Surat Thani to Koh Samui: Ferry, Bus and Airport Options, 2026

Surat Thani to Koh Samui takes about 1.5 hours on a Donsak car ferry or 45 minutes on the Lomprayah catamaran, and 2.5-5 hours door to door once you add the airport, train or bus transfer. Through-tickets (minivan plus ferry) cost roughly 350-850 THB (~10-24 USD), as of October 2026. Donsak Pier, about 60-70 km east of Surat Thani city, is the main crossing, served by Raja Ferry and Seatran. No flights link Surat Thani and Samui.

Key takeaways

• Cheapest: minivan plus Raja Ferry or Seatran, from about 350-550 THB (~10-16 USD) through-ticket; walk-up ferry only is 120-210 THB (~3.50-6 USD).
• Fastest: Lomprayah catamaran, about 2.5 hours from Surat Thani town including the bus to Donsak, 600 THB (~17 USD).
• Donsak Pier: Raja Ferry lands at Lipa Noi (120-210 THB, about 13 sailings a day); Seatran lands at Nathon (180 THB, hourly 05:00-19:00). Crossing 80-100 minutes.
• Lomprayah has one catamaran route on this corridor (Donsak to Nathon, about 45 minutes) and a speedboat from Tapee Pier in town (about 1h30, 700 THB).
• A through-ticket beats separate legs: a missed connection is the most common problem.

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What are the options from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?

Your starting point decides the ticket. From the airport or train station a combined van-and-ferry ticket is the norm; from town you can also go straight to a pier. Fares below are through-ticket prices from agent listings (12Go, Direct Ferries, SiamTickets, October 2026), which include a booking markup, so operator-direct prices run lower.

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How do I get from Surat Thani Airport to Koh Samui?

Surat Thani Airport (URT) is about 26 km west of the city and roughly 1h15-1h45 by road from Donsak, so most people buy a combined minivan-and-ferry ticket. Expect about 550 THB (~16 USD) with Phantip and Seatran, or about 850 THB (~24 USD) with Lomprayah, which is faster.

1. Land at URT, a small single-terminal airport served by Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and Vietjet from Bangkok and other Thai cities.
2. Buy a combined ticket at the airport counter or through an agent such as 12Go. Phantip (~550 THB / ~16 USD) is cheapest; Raja Ferry combos sit around 550-620 THB (~16-18 USD); Lomprayah is ~850 THB (~24 USD).
3. Board the minivan outside arrivals for the 1h30m-1h45m drive to Donsak Pier (Raja Ferry, Seatran, Phantip, Lomprayah catamaran).
4. Cross by ferry: 80-100 minutes on a car ferry, about 45 minutes on the catamaran.
5. Total door-to-door time runs 2h15m-5h15m. A private taxi to Donsak is often quoted around 1,500 THB (~43 USD, about 1 hour) plus a walk-up ferry ticket; this price is not confirmed by an operator.

Arriving after about 16:00? The last Donsak car ferries sail around 19:00, so a late flight leaves a tight connection. Consider a night in Surat Thani town rather than risking the last boat. Flying straight to the island avoids all this: see flights to Koh Samui.

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How do I get from Surat Thani Train Station to Koh Samui?

Surat Thani Railway Station is in Phun Phin, about 12-15 km west of the city centre and about 13.8 km from the airport. It is where the overnight sleeper from Bangkok arrives. A van-and-ferry ticket costs 490-558 THB (~14-16 USD) with Raja Ferry, or about 750 THB (~21 USD) with Lomprayah; plan on 4-5 hours.

1. Step off the train at Phun Phin: buses and vans wait outside, timed to meet the morning arrivals.
2. Buy a combined ticket at the station counter or through 12Go. Raja Ferry (490-558 THB) is cheapest, Phantip with Seatran (~520 THB / ~15 USD) is similar, Lomprayah (~750 THB) is the fastest.
3. Ride the minivan 30-90 minutes to Donsak Pier.
4. Cross by ferry (45 minutes to 1h40m) and land at Nathon or Lipa Noi.
5. About 22 combined departures run daily per agent listings; a route via Surat Thani town (380-502 THB / ~11-14 USD) adds time for the extra stop.

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How do I get from Surat Thani Town or the Bus Terminal to Koh Samui?

From town it is quickest: 2.5-3.5 hours on any Donsak combo ticket (350-500 THB, ~10-14 USD) or about 2.5 hours on Lomprayah’s bus-and-catamaran ticket (600 THB, ~17 USD). Travel agents sell the same combos used by long-distance buses from Bangkok, and the transfer to Donsak is only 45-60 minutes.

