Hat Yai to Koh Samui

The first part of the journey from Hat Yai to Koh Samui is by train as far as Surat Thani. On arrival at Surat Thani passengers then transfer to a joint bus and ferry service for the second part of the journey to Koh Samui.

Part 1: Travel from Hat Yai to Surat Thani

There are currently 4 train services a day from Hat Yai to Surat Thani to choose from.

• Buy train tickets from Hat Yai to Surat Thani.

Stage 2: Travel from Surat Thani to Koh Samui

There are currently 22 joint bus and ferry services a day from Surat Thani Train Station to Koh Samui available to book online.

• Buy joint bus and ferry tickets from Surat Thani Train Station to Koh Samui.

Location of Hat Yai Train Station

Read more about Hat Yai Train Station.

Location of Surat Thani Train Station

Read more about Surat Thani Railway Station.

Location of Na Thon Pier in Koh Samui

Na Thon Pier is the arrival point for several services from Surat Thani Train Station to Koh Samui including services operated by the Lomprayah High Speed Ferry Company.

About Train Travel from Hat Yai to Koh Samui

By train the journey from Hat Yai to Koh Samui takes at least 15 hours. Only around 9 hours of that time, however, is actually spent travelling. The rest of the time is spent waiting overnight either on the train platform or at a nearby hotel for connecting bus and ferry services to start operating the following morning.

Travel Options

There are several different ways to travel by public transport from Hat Yai to Koh Samui:

• One option is to take a joint bus and ferry service departing from Hat Yai early in the morning and completing the journey to Koh Samui on the same day.
• Another option is to travel by train. Trains from Hat Yai to Surat Thani depart in the late afternoon, and travellers need to stay overnight in Surat Thani before continuing their journey to Koh Samui.

Travel by train may be the more convenient option if you are travelling from Koh Lipe or Malaysia on the same day and do not arrive in Hat Yai early enough to take one of the joint bus and ferry services. Travel by train is also for many people a more pleasant experience than being confined within a bus or minivan. Trains in Thailand have toilets at the end of each carriage and generally on long distance services they also have restaurant cars.

Train Services to Surat Thani

The best of the 4 daily train services from Hat Yai to Surat Thani is Train #32, departing at 17:45. There are two reasons why it’s the best train:

• Firstly, it’s the fastest of the 4 train services completing the journey in 4 hours 36 minutes, which is 29 minutes faster than the slowest train (Train #170).
• Secondly, Train #32 uses the newest and most luxurious of the many types of passenger train carriages currently used for scheduled passenger train services in Thailand.

Train #32 is also the most expensive train to take and often the most difficult to book. Similar seat types, as well as cheaper seat types, however, may be available on one of the other 3 daily train services:

• Train #172: 2nd Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class Fan Seat, 3rd Class Fan Seat
• Train #32: 1st Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class A/C Sleeper
• Train #38/46: 1st Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class Fan Seat, 3rd Class Fan Seat
• Train #170: 2nd Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class Fan Sleeper, 2nd Class Fan Seat, 3rd Class Fan Seat

Staying Overnight Near Surat Thani Train Station

Surat Thani Train Station is located 16 km by road from Surat Thani City in a small town called Tha Kham. Tha Kham has a small number of restaurants and shops, including a 24 hour convenience store, within 200 metres of the entrance to the station’s main ticket hall.

There are also 2 small budget hotels in Tha Kham, both of which can be booked online using major hotel booking websites:

• Queen Hotel
• Phunphin Station

Both are hotels which cater primarily to people staying for relatively short periods whilst they wait for travel connections.

Staying Overnight in Surat Thani City

For more luxurious accommodation you need to travel from Surat Thani Train Station to Surat Thani City.

Public bus services from Tha Kham to Surat Thani City only operate during daylight hours, so travellers arriving by train from Hat Yai need to take a taxi to travel into the city centre. The best place to find a taxi at Surat Thani Train Station is at the taxi rank which is located about 20 metres to the left as you exit the train station via the main ticket hall. Fixed prices for taxi services are displayed on a large printed vinyl sign attached to the roof of the taxi drivers’ shelter.

Among the best hotels in Surat Thani City are:

• K Park Grand Hotel
• 100 Islands Resort & Spa
• Diamond Plaza Hotel

Bus and Ferry Services to Koh Samui

The most convenient option for travellers choosing to stay near Surat Thani Train Station is to take a joint bus and ferry service direct from Surat Thani Train Station to Koh Samui. These services all depart from a car park located 100 metres walking distance to the left as you exit the main ticket hall at Surat Thani Train Station. The car park is easy to recognise because it has a distinctive small clock tower and a row of cafes and travel agents, including Wut Travel.

Travellers choosing to stay overnight in Surat Thani City can travel direct from the city without needing to travel back to Surat Thani Train Station to board a joint bus and ferry service to Koh Samui. There are several different companies operating joint bus and ferry services from Surat Thani City to Koh Samui, whose services depart from a variety of different locations within the city. Some of the most popular of these services depart from the Talad Mai Road, which is in the centre of the city. For more information see our more detailed guide to joint bus and ferry services from Surat Thani to Koh Samui.

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