Phuket to Koh Samui: A Complete Guide for a Perfect Day Trip
- Crossing time 6h 15m–8h 30m
- Operators 3
- Departures a day 4
780+ THB
Schedules & prices
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Phuket to Koh Samui: Your Guide to a Perfect Day Trip
Phuket to Koh Samui: route overview
There is no direct ferry between Phuket and Koh Samui. The islands sit on opposite coasts of the Thai peninsula, so getting from Phuket to Samui Island means combining overland transport with a sea crossing, usually via Surat Thani or the Donsak ferry pier on the mainland. Booking a through-ticket that links these legs is the simplest way to manage the journey without missing a connection.
How the journey works
Most travelers take a bus or minivan from Phuket across to the Surat Thani area, then transfer to a ferry for the final stretch to Koh Samui. Combined bus-and-boat tickets cover both legs on one booking, with the several transport options used for the sea crossing and a coach or minivan handling the road section. Because it involves a transfer rather than one continuous sailing, this is a full-day journey rather than a quick hop, so it's worth building buffer time into your travel plans, especially if you have an onward connection on Koh Samui.
Operators and journey time
Lomprayah High Speed Ferries Co., Ltd. and Phantip 1970 Co., Ltd operates services on this route, with total journey time around the scheduled journey time once both the road and ferry legs are included. Departures run 3 from Phuket, and the route operates all year round. Exact timings vary depending on which bus and ferry connection you're booked onto, so always check the live schedule at booking to confirm your departure and arrival windows.
Prices and what's included
Fares for the combined Phuket to Koh Samui journey start from ฿780 per person. Onboard the ferry leg, passengers typically have access to onboard facilities, making the sea crossing a comfortable part of an otherwise long travel day. Prices can vary by operator and season, so compare the options shown at checkout before confirming your booking.
Departure and arrival points
Pickup points in Phuket usually include central Phuket and nearby hotel areas, with the road leg ending at the ferry pier near Surat Thani or Donsak. On arrival, ferries dock at Samui Island, from where onward transfers to hotels and beaches around the island are widely available. Confirm your exact pickup point when you book, since this can differ between operators.
Things to check before you travel
Because this route relies on a timed transfer between bus and ferry, it pays to book early in the day rather than on a late departure, giving more room to absorb any road delays before the boat leaves. Travelers connecting onward from Koh Samui to nearby islands can also look at ferry links to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao once they arrive.
Book your Phuket to Koh Samui ferry
Use the search above to compare available departures, operators, and prices for the Phuket to Samui Island journey, and book your combined bus-and-ferry ticket in one step. If you're planning the return leg, see the Koh Samui to Phuket ferry route for schedules heading back. Travelers building a wider island-hopping itinerary can also check the Phuket to Koh Phangan ferry route and the Koh Samui to Koh Tao ferry connections for onward journeys around the Gulf of Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to print my ferry ticket or is mobile ok?
You don't need to print your ticket. Your boarding voucher is in your account: open Bookings, then View trip details, and click Download PDF. On the day of travel, show the QR code on it — on your phone is fine — to the ferry operator staff at the pier named on your ticket, and they will direct you to your boat.
If you'd prefer paper, print the PDF yourself.
What happens if my ferry is cancelled due to weather?
We are sorry when weather stops a sailing. Ferries usually run in rain; speedboats are more often stopped by rough seas.
If your trip is cancelled because of weather, your booking in Bookings shows a message once our team has confirmed the cancellation. You can then either move to the next available service with Change this booking, or cancel with Cancel & refund for a full refund.
If the sailing is running but you choose not to travel, the normal cancellation policy applies.
Why is my account locked?
We lock an account for a short time after several failed sign-in attempts in a row. It is an automatic safety measure: it stops someone else guessing your password, and it happens whether or not the person typing was you.
You do not need to contact us. The lock lifts on its own — see How long am I locked out for?
What is the difference between a locked and a blocked account?
Locked is automatic and temporary. It happens after repeated failed sign-in attempts and it lifts by itself — within a minute in most cases.
Blocked is a decision made by our team, and it does not lift on its own. If your account is blocked you will need to contact us; waiting will not change it, and neither will resetting your password.
If you are not sure which applies to you, get in touch and we will tell you.
How do I unlock my account now?
Wait, and try again. Every lock lifts on its own — a minute the first time, and never more than an hour however many attempts have failed. There is nothing to click and nobody to contact.
If you have forgotten your password, do not keep guessing: each wrong attempt makes the next wait longer. Use Forgot password instead. Resetting your password gets you straight back in.
My account locked but I never tried to sign in
Then someone else was trying to sign in as you, and the lock did its job — it stopped them.
Your account is safe: a lock means the attempts failed. Nobody got in. You do not have to do anything, and the lock will lift on its own.
We would still recommend two things:
- Change your password, especially if you use the same one on another website.
- Add an authenticator app in your account security settings, so a password alone is never enough to sign in as you.
If you get these repeatedly, contact us and we will look into it.
