Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bus and Ferry from Bangkok
By Train & By Boat
FromSuratThanitrainstationandSuratThaniAirport,therearecombinedbus/ferryser-
vices to Ko Samui cost 200-300 baht - some entail a 60 minute bus ride to Donsak pier
followedbya90minuteferrycrossing,othersa30minutebusridebuttheferrytakesex-
tratime.Ticketsaresoldbynumerousagentsthatmeeteachtrainandairport.Shouldcost
certainlylessthan300bahtevenifboughtthisway(returncomboboat+busticketonmore
comfortable Seatran ferry bought on the Na Thon pier on Samui officially costs 230 baht).
FromDonsakpier,thereare2ferrycompanies(departuresevery30-60mins)whotermin-
ateatNaThonpier:SongsermTravelandSeatran(thewebsiteismostlyinThai,however).
Thefirstoneiswhatyoumoreoftengetifbookingviathetravelagency.It'sarathersmall
ferrywithtwodecks,oftenverycrowdedsoyoucan'tgettheseatontheloweroneifyou
come late (and the upper, while air-conditioned, costs extra, so you may end up sitting
aroundthepileofbackpacksonthebackoftheboatunderthesun,ifyoudonotwantto
pay). There is a small onboard shop on the lower desk but the prices are grossly inflated
(instant noodles cup, which costs 15 baht in 7-eleven, was sold for 50 there), so if you
stillchoosethisboat-betterbringyouownsnacks.ThepeopleaboardSongsermferryare
mostly, if not all, foreigners.
Seatran ferry is much bigger, has several decks (entrance to most of the those, including
air-conditioned areas, is free), much less packed just because of size (still can be at peak
times of high season), equipped with numerous TV's (Thai channels), has a big cafeteria
(withmuchfriendlierprices,suchas20bahtforthesamecupofnoodles),andthepassen-
gersaremostlyThai,aswellassomeexpatsandtourists.Theirschedulecanbefoundhere
(the first list is departures from Donsak to Samui, the second is return).
Raja Ferry Port operates services between Donsak pier and Lipa Noi pier on the western
side of Samui (several kilometers south of Na Thon). It includes a free air conditioned
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