Samui - Surat Thani Bus Terminal

Surat Thani & Samui Bus Terminal

Buses are a good alternative at flights to reach the island of Koh Samui, from Bangkok or other tourist destinations in southern Thailand. A flight to Koh Samui can cost a lot, if not booked in advance, and often in high season the seats are sell out quickly. A package trip, bus plus ferry, can cost four times less than a plane flight in high season, of course, the duration of the trip is not even comparable, but the savings is considerable. Many tourists choose this option, since when are available the night lines with VIP buses. The VIP buses, with limited seating, air conditioning and comfortable seats, suitable for sleeping, connect directly Bangkok to Don Sak Pier in Surat Thani, a nine hours trip without stopping at bus terminals in the city. After waiting for about an hour, the time required to perform the operations of boarding, a two-hour sea crossing will get you to Nathon, the main ferry dock in Koh Samui. You can purchase a ticket that includes bus and ferry, commonly called Joint Ticket, at the Southern Bus Terminal and Mo Chit Terminal, or through any travel agent in Bangkok. The Joint Ticket is also available from the seaside resorts of southern Thailand, like Krabi and Phuket, offered by several private bus companies. If from your place of stay, in Thailand, is not available this option, and still you want to get to Koh Samui by buses, the nearest town on the mainland which serves as hub-bus is Surat Thani. Surat Thani is the provincial capital of Koh Samui and has three bus stations. The Surat Thani Transport Station is long-distance bus terminal of city, known by local as Bor Kor Sor Mai. It is located outside Surat Thani, seven kilometres west of downtown, on the way towards Phunphin in Tambon Wat Pradu. It is a new building in strategic position, close to the intersection of main Highways 401 and 417, and about 10 kilometres from the railway station. The terminal is the point of arrival and departure of almost all long-distance buses, such as those to and from Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and of some regional minibuses, such as those from and to Phuket and Hat Yai. The other two terminals are located in the city centre, both in Talad Mai Road, one close to another, about 7 kilometres from long-distance bus terminal. The Downtown Transportation Hub 1, named also Talad Kaset 1, is located between Soi 8 and Soi 10, and it is the smallest of the two bus stations in the centre. It is starting point of orange local buses, which run frequently to and from the railway station of Surat Thani, and to other local destinations. The Downtown Transportation Hub 2, known as Talad Kaset 2, is located between Soi 31 and Soi 33, just one km from the other. It is the larger station in city centre, from where depart and arrive buses and minibuses to many southern destinations, like Krabi, Phuket, Khao Lak, Ranong, Chumphon, Trang, Hat Yai and Satun. The connection between the three terminals is performed by local buses, fare 15 THB, or songthaews, rate 20 THB per passenger. The Don Sak Pier it's faraway 71 km from the long-distance bus terminal, and 65 km from the two terminals in the city centre, just over one hour's journey from both. Everywhere you are, it is possible reach the Don Sak Pier with local buses or songthaews, rates from 60 to 100 THB, and then take a ferry up to Nathon, price 120 THB per passenger, or a fast catamaran, price 350 THB, or use one of the private companies offering the Joint Ticket. Joint Ticket prices vary according to the private company you choose, from 250 to 450 THB. The considerable price difference between one and the other depends on the type of boat used to ferry, considers that a ferry takes about two hours to reach Koh Samui, a speedboat employs less than half the time, but it costs a lot more due the large quantity of fuel used and the fewer passengers on board. Read More