After vibrant and noisy parties in Pattaya, one of the popular resorts on the Siam Gulf coast, many people look to change the atmosphere and head to Koh Samui. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing and peaceful vacation in Thailand. With its mild climate, warm clear seas, and lush tropical greenery, it attracts tourists with children or those simply seeking some solitude.
We’ve prepared a detailed guide on how to get from Pattaya to Samui on your own. In this article, you’ll find out whether it’s worth flying, how much tickets cost, how to travel by ferry and bus, how long the journey takes, whether it’s worth booking a transfer service, and what the cost will be.
How to Get from Pattaya to Samui
The distance between Pattaya and Koh Samui is approximately 550–600 kilometers by land and sea, depending on the chosen route. The quickest way to get there is by plane. You’ll be surprised, but compared to a minivan transfer, the flight ticket will cost exactly the same.
For example, if you travel by car from Pattaya, you’ll need to reach the nearest city with ferry connections to Koh Samui—Surat Thani or Chumphon. The journey will take about 14 hours. You can shorten the travel time by taking a bus to Bangkok, and from there, catch a ferry to Samui. More details about the pros and cons of each option are provided below.
Flight from Pattaya to Samui
From U-Tapao
You can fly from Pattaya to Samui from U-Tapao International Airport, which is about a 40-minute drive from the city center. The only inconvenience is that direct flights are available only once a day, operated by Bangkok Airways. The flight time is one hour and ten minutes, with departure at 17:20, and you’ll arrive an hour later, local time.
To check in for the domestic flight, you need to be there an hour before departure. It’s most convenient to book a transfer in advance (click here to book). One-way flight tickets start at $130, and you can check the current price and make a reservation through the link.
There are other flights available throughout the day, but they require multiple transfers, including a stopover in Phuket, and involve a long wait, ranging from 4 to 8 hours.
From Bangkok Airports
If you want to fly to Samui but the direct flight from Pattaya doesn’t fit your schedule, there are more flight options available from Bangkok in terms of departure times. Getting to Bangkok from Pattaya is easy—you can take a bus, minivan, or taxi. Buses depart every 30 minutes, and the journey takes about two hours. The bus ticket costs $4, and you can buy it on the 12go.asia website.
Flights are available from both Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang (DMK). The flight time from Suvarnabhumi is one hour and five minutes, while from Don Mueang, it’s about half an hour longer.
Every day, more than 10 direct flights depart from Bangkok to Samui, so you’ll easily find a flight that suits your schedule. The flights are also operated by Bangkok Airways.
By Plane to Surat Thani + Ferry
Traveling by plane can be quite budget-friendly if you’re willing to transfer to a ferry in Surat Thani province. For example, a flight ticket from Bangkok to this province costs just $27 per person.
The ferry or speedboat ride will cost about $26 per person. In total, the journey takes about 5 hours, including one hour of flight time, and the total cost is $53. You can check all prices and make a purchase on the 12go website.
From Pattaya to Samui by Bus and Ferry
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly way to get from Pattaya to Samui, the bus and ferry option is perfect. First, it’s important to know that ferries to Samui only depart from Surat Thani, most commonly from the Donsak pier.
Since there are no direct buses from Pattaya to Surat Thani, almost all available options require a transfer in Bangkok. The journey takes about 15 hours, and ticket prices start at $45, which includes both the bus and ferry tickets. You can buy them here.
Alternatively, you can take a bus or minivan to Bangkok on your own, with ticket prices ranging from $4 to $6. The main advantage of this option is that buses go to various destinations, so when booking, you can choose the location where you’d like to arrive. This is particularly convenient if you’re traveling with luggage. You can find out where the buses arrive and buy tickets here.
From Bangkok, you can easily reach nearby cities with piers from which ferries to Samui depart. You can find detailed instructions in our article on how to get from Bangkok to Samui.
Traveling from Pattaya to Samui by Train with a Transfer in Surat Thani
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to get from Pattaya to Samui on your own, this is it. There are no direct trains from Pattaya to Surat Thani or Chumphon, so the most convenient option is to take a bus to Bangkok, which takes about 2 hours.
At the Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) station, you can board a train that will take you to Surat Thani. Trains depart in the evening, and the journey lasts around 11 hours. It’s best to book tickets for a sleeper car, which comes with air conditioning and a toilet. Ticket prices start from $39 (you can buy tickets here).
Trains arrive at Surat Thani Railway Station. Since it takes about an hour to reach the pier from there, you can either book a transfer or buy a bus + ferry ticket in advance, or do so on-site.
Ferries from Surat Thani to Samui
After spending about 7 or even 8 hours traveling from Pattaya to Samui with a stop in Surat Thani, you’ll still have a few more hours to go, but this time by sea. Ferries or speedboats mainly depart from the Donsak pier. The pier is about an hour’s drive from Surat Thani, but many companies offer combined bus + ferry tickets for passenger convenience.
The ferry ride to Samui takes between two and four hours, depending on the ferry company, type of vessel, and the pier on Samui (Lipa Noi, Maenam, or Nathon). Ferries on this route are operated by the following companies: Raja Ferry, Seatran Ferry, and Lomprayah.
Final Thoughts
| Travel Method | Travel Time | Price (THB) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight from U-Tapao (Pattaya) → Samui | ~1 hour 10 minutes | 2,500–4,500 | Fastest option, direct flight with Bangkok Airways, 1 flight per day |
| Pattaya → Bangkok → Flight to Samui | ~5–6 hours (total) | 2,500–5,000 | More flights from Bangkok, flexible timing and pricing options |
| Bus/Minivan + Ferry (via Surat Thani or Chumphon) | 10–14 hours | 750–1,200 | Budget-friendly, convenient combined tickets, two-stage journey |
| Train (via Bangkok) + Ferry | 13–15 hours | 900–2,500 | Night train + transfer to pier + ferry, comfortable for train lovers |
| Taxi from Pattaya + Ferry | 10–12 hours | From 13,500 | Flexible route, no need to plan logistics, taxi can be booked here |
