Thailand Resorts

If you are coming to Thailand backpacking and are traveling on a limited budget we will provide you with some good information and ways how to get to Samui.

The most comfortable way to travel to the south of Thailand is by plane or overnight train. You can book these options with any travel agency in Bangkok or you can buy the ticket directly at the airport in Bangkok.

Generally you will get on a train around 6pm or just shortly after. You can travel by 2nd class, sleeper or 1st class. The difference is that with a 2nd class carriage there are beds on either side, which are upper and lower bunks. Lower are more expensive than the upper.

A 1st class carriage is great for couples or anyone that wants some privacy. This are is a self contained booth designed to hold 2 people.
You can expect to travel by train for 12 hours. Reaching Suratthani province around 5.30 – 6am the next day. When you arrive at the station you will need to buy a bus/boat combined ticket there to Samui. To book the ticket in advance is not possible but there are many service-booths and you can easily arrange any connection you like. A ticket for the train costs around 1000 baht depending on the transfers you choose.

You will then reach Don Sak Peir which is the peir where the ferries leave for Kho Samui. Travel time to the peir is approx one and a half hours. Travel time aboard the ferry is also one and a half hours. You will come ashore in Nathon, where the main ferry terminal of Samui is located. Nathon is half way round the island from the most popular beach Chaweng. The rising cost in petrol and the higher cost of petrol on the island (additional transport charges) means that taxi’s are not as economical as Bangkok. However you will need to get one if you plan to stay on this side of the Island. If you would like to book one of the Samui hotels you can do this by visiting our online hotel reservation center there are many available offers.

Another and quicker way to reach Samui, is to travel via Lomprayah. Lomprayah is reached by air or bus to Chumporn. The trip takes approximately 6 hours. There you catch the high speed Catamaran and head of to the first stop Koh NangYuan. Then to Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and finally onto Koh Samui. A great trip when you are a fan of Islands. Again this takes around 6 hours. Tickets again are around 1000 baht each way. You can however catch a bus if you wish which will only cost around 800 baht but do you really want to sit on a coach for 12 or 13 hours, then transfer to minivan to the peir and then get a ferry??
Note: I advise you to NOT choose this transportation during the wet season as the sea can be rough and many people fall sea sick on the Catamaran.

Of course you can fly to Samui with tickets here around 4500 baht and rising!! There are around 15 – 20 flights daily so again connections aren’t a problem at all.

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