Phuket to Koh Samui and Krabi to Samui: Flight vs Ferry (2026)

Phuket to Koh Samui takes about 1 hour by Bangkok Airways flight, or 7-9 hours by bus and ferry via Donsak Pier. Flights cost roughly 2,500-6,800 THB (~71-194 USD) one-way and the bus-ferry combo 800-1,400 THB (~23-40 USD); both are guide ranges, as of September 2026, and move with season. Krabi also has a direct flight (about 55-60 minutes, 1-2 a day) and a bus-and-ferry route, but no direct boat. Fares and sailings were last checked on 1 October 2026.

Key takeaways

• Fastest from Phuket: Bangkok Airways nonstop Phuket (HKT) to Koh Samui (USM), about 55-60 minutes, 7-8 flights a day (AeroRoutes, April 2026).
• Fastest from Krabi: Bangkok Airways nonstop Krabi (KBV) to USM, about 55-60 minutes, 1-2 flights a day (sources disagree).
• Cheapest from Phuket: bus and ferry via Donsak, 7-9 hours, about 800-1,400 THB (~23-40 USD).
• Direct ferry: Raja Ferry runs one bus-linked Phuket Town to Lipa Noi service a day, about 8 hours, price varies. Nothing equivalent leaves Krabi.
• Airport to hotel: the airport taxi counter uses fixed zone fares of about 500-1,500 THB; Grab and Bolt cannot pick up inside the airport.

What Are the Ways to Get From Phuket or Krabi to Koh Samui?

Bangkok Airways flies nonstop from both Phuket and Krabi, and it is the only airline on both routes. Every ground option finishes with a car ferry from the Surat Thani area, because no boat sails between Krabi and the island. For all four domestic flight routes side by side, see domestic flights to Koh Samui.

Flight times and frequencies come from AeroRoutes (21 April 2026) and flight-route listings checked on 1 October 2026. Flight fares are guide ranges from airline and aggregator listings, not a live quote. Bus and ferry prices are aggregator and operator listings checked in September 2026; confirm on the day, especially ferry times.

How Far Is Phuket From Koh Samui?

Phuket and Koh Samui sit on opposite sides of the Thai peninsula, Andaman Sea to Gulf of Thailand, so the trip is about time, not kilometres. By air it is about 1 hour. By road to Donsak Pier, routes are commonly quoted at about 5 hours, then the car ferry adds about 1.5 hours (85-95 minutes), which is why most door-to-door itineraries land at 7-9 hours with waiting time.

Krabi is closer on the map, but the ground route still passes through the Surat Thani area, so it takes 4-9 hours depending on the connection. For the choice between the two islands as a holiday base, see Koh Samui vs Phuket and Koh Samui vs Krabi.

How Do I Fly From Phuket to Koh Samui?

Bangkok Airways flies nonstop from Phuket (HKT) to Koh Samui Airport (USM) 7-8 times a day, about 55-60 minutes on an ATR turboprop. Fares run from about 2,500 THB (~71 USD) in low season to 6,800 THB (~194 USD) in December-February. Timetables change by season, so check Bangkok Airways for the day you travel.

Frequency: AeroRoutes (21 April 2026) lists 8 daily, cut to 7 daily from 20 April to 30 June 2026. No dataset publishes a Phuket-Samui fare, so the fare range is a guide from airline and agent listings, not a quote. For how this route compares with the others, see flights to Koh Samui.

1. Reserve through Bangkok Airways or a travel agent.
2. Check in at HKT at least 60-90 minutes before departure at the Bangkok Airways counters.
3. The propeller aircraft crosses the peninsula from the Andaman side to the Gulf.
4. Land at Samui’s small open-air terminal, a short drive from Chaweng and Bophut.
5. Take the airport taxi counter: zone fares run about 500-1,500 THB (~14-43 USD). Grab and Bolt cannot pick up inside the airport grounds. For the Chaweng run, see airport to Chaweng.

Fares rise steeply near departure in December-February, and a missed flight means waiting for the next one or rerouting through Bangkok.

How Do I Get From Phuket to Koh Samui by Bus and Ferry?

A combined bus-and-ferry ticket costs roughly a third of the flight and needs no airport transfer, but takes most of a day: 7-9 hours and about 800-1,400 THB (~23-40 USD). Operators such as Phantip Travel sell it, and agents like 12Go resell it. The coach runs up the peninsula to Donsak Pier, then a car ferry crosses to Samui.

