How to arrive to : Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao ? + Transit cities Surat Thani, Chumphon

Maps – Orientation

Map 1 : Distance from Bangkok

Map 2 : Transport to the islands

Map 3 : Interactive Map

How to arrive to the islands : Koh Samui + Koh Phangan + Koh Tao ?

Look at the Maps above.

Option 1  : By direct Flight to Koh Samui island

Note : When you compare between the options of travel, you should take into account also expenses for a non direct flight, like accommodation and food and some travel with buses and boats.
On the other hand, if you want to see more places on the way, it can be a reason for a non direct flight. Hua Hin is a nice place to stay, even for a few days, and it is half way from Bangkok.
Surat-Thani is Ok for a night stay, as I explain later.

There is an airport in Koh Samui island (there are no airports in Koh Phangan and Koh Tao). It is of course very convenient to arrive directly to Koh Samui. From Bangkok the flight is just 1 hour.

The problem is the price. It is usually the most expensive way to arrive to this group of islands. For flights from Bangkok, there is only one company operating on this line (it is Bangkok Airways, at the time of writing) and so there in no competition and the price is high. Sometimes, you can get a good price if you reserve a place in advance or if you choose a less popular hour of flight.

I guess that the authorities want to limit the number of flights per day. After all, Koh Samui is not huge and you can hear the noise of the airplanes.

The airport in Koh Samui is an international airport, there are also flights from other cities in Asia.

The airport itself is very cute and there are some cafés in an open area. It is nice to arrive here, also if you don’t have a flight.

There is a viewpoint from the city, on a hill, from which it is very nice to watch the airport. The viewpoint is from the Pagoda Khao Hua Jook.

You can book Flights, Trains, Buses and Taxis inside Thailand with the site 12GoAsia Choose the Origin city and Destination city and it will show you All the available Transports to destination.

Option 2 : By a Flight to an Airport close to the islands (+ Bus + Boat)

There are 2 airports on the mainland, near the islands. The airports of Surat-Thani and Chumphon. Look at the maps above.

In both cases (Surat-Thani or Chumphon), you need to complete the journey with a short bus ride (or taxi) till the pier and then a boat to the islands (or you stay 1 night in Surat Thani or Chumphon). If you arrive to the airport in the evening, then the bus ride to the town looks like this :

Flights are usually cheaper to these airports (compared to a direct flight to Koh Samui).
There are more flights to Surat Thani than to Chumphon. It is also more interesting to stay a night in Surat Thani than in Chumphon. The airport is also closer to the town. See what I wrote about the 2 cities, later on the page (including how to arrive to the pier and how to reserve a boat).

You can book Flights, Trains, Buses and Taxis inside Thailand with the site 12GoAsia Choose the Origin city and Destination city and it will show you All the available Transports to destination.

Option 3 : By Train (+ Bus + Boat)

There is a main train line in Thailand that goes vertically, from Chiang Mai in the north and till the south border to Malaysia. The train has stops at Chumphon and Surat-Thani. These 2 stops are close to the islands. Look at the maps above.

In both cases (Surat-Thani or Chumphon), you need to complete the journey with a short bus ride (or taxi) till the pier and then a boat to the islands (or you stay 1 night in Surat Thani or Chumphon).

If you choose to make a stop for a night, It is more interesting to stay a night in Surat Thani than in Chumphon. See what I wrote about the 2 cities, later on the page (including how to arrive to the pier and how to reserve a boat).

Surat-Thani is close to Koh-Samui. Chumphon is (relatively) close to Koh Tao. From Surat-Thani, there are direct boats to the 3 islands. From Chumphon only to Koh Tao.

If you travel by train, consider making a stop in Hua Hin. which is about half way.
The train from Bangkok to Surat-Thani takes about 10 hours. It is common to take a night train.
From Bangkok, the train starts from the new station Bang Sue, at the north of the city, near Chatuchak market. See location of the train station in Bangkok.

See location of the train stations in Surat-Thani and Chumphon.

You can book Flights, Trains, Buses and Taxis inside Thailand with the site 12GoAsia Choose the Origin city and Destination city and it will show you All the available Transports to destination.

Option 4 : By Bus (+ Boat)

A very flexible way of transport. There are a lot of buses that travel between Bangkok and the islands (also from other Thai cities).

There are several starting points in Bangkok, depending on the company of bus you choose (there are buses also from the Khaosan road, the backpackers area in Bangkok).
The travel time with a bus between Bangkok and Koh Samui is between 11 to 15 hours.
If you take a bus to Koh Samui (or Koh Tao), it will usually include the boat price. The bus will take you directly to the pier. Very convenient compared to the train that stops in Surat-Thani or Chumphon (and then you need to transfer by yourself to the pier).

If you are lucky, the bus will make stops on the way (sometimes, there is a toilet on the bus and they never stop).

