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Travel Guide: Ao Nang to Samui Island by Bus and Ferry

Key facts
  • Crossing time 5h 15m–6h 30m
  • Operators 2
  • Departures a day 3
Sailing season This route sails all year round.

560+ THB

From Ao Nang to Samui Island: by Bus and Ferry

Eighteen-armed white Guanyin statue at Wat Plai Laem temple, Koh Samui, with stone guardian lion under pastel sky

Ao Nang to Koh Samui: Route Overview

Traveling from Ao Nang to Samui Island means crossing from Thailand's Andaman coast to the Gulf of Thailand, so there is no single ferry pier linking the two directly. The trip combines an overland transfer with a sea crossing, starting at Ao Nam Mao Pier near Ao Nang and ending at Nathon Pier, Koh Samui's main passenger pier on the island's west coast.

Most journeys run overland from Ao Nang across the peninsula to Surat Thani, the mainland hub for ferries serving the Gulf islands, before connecting to a boat for the final leg to Koh Samui. Phantip 1970 Co., Ltd operates this route using a several transport options, with the full journey taking around the scheduled journey time.

Operator, Schedule, and Price

Phantip 1970 Co., Ltd runs this combined transfer with 2, so travellers can choose a departure that fits their plans. Fares start from ฿530 per person, with tickets typically covering both the road transfer to Surat Thani and the ferry crossing to Koh Samui. Onboard facilities include onboard facilities, and the service operates all year round. Exact departure times vary by booking date, so check the schedule shown at checkout before you confirm your trip.

Departure and Arrival Points

  • Departure: Ao Nam Mao Pier, Krabi
  • Transit: Surat Thani, the main mainland connection point for Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao
  • Arrival: Nathon Pier, Koh Samui

Onward Travel from Koh Samui

Once you land at Nathon Pier, Koh Samui's beaches, hotels, and the airport are a short taxi or songthaew ride away. Travellers continuing an island-hopping trip can also pick up onward ferries from Samui's piers to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao, making this route a practical starting point for a wider Gulf islands itinerary.

Booking Your Ao Nang to Koh Samui Ferry

Because this route mixes road and sea transport with a limited number of daily departures, it is worth booking ahead during high season. Reserve your Ao Nang to Samui Island tickets with Phantip 1970 Co., Ltd to secure the transfer and ferry seat together in one booking. If you are planning the return leg, see the Koh Samui to Ao Nang ferry schedule for departure times and prices in the other direction.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to print my ferry ticket or is mobile ok?

You don't need to print your ticket. Your boarding voucher is in your account: open Bookings, then View trip details, and click Download PDF. On the day of travel, show the QR code on it — on your phone is fine — to the ferry operator staff at the pier named on your ticket, and they will direct you to your boat.

If you'd prefer paper, print the PDF yourself.

What happens if my ferry is cancelled due to weather?

We are sorry when weather stops a sailing. Ferries usually run in rain; speedboats are more often stopped by rough seas.

If your trip is cancelled because of weather, your booking in Bookings shows a message once our team has confirmed the cancellation. You can then either move to the next available service with Change this booking, or cancel with Cancel & refund for a full refund.

If the sailing is running but you choose not to travel, the normal cancellation policy applies.

Why is my account locked?

We lock an account for a short time after several failed sign-in attempts in a row. It is an automatic safety measure: it stops someone else guessing your password, and it happens whether or not the person typing was you.

You do not need to contact us. The lock lifts on its own — see How long am I locked out for?

What is the difference between a locked and a blocked account?

Locked is automatic and temporary. It happens after repeated failed sign-in attempts and it lifts by itself — within a minute in most cases.

Blocked is a decision made by our team, and it does not lift on its own. If your account is blocked you will need to contact us; waiting will not change it, and neither will resetting your password.

If you are not sure which applies to you, get in touch and we will tell you.

How do I unlock my account now?

Wait, and try again. Every lock lifts on its own — a minute the first time, and never more than an hour however many attempts have failed. There is nothing to click and nobody to contact.

If you have forgotten your password, do not keep guessing: each wrong attempt makes the next wait longer. Use Forgot password instead. Resetting your password gets you straight back in.

My account locked but I never tried to sign in

Then someone else was trying to sign in as you, and the lock did its job — it stopped them.

Your account is safe: a lock means the attempts failed. Nobody got in. You do not have to do anything, and the lock will lift on its own.

We would still recommend two things:

  • Change your password, especially if you use the same one on another website.
  • Add an authenticator app in your account security settings, so a password alone is never enough to sign in as you.

If you get these repeatedly, contact us and we will look into it.

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