1. Buy a through ticket from an agent such as 12Go or the operator Phantip Travel; combined fares run 800-1,400 THB (~23-40 USD) in aggregator listings.
2. Depart from a Phuket bus terminal or hotel pickup, usually in the morning. The coach runs roughly 4-5 hours toward Surat Thani.
3. Transfer at Donsak Pier onto a Seatran or Raja Ferry car ferry, included in a through ticket (crossing about 85-95 minutes).
4. Arrive at Nathon Pier (west coast) or Lipa Noi Pier (southwest, Raja Ferry’s terminal).
5. Continue by taxi, songthaew or hotel transfer to your beach.

Total time depends on the bus keeping to schedule for the ferry. The ferry piers guide explains what Nathon and Lipa Noi offer on arrival.

Is There a Direct Ferry From Phuket to Koh Samui?

Yes, one: Raja Ferry’s Phuket Town to Lipa Noi combination of bus and ferry. Direct Ferries lists 1 sailing a day (7 a week), departing about 07:30 and taking about 8 hours. The price varies; no operator price was found, and aggregator promo listings have shown roughly 460-500 THB (~13-14 USD), so treat it as a guide only.

It is one ticket and one boarding, with the bus change done for you, but it is slower than the flight and similar in time to the bus-ferry combo. The Donsak to Lipa Noi sea crossing itself is about 85-95 minutes (Raja Ferry, checked September 2026). Check the sailing days on the operator’s page before you plan around it.

How Much Is a Taxi From Phuket to Koh Samui?

There is no published taxi fare for Phuket to Koh Samui, so ask your hotel for a written quote. A private car only covers the road leg to Donsak Pier or Lipa Noi, about 5 hours, and the ferry fare (roughly 120-210 THB per passenger, more with a vehicle) is paid separately unless the quote says it is included.

Private cars cost far more than the 800-1,400 THB (~23-40 USD) combo ticket and save little time, because the ferry timetable still sets your pace. Once on Samui, the airport and pier taxi counters use fixed zone fares; see the taxi, Grab and Bolt guide for what to expect on arrival.

How Do I Get to Koh Samui From Patong and Other Phuket Beaches?

Patong, Karon and Kata are on the west side of Phuket, away from the airport and the mainland road, so add a transfer to any option above. For the flight, arrange a taxi or hotel shuttle to HKT; for the bus-ferry, ask whether the operator collects from your hotel or only from a bus terminal. Patong to Koh Samui works out the same as Phuket to Samui, with 60-90 minutes of extra ground time at the start, so never book a same-day ferry connection that leaves no slack.

Can I Fly From Krabi to Koh Samui?

Yes. Bangkok Airways flies nonstop between Krabi International Airport (KBV) and Koh Samui, a route some older guides wrongly call nonexistent. It takes about 55-60 minutes on an ATR 72, with 1 or 2 flights a day depending on the source: AeroRoutes shows a cut from 2 to 1 daily from 2 May to 30 June 2026, while an August 2026 aggregator listing showed 14 a week.

1. Reserve through Bangkok Airways; fares in listings run from about 3,700 THB (~106 USD), rising toward 5,500 THB (~157 USD) in peak season. These are guide figures, not a live quote.
2. Arrive at KBV at least 60 minutes before departure.
3. Board the ATR 72, a 70-seat turboprop.
4. Land at Koh Samui Airport after the 55-60 minute flight.
5. Take the airport taxi counter (about 500-1,500 THB by zone); ride-hailing apps cannot collect inside the terminal.

With so few flights, a missed connection costs a day, and the small aircraft sells out faster than the bigger planes on the Bangkok route. See domestic flights to Koh Samui for the current frequency picture.

How Do I Get From Krabi to Koh Samui by Bus and Ferry?

No boat sails directly between Krabi and Koh Samui, so every ground option connects through the Surat Thani area. The fast Lomprayah coach takes 3 hours 45 minutes to 6 hours for about 1,200-1,400 THB (~34-40 USD); a cheaper minivan-and-ferry combo costs 500-1,500 THB (~14-43 USD) but takes 4-9 hours depending on the connection wait.

1. Buy through 12Go or with Lomprayah. The fast service leaves Lomprayah’s office on Vatchara Road in Krabi Town.
2. For less money, choose a minivan-and-ferry combo, but allow for hours of waiting.
3. Ride the coach or minivan roughly 3-5 hours to Donsak Pier, through or near Surat Thani.
4. Board the connecting Raja Ferry, Seatran or Lomprayah crossing (about 85-95 minutes by car ferry, less by catamaran).
5. Disembark at Nathon Pier and continue by taxi or songthaew.

