International trips should not be confusing. Let me break it down simply on how to get to Koh Samui from India.
Before that, get to know what’s special about Koh Samui. This island stands out as the second-largest in Thailand. Your vacation is covered with luxury resorts, multiple beaches, cultural landmarks like the iconic Big Buddha temple and adventurous viewpoints.
To live this life, you need to reach the island without hassle, and it depends on your starting point and budget. Before jumping into the details, here is a brief overview.
How to reach Koh Samui?
From India, you can either fly directly from Bangkok or Phuket. From these two airports, you have options.
More leisure: Take a flight
- Bangkok → Koh Samui (1h 15m)
- Phuket → Koh Samui (55m)
Budget: Take the bus + ferry
- Bangkok → Surat Thani (Bus – 13h – approx. 3,000 INR)
- Surat Thani → Koh Samui (Ferry – 1h 40m – approx. 1,200 INR)
Your Gateway to Koh Samui
Koh Samui sits in the Gulf of Thailand. Near the island, you have Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. The island covers 228 square kilometres and offers the best things to do, with lush mountains and beautiful coastlines.
To reach Koh Samui, understand the island’s transportation systems.
- Airport: Koh Samui International Airport gives easy accessibility. This is a boutique airport that operates domestic and limited international flights. It’s convenient and eliminates the need to take a ferry.
- Island Connectivity: When in Koh Samui, you don’t have to limit yourself to this island. You can do island hopping and explore more. Ferries depart regularly to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao from multiple piers around the island.
- Location Benefits: Staying in Chaweng Beach on the northeastern coast is easy, as it is near the airport. Also, it makes road transfers quick and convenient.
- Ferry Points: Mae Nam, Nathon, Bang Rak & Lipa Noi Pier.
Direct Flight Connections from India to Thailand
Well, there are no direct flights from India to Koh Samui. But you have multiple routes to reach the island.
From India, you can take flights to major cities in Thailand or land directly in these two cities with no layover.
- Bangkok
- Phuket
Then, you can reach Koh Samui from there. Let’s see different ways in detail.
How to Reach Koh Samui from Delhi?
The capital city of India has multiple daily flights to Southeast Asia.
Option 1: Flight
- Delhi → Bangkok (Flight – 4h 25m – approx. 15,000 INR)
- Bangkok → Koh Samui (Flight – 1h 05m – approx. 8,000 INR)
Option 2: Flight – Bus – Ferry
- Delhi → Bangkok (Flight – 4h 25m – approx 15,000 INR)
- Bangkok → Surat Thani (Bus – 13h – approx 3,000 INR)
- Surat Thani → Koh Samui (Ferry – 1h 40m – approx 1,200 INR)
How to Reach Koh Samui from Bangalore?
From Bangalore, you have just four direct flights to Bangkok at the following times: 10:35 am, 11:10 am, 03:45 pm, and at 01:00 pm.
Also, there will be more flights in the high season and fewer in the low season. However, the travel time is shorter than to New Delhi.
- Bangalore → Bangkok (Flight – 4h approx. 14,000 INR)
- Bangkok → Koh Samui (Flight – 1h 05m approx. 8,000 INR)
If you are on a budget, you can take a bus and then a ferry.
How to Reach Koh Samui from Bangkok?
Bangkok serves as Thailand’s primary entry point, with excellent connectivity to Koh Samui through multiple transport modes. And, you have both speed and budget options.
If you want, you can also choose to stay and explore the best places in Bangkok.
Option 1: Flight
- Bangkok → Koh Samui Airport (Flight – 1h 05m – approx. 8,000 INR)
Option 2: Flight + Ferry
- Bangkok → Surat Thani (Flight – 1h 15m – approx. 5,000 INR)
- Surat Thani → Koh Samui (Ferry – 1h 40m – approx. 1,200 INR)
Option 3: Overnight Bus + Ferry (Budget)
- Departure at 7-9 PM from Sai Tai Mai Terminal, Bangkok
- Overnight journey to Surat Thani (eliminates hotel charge – 11-13 hours travel)
- Surat Thani → Koh Samui (Ferry – 1h 40m – approx. 1,200 INR)
How to Reach Koh Samui from Phuket?
Phuket has become a party land for solo travellers and friend groups to have the most fun. The nightlife in Phuket can surprise everyone with its variety of shows and activities.
Option 1: Flight
- Phuket → Koh Samui (Flight- 55m – approx. 12,000 INR)
Option 2: Flight via Bangkok
- Phuket → Bangkok (1h 20m – approx. 1,000 INR)
- Bangkok → Koh Samui (Flight – 1h 05m – approx 8,000 INR)
Option 3: Bus + Ferry
- Phuket → Surat Thani (Bus – 05h – approx. 1,000 INR)
- Surat Thani → Koh Samui (Ferry – 1h 40m – approx. 1,200 INR)
How to Reach Koh Samui from Krabi?
Krabi’s limestone cliffs and beaches attract so many travellers. The best things about this country are that you can combine so many things.
