BY AIR
Bangkok Airways operates 15 flights a day between Bangkok and Koh Samui, which is by far the easiest way to get to the island. Flights take just 1 hour 20 minutes.
Tel: 0 2265 5555 (Bangkok Office) or 0 7742 2512-9 (Ko Samui Office)
BY RAIL
Eleven trains a day leave from Hua Lamphong, Railway Station in Bangkok to Surat Thani, from where it is necessary to take a bus to Don Sak Pier and then a ferry across to the islands.
Railway Station Hotline: 1690 or Hua Larnphong- Railway Station tel: 0 2220 4334, 0 2223 7010,
0 2223 7020, Surat Thani Railway Station tel: 077311213
BY BUS
Buses from Bangkok leave frequently for Ko Samui, but the fare does not include the ticket for the ferry. The journey time is around 14 hours. Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal tel: 0 2435 1199 or Surat Thani Bus Terminal tel: 0 7720 0032.
BY BOAT
To Ko Samui
Both passenger and car ferries run 15 times a day from Don Sak Pier, taking about 1 hour 30 minutes. The first ferry departs at 5.00 and the last one departs at 19.00.
An express boat leaves Surat Thani every morning and takes 2 hours 30 minutes. There is also an overnight boat that departs Ban Don Pier in Surat Thani at 23.00 and arrives Ko Samui at dawn around 5.00. The overnight boat departs Ko Samui at 21.00 and arrives back to Surat Thani around 4.00.
To Ko Pha-ngan
Direct boats from Don Sak Pier to Ko Pha-ngan leave 15 times a day and take 2 hours 30 minutes while regular ferries from Na thon on Ko Samui take just one hour. The first ferry departs at 7.00 and the last one departs at 17.30. There is also a daily overnight boat from Ban Don Pier, Surat Thani to Ko Pha-ngan, departing at 23.00 and arriving at 6.00.
To Koh Tao
Daily boats between Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao take about 2 hours, while those from Ko Samui (which also stop at Koh Pha-ngan) take 3 hours. An alternative port of departure for Koh Tao is Tha Yang Pier, Chumphon, which takes about 2 hours by an express boat departing at 7.00 daily. There is also a daily overnight boat from Ban Don Pier, Surat Thani to KohTao, departing at 23.00 and arriving at 6.00.