Fly if the fare is right, otherwise leave Phuket by 10:00 AM.

The distance as the crow flies between Phuket and Koh Samui is approximately 250 km. However, since the islands are located on opposite coasts of the Thai peninsula – Phuket on the Andaman Sea and Samui in the Gulf of Thailand – there is no direct ferry service. You can either fly or spend a day making the crossing. Bangkok Airways is the only airline that offers nonstop service. The flight time is 55 minutes, and there are 6–7 flights daily. Prices on booking websites start at around 3,500 baht for late October and November and around 5,000 baht in December.

Check the current flight times and seat availability for flights from Phuket to Koh Samui on 12Go.

By land, you travel by bus or van across the peninsula to the Donsak ferry pier and from there take the ferry to Koh Samui. The entire journey takes 6–8 hours. Cheap tickets from Phuket 2 bus station cost around 775–820 baht with 12Go. Raja Ferry goes to Lipa Noi, and a ticket for bus and catamaran with Lomprayah costs 1,300 baht from their office in Phuket or 1,500 baht with hotel or airport transfer. All land-based connections depart from Phuket between 6:30 and 10:00 am. If you miss the morning connection, you'll have to fly or spend another night there.

Below you will find flights by season, each overland ticket with pick-up location and Samui pier, the reasons for the flight price and tips for your arrival.

Accommodation in Koh Samui

This route ends in Koh Samui. Search for hotels in Koh Samui for your travel dates or narrow your search to the region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.

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The short answer

Fly when it's worth it, as Bangkok Airways offers 6-7 direct flights daily in 55 minutes. Prices are around 3,500 baht in October and November and around 5,000 baht in December. The cheapest option is to travel by bus and ferry from Phuket 2 bus station. This costs approximately 775-820 baht and takes 7.5-8 hours. All land connections leave Phuket before 10:00 AM. After that, your only options are flying or another overnight stay.

Key Facts (2026)

Bangkok Airways offers this route nonstop in 55 minutes, 6-7 times daily.

Seven flights daily in mid-October (9:35 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.), six from the winter flight schedule starting October 29, and seven in December (from 7:30 a.m.). One piece of checked baggage is included. No other airline offers this route nonstop.

Fares range between approximately 3,500 and 5,000 Baht in December.

On booking portals, a flight costs approximately 3,500–5,000 baht at the end of October/November and approximately 4,900–5,050 baht in mid-December. Flights with a layover in Bangkok are more expensive and take 4–6.5 hours.

The cheapest option is the combination of bus and ferry from Terminal 2, approximately 775–820 Baht.

The Phantip (8:00 AM) and Raja (7:30 AM) ferries depart from Phuket 2 bus station and arrive in Samui around 3:30 PM. Phantip stops in Nathon and Raja in Lipa Noi. Tickets for hotel pick-up from Patong, Kata, and Karon cost approximately 950–1020 Baht.

Lomprayah's bus and catamaran cost 1,300–1,650 Baht.

1,300 Baht from the office in Phuket at 9:30 am, 1,500 Baht with hotel pick-up at 7:30 am or airport pick-up at 10:00 am, arrival at Nathon Pier at 3:45 pm in both cases. An additional 150 Baht will be charged for transfers to your hotel on Samui.

The last departures on the same day are at 10:00 AM.

The vans from Phantip and Songserm all depart from Phuket 1 bus station at 10:00 AM, as does the airport transfer from Lomprayah. Arrival in Samui is between 3:45 PM and 6:30 PM. From there, you continue your journey by plane.

Approximately 250 km as the crow flies, without a direct ferry connection

By road, it's about 290 km to the Donsak ferry terminal, and the crossing takes 1–1.5 hours. Information stating 850 km or 365 km on some booking websites is incorrect.

All routes from Phuket to Koh Samui compared (2026)

The flight prices correspond to those shown by 12Go for mid-October, early November, and mid-December, including fees. Lomprayah's prices are from their own 2026 flight schedule; the other prices for onward travel by land are those shown by 12Go for mid-October, including fees, which is why the price at the counter is lower. On Koh Samui, Nathon and Lipa Noi are located on the west coast, 40–45 minutes from Chaweng (400–500 baht by taxi).

