Samui Airport

Samui Airport: an overview

Samui Airport Is a privately-owned airport on the island of Koh Samui built by Bangkok Airways in 1989. The airport has a distinctive open-air design, packed with many indoor areas like the ticket office, gift shop, toilets and the VIP lounge area. It is the 7th busiest airport in Thailand having more than 1 million passengers annually. It consists of 2 terminals; the domestic terminal and the international terminal which is about 50 meters north of the domestic terminal.

Instead of enclosed corridors and jet bridges, passengers walk between open-sided pavilions with thatched roofs and tropical gardens, and are carried to and from the aircraft by shuttle buggy. The result feels more like a resort reception than a conventional terminal, and it is one of the first things visitors remember about arriving on the island.

The airport sits in the north-east of Koh Samui, close to Chaweng and Bophut, which keeps transfer times to the busiest beach areas short compared with island arrivals by sea.

Getting to and from Samui Airport

Because the airport is on the island itself, most journeys to it are short road transfers from a hotel, a beach area or a pier. Travellers arriving from the mainland or from neighbouring islands normally combine a boat crossing with a road leg, and combined tickets are the simplest way to book that in one step.

On Samui Airport you can search 21 routes connections in one place and compare what several operators and other providers have available for your date, with fares starting from ฿400. Availability, timings and vehicle types vary by season and by provider, so the live search results are the reliable source rather than any fixed timetable.

Nearby transport connections

Koh Samui's road network is compact and the airport is well linked to the island's main hubs:

• Chaweng and Lamai — the island's main beach and nightlife strips, and the most common destinations for arriving passengers.
• Bophut and Fisherman's Village — a short hop from the airport on the north coast.
• Nathon — the island's administrative town and main west-coast port area.
• Maenam and Bang Rak — north-coast points used by services heading towards Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

Main departure and arrival ports

Travellers pairing a flight at Samui Airport with a sea crossing usually pass through one of the island's piers. Each serves a different set of directions, so the pier shown on your ticket matters:

• Nathon Pier — on the west coast, the traditional gateway for crossings to and from the Surat Thani mainland.
• Lipa Noi Pier — also on the west coast, used for vehicle and passenger crossings towards the mainland.
• Bang Rak Pier — on the north coast, close to the airport, used for services heading to nearby islands.
• Maenam Pier — a north-coast departure point for island-hopping routes.
• Big Buddha Pier — another north-coast option within easy reach of the airport.

If your pier is not confirmed at the time of booking, check the ticket details before travelling, as departure points on Koh Samui are not interchangeable.

Popular routes to and from Samui Airport

The most-searched connections combine the island with its closest neighbours and with the mainland transport network:

• Koh Samui to Koh Phangan — the shortest island-hop, popular year round.
• Koh Samui to Koh Tao — a longer crossing north towards the diving centre of the Gulf.
• Koh Samui to Surat Thani — the mainland link, and the usual first step towards onward rail and road services.
• Koh Samui to Krabi, Phuket and Khao Lak — combined sea and road journeys across to the Andaman coast.

You can compare these against other Gulf of Thailand departures on our Koh Samui travel and ticket page, or look at onward island options on the Koh Phangan route overview.

Practical travel information

A few things are worth knowing before you travel through Samui Airport:

• Allow buffer time. Island roads are narrow and slow in places, and traffic between Chaweng and the airport builds up in the late afternoon.
• Check which terminal you need. With the international terminal roughly 50 meters north of the domestic terminal, the walk is short, but knowing your terminal in advance avoids confusion on arrival.
• Expect an open-air wait. The design is largely open to the elements, so light clothing and sun protection help, particularly at midday.
• Weather affects sea legs. Crossings can be adjusted or cancelled in rough conditions, mainly during the autumn monsoon period, so leave time between a boat arrival and a flight.
• Keep booking details to hand. Pick-up points, meeting instructions and luggage rules are set by each provider and are shown with your ticket.

What to see and do nearby

The airport's location in the north-east puts several of the island's best-known sights within a short drive: the Big Buddha temple at Bang Rak, the cafes and weekly walking street of Fisherman's Village in Bophut, the long sweep of Chaweng Beach, and the waterfalls and viewpoints inland. Many visitors use Koh Samui as a base for day trips to the Ang Thong National Marine Park, a cluster of limestone islands west of Samui.

Book your journey

Compare providers, departure points and available times for your travel date, then confirm your seats online. Search availability to see live options and prices for your route.