillows everywhere and even bag racks so you keep your bag. The ferry goes through the night and you can even stay on it until about 7am, so you can get a good night sleep on it. The windows are normally open so you can smell the sea breeze coming into cabin so it brings a nice smell :) Saves on a night in a hotel. Also cool because you go to sleep on the mainland and wake up on the islands :)

These ferrys are on the east coast of thailand and go daily to both koh samui and koh pha ngan. I think a bunk for the night is about 120 baht which is about US$3

At the domestic departures terminal at the int'l airport. Tickets cost around $110 US each way, if memory serves. The food was sketchy, but the flight is short. I love the Ko Samui airport... all lush grounds, all wood and open air... the cutest airport I've ever been in...

Rent a scooter - they're a great way to get around. We rented on Ko Samui, but you can rent on Ko Phangnan as well (although it is super dangerous as the roads are pretty treacherous, so be safe). I think they cost about 300 BHT a day? Well, worth it, but wear your helmets - many people have been injured or killed screwing around on these things.