There is no direct boat from Koh Samui to Krabi, Phi Phi or Phuket: the sea route is a ferry to Donsak on the mainland and a bus or van across the peninsula, about five and a half to nine hours on Lomprayah's 2026 joint tickets (1,250 to 1,700 baht). The only direct link is a Bangkok Airways flight, about 50 minutes to Krabi and an hour to Phuket.
Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand and Krabi, Phi Phi and Phuket are on the Andaman Sea, on the other side of the southern peninsula. Every "Samui to Phuket" ticket you see online is therefore a chain: boat, road and, for the islands, another boat. This page is about that one crossing between the two seas. The island-hopping within each sea is covered by our Gulf route and Andaman route.
Samui to the Andaman coast (October 2026)
- Direct boat
- None; every boat ticket goes via Donsak and the road
- Samui – Krabi by air
- Bangkok Airways, about 50 minutes, from 3,350 baht (October 2026 deal fare)
- Samui – Phuket by air
- Bangkok Airways, about 1 hour, from 3,100 baht (October 2026 deal fare)
- Boat + bus to Krabi
- Lomprayah, Nathon pier 07:00 or 10:15, about 5 h 15 min – 5 h 30 min, 1,250 baht
- Boat + bus to Phuket
- Lomprayah, 10:15, arriving 18:30, 1,450 baht
- Boat + bus + boat to Phi Phi
- Lomprayah, 07:00, arriving 15:30, 1,700 baht
Why every boat ticket goes through Donsak
The two coasts are separated by the peninsula, and no scheduled passenger boat links the Gulf islands directly with the Andaman Sea. So the operators sell joint tickets: a catamaran or car ferry from Samui to Donsak pier on the Surat Thani coast, a coach or van across the peninsula, and, for Phi Phi, Lanta or Railay, another boat at the end. Lomprayah and Raja Ferry both sell these chains, and Seatran runs on the same Donsak corridor.
That means the crossing is a long day, not a short sea trip. The road part takes most of it, and each change is a point where a delay can push you onto a later connection. Book a ticket that covers every leg with one company where you can, and keep every coupon until you arrive.
"Samui to Phuket ferry" means a boat to the mainland and a long bus ride. No boat sails directly between the Gulf and the Andaman Sea. If a ticket shows only a ferry, ask how you cross the peninsula before you pay.
Lomprayah's joint tickets from Samui (2026)
Lomprayah publishes the most complete timetable for these chains. Its 2026 timetable lists these from Nathon pier on Samui's west coast:
| To | Departs Samui | Arrives | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krabi | 07:00 / 10:15 | 12:30 / 15:30 | ฿1,250 |
| Krabi Town or Ao Nang hotel | 07:00 / 10:15 | 13:30 / 16:30 | ฿1,400 |
| Koh Phi Phi | 07:00 | 15:30 | ฿1,700 |
| Koh Lanta | 07:00 / 10:15 | 16:00 / 18:00 | ฿1,650 |
| Railay (van and long-tail boat) | See timetable | – | ฿1,650 |
| Phuket | 10:15 | 18:30 | ฿1,450 |
| Khao Sok | See timetable | – | ฿1,400 |
From Koh Phangan the same tickets cost about 150 baht more, for example 1,600 baht to Phuket and 1,850 baht to Phi Phi. Our reading of the table comes from Lomprayah's PDF, where some labels are images, so check the exact pier and arrival point when you book. Raja Ferry, which sails from Donsak to Lipa Noi on Samui, sells bus and boat connections to the same places: Krabi bus terminal, Ao Nang, Phi Phi (Ton Sai), Koh Lanta (Saladan), Phuket bus terminal 2, Khao Lak and Khao Sok. We could not capture its times.
At the Andaman end you arrive in a different world. The onward boats to Phi Phi are described in our guide to ferries to Phi Phi, the road to Lanta in Krabi to Koh Lanta, and the beach towns in our pages on Ao Nang and Railay.
