Buses from Koh Samui to Phuket

Buses from Koh Samui to Phuket

Koh Samui
Phuket
Tue, Sep 8
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2 Travelers
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Koh Samui to Phuket Destination Reviews

LV
Laura V
The ferry was outdated, but it left on time. The bus transport was ok, but we had an unexpected 1 hour stop in Surat Thani. During the second bus drive, there was no communication at all about break times and we were very confused when the driver suddenly stopped at the middle of a busy road in Phuket and told us we had to get out. We were supposed to get dropped of at the airport, but we were nowhere near the airport. When we asked the staff member where the terminal was, she pointed to two people on the road and told us that they would transfer us. We left the bus and asked these people on the road. However, it turned out that there was no transfer and these people did not know anything. We had to book an expensive taxi, since the airport was more than 15 minutes away! Really bad service.
Koh Samui to Phuket, Bus Express, Raja Ferry (ราชา เฟอร์รี่), Aug 27, 2026
GP
Graeme P
Driver arrived on time and all connections went smoothly
Koh Samui to Phuket, Bus Bus + Ferry, 12Go Bus (12Go Bus), Jul 25, 2026
SL
Sandra L
Smooth travel, no problems at all
Koh Samui to Phuket, Bus Bus + Ferry, 12Go Bus (12Go Bus), Apr 10, 2026
JE
Jason E
First when we arrived at Phuket bus terminal two early in the morning it wasn’t clearly visibly marked from which window we needed to be at to present the voucher so that we was able to get our tickets. We asked one lady who kindly told us where we needed to go and that they don’t open until 07:00. Once the lady arrived and opened the window for us to present the voucher to get the tickets we was informed by the lady that the time printed on the voucher from their website for the coach was wrong so we had a 45mins wait. As we had two big suitcases weighing 23kg they had to charge us extra for this which cost us around 400 THB for the two suitcases. We were then presented with two stickers that we had to stick onto our clothes to show the driver that we were travelling from Phuket to koh sumai. We then had another ticket that we had to give to the driver to take us to the Ferry in Donsak Pier. We travelled on the coach which was very nice and comfortable. The coach was packed and didn’t leave on time as they were still waiting for more people to arrive from the coach station. The driver made two stops throughout the trip allowing us to use the toilet stretch our legs and buy some food which was very kind. When we arrived at the Ferry, in Donsak Pier the driver did not make any announcement so that everyone knew that this was the place that they needed to get off in order to catch the ferry to koh samui. We had to ask the driver if this was our stop and he told us yes. There was a little small vehicle that they had us go onto with our luggage’s to the front kiosk where we can go through to get on the ferry. When we arrived at the ticket kiosk the lady then informed us do you have a ticket? We said yes we had a voucher that we gave to the lady at the kiosk in Phuket bus terminal station. The lady informs us did she give you a ticket to get on the coach we said yes she said where is it we told her that the driver had collected it from us on the coach. As we was not able to provide the voucher and show this she was saying we had to pay for the ticket for the ferry. This caused us a lot of problems and anxiety and it really spoiled our trip as we had already purchased this ticket from October 2025 and the coach and the ferry and the pick up from Chaweng was included in the price. It was a good thing that I had downloaded the app and registered myself a account so I was able to prove my payment and show my voucher from my phone to the lady and the front kiosk. Once she had seen I had the voucher she issued us with a ticket for the ferry to Chaweng koh sumai. The lady also took a face picture so that there would be a driver at the other end to pick us up and take us to Chaweng central which took us 40mins. We was only there for three days Friday was our last day as we was leaving Saturday early morning There was no text message from the driver to inform us that the driver will be collecting us from the hotel at the time requested. I had to take the initiative and find the number to text them to ask them if someone would be coming to collect us on the Saturday. Someone did text me to say that the driver will be picking us up at the hotel for 06:30am. We were up early and organised and checked out from the hotel and waiting outside the hotel for the driver to arrive. 06:30 came and there was no driver so we had to contact them to find out what was happening. We were informed that he was on his way and that we had to wait as he was picking up other drivers as well. The driver arrived and said to us if you wanted a private taxi and not a shared taxi then you should have booked this at the beginning of your booking. We did not know what time the next ferry would be leaving and we didn’t know if the driver for the coach at the other end would be waiting for us. As nobody communicated with us to let us know what was going to be happening. The driver made a few more pick ups we then had to change coaches. The driver then made more pick ups. We finally arrived to the ferry and the driver didn’t announced that we had arrived we just had to guess and make our way out of the coach. He started taking out our luggage and he then gives us the tickets for the ferry and also the tickets for the coach. He then informs us that we have to move quickly as the ferry leaves in three minutes. We had to run with our suitcases to catch the ferry so that we would not miss this. The only good thing was that they had already issued us with the tickets for the ferry and the coach back to Phuket so we didn’t have to go through the whole fiasco that we went through on our way to koh sumia. 12GO Asia is not a bad company. It’s good if you want to save money on expensive flights but be prepared to run into some problems. And make sure you print out your voucher and you also have it on your mobile too just incase when you get to the other end they try to make you pay more money.
Koh Samui to Phuket, Bus Bus + Ferry, Faiz Travel and Tour, Dec 22, 2025
VT
Veronique T
communication can be improved
Koh Samui to Phuket, Bus Bus + Ferry, 12Go Transport (12Go Transport), Jul 6, 2025
4.4
87 customer reviews
5
25%
4
32%
3
20%
2
23%
1
0%

