How to Get from Koh Samui to Pattaya

Tourists who love stunning beaches and enjoying nightlife often choose to visit Koh Samui and Pattaya in Thailand. When you are already on the island, there are two ways to get to Pattaya: by bus with ferry or by plane. Read on for more details about how to travel from Koh Samui to Pattaya.

Getting from Koh Samui to Pattaya @kiwitaxi

1. How far from Koh Samui to Pattaya?

Koh Samui is a beautiful island with sandy beaches, waterfalls, temples, and the statue of Big Budha. The distance from Koh Samui to Pattaya is about 750 km. You can get to Pattaya by plane or by bus and then transfer to the ferry. It takes you 1 hour and 10 minutes to travel by plane and you need to spend 15.5 hours if you travel by bus and ferry. Another option is to rent a car and drive. But you need to have an international license and be an experienced driver.

2. How to get from Koh Samui to Pattaya?

There are two main options for tourists when they travel from Koh Samui to Pattaya.

Travel by plane

Traveling by plane is the quickest and most comfortable way for this route. The one-way ticket from Koh Samui to Pattaya costs from $113. However, there is only one flight every day. So you need to get to the airport on time if you don’t want to wait another day to fly to Pattaya. Besides, tourists can book tickets online from Bangkok Airways.

Flight to Pattaya on Bangkok Airways @static.bangkokpost

Travel by bus

Traveling by bus is cheaper and tourists have more options. But you need to transfer for a ferry on the way. Although it takes longer to get to Pattaya, there are three departure times for buses per day. The bus leaves in the afternoon to the pier in Koh Samui, then you can sleep when getting on another bus in the pier Don Sak to go to Pattaya.

There are two zones on the bus. The VIP zone has 6 seats and more space, equipped with a portable multimedia system so that passengers can watch movies and listen to music. The other zone has 20 normal seats and doesn’t offer much free room. It is recommended to buy bus tickets a few days before the trip.

Buses will stop at Nathon pier and from here, you get on a ferry to go to Don Sak in Surat Thani. Then you will get on another bus to go to Pattaya. The ferry travel duration is about 1.5 to 2 hours. And you spend the rest of the trip on buses. A normal seat costs $21.6 and if you choose a VIP seat, you will be charged $34.2. The ferry ticket is about $4.3.

Bus and ferry to Pattaya @oh-hoo.com

Renting a car is also an option if you can provide your passport and an international driver's license to the rental company. The price of car rental per day includes basic insurance. But if you don’t want to waste time and can afford a flight ticket, traveling by air is the best option.

Jenny Tran

(Image source: Internet)