Let’s say you stay in Phuket, you can come to Krabi in 2 hours. Then explore all the fantastic things in Krabi, from fresh seafood to island hopping. Then, fly to Koh Samui in just 50 minutes.
Option 1: Flight
- Krabi → Koh Samui (50m – approx. 12,000 INR)
Option 2: Bus + Ferry Package
- Krabi → Surat Thani (Bus – 3h 30m – approx. 700 INR)
- Surat Thani → Koh Samui (Ferry – 1h 40m – 1,200 INR)
How to Reach Koh Samui from Pattaya?
Maybe you spend a day or two in Pattaya for its exhilarating nightlife. Pattaya is in eastern Thailand, which means you need to fly via Bangkok.
So, don’t just fly directly; you can travel from Pattaya to Bangkok and spend a day there to enjoy its rooftop bars or the night markets. Then fly to Koh Samui.
Option 1: Flight
- Pattaya’s U-Tapao Airport → Koh Samui (Flight – 1h 05m – approx 13,000 INR)
Option 2: Bus + Flight
- Pattaya → Bangkok Airport (Bus/taxi – 2h 30m – approx 600 INR)
- Bangkok → Koh Samui (Flight – 1h 05m – approx 8,000 INR)
Option 3: Bus + Ferry
- Pattaya → Bangkok Airport (Bus/taxi – 2h 30m – approx 600 INR)
- Bangkok → Surat Thani (Bus – 13h – approx 3,000 INR)
- Surat Thani → Koh Samui (Ferry – 1h 40m – approx 1,200 INR)
Essential Information on Reaching Koh Samui from India
When planning your trip, you need to know certain things before travelling to Thailand. While a question of how to reach Koh Samui can be sorted out, what about other essential things? Let me remind you of that.
- Visa: As an Indian passport holder, you are eligible for a free 60-day stay with no visa. To obtain that, you need to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) 72 hours before landing in Thailand.
- Booking Flight: Thailand is a tourist destination and the cheapest. So, all the best places get too crowded, and prices go up during busy seasons.
- That’s why you need to book your flight 2 months in advance. Keep in mind that accommodations book up quickly during peak season and full moon periods.
- Currency: 1 THB = 2.73 INR. You need to carry cash for taxis and small purchases. You can use international cards, but only in upscale restaurants and hotels.
- Best Time to Visit: Late February or November is the best time because of the reasonable cost.
Peak season is December – February. During this time, you have higher crowds and prices. Avoid the October-November monsoon season.
Conclusion
Compared to other Thai islands, Koh Samui is much simpler because of its international airport. You have direct flights from major cities such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Krabi, Phuket, and so on.
You might have multiple travel routes, but reaching Koh Samui depends on balancing time, budget, and comfort. So choose what you can afford and enjoy every bit of it.
If you are not sure how to plan a budget or have doubts about how much your Thailand trip will cost, please contact us for customised Thailand trips.
Frequently Asked Questions on How to Reach Koh Samui
Is there a direct flight from India to Koh Samui?
There is no direct flight from an Indian city to Koh Samui Island. If your destination country is Thailand, then fly directly to Bangkok or Phuket. From there, you can take a flight to Koh Samui.
Here is your quick look at the duration and cost
- Bangkok → Koh Samui (1h 05m – approx 8,000 INR)
- Phuket → Koh Samui (55m – approx 12,000 INR)
How to reach Chaweng Beach from Koh Samui Airport?
Koh Samui Airport is just 4 km from Chaweng Beach. In any mode of transportation you take, you can reach in a maximum of 15 minutes. It totally depends on your comfort and budget.
- Rent a scooter to explore many places with complete freedom
- Hire cabs
- Most upscale hotels usually provide airport pickups.
What to do in Koh Samui?
In this very compact island, you get to do everything from adventure to seeking spirituality. You can start with:
- Ang Thong National Marine Park
- Explore waterfalls
- Hiking to the viewpoints
- Spend time at Samui Elephant Sanctuary
- Do water sports on the beach
- Try local food in local markets
- Sunbathe on the beach and have picnics
Can you take a ferry from Koh Samui to other islands?
Yes, Koh Samui is the primary hub for ferries to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. You have multiple piers handling different routes with frequent daily departures.
Ferry Connections from Koh Samui:
- To Koh Phangan: 30 minutes – approx 1,000 INR
- To Koh Tao: 1h 30m – approx 2,000 INR
- To Surat Thani: 2h 30m – approx 1,800 INR
Can you make your Koh Samui itinerary for 4 days?
2 – 4 days in Koh Samui lets you experience the best things on the island. However, many travellers don’t make a typical Koh Samui itinerary; they come and stay for a month to fully experience the peaceful island life.
Here is your simple 4-day Koh Samui itinerary:
Day 1: Land + hotel check-in + rest + quiet evening beach walks.
Day 2: Book a full-day city tour + by night have a Thai massage + delicious local dinner.
Day 3: Book the Ang Thong National Marine Park Tour + spend your night sitting by the beach.
Day 4: Last sunrise + breakfast + check-out + visit nearest local markets + take your flight home.
