private cars

There are many private cars traveling between the major beaches of Koh Samui, which is basically considered a charter service. The price is calculated based on the distance, generally ranging from 400 to 1000 baht.

songthaew

On Koh Samui, songthaews (shared taxis) operate like buses, with fixed routes. During the day, there are two routes: one from Nathon Town to Bai Lan Village, operating from 5:40 AM to 6:00 PM; the other from Nathon Town to Chaweng Beach, operating from 6:40 AM to 6:45 PM. At night, it's mainly done by charter, operating from 5:40 PM to 5:00 AM the next day, with prices ranging from 50 to 100 baht.

In addition, songthaews can also go to the airport, with the cost depending on the distance, generally 50-100 baht.

taxi

There are not many taxis on Koh Samui, and the prices are relatively high. It is best to agree on the price before getting into a taxi (if the meter is not used) and have the exact change ready, as drivers often do not give change.

Car rental

Travelers can rent cars or motorcycles at airport service counters, hotel counters, and car rental shops on various beaches. Jeeps cost approximately 1000 baht per day, motorcycles approximately 200 baht per day, and gasoline is 40 baht per liter. Longer rental periods offer better prices, and passports are generally not required as collateral. If you are not comfortable driving yourself, you can hire a driver from your hotel or travel agency.

ferry

There are five ferry piers on Koh Samui, serving routes to surrounding islands and Surat Thani, located on the west and north coasts of the island. The largest pier is Nathong Pier in Nathong Town, while the other piers only operate ferry services to surrounding islands during the peak tourist season.

The names and directions of the ferry terminals are as follows:

Nathon Pier

■ Nathon - Surat

Songserm's fast boat takes 2.5 hours and costs 150 baht per person. There is one boat a day to Tha Thong Pier in Surat Thames.

Seatran's fast ferry service takes 2 hours and costs 250 baht per person, with two daily departures to Don Sak pier in Surat Thani.

Seatran also offers ferries, which take 2.5 hours and cost 150 baht per person, departing hourly during the day to Don Sak pier in Surat Thani.

There is a slow boat at 21:00, which takes 6 hours and costs 150 baht per person, heading to Ban Don Pier in Surat Thani.

Bo Phut Pier

■ Bopu - Tao Island

Songserm's fast boat service takes 1.5 hours and costs 550 baht per person, with two trips daily to Koh Tao.

Mae Nam Pier

■ Chao Phraya - Koh Tao

Songserm's fast boats take 1.5 hours and cost 550 baht per person, with two trips daily to Koh Tao. Slow boats depart once daily in the morning, taking 3.5 hours and costing 380 baht per person.

Thong Yang Pier

Big Buddha Pier

In addition, Koh Nang Yuan is not far from Koh Tao. You can take a boat from Koh Tao, which takes about 30 minutes, or you can join a local Koh Nang Yuan day tour.

Intermodal transport by vehicle and ship

A relatively affordable way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui is by bus and ferry, with services offered by companies like Lomprayah and Seatran Discovery. Generally, you take a sleeper bus from Bangkok to Chumphon or Surat Thani, a journey of about 11 hours, followed by a speedboat or ferry. The service is comprehensive and seamless, saving time and effort compared to buying tickets and transferring yourself.

Lomprayah

Lomprayah offers combined bus and ferry tickets from Bangkok, via Chumphon. The journey involves taking a train from Bangkok to Chumphon, then transferring to a ferry to Koh Tao. The company also provides transportation to Koh Phangan and then on to Koh Samui. Catamarans to Koh Tao depart from Koh Samui at 8:00 and 12:00, while ferry services depart from Koh Phangan at 8:30 and 13:00.

Seatran Discovery

Seatran Discovery offers combined bus + boat or train + boat services. There are two departures daily: a daytime departure at 6:00 AM and a nighttime departure at 9:00 PM. Whether by bus or train, Seatran Discovery provides transportation throughout the journey, eliminating any worries about transfers. Most buses are comfortable double-decker luxury coaches; for nighttime travel, the train is even more comfortable.

Tourists can also travel from Bangkok by train or bus to Surat Thani, and then take a ferry to Koh Samui. This self-guided option requires tourists to purchase tickets and make their own transfers, and they need to be familiar with the stations and piers in Bangkok and Surat Thani.