Bangkok Airways is the only airline that flies directly to Koh Samui. They operate approximately 17 flights per day during high season between Bangkok and Samui International Airport (see the Bangkok Airways timetable on the following page for details). From Samui International Airport you can take a pick-up truck (they operate as small buses in Thailand) or taxi to your hotel.
Thai Airways does not fly directly to Samui, but flies to Surat Thani from Bangkok twice daily, the fare is 1785 baht; flight time is 70 minutes. Passengers must then make the onward journey to Samui by bus and ferry (approx. 3 hours). Air-con vans from Surat Thani airport to town cost 80 baht per person. Thai also runs a limousine service for 150 baht or 280 baht all the way to Ko Samui.

By Train

Bangkok to Samui: Trains for Surat Thani, which actually stop in Phun Phin, 14kms. west of Surat Thani, leave Bangkok's Hualamphong station at 12.20pm (rapid), 2.15pm and 2.35pm (special express), 3.50pm (rapid), 5.05pm (express), 5.35pm and 6.20pm (rapid), 7.15pm (express) and 10.30pm and 10.50pm (express diesel railcar), arriving 10 ? to 11hours later. The 6.20pm (rapid) train is most convenient as it arrives at 5.28am allowing you plenty of time to catch a boat to Ko Samui (if that's where you are going). Fares are 519 baht in 1st class, 248 baht in 2nd class and 107 baht in 3rd class, not including the rapid/express/special express surcharges or berths.

(Surcharges are 50 baht/person for the express train, 30 baht/person for the rapid train, and 70 baht/person for the special express train. Extra charges for an air-conditioned sleeping berth are: 520 baht/person for a 1st class double cabin, and 220 baht/person for an upper bed on the 2nd class rapid service (270 baht for the lower bed.)

Tickets for the train can be booked at Bangkok Airport, Bangkok Railway Station and many travel agencies in Bangkok. A combination ticket can be purchased from the State Railway of Thailand that allows you to go straight through to Ko Samui or to Ko Pha-Ngan from Bangkok on a train, bus and boat combination, The saving is typically little more than 50 baht.

Samui to Bangkok: Take the 2.00pm boat from Nathon to the mainland, a connecting bus will take you from the pier to the train station in Surat Thani. The train departs at 6.20pm from Surat Thani and arrives at 8.00am the next morning in Bangkok. There are other later trains leaving from Surat Thani, but that means a longer wait at the train station. You can opt for a seat or a bed. Upper beds are cheaper than the lower as they are smaller, but people 6ft or taller would be advised to request a lower bed. Tickets purchased from agents in Samui normally include the boat, bus and train fares. The ticket is cheaper if you go to the station yourself but there is a good chance that the train will be fully booked as much as a week in advance.

By Bus

Bangkok to Samui: First class air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok's Southern bus terminal in Thonburi twice in the morning and oncein the evening Journey time to Surat Thani is 11 hours and the fare is 315 baht. There is also one second class air-conditioned departure at 10.00pm that costs 250baht and one VIP departure at 8.00pm for 400baht . Private Companies also run 'Super VIP' buses with only 24 seats for 500bahtn.
Ordinary buses leave the Southern bus terminal in the morning and oce in the evening for 180 buaht. Public buses and share taxis run from the Talat Kaset 1 or 2 markets.
Samui to Bangkok: Depart 2.00pm from Nathon, arriving 4.00pm at Srat Thani pier. It's then a 30- minute bus journey into Surat Thani. The main bus then departs Surat Thani at 7.00pm and arrives into Koh Sarn Road, Bangkok the next morning. The boat journey portion can commence from any of the local islands, but there will be a surcharge for this. En-route, the buses stop regularly for refreshments. The fare for the VIP bus is 450 baht.

Extending your stay

Most of the people who come to Samui, end up wishing they could stay longer than they had planned. Without a visa, foreigners are allowed to stay 30 days in the kingdom. If you have a tourist visa, these are generally good for 60 days, with the opportunity to extend to 90 days. Visa extensions cost about 500 baht. Overstaying your visa costs 250 baht per day, with a maximum fine of 20,000 baht. To extend your visa, or for other immigration questions, go to Samui's immigration office. From Nathon, go south on the ring road 2km to the traffic lights. Turn right and you will see the office on the right hand side. They are open Monday through Friday 8.30am to noon and I.00pm to 4.30pm.