How To Get To Koh Samui From Phuket
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Koh Samui island is one of the most beautiful and most visited islands in southern Thailand. It is a tourist beach filled with fun and attraction that offers you excitement in swimming, beach relaxing, boat trips, and snorkelling.
Both local and foreign tourists visit this island. Visiting Koh Samui when you are already in Phuket is an excellent idea. However, you need to have the necessary information that will guide your trip.
The transportation mode, cost, and time involved are all necessary details you must have before embarking on the trip. All of these are discussed in detail below to make your trip an easy one.
Here are some other useful travel guides;
- Krabi to Koh Lanta
- Bangkok to Koh Samui
- Bangkok to Koh Tao
- Bangkok to Chiang Mai
- Koh Samui to Koh Phangan
Mode of Transportation from Phuket to Koh Samui
Getting to Koh Samui from Phuket can be done through different mediums. You can choose to travel through any of them. However, you need to understand each channel and how they operate.
The channels are flight, bus, transfer (hire), car rental, and ferry. Each of these channels has different costs. Likewise, the time used before getting to the destination is also different.
Making use of any of these means of transportation solely depends on which option you decide to choose. This decision is, however, influenced by your desire and the amount you are willing to spend. Each one of them is fully discussed below with their cost and time taken.
Flight from Phuket to Koh Samui
The easiest and the most convenient way of getting to Koh Samui from Phuket is by flight. It is also the most time-saving mode of transportation. However, when compared to other means, it is the most expensive. Nonetheless, there is a guarantee that you are going to have value for your money.
The Bangkok airway offers the flight from Phuket to Koh Samui. The flight to Koh Samui is carried out four times daily as structured by the airway. It is important to note that there is no night flight on these four flights.
The planes taking those flights are all-economy class, but they still offer excellent services, though. The planes have comfortable seats, excellent attendants, and hostesses. Newspapers and journals are available to keep your company throughout the journey.
Cost and Time of Flight from Phuket to Koh Samui
The flight from Phuket to Koh Samui is done by the Bangkok airway, which is in Thailand’s capital. However, the ticket can quickly be booked online through the channels provided by the airway. The cost of a flight ranges from $100 to $150 per person.
The time taken by a flight to get to the Koh Samui from Phuket is about an hour. It is the shortest time you can use as taking a plane is the fastest means of transportation.
Bus (Plus Ferry) from Phuket to Koh Samui
It is the cheapest means of transportation from Phuket to Koh Samui island. It is also the most used means of transportation. People that make use of the bus are more than people that use other means of transportation.
However, making use of a bus means that you will also make use of the ferry boat. There is a limit to how far the bus can go. It stops at Donsak pier. Then, you continue the rest of the journey via a ferry boat. Therefore, the journey takes a lot of time.
The departure arena is the second terminal of Phuket’s northern bus station. The movement to Koh Samui from Phuket by bus is done three times daily. Like the flight trip, there is no night trip for reasons best known to the bus companies.
The buses used for transportation are first-class buses as they have facilities to make your journey a comfortable one. There is an air conditioning system to keep you cool throughout the trip. Likewise, the buses have a water closet (WC) system for easing yourself during the long journey.
Cost and Time Taken by Bus (Plus Ferry) from Phuket to Koh Samui
Using bus as a means of transportation from Phuket to Koh Samui needs to go along with a ferry. The bus and ferry payment is made together because the company that owns the bus organizes the ferry boat. The type of ferry boat is also a factor that determines the cost.
There are two types of ferry boats used, the low-speed ferry boat and the high-speed ferry boat. The cost of transportation for a bus with a low-speed ferry boat is $14. Meanwhile, the cost of transportation of a bus with a high-speed ferry boat is $37. The difference between the two is the time taken to reach the destination.
The time taken by a bus with a low-speed ferry boat is about 7 hours and 20 minutes. The bus uses 6 hours to journey from Phuket to Donsak Pier. Then, the ferry boat takes another 1 hour and 20 minutes to journey on the water to Koh Samui island.
Meanwhile, a bus with a high-speed ferry boat will take a total time of 6 hours and 45 minutes. The bus takes 6 hours to journey from Phuket to Donsak Pier. Then, the ferry boat journey on the water for the next 45 minutes.
Transfer from Phuket to Koh Samui
In some cases, especially when it is a family vacation, the idea of taking a bus or public transport might not be so good. On this note, there is another means of transportation to Koh Samui island from Phuket. It is known as private transfer transportation. It allows you to hire a car to transport you and your family (or group) to the destination.
Transfer transportation is not only suitable for families alone. It is also recommendable for a group of tourists, and also people with a lot of luggage. It makes the journey less stressful and more fun.
However, there are two forms of a private transfer. You can opt for an economy-class car that can only take a family of four. Also, you may choose a minivan transfer that can accommodate seven people effortlessly.
Cost and Time Taken by a Private Transfer from Phuket to Koh Samui
The two private transfer forms use a total time of 6 hours to journey from Phuket to Koh Samui. It is the time of movement, excluding your waiting time. To avoid waiting for so long, you should book a transfer ahead of your trip. By doing so, your bus will be waiting for you at the airport, thereby reducing your waiting time.
The cost of transportation for the two forms of private transfer is different. The economy-class car charges you a total price of $440 per trip. The minivan charges a total fee of $543. The cost covers your luggage, and the trip is meant to end at your booked hotel.
Car Rental from Phuket To Koh Samui
For privacy, a lot of people will desire to rent a car for the trip from Phuket to Koh Samui. On the other hand, some want to have the experience of driving on Thailand highway. You may need to rent a car for your trip to Koh Samui island, whichever one you belong to.
Renting a car, however, demands a lot of requirements. Before a car can be released to you on rent, the following requirements must be met and submitted;
- A driving license
- You must have been driving a car for more than one year.
- A passport
- A credit card
- A deposit of $160
- Review and reference from any international company
Once all of these are met, a car with insurance coverage will be released to you. Nonetheless, the car must be returned at the agreed date and time to avoid penalty.
Cost and Time Taken by a Rental Car from Phuket to Koh Samui
Excluding the time taken for processing the rent, the total time taken if you’re a professional driver is 6 hours. A little more time is used if you have difficulty driving or finding your way.
Aside from the deposit fee of $160, the cost of renting a car for your trip to Koh Samui island is €23 per day. The cost covers the insurance fee and the maintenance of the car after your trip. It is advisable to avoid any car rent that doesn’t demand a deposit or has a low price. Over time, such cars are known to be probably stolen cars.
Conclusion
Koh Samui island is a good place for vacation and a perfect island for tourism. However, embarking on the trip from Phuket requires understanding the different means of transportation. The cost of each means and the time taken are all you need to know. With all these, you are set for an exciting trip.
Make sure to check its best beaches Koh Samui.