How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samet: Bus, Van, Ferry or Speedboat

The easiest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samet is a combined bus and ferry ticket from Ekkamai: about 4 to 4 hours 30 minutes door to pier, from THB 413 on 12Go, with departures between 06:30 and 12:00.

Want it faster? A minibus plus speedboat ticket costs THB 538 and takes about 3 hours 50 minutes, while vans from Mochit start at THB 410.

A car with a shared speedboat starts at about THB 3,105 per vehicle.

The detail everyone misses: your ticket gets you to Na Dan Pier, not to your beach.

Right after the pier you pay the national park entry fee in cash (THB 200 for foreign adults), then take a songthaew to your bay.

Bangkok to Koh Samet timetable

These are the regular departures 12Go lists from Bangkok and the two airports to Koh Samet, with the lowest fares in baht.

Tap any route to see live seats and book.

1. Bus and ferry from Ekkamai, the one I would book

Three operators sell one ticket that covers the road trip from Ekkamai to Ban Phe and the ferry across to Na Dan Pier.

Nuanthip runs minibuses at 07:30, 08:30, 09:30 and 10:30 for THB 413, arriving about 4 hours 30 minutes later.

KKP Transport has 6 departures from 06:30 to 12:00 for THB 431, taking about 4 hours 10 minutes. Phittinin Transport leaves at 07:30, 09:00, 10:30 and 12:00 for THB 438, about 4 hours in total.

Where to catch it

Everything leaves from the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai, right below BTS Ekkamai on Sukhumvit Road.

Nuanthip and KKP check in at counter 24, and Phittinin uses counter 7, so look for your operator name above the windows.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early to swap your e-ticket for a boarding pass.

Luggage rules are strict on these minibuses: Nuanthip allows one suitcase of about 20 inches and 15 kg, and charges extra for anything bigger.

My verdict: the best mix of price and simplicity, with one ticket from the BTS to the island.

2. Minibus and speedboat, the fastest public option

KKP Transport swaps the slow ferry for a speedboat and gets you to Na Dan Pier in about 3 hours 50 minutes.

It leaves Ekkamai at 06:30, 07:30, 08:30, 09:30, 10:30 and 12:00, and costs THB 538 per person.

Check in at counter 24 and board at platform 7, at least 30 minutes before departure. One suitcase of up to 15 kg is included, and extra bags cost about THB 100 to 150.

The speedboat crossing takes about 15 minutes instead of 40 to 50 on the ferry. On windy days it can be bumpy, so keep your phone and passport in a dry bag.

My verdict: worth the extra THB 100 or so if you want to be on the beach by lunchtime.

3. Van and ferry from Mochit, handy for the north of Bangkok

Staying near Chatuchak, Ari or Victory Monument? Vans leave from the Mochit van terminal, so you do not need to cross the city to Ekkamai.

Bookaway lists the same Mochit vans from about US$12 to US$16. The catch is space: vans have little room for big suitcases.

My verdict: a good pick for light packers in the north of the city, less so with large luggage.

4. Cherdchai express bus to Ban Phe, the DIY route

Cherdchai Tour East runs big air-conditioned express buses from Ekkamai at 07:00, 09:00 and 11:00.

12Go sells the seat for THB 361, and the trip to Ban Phe takes about 4 hours 30 minutes.

Local guides describe this as a bus to Nuan Thip Pier, where you buy the boat separately. Read the ticket details before you pay, and budget for the crossing if it is not included.

Tickets on this service cannot be refunded or changed, and every passenger pays the same fare, children included. Bring your passport, because it is required at check-in.

The boat from Ban Phe

Nuan Thip Pier and Ban Phe Pier sit about 200 meters apart in the center of Ban Phe. On 12Go, the slow ferry from Nuan Thip costs from THB 85 and takes 40 to 50 minutes.

Speedboats from the Ban Phe piers take 15 to 20 minutes and start at about THB 162 to 242 per person.

The Koh Kaew Phitsadan catamaran crosses in about 10 minutes.