Flying with Bangkok Airways
Samui Airport belongs to Bangkok Airways, and the airline flies non-stop from the island to both Krabi and Phuket. According to its flight-deal pages (read in October 2026):
| Route | Flight time | Deal fares from (one way, economy) |
|---|---|---|
| Samui – Krabi | About 50 minutes | ฿3,350 (Oct 2026), ฿3,600 (Nov–Dec), ฿4,700 (Jan–Feb 2027) |
| Samui – Phuket | About 1 hour | ฿3,100 (Oct 2026), ฿2,800 (Nov), ฿3,350 (Dec), ฿4,900 (Jan–Feb 2027) |
The Phuket deal fares include 20 kg of checked baggage. These are "from" prices and change daily, so compare on the airline's site for your date. Even at the high-season fares, the flight saves most of a day, so weigh the difference against the time. From Phuket airport, our guide to getting to the beaches covers the last stretch.
The Samui–Phuket flight is cheapest in November. Bangkok Airways' deal page showed 2,800 baht for November 2026 against 4,900 baht in January and February 2027. Book early if you are crossing in the peak months.
The two monsoons, and which way to go
The two seas have their rain at different times: the Gulf is wettest from October to December, the Andaman coast from about May to October. The month-by-month rainfall is on our page about when to visit the Thai islands. For this crossing it means:
- January to April: both sides are usually good, so choose the direction that fits your flights home.
- November and December: the Andaman side is in season and Samui is wet. Spend fewer days on the Gulf and cross early, or start on the Andaman side and skip the Gulf.
- June to September: the Gulf is the drier side. If you must cross, do it towards the start of the trip and keep the Andaman part short.
Rough seas also affect the first leg. From late October to December the Samui–Donsak crossing can be delayed or cancelled, which breaks the whole chain; in that season the flight is the safer option. Leave a spare day before any international flight.
Going the other way: Phuket or Krabi to Samui
The same tickets run in reverse. Lomprayah's 2026 timetable has hotel pick-ups in Phuket's main beach areas (Patong, Kata, Karon, Rawai and Nai Harn) at 07:30, or from Phuket airport at 10:00, arriving on the Gulf islands between 15:45 and 17:45, for 1,500 to 1,800 baht depending on the destination. Raja Ferry sells its connections from Donsak; ask its ticket office whether the same buses run in the reverse direction on your date. Bangkok Airways flies both routes in the other direction too.
For a two-week trip that covers both coasts, our two-week itinerary shows where the crossing fits. If you are coming from Bangkok rather than from Samui, our page on Bangkok to Krabi covers the train and van via Surat Thani.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a ferry from Koh Samui to Phuket?
Not a direct one. Every boat ticket goes from Samui to Donsak on the mainland and then by bus across the peninsula. Lomprayah's 2026 joint ticket leaves Samui at 10:15 and reaches Phuket at 18:30, for 1,450 baht.
How long does it take from Koh Samui to Krabi?
About five and a half hours by boat and bus: Lomprayah's 2026 timetable has departures at 07:00 and 10:15 arriving in Krabi at 12:30 and 15:30. The direct Bangkok Airways flight takes about 50 minutes.
Can I fly from Koh Samui to Krabi or Phuket?
Yes. Bangkok Airways flies Samui–Krabi in about 50 minutes and Samui–Phuket in about an hour. Its October 2026 deal fares started at 3,350 and 3,100 baht one way, higher in January and February.
How do I get from Koh Samui to Koh Phi Phi?
On a joint boat-bus-boat ticket via Donsak and Krabi or Phuket. Lomprayah's 2026 timetable lists a 07:00 departure from Samui arriving on Phi Phi at 15:30, for 1,700 baht. Alternatively, fly to Krabi or Phuket and take a ferry from there.
Sources
- Lomprayah – Time Table 2026 (joint tickets from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan) (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Airways – Flight deals Samui–Phuket (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Airways – Flight deals Samui–Krabi (checked October 2026)
- Raja Ferry Port – Donsak routes and bus-and-boat destinations (checked October 2026)
- Raja Ferry Port – Fares under the Surat Thani provincial announcement (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Airways Investor Relations – Samui Airport (checked October 2026)
- Thai Meteorological Department – Climate normals 1991–2020 (Koh Samui and Phuket) (checked October 2026)