Koh Samui to Phuket Bus Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Phantip Group Booking
Bus 44 pax
00:00
07:30
$744.22
Faiz Travel and Tour
Bus + Ferry
04:20
14:00
$21.26
Faiz Travel and Tour
Bus + Ferry
04:45
14:00
$18.23
  2.0
Raja Ferry
Express
05:30
16:00
$16.71
Faiz Travel and Tour
Bus + Ferry
06:20
16:00
$21.26
Faiz Travel and Tour
Bus + Ferry
06:45
16:00
$18.23
  2.0
12Go Transport
Bus + Ferry
08:15
18:00
$24.15
  4.5
Faiz Travel and Tour
Bus + Ferry
08:45
17:00
$18.23
  4.0
12Go Transport
Bus + Ferry
10:00
17:00
$18.23
Faiz Travel and Tour
Bus + Ferry
10:20
19:00
$21.26
Faiz Travel and Tour
Bus + Ferry
10:45
19:00
$18.23
  4.0
Raja Ferry
Express
11:30
18:30
$17.62
12Go Transport
Bus + Ferry
12:00
18:30
$18.23

How to get from Koh Samui to Phuket by bus

Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Koh Samui to Phuket by bus may not be the fastest way of travel, yet many travellers prefer to rely on the bus on this route; with easy online booking and tickets of different classes for all tastes and budgets available, the bus from Koh Samui to Phuket a conscious and budget-friendly option.

Check the timetable before you book your ticket and read other travellers’ reviews to choose the trip that suits you best. Note that there may be several bus terminals at your departure or arrival point – always double-check where you are leaving from and arriving to. It may prove crucial if you have connecting trips.

Here is the list of operators serving the route: .

How far is Koh Samui from Phuket?

If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 550 km between Koh Samui and Phuket.

How long does it take to get from Koh Samui to Phuket by bus?

Buses normally need between 9h 45m and 9h 45m hours to get to Phuket from Koh Samui. Note that the travel time is for your reference only and can depend on different factors such as traffic and weather conditions. Heavy rainfalls almost inevitably make the trip longer due to poor visibility or floods. Road and surface repairs which happen quite often, result in detours and longer travel times. Major national holidays, long weekends, or peak season periods may cause delays both in departures and arrivals – plan accordingly to avoid disappointment, especially if you have further connections and a tight schedule.

On this route, TransBaanTon offers the fastest service. TransBaanTon buses usually take the longest time to complete the journey.

Remember, though, that tickets offering the shortest travel time are normally the most expensive ones. Yet it pays to spend a bit more to ensure your bus goes direct without additional stops and uses highways instead of local roads.

How much does it cost to get from Koh Samui to Phuket by bus?

The price of your bus ticket will depend not only on the distance you need to cover but on the class of your coach. E.g. expect to shell out more for VIP or sleeper buses while ordinary buses though being the cheapest option, often are a compromise on comfort and travel time. Of course, they do their job, too, and can be the only option if you hop on/off in the middle of the route.

Anyway, travelling by bus between Koh Samui and Phuket remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by TransBaanTon and costs USD 41.43. A TransBaanTon's ticket will set you back USD 41.43 on average.

Travelling by bus essentials

  • If you are planning to travel during the high season, weekends, or national holidays, booking your bus tickets in advance is highly recommended. The demand is at its highest, yet very often, the number of coaches serving the route remains the same. The earlier you reserve your seat, the better. On some routes, you need to secure your ticket more than a month in advance; on others, a couple-of-days advanced booking is enough. During such periods, try to book online beforehand whenever possible, as showing up at the bus station without a ticket may result in many-hours of waiting in the queue or leave you downright stranded.
  • VIP, 1st, Gold, and similar bus tickets are the most expensive option, but they provide a higher level of comfort. Normally the price of such tickets will include wide soft reclining seats, blankets, water and snacks or lunch, and sometimes some toiletries. Upper-class buses travel faster, make fewer stops during the route, and normally provide more spacious seating to their passengers and a better travel experience.
  • Not all buses have an on-board toilet, but generally, for all trips longer than three hours, all operators schedule a bathroom and/or a lunch stop. While operators definitely do their best to keep on-board toilets clean, the smell may be an issue sometimes. For longer trips, booking a seat a bit farther from the toilet may be a good idea. Also, using bathroom stops for your toilet needs is always better than trying to find your balance in an on-board toilet on the run.
  • If you travel by an air-con bus, make sure to pack layers. A hoodie, a warm scarf, or a beanie hat may prove a good idea. Air-conditioning on buses tends to be excessive, and running nose and sore throats abound after even not the longest bus rides.
  • Always use the security belts even if your bus ride attendant or driver does not insist on it. Your safety comes first – for you, for sure. All buses normally are equipped with security belts, but they may be fixed behind your seat. Take time to find the belt and fix it appropriately.
  • To avoid being disturbed by overhead lights, switched on during stops even at night, and too loud music or sound from the on-board entertainment system, have earplugs and a sleeping mask at hand.
  • As a courtesy to other passengers, avoid using strong perfumes or smelly foods. Some foods like cheeses or durians are forbidden to take on-board – check in advance. Alcohol is also prohibited on the majority of buses.
  • Note that if the bus requires refuelling en-route, passengers will be asked to get off the bus. Operators are not allowed to refuel with passengers on board due to safety reasons. Usually, it takes from 5 to 10 minutes and is often combined with a toilet/lunch stop.
  • If not stated otherwise in your tickets, arrive at the bus station 20-30 minutes before departure. It will give you enough time to find the departure platform and check-in. For international trips, you may need more time for check-in and border formalities.

Transportation from Koh Samui to Phuket

Facts about the bus from Koh Samui to Phuket

Cheapest Bus$17
Fastest Bus6h
Earliest Bus5:00 AM
Latest Bus1:30 PM
Daily Bus Routes26
Distance550 kilometers
Bus Companies12Go Transport, Lanta Super Concord Tour, Nara Travel, Phantip 1970, Raja Ferry, Seatran Discovery, Songserm, TransBaanTon