Bookable departures · updated daily

Phuket → Koh Samui: Departure times you can book now

All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.

bus

Minivan

Ferry & Speedboat

12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

Check the current bus and boat connections from Phuket to Koh Samui.

12Go offers all bus and ferry combinations on this route, including hotel pick-up and drop-off in Samui, seat reservation, and instant e-tickets. The flight overview for this route also includes connections via Bangkok; therefore, compare direct flights when searching for flights.

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Flight from Phuket to Koh Samui in 55 minutes

An airline, one piece of checked baggage included, and why it costs so much

Bangkok Airways offers 6-7 daily nonstop flights from Phuket to Koh Samui (flight time: 55 minutes). On a weekday in mid-October, the departure times were: 9:35, 11:00, 13:00, 13:45, 16:00, 17:05, and 19:30. Since the start of the winter flight schedule on October 29th, there have been six flights between approximately 9:45 and 17:30, and in December, seven between 7:30 and approximately 20:00. Bangkok Airways is the only airline with nonstop service, as it owns Koh Samui Airport and operates almost all flights there. Consequently, airfares to Koh Samui are high. One piece of checked baggage is included in the price, which somewhat offsets the price difference compared to budget airlines to other destinations.

Prices on booking portals were around 3,500–5,000 baht at the end of October and in November, rising towards the end of November and reaching approximately 4,900–5,050 baht in mid-December. Therefore, book early for peak travel times. Some websites also offer flights with a layover in Bangkok, which take 4–6.5 hours and are more expensive; ignore these offers. Allow 50 minutes from Patong to Phuket Airport and one hour from Kata or Rawai. On Koh Samui, the airport is 10–15 minutes from Chaweng and Bophut and about 30 minutes from Lamai.

Overland by bus and ferry via Donsak

Which ticket, where in Phuket it is picked up and at which pier on Samui it arrives

All overland travel tickets include a bus or van ride across the peninsula to the Donsak ferry terminal near Surat Thani (approx. 290 km) and from there a car ferry or catamaran to Koh Samui. The cheapest tickets depart from Phuket 2 bus station north of Phuket Town. The 8:00 AM Phantip bus connects with the Seatran ferry and arrives in Nathon around 3:30 PM for approximately 820 baht (via 12Go; one traveler paid 650 baht at the terminal in 2024). The 7:30 AM Raja Ferry bus arrives in Lipa Noi, 8 km south of Nathon, around 3:30 PM for approximately 775 baht. Hotel pick-up tickets are available from 6:30 AM in Patong, Kata, and Karon. They cost approximately 950–1020 Baht and save the 30–50 minute journey to the terminal.

The Lomprayah ticket is the most convenient option. The bus departs from their office in Phuket at 9:30 AM (1,300 Baht) or picks you up at 7:30 AM from hotels in Patong, Kata, Karon, Rawai, and Nai Harn. Alternatively, you can be picked up at 10:00 AM from Gates 1 and 2 of Phuket Airport (1,500 Baht each). From there, you'll take a catamaran to Donsak, arriving at Nathon Pier at 3:45 PM. For an additional 150 Baht, you'll be transferred to your hotel on Koh Samui around 4:45 PM. The same buses then continue on to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

The last tickets of the day depart at 10:00 AM. The Phantip and Songserm vans arrive in Nathon from Phuket 1 bus station at 6:30 PM and 5:45 PM respectively, while the Lomprayah airport transfer departs at 3:45 PM. Expect a long, relaxed day with one or two stops at gas stations, about an hour's layover at the pier, and a 1–1.5-hour ferry crossing. On Koh Samui, Nathon and Lipa Noi are located on the west coast, 40–45 minutes from Chaweng (approximately 400–500 baht by taxi). Therefore, a hotel transfer is recommended if you are staying on the east coast.

For budget-conscious travelers, the Phantip bus departs from Terminal 2 at 8:00 AM. Lomprayah offers a more comfortable option, including hotel transfers and return trips to your hotel on Koh Samui. Those who prefer to make the most of the day can fly.

