Koh Samed Transportation

Those who would like to take a public bus can take an air-conditioned bus at Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai). There are buses from Cherd Chai Tour Company ready to service you.

The bus route is Bangkok-Ban Phe. The location to get off the bus is just opposite to Nual Thip Pier, which visitors can just walk across the street to get a ferry boat to Koh Samed.

• Departure Time (From Bangkok): 07.00 – 18.30 (bus departs every hour, in general)
• Departure Time (From Ban Phe): 05.00 – 18.00 (bus departs every hour, in general)

Mini Bus (Van) is another choice to get to Ban Phe. Most of Thai residents choose this option because it easily to take one. But, it might not easy and comfortable enough for foreigners.

There are three major van stations in Victory Monument, Bangkok, to Ban Phe:

- near Phong Lee Restaurant.
- near Ratchwitee Hospital
- near Century Department Store

Ticket Price is about 160 - 200 Baht / person

It could take time approximately 3 -3.30 hours (Vans usually depart every 40 minutes)

Note: Although there are several piers providing ferry boats to Koh Samed, Nual Thip Pier is the most popular, and it is also convenient for visitors to walk to pier as well (in the case that visitors come to Ban Phe by Bus). When Nual Thip Pier is more popular, it means that the ferry boat will also depart quickly. Boat providers often wait for getting a number of visitors before departing the ferry boat.

To get to Koh Samed by ferry boat is cheap and convenient. There are usually two floors on the boat, and there are also life jackets provided on the boat. The ferry boat, in general, departs every hours, from 08.00 – 18.00. On weekend or holidays, the boats tend to departs faster, though.

• Transportation time to Koh Samed:: 30 - 40 minutes.

Information about Boat Ticket

Before taking any ferry boats to Koh Samed, please have a look at the ticket information below.

Types of Ferry Tickets

For taking a ferry to Koh Samed Island, there are two types of tickets:

• One-way ticket (At the return trip, visitors can choose other ferry providers)
• Round-trip ticket (have to choose the same provider, by using the ticket at the return trip)

Ticket Price

Price for transferring to Koh Samed can be varied, depending on how far you get off.

• Nadan Pier: 50 Baht (one-way) /100 Baht (Round-trip)
• Ao Vongduan: 70 Baht (one-way) /140 Baht (Round-trip)

* Those who buy round-trip ticket for Nadan Pier can also use the way-back ticket at Ao Vongduan, but need to pay for another 20 Baht.

In short, visitor can choose one-way or round-trip ticket to travel to Koh Samed (Though, ferry providers would like visitors to buy the round-trip one).

Nevertheless, currently Nual Thip Pier sells one-way ticket for 70 Baht and round-trip ticket for 100 Baht. In this case, to buy the round-trip one is more valuable. As Nual Thip Pier is popular, visitors do not have to wait for a long time on the way back anyway.

• Only buy a boat ticket at the ticket counter, not from someone walking on the street. Otherwise, visitors might pay for the ticket more than they should.
• Ferry boat will suit this kind of visitors: those who would like to patiently transfer to Koh Samed, those who come with kids, those who easily to get seasick, those who would like to pay less for the ticket.
• A large group of visitors can choose to take a speed boat, if they would like to get to Koh Samed Island quickly.
• Visitors can buy either one-way ticket or round-trip ticket. For round-trip ticket, visitors can come back any day, without specify the date to come back in advance.
• Whenever visitors feel suspicious about the ticket price or pier service, please ask them directly by giving a call.
• Those who would like to go to Sai Kaew Beach, Ao Phai Beach, Ao Tubtim Beach, Ao Nual Beach, or Ao Noina Beach, should take a ferry boat to Nadan Pier. Except visitors would like to take a speed boat.
• Those who would like to go to Ao Vongduan Beach, Ao Cho Beach, Ao Sangthian Beach, or Ao Lung Dam Beach, should take a ferry to Vong Duan Beach. Except visitors would like to take a speed boat.

Price List at Ao Prao Beach Station

At almost every Songthaew station on Koh Samed, there is a price list to show how much for a destination visitor would like to go, for both price/person and price for hire privately.