1. Buy a bus-and-ferry combo from a travel agent on Talat Mai Road or Na Muang Road, or through 12Go.
2. Board the shuttle van; Donsak Pier is about 45-60 minutes away.
3. Cross by Raja Ferry or Seatran (80-100 minutes), or by Lomprayah catamaran (about 45 minutes).
4. Arrive at Lipa Noi or Nathon, where taxis and songthaews wait.
5. Alternatively, Lomprayah’s speedboat leaves Tapee Pier, inside the Surat Thani area, and takes about 1h30 for 700 THB (~20 USD), skipping the road to Donsak.

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Raja Ferry or Seatran from Donsak: which is better?

Seatran is slightly cheaper at 180 THB (~5 USD) and sails hourly from 05:00 to 19:00 to Nathon. Raja Ferry costs 120-210 THB (~3.50-6 USD), runs about 13 sailings a day and lands at Lipa Noi. Both take 80-100 minutes and carry vehicles, so pick by where on Samui you want to land.

• Raja Ferry: about 13 sailings a day to Lipa Noi Pier, crossing in 85-95 minutes. The operator lists 210 THB; agents show 120-180 THB depending on season and channel (rajaferryport.com, ferrysamui.com, Sept 2026).
• Seatran: hourly sailings, 05:00-19:00, to Nathon Pier, crossing in 80-100 minutes. The adult fare is 180 THB since 14 March 2026 (Nation Thailand).

A through-ticket with the minivan costs more than walking up at the pier; with your own transport, walk-up is the cheapest crossing. A shared minivan from town to Donsak costs roughly 80-120 THB (~2.50-3.50 USD) and from the airport roughly 150-200 THB (~4.50-5.50 USD) on 2026 agent listings.

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Can I take a car or scooter on the Donsak ferry?

Yes. Both Raja Ferry and Seatran carry cars and motorbikes, so you can drive onto Samui. Seatran charges about 340 THB (~9.50 USD) for a big motorbike and 580 THB (~17 USD) for a car (Nation Thailand, March 2026), plus the passenger fare. Raja Ferry car fares are reported at about 420-590 THB (~12-17 USD); confirm at the pier.

Raja Ferry lands at Lipa Noi on the southwest coast, about 25-30 minutes from Chaweng; Seatran lands at Nathon, the main port town. Vehicles queue in order of arrival, so be there 30-60 minutes before a sailing in peak months (Dec-Feb, Jul-Aug). Direct Ferries lists these routes as “no cars”, most likely a limit of online sales; ask at the pier.

No vehicle? Renting on the island is simpler: see car rental and scooter rental.

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What does the Lomprayah catamaran offer from Surat Thani?

Lomprayah runs a catamaran between Donsak Pier and Nathon (about 45 minutes), bundled with a bus from Surat Thani town for about 600 THB (~17 USD) and 2.5 hours total. It also runs a speedboat between Tapee Pier and Maenam in about 1h30 for 700 THB (~20 USD). Source: SiamTickets, October 2026.

1. From Samui, the catamaran leaves Nathon at 08:30 and 11:45 and the speedboat leaves Maenam at 08:30. Mainland departures run a few times a day; confirm the current timetable on lomprayah.com.
2. Reach Donsak by Lomprayah’s connecting bus or van from town, the airport or the train station.
3. The catamaran carries no vehicles.
4. Some agents describe a longer 1h45 town service. Treat the 45-minute Donsak catamaran and the 1h30 Tapee speedboat as the two options; the ticket names the pier.

If you start in town, a Tapee departure skips the road to Donsak and often wins on total time.

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Does Songserm still run from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?

Agent listings in 2026 still show Songserm conventional boats from Donsak to Nathon, but we could not confirm current sailings, so check before relying on it. It is the slowest and usually cheapest boat, and an option when Donsak car ferries are full. A city-to-Samui crossing takes about 3 hours; from Donsak about 1.5 hours.

1. Buy tickets at the Surat Thani or Donsak counter, or through an agent; Songserm is rarely in airport or train combos.
2. Boats land at Nathon Pier with taxis and songthaews onward.
3. Expect an older, simpler vessel than the Lomprayah catamaran.

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Is there a flight from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?

No. Samui Airport’s nonstop routes (Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Singapore) do not include Surat Thani, so the crossing is always by sea. If you are flying from Bangkok, flying straight to Samui is simpler: see flights to Koh Samui, how to get to Koh Samui and the Koh Samui airport guide. URT only makes sense when fares are much lower and you accept 3-5 hours of transfers.

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Which Koh Samui pier will I land at?

Raja Ferry lands at Lipa Noi, Seatran and the Lomprayah and Songserm boats from Donsak at Nathon, and the Lomprayah speedboat at Maenam. Your onward transport depends on the pier, so check the name on your ticket before arranging a taxi.

