Want to go from Pattaya to Koh Samui the long way? Sounds interesting, right? Well, not so fast!
Although both these beautiful Thai destinations are a mere 2 hours away from each other by air, traveling between the two by land and sea can be quite a hassle.
That’s why we’re going to take you through everything you need to know about getting from Pattaya to Koh Samui, so read on to find out how you can go from one beach area of Thailand to one of it’s most popular islands, in the quickest and most efficient way possible!
Getting To Koh Samui From Pattaya By Bus And Ferry
It’s easy to think that the best way to get between these two idyllic Thai destinations is by ferry and in some ways it is. However, there is no direct ferry from Pattaya to Koh Samui but you can get a long distance bus from Pattaya to Chumpon on the Gulf Of Thailand, then a ferry across to Koh Samui from there.
Remember though, this is a VERY long journey, around 14.5 hours in total with several stops along the way. If you are over 6ft tall, i would suggest either booking two seats or finding another way to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui as there’s not much room to move if you have long legs.
Also, buses and ferries are not particularly fast and can be more expensive than taking a direct flight, so bear this in mind unless you just want to experience slow travel in the Land Of Smiles.
Getting To Koh Samui From Pattaya By Train
The train is an extremely popular option for people traveling between Thailand’s eastern seaboard and it’s not just convenient but also very cheap.
The journey between Pattaya and Koh Samui takes between 12-15 hours depending on which train you get and at which time, as you first have to get the train to Bangkok then change trains down to Surat Thani Railway Station before getting a bus to the ferry landing over to Samui.
The trains leave from Bangkok’s new Bang Sue station and some are not the most comfortable, so check each one out as different types of trains are used at different times, some more luxurious than others. The trains can also get very busy on certain sections of the route so also bear that in mind before booking.
Getting To Koh Samui From Pattaya By Car And Ferry
If you’d rather drive to Pattaya and then take a ferry or hire a private boat to Koh Samui, this is possible. It’s an 11 hour journey by car down to Don Sak Pier in Surat Thani and another 90 minutes or so by car ferry over to Koh Samui, meaning that you should factor in several hours additional travel time in case of any delays.
We wouldn’t recommend this option if you want to go straight to Samui as it’s a long drive. However, if you want to spend some time en route stopping off in various places or even overnight while traveling, this is a great way to do it and see what the real Thailand is all about.
Getting To Koh Samui From Pattaya By Motorbike
The most direct and convenient way to get between Pattaya to Koh Samui is to use a motorbike. You would take the same route as a car as mentioned above but would have the option of taking a passenger ferry instead of a car ferry from Surat Thani as bikes are allowed on passenger ferries.
Just follow the route above although you may be able to do the journey in a quicker time than a car as a motorbike is more nimble and could take short cuts around some back streets.
Getting To Koh Samui From Pattaya By Bicycle
If you like a real challenge and have the legs for it, try going from Pattaya to Koh Samui on a bicycle! This will be very slow and a challenging way to get there but if you fancy making a proper adventure of it and just want to take your time, it sounds like great fun.
You could make multiple stops along the way, some overnight or even longer if you want to stretch out the experience and time is no issue to you, as there are some fantastic places en route like the lovely quiet beach town of Hua Hin for instance.
This would be an amazing trip to do and also very rewarding so if you’re feeling adventurous and want to do something completely different, why not give it a go and create memories for a lifetime.
Tips For Getting From Pattaya To Koh Samui
Book your tickets in advance – If you want to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui as cheaply as possible, you’ll want to book your tickets as far in advance as possible. The Thai islands are very popular and tickets are often sold out by the time they’re released to the general public.
Join tours – Not only are tours better than booking a flight and a ferry separately, they’re also way cheaper than the more expensive individual tickets.
Pick a cheap ferry – While the car ferry is definitely a fun way to reach and see the islands, it’s also pretty pricey. If you don’t mind splashing a little cash there are plenty of other ferries that are just as cheap as each other providing you don’t bring the car.
Bring snacks and water – Not only will this help you save some money while traveling, it’s also really important for any long journey like this one.
Stay on Koh Samui – Although Koh Phangan is a nice place to visit, the main island of Koh Samui is way better and more interesting. Not only is it more calm but it also has way more to offer than the other island.