My verdict: the cheapest way if you are happy to sort out the boat yourself, but the combined tickets cost only a little more and save the hassle.

5. From Suvarnabhumi Airport or Khao San Road

If you land at Suvarnabhumi in the morning, a joint bus and boat ticket leaves the airport at 09:00 and reaches Na Dan Pier at 14:25.

12Go sells it for THB 824, and local guides list it as a Boonsiri service.

From the old town, the same type of ticket leaves Khao San Road at 08:30 for THB 824.

TravelBusAsia runs a faster van and speedboat combo from the Travel Mart office near Pratunam (the Watergate area) at 09:00 for THB 634, taking about 2 hours 54 minutes.

Several other Khao San agencies sell joint tickets from about THB 914 to 941, and some include hotel pickup in Bangkok for about THB 1,000 to 1,150.

Pickups add time while the van makes its rounds.

Arriving at Don Mueang instead? A joint ticket picks up there at 08:00 for THB 1,154 and takes about 6 hours 25 minutes.

Our Don Mueang Airport guide covers the terminal.

My verdict: the airport bus is the smartest first-day move if you land before 08:00. Later flights are better served by a car and speedboat.

6. Car and speedboat transfer, best for families and groups

A driver picks you up at your Bangkok hotel or the airport, drives you to the pier and hands you over to a boat for the last stretch.

12Go lists the trip at about 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Bookaway also lists a 9-seat private VIP van with the ferry from Suvarnabhumi for US$189, leaving at any time you choose.

My verdict: for three or four people it costs about THB 1,100 per head and skips every terminal. With a private speedboat, you can be dropped on beaches far from Na Dan.

7. Taxi or your own car to Ban Phe

Ban Phe is about 185 km from Ekkamai by road, roughly 2 hours 30 minutes once you are out of Bangkok.

A metered taxi to the pier costs around THB 1,400, and online estimates for a fixed fare run about THB 2,000 to 2,500.

Agree on the price and on who pays the motorway tolls before you set off.

Driving yourself? Park in Ban Phe for about THB 200 a day and take the ferry.

Cars are of little use on the island itself. To compare prices, see rental cars in Bangkok.

My verdict: fine for a last-minute trip, but the car and speedboat packages above include the boat and cost about the same.

Take the first departure of the morning. You reach the island before the midday heat, and you still have time to find another room if your first choice is full.

Step by step: the Ekkamai bus and ferry to Koh Samet

1. Book your seat on 12Go a day or two ahead, or a week ahead for long weekends.
2. Take the BTS to Ekkamai on the Sukhumvit Line and follow the signs to the Eastern Bus Terminal.
3. Check in at your operator counter 30 minutes early and get your boarding pass and luggage tag.
4. Ride to Ban Phe, about 3 to 3 hours 30 minutes.
5. Walk to the boat with the staff. Your ticket already covers the ferry or speedboat.
6. Land at Na Dan Pier, pay the THB 200 park fee in cash, and take a songthaew to your beach.

What it costs for 1, 2 or 4 people

Add THB 200 per foreign adult for the national park fee.

For one or two people the bus and ferry wins easily, while four people pay about THB 1,130 each for the door-to-pier car.

Which option should you choose?

• Staying on Sukhumvit: the bus and ferry from Ekkamai, or the speedboat combo if you want to arrive earlier.
• Staying near Chatuchak or Mochit: the Nuanthip or PP Koh Samed van from Mochit.
• Staying on Khao San Road: a joint ticket from Khao San, or the Travel Mart van and speedboat.
• Landing at Suvarnabhumi in the morning: the 09:00 airport bus and boat.
• Family or group of 3 or 4: a car with a shared speedboat.
• Booked a resort on Ao Prao or the far south: a car with a private speedboat that drops you on your beach.

Arriving in Koh Samet

Almost all public boats land at Na Dan Pier in Ko Samet Village, on the side of the island facing the mainland.

Green songthaews wait right outside the pier.

