Surat Thani to Koh Samui Ferry: Raja THB 200 to 220, Car THB 640

Raja Ferry's fare table lists THB 200 for an adult from Donsak to Samui, and its home page booking list shows THB 220. Sailings leave hourly from 05:00 and take about 1 hour 30 minutes. A car costs THB 640 on Raja and THB 700 on Seatran.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Fares from Donsak to Samui

Raja Ferry’s fare table lists THB 200 for an adult from Donsak to Samui. Its home page booking list shows THB 220 for the same crossing. Ask at the ticket window which one applies on your date.

Raja publishes the table as the fares under the Surat Thani provincial announcement.

Vehicle fares side by side

Seatran Ferry charges THB 700 for a 4-wheel car, SUV, pickup or van and THB 280 for a motorcycle. It charges THB 420 for a sidecar or big motorcycle.

Seatran’s general passenger fare is THB 390 for Samui to Surat Thani. A Raja motorbike ticket and a Raja car ticket each include one driver.

Timetable and crossing time

Raja Ferry’s timetable runs from trip 1 at 05:00 to trip 15 at 19:00 between Donsak and Samui. The trips leave at the same hour from each pier. The crossing takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Raja adds a ferry at 05:00-06:00 and 12:00-16:00 when the vessel is full. Between 30 December and 30 April it runs extra sailings when many vehicles are waiting. Raja runs more than 40 passenger sailings a day on its two routes.

The timetable applies from 11 October 2021 until further notice.

Seatran Ferry

Seatran Ferry runs hourly from 05:00 to 18:00 in each direction between Donsak Pier and Nathon Pier on Samui. Its route box gives 05:00 for the first trip and 19:00 for the last. Be at Donsak before 18:00.

The crossing takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. A Seatran ferry carries up to 90 cars and 600 passengers a trip. When many cars wait, Seatran adds a sailing every half hour.

Which pier you land at

Raja ferries land at Lipa Noi pier on Samui. Lipa Noi pier is about 9 km south of Nathon. Seatran ferries arrive at Nathon Pier.

The Lomprayah catamaran from Donsak Pier also goes to Nathon Pier. Check the pier name on your ticket before you book a taxi or a hotel pickup.

From Surat Thani airport, station and town to Donsak

Raja sells a ferry ticket with the transfer to Donsak at booths in the Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat airports. A Surat Thani Airport to Lipa Noi ticket costs THB 550 on Raja.

At the train station, a Phantip bus boards from a service point in the station area. Raja’s booking list also has a Surat Thani town departure at its office by the Sri Raja market.

Seatran Coach runs air-conditioned coaches between Surat Thani town and Donsak pier. Its coaches from the Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat airports and towns link to the ferry to Samui.

A Lomprayah bus and catamaran from Tapee Pier leaves at 10:00 and 13:00. The 10:00 reaches Nathon Pier at 11:45 and the 13:00 at 15:45. The catamaran leaves from Donsak Pier, and the bus leaves from Tapee Pier.

From the train station or the airport, a bus and ferry package includes about a 60-minute bus ride to Donsak pier and a 90-minute crossing. If you buy a package with pickup, check that the receipt names the ferry company and the departure times.

Lomprayah catamaran from Donsak

A Lomprayah catamaran leaves Donsak Pier for Nathon Pier at 11:00 and 15:00 for THB 450. The 11:00 arrives at 11:45 and the 15:00 at 15:45. With the van to any hotel on Samui it costs THB 600 and arrives at 12:45 or 16:45.

Going the other way, a catamaran leaves Nathon Pier at 08:30 and 11:45 for Donsak Pier for THB 450. The 08:30 arrives at 09:15 and the 11:45 at 12:30.

A Lomprayah speed boat and bus from Pralarn Pier leaves at 08:30 and reaches the airport at 11:00 for THB 950. Fares between Samui, Phangan and Tao are on the ferries by operator page.

Taking a car or motorbike

A Raja car ticket costs THB 640 and includes one driver. A Raja motorbike ticket up to 250cc costs THB 260 and includes one driver. A car towing a trailer is charged double, plus a charge by the length it tows.

A Seatran vehicle ticket includes the driver, and each extra passenger needs a ticket of their own. Seatran does not allow passengers to stay in the vehicle deck while the ship is sailing.

At Donsak and at Nathon, Seatran runs a Fast Lane queue for vehicles with a reserved ticket and a Cash queue for vehicles buying on arrival. Seatran recommends the Fast Lane for drivers who bought in advance.

Booking and luggage

Raja takes bookings on its e-ticket website and app, through agents and at the three piers. A vehicle ticket bought through an agent adds a booking fee of THB 40 per vehicle per trip.

Seatran keeps a luggage store, daily or overnight, from 08:00 to 18:00 at Donsak pier, Thong Sala pier on Phangan and Bangrak pier on Samui.

Step by step

1. From Surat Thani airport, buy the Raja ferry and transfer ticket at the airport booth.
2. From the train station, board the Phantip bus at its service point.
3. From town, take Seatran Coach to Donsak pier.
4. Choose Raja at THB 200 to THB 220 for an adult or Seatran for a vehicle at THB 700.
5. Queue in the Fast Lane with a reserved vehicle ticket, or in the Cash queue to buy on arrival.
6. Cross in about 1 hour 30 minutes and check which pier your ticket names.

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Not confirmed: Raja's adult fare is THB 200 on its fare table and THB 220 on its home page booking list: ask at the window. Seatran's passenger fare for Donsak to Nathon is not labelled on its rate table, which cites a 2008 announcement. Raja's timetable dates from 11 October 2021: confirm the last sailing at the pier.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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