The overland day from Phuket to Koh Samui

Three journeys on the bus and ferry route, filmed by other travelers. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press "Play".

Samui Airport (USM) → Bophut and Chaweng

Landing on Samui after the flight

Samui Airport is 10-15 minutes from Chaweng and Bophut. A car pre-booked through 12Go costs from approximately 600 Baht for the trip to both locations; the price is fixed before landing.

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In the other direction, from Koh Samui to Phuket

The same flights westward and the morning ferries to Donsak

Flights operate in the opposite direction, and tickets for the overland journey depart from Samui from early morning until 1:10 pm. The Koh Samui to Phuket travel guide lists all departures from the Samui side.

Find out about live boat and bus connections from Koh Samui to Phuket.

The same 12Go board for the return trip.

Have you booked your crossing? Plan your departure for Samui.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Phuket to Koh Samui.

Fly nonstop with Bangkok Airways (55 minutes, 6–7 flights daily, from around 3,500 baht outside of December) or travel overland by bus and ferry via Donsak (6–8 hours, around 775–820 baht for budget tickets, 1,300–1,650 baht with Lomprayah). There is no direct ferry service.

Yes. Bangkok Airways flies 6-7 times daily nonstop from Phuket to Samui (flight time: 55 minutes). It is the only airline that flies nonstop; however, booking portals also show connections via Bangkok that take 4-6.5 hours.

No. Phuket is located on the Andaman Sea and Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, on opposite sides of the peninsula. The "ferry tickets" include a bus ride to Donsak on the Gulf coast and then a ferry crossing to Samui; the entire journey takes 6–8 hours.

Approximately 6 to 8 hours. The Phantip bus at 8:00 am from Phuket Terminal 2 bus station and the Raja ferry at 7:30 am reach Samui around 3:30 pm, and the Lomprayah bus at 9:30 am reaches Nathon at 3:45 pm.

Flights in October and November cost approximately 2,980–3,700 baht each way on booking portals, and around 4,950 baht in mid-December, both including baggage. Early booking is recommended for peak travel times.

Bangkok Airways owns Samui Airport and operates almost all flights there, so there is no competition from low-cost carriers. One piece of checked baggage is included in the ticket price.

Bus and ferry tickets from Phuket 2 bus station cost approximately 775–820 baht via 12Go and are cheaper at the ticket counter. The ferry from Phantip departs at 8:00 a.m. and the one from Raja at 7:30 a.m.; both arrive in Samui around 3:30 p.m.

Around 10:00 AM, the Phantip and Songserm vans depart from Phuket 1 bus station, arriving in Nathon at 6:30 PM and 5:45 PM, respectively. The Lomprayah airport transfer also departs at 10:00 AM and arrives at 3:45 PM. After that, a flight is the only way to continue your journey that same day.

The distance as the crow flies is approximately 250 km. By road, it is about 290 km from Phuket to the Donsak ferry terminal, plus a 1 to 1.5-hour ferry crossing.

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    The journey continues from Koh Samui

    The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.

  • Koh Samui – Bangkok: Fastest direct flight (1 hr 10 min flight time, 3–4 hrs door-to-door) | Cheapest option: Car ferry + coach (700–1,300 ฿) | Compare all 6 options
  • Koh Samui – Chiang Mai: Cheapest option: boat and bus + sleeper car + daytime train, approx. 1,800–2,300 baht (station prices). Compare all 4 options.
  • Koh Samui Khao Sok Cheapest car ferry + minivan, approx. 600–1,300 ฿ Compare all 5 options
  • Koh Samui Koh Phangan Fastest Lomlahkkhirin, 20–30 min Cheapest Haad Rin Queen, 200 Compare all 9 options
  • Koh Samui – Koh Tao: Fastest speedboat (1 hr 25–1 hr 30 min), cheapest Songserm fast ferry (approx. 450 ฿). Compare all 6 options.
  • Koh Samui – Krabi: Cheapest connection: Phantip ferry + bus, approx. 500 Baht (Ao Nang 560 Baht). Compare all 7 options.

    • Return journey? Koh Samui to Phuket – All 7 routes from Koh Samui

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