Just past the pier you reach the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park checkpoint. Foreign adults pay THB 200 and children THB 100, Thai nationals pay THB 40, all in cash.

• Hat Sai Kaew: the closest and busiest beach, a short songthaew ride or walk from the pier.
• Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai: just south of Sai Kaew, with fire shows in the evening.
• Ao Wong Deuan: further down the east coast, a longer and bumpier songthaew ride.
• Ao Prao and the south: on the far side or far end of the island; many resorts there arrange their own boats.

They are the island taxis.

Shared rides cost about THB 20 to 60 per person, depending on the beach, and a private ride starts at about THB 200.

Koh Samet: things to do and where to stay

Koh Samet is the closest real island escape from Bangkok, a small strip of around 13 square km that is mostly protected national park.

Its east coast is a chain of white-sand bays, and the west coast has the sunsets.

Spend a day hopping between bays on a round-the-island boat trip, snorkel or dive around Ko Thalu, and see the Sunthorn Phu statues on Hat Sai Kaew.

See the tours section below for trips.

Which area to stay in

• Hat Sai Kaew: the liveliest beach, close to the pier, with the widest choice of rooms and restaurants.
• Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai: smaller bays with beach bars and evening fire shows.
• Ao Wong Deuan: a long bay in the middle of the east coast, with its own boats to Ban Phe.
• Ao Prao and the south: quiet, upscale resorts and sunset views, far from the crowds.

Best luxury hotels in and around Koh Samet

• Paradee Resort: the island’s most exclusive address, on the secluded southern tip, with about 40 villas, many with their own pools.
• Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa: about 30 cottages and villas on Ao Prao, the quiet west-coast bay, with a beachfront pool and a spa.
• Ao Prao Resort: a beachfront resort on the same sunset bay, known for its infinity pool.
• Sai Kaew Beach Resort: a large all-rounder with 158 rooms, three pools and a spa.
• Vongdeuan Resort: a beachfront resort on Ao Wong Deuan with a pool and a shallow kids’ section.

Paradee and the Ao Prao resorts are a long, bumpy songthaew ride from Na Dan. A car with a private speedboat, or the resort’s own boat, is the easiest way to arrive.

Practical tips before you go

Bring cash from the mainland. Cash machines are limited on the island, and the park fee, songthaews and many beach restaurants take baht only.

Withdraw in Ban Phe or Bangkok.

Be careful on public Wi-Fi. Bus terminals, ferry piers and resort networks are open to everyone. A VPN such as ExpressVPN keeps your bookings and banking private.

Book ahead for weekends and holidays. Koh Samet is a Bangkok weekend favorite, so Friday buses and Saturday rooms fill up early, and Songkran and New Year are busier still.

Pack light. Minibuses and vans limit you to one suitcase of about 15 kg, and you carry it on and off the boat yourself.

Going back? The same operators run the trip in reverse, and the Cherdchai buses back from Ban Phe leave at about 12:00 and 14:00, so take a morning boat.

You can also continue to Pattaya, about 80 km up the coast.

Our Bangkok public transport guide explains the BTS ride to Ekkamai, and the Suvarnabhumi Airport guide helps if you fly in.

Tours from Koh Samet

Snorkeling trips around the outer islands, round-the-island boat tours and day trips from Bangkok or Pattaya are the classics.

Frequently asked questions

Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: bus, van, boat and private car fares from 12Go’s and Bookaway’s live listings and the 12Go timetable; park fees, pier details and songthaew fares from Thai national park information and local travel guides.

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Tim Kroeger( Expert in Luxury Hotel Reviews & Tourism in Bangkok )

Tim Kroeger is a luxury wellness travel specialist, founder of Universal Traveller, and creator of The Restorative Index, a performance-based framework for evaluating wellness hotels. After 15+ years across 110+ countries, he shifted from destination-chasing to travel recovery. Based in Bangkok, he reviews luxury wellness hotels and spas on tim-kroeger.com through a performance lens, combining firsthand testing with expert insights.

www.tim-kroeger.com/

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