You can choose to make a night stop in Surat-Thani or Chumphon (if you think the journey is too long). It is more interesting to stay a night in Surat Thani than in Chumphon. See what I wrote about the 2 cities, later on the page (including how to arrive to the pier and how to reserve a boat).

You can consider making a stop in Hua Hin, which is half way. Also from Hua Hin , there are buses (+ boats) to the islands.

You can book Flights, Trains, Buses and Taxis inside Thailand with the site 12GoAsia Choose the Origin city and Destination city and it will show you All the available Transports to destination.

Option 5 : By Taxi (+ Boat)

Why not ? If you are 3 people, it may be a reasonable price.

You can book Flights, Trains, Buses and Taxis inside Thailand with the site 12GoAsia Choose the Origin city and Destination city and it will show you All the available Transports to destination.

Option 6 : By rented car or rented motorbike (+ Boat)

You can transfer a car or motorbike to the islands, with certain boats (not with the speed boats).

The transit cities : Surat Thani and Chumphon (and which one to choose)

If you decide to stay 1 night in one of these cities (because you are tired of the long travel to the islands), then Surat Thani is a better choice. Surat Thani is nicer than Chumphon, it is more interesting in the evening and there is more choice of hotels and better food.

Surat Thani

Look at the following Map and on the interactive Map above :

Map 1 : Surat Thani area

Map 2 : Surat Thani City

You can also see the Interactive Google Map above (Map number 3).
The town of Surat Thani City is good enough for a night stay.
There is a river with a promenade :

A nice clock tower on the promenade

An illuminated bridge on the river

Some fishing activity

A nice pillar shrine

That looks different at day time

There is a night market and there are several bars.
Tourists are not staying here a lot of days, so it has not developed into a full touristic city.
There are several hotels and unlike the close islands, here it is easy to find a room and the prices are low.

I have stayed in the hotel Evergreen Suite Hotel. It was OK.

See Hotels in Surat Thani. After you Click, use the Map to find the desired location. Read opinions of travelers for each hotel.

I have eaten in the small restaurant Craft Bistro.

The vegetarian Massaman curry was great.

There are at least 2 places to take a bus+boat to Koh Samui. One of them is Seatran Coach Bus Terminal.

Chumphon

Map 1 : Chumphon area

Map 2 : Chumphon City

You can also see the Interactive Google Map above (Map number 3).

As you can see from the Map above, the center of Chumphon is just one street. On that street there is a night market.

On the left side of the street there is the small train station.

There are 2 small commercial centers on the main street.

There is 1 Starbuks

It is possible to stay here 1 night but it is not very interesting. The choice of food is not great (I am vegetarian).

Still, I was surprised by the vegetarian dish I received in Green Kitchen restaurant. It was very good.

Green Kitchen restaurant is not located on the main street, but very close + the place is nice and adequate for a coffee

There is also one popular bar at night. Old Time Cafe.
.

I have stayed in the hotel. Hop Inn Chumphon. It was good as always in this chain of Hotel.

See Hotels in Chumphon After you Click, use the Map to find the desired location. Read opinions of travelers for each hotel.

At Night hotel is also a possibility.

A little bit away from the main street, there is a shrine : City Pillar Shrine or San Lak Muang

And it is possible to walk beside a river

One positive aspect about Chumphon is that the inhabitants are extremely nice. It is a relaxed town. If you want to feel a non touristic Thai city, stay here.

Another positive aspect is that the beaches are nice. For example at the piers

But the beaches are far from the city, so you need to rent a motorbike in order to explore the surroundings. If you are heading to the islands (or returning from the islands), so these beaches may be redundant.

The boats to the islands and between the islands + The location of the piers

Look at map number 2 above.

The 2 main companies of boats operating between these islands are : Lomprayah and Seatran.

Many of the boats are “speed boats”. These boats can take only passengers and not vehicles. The time of travel between the islands and to the islands is short. 1 to 1.5 hours. There is one exception : The boat line between Surat Thani and Koh Tao. It is a slow boat operating mainly at night.

The speed boat can be a rough experience when there are waves. Thankfully, there is an internal cabin.

Some people like to be in the cabin

and some people like to be on the deck.

There is sometimes a small café or mini market, depending on the size of the boat. Or you can bring food with you.

There is usually a lot of food to buy at the piers

Where to buy a boat ticket ?

It is possible to buy boat tickets at the piers, at the travel agencies in the towns, at the bus terminals (of the boat companies) or online with 12GoAsia.

When you buy a boat ticket, you can often choose to include the Bus (or Taxi) transfer to the pier.

Where are located the piers ?

  1. The pier in Surat-Thani : See Surat Thani, above.
  2. The piers in Chumphon: See Chumphon above.
  3. The piers in Koh Samui: See on Koh Samui page.
  4. The pier in Koh Phangan : See on Koh Phangan page.
  5. The pier in Koh Tao : See on Koh Tao page.

Continue to the Next Page– Comparison between the 3 islands

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