• Lipa Noi Pier (Raja Ferry): southwest coast, near Lipa Noi Beach, about 25-30 minutes from Chaweng.
• Nathon Pier (Seatran, Songserm, Lomprayah catamaran): the main port town, next to Nathon Beach, with the widest choice of taxis and songthaews.
• Maenam Pier (Lomprayah speedboat): north coast, close to Maenam Beach.

From any pier, see our getting around Koh Samui guide for taxi fares and scooter rental.

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What tips help with combined tickets, timing and luggage?

Buy a through-ticket, leave a buffer after night trains and flights, and confirm the pier, not just the operator. Luggage allowance is usually around 20 kg per passenger, and rough seas from October to November bring more cancellations, mostly to the catamaran.

• Combined ticket, not separate legs. A through-ticket is normally rebooked if your train or flight runs late; separate legs risk a missed sailing.
• Night-train buffer. The Bangkok sleeper reaches Phun Phin around 06:30-07:30 (not re-checked against the SRT timetable).
• Luggage. Surfboards and oversized items may cost extra, particularly on Lomprayah. Ask the agent about pets and children’s fares.
• Pier, not operator. Raja Ferry always lands at Lipa Noi, Seatran at Nathon.
• Monsoon. Conventional Donsak ferries ride steadier than the catamaran; keep a spare day before a flight.

How do I get from Koh Samui to Surat Thani?

Work backwards from your departure. Seatran and Songserm leave from Nathon, Raja Ferry from Lipa Noi, and Lomprayah has a catamaran from Nathon (about 08:30 and 11:45) and a speedboat from Maenam (about 08:30), per SiamTickets, October 2026. For a flight, reach Donsak at least 3 hours before departure; for the night train, leave Samui by early afternoon.

Through-tickets to Surat Thani Airport or Phun Phin station are sold by the same agents; a shared minivan from Donsak to Phun Phin takes roughly an hour. Ferry-only fares match the walk-up fares above (120-210 THB). Lomprayah’s catamaran plus bus to Surat Thani is 600 THB (~17 USD) and about 2.5 hours; its speedboat to Tapee is 700 THB (~20 USD) and about 1.5 hours.

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FAQ

How do I get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?

Buy a combined minivan-and-ferry ticket from an agent or the airport counter. Raja Ferry and Seatran depart Donsak Pier (80-100 minutes); Lomprayah’s catamaran also leaves Donsak (about 45 minutes) and its speedboat leaves Tapee Pier (about 1h30). Door to door is 2.5-5 hours depending on where you start, as of October 2026.

How do I get from Surat Thani Airport to Koh Samui?

Buy a combined transfer at the airport counter or online. Phantip with Seatran is cheapest at about 550 THB (~16 USD) and takes 3.5-4.25 hours. Lomprayah is fastest at about 850 THB (~24 USD) and takes 2h15m-3h15m. A private taxi to Donsak is often quoted around 1,500 THB (~43 USD).

How much is the ferry from Donsak to Koh Samui?

A walk-up passenger fare is 120-210 THB (~3.50-6 USD): Seatran 180 THB, Raja Ferry 120-210 THB. Vehicles cost extra: Seatran 340 THB for a big motorbike and 580 THB for a car (Nation Thailand, March 2026). Combined tickets including the minivan cost 350-850 THB (~10-24 USD).

Is Lomprayah faster than Raja Ferry or Seatran from Surat Thani?

Yes. The Lomprayah catamaran crosses from Donsak to Nathon in about 45 minutes against 80-100 minutes for the car ferries, and about 2.5 hours with the bus from town. Its Tapee speedboat takes about 1h30. Fares are higher, 600-700 THB against 120-210 THB for the car ferries.

Which pier does the Surat Thani ferry reach on Koh Samui?

Raja Ferry lands at Lipa Noi, Seatran at Nathon, the Lomprayah catamaran and Songserm at Nathon, and the Lomprayah speedboat at Maenam. Check the pier name on your ticket, since taxi pickup points differ by pier.

What is the cheapest way from Surat Thani to Koh Samui?

Take a shared minivan from town to Donsak (roughly 80-120 THB) and buy a walk-up Raja Ferry or Seatran ticket (120-210 THB), about 200-330 THB in total. Agent through-tickets cost 350-550 THB (~10-16 USD). Budget 2.5-3.5 hours from town.

Is it worth going to Surat Thani?

Most travelers only pass through: it is a transit hub for ferries, trains and buses. Stay a night only for a late arrival or an early ferry. For mainland sightseeing, the Chaiya temples are an hour north (day trips from Koh Samui) and Khao Sok is a longer hop (Khao Sok from Koh Samui).