Note that, Songthaew station is not available at every beach. In the case that visitors need to take a Songthaew, please ask the resort to contact one.

On Koh Samed Island, transporting by Songthaew is a safe and inexpensive choice (except visitors would like to stop ove many places, in that case rental motorbike would be more cost effective).

The price of transporting by Songthaew is depending on how far visitors go. Usually, visitor will join other people on the same bus, which mean that Songthaew will wait until the number of people are enough to go.

Though, visitor can hire a Songthaew to go with them as a private group, but they will likely have to pay more than shared with other people.

Songthaew is a transport vehicle in green color.

Renting a motor bike to get around the island is popular for both Thai and foreign visitors. This is because the renting price is not expensive and visitors can get around easily to the farthest point of the island. Besides, there are a number of one-person or a couple visitors to come by Koh Samed, and motorbike is suitable to them to go to places. Note, there is no motorbike taxi on Koh Samed island.

Rental Motorbike can be found at Nada Pier and Popular Beaches – Sai Kaew Beach, Ao Phai Beach, Ao Vongduan Beach, Ao Prao. Price for renting a motorbike is slightly varied by shops on the island. Basically, visitors can rent a bike for 300 Baht, but the farther the motorbike-rental shops are located, the higher the price seems to be. Those, who stay at a place that cannot find any rental motorbike, can ask the resort to find one for them (visitor might, in this case, have to pay for service charge a little though).

• Renting a motorbike for one day generally means that visitor can have it for 24 hours. For example, start at 13.00 today, end 13.00 tomorrow. Though, visitor should ask the bike provider for what they have to pay if they return the motorbike late.
• For renting a motorbike, visitors need to deposit their passport to the provider. (Visitors will get back when returning the bike)
• If visitors do not bring passport with them, they can deposit 1,000 Baht for renting a bike instead (Visitors will get back when returning the bike).
• Visitors should remember phone number of the shop they rent a bike. It will be very helpful when they have a problem with the bike.

Notice!

Large road bumps throuhtout the main road

* As main road of the island is not large, visitors need to be careful at any turning point. This is because visitors might encounter a truck at that area sometimes. Besides, on weekend or holidays, there will be a lot of bikes and Songthaew (Baht Buses) in the same road.

** Although the main road of the island has been completely developed, roads to most beaches are still dirt way. Visitors should also carefully ride at that area to the beach. Road bumps throughout the main road are also another thing that visitors should pay attention on.

Price for renting a golf club car is noticeably higher than renting a motorbike. The renting price is about 1,500 Baht a day. Though, it can take up to 3-4 persons on the car, which is more than motorbike as well.

Golf club car is an interestingly alternative choice of rental vehicle, as driving golf club car is safer and easier than riding a motorcycle. It is suitable for those who have no experience about riding a bike before.

Although golf club car is not as powerful as ATV car, it can still be able to take a small group of visitors to the farthest point of the island. There is also a roof on the golf club car, so that visitors do not have to help protect UV light (not completely protect but better than nothing).

• For renting a golf club car, visitors have to deposit passport as same as renting a motorbike.
• There are still not many golf club cars available on the island, so visitors who would like to rent this type of car should have a second plan in the case of its unavailability.

Currently, riding bicycle becomes up-trend in Thailand. A lot of people are interested in this type of vehicle more and more. Perhaps, it is seen as a healthy activity.

However, to ride a bicycle on Koh Samed is like suitable just for sport men/women and those who are looking for challenging activity. When riding a bicycle from Sai Kaew Beach to the farthest point of the island, visitors will have to pass many steep hills, which could make them give up before reaching the destination.

The price of renting bicycle is about 200 Baht per 24 hours as other rental vehicles on the island. There are two types of rental bicycles - large wheel bicycles and normal bicycles. For large wheel bicycles, it can move on the sand easier than the other one.

• For renting a bicycle, visitors have to deposit passport as same as renting a motorbike.
• There are still not many rental bicycles available on the island, so visitors who would like to get a bicycle on the island should have a second plan in the case of its unavailability.