Prices are aggregator listings checked in September 2026. Lomprayah’s faster service is worth the extra baht on a tight schedule. The Surat Thani to Koh Samui guide covers the Donsak and Tapee pier ferries in detail.

How Do I Get From Ao Nang or Koh Lanta to Koh Samui?

Neither Ao Nang nor Koh Lanta has its own connection to Koh Samui, so you add a short transfer before joining the same Donsak route. From Ao Nang, expect about 5-7 hours in total on the fast Lomprayah service; from Koh Lanta, a combined ticket takes 7.5-9 hours for 1,000-1,700 THB (~29-49 USD).

From Ao Nang: take a shared minivan to Krabi’s bus terminal or the Lomprayah office (30-45 minutes, 100-150 THB / ~3-4.50 USD), then follow the Krabi bus-and-ferry route above.

From Koh Lanta: combined bus-and-ferry tickets run from Saladan Pier through to Nathon Pier. The trip starts with a boat off Koh Lanta, continues by road to Donsak and finishes with the car-ferry crossing. A single through ticket on 12Go avoids missed connections.

Which Option Is Best for Each Traveller?

The nonstop flight suits anyone short of time or travelling with children; bus and ferry suits anyone watching the budget. The table matches each traveller type to an option.

What Goes Wrong on These Routes?

Most delays and overcharges trace back to three predictable causes: missed connections, assuming Krabi has a boat, and late flight fares.

Missed ferry connections: buses and minivans run late, and ferries do not wait. Choose a through ticket so the operator handles a missed connection, and build in a 60-90 minute buffer.

Assuming Krabi has a direct ferry: it does not. Every ground route from Krabi, Ao Nang or Koh Lanta connects through Donsak first. Only Phuket has a direct sea option.

Overpaying for last-minute flights: Bangkok Airways is the only carrier on both routes, so fares climb near departure and in December-February. Look 2-4 weeks ahead, or price the bus-and-ferry combo if the flight looks unreasonable.

Once you land, most travellers head to Chaweng or continue from Nathon or Lipa Noi pier toward their beach. See Koh Samui vs Koh Phangan if you are weighing the neighbouring island, and the how to get to Koh Samui hub for routes from Bangkok and Koh Phangan.

FAQ

How do you get from Phuket to Koh Samui?

Fly Bangkok Airways nonstop (about 1 hour, from roughly 2,500 THB / ~71 USD), or take a bus-and-ferry ticket via Donsak Pier (7-9 hours, about 800-1,400 THB / ~23-40 USD). A bus-linked Raja Ferry from Phuket Town to Lipa Noi also runs once a day, taking about 8 hours at a variable price.

How long is the ferry from Phuket to Koh Samui?

The only direct option, Raja Ferry’s Phuket Town to Lipa Noi service, takes about 8 hours door to door including the bus leg, with 1 sailing a day. The sea crossing itself at Donsak on the bus-ferry combo is about 85-95 minutes on a car ferry. Most travellers who want speed fly instead.

How much is a taxi from Phuket to Koh Samui?

No fare is published, so get a written quote from your hotel for the road leg to Donsak Pier or Lipa Noi, about 5 hours, and check whether the ferry is included. It costs far more than the 800-1,400 THB (~23-40 USD) combo ticket. Taxis on Samui itself follow fixed zone fares.

Is there a direct flight from Krabi to Koh Samui?

Yes. Bangkok Airways flies nonstop between Krabi (KBV) and Koh Samui (USM) on an ATR 72, about 55-60 minutes, 1 or 2 flights a day depending on the source. Fares from around 3,700 THB (~106 USD) are a guide figure. Some older guides say no direct Krabi-Samui flight exists; that is out of date as of October 2026.

How do I get from Krabi to Koh Samui by bus and ferry?

Use a through ticket from 12Go or Lomprayah. The fast Lomprayah service takes 3 hours 45 minutes to 6 hours for 1,200-1,400 THB (~34-40 USD); cheaper minivan-and-ferry combos take 4-9 hours for 500-1,500 THB (~14-43 USD). All routes connect through Donsak Pier before the ferry to Nathon.

Which is cheaper, flying or the bus and ferry?

The bus-and-ferry combo is cheaper from both cities, roughly 800-1,500 THB (~23-43 USD) against 2,500-6,800 THB (~71-194 USD) for a flight. It takes 7-9 hours compared with about an hour in the air. Fly if time is limited; take the bus and ferry to save money.