Surat Thani Airport
Transportation
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Surat Thani Airport Information
Surat Thani Airport is located 25 km west of Surat downtown and offers a lot of flights every day to various places. Reaching Surat Thani Airport from places around where airports exist is a very easy task, as you take a flight straight to Surat Thani and you will find yourself there. However, if you are in other islands around where airports don’t exist or you don’t prefer taking a flight then you will have to take a boat ride to Tapee Pier or Donsak Pier followed by a bus or minivan to the Surat Thani Airport. Islands offering this kind of transportation to Surat Thani include Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao which are all popular islands with each its own unique character and experience. Surat Thani also has several bus stations that offer transports to the airport along with having a train station in Phunphin with rides coming in from various places around Thailand. Picking your own mean of transportation is up to your standards and itinerary.
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Surat Thani Airport Information
Surat Thani Airport at a glance
Located in the Phunphin District, Surat Thani Airport is the main hub for flight seekers in the area offering top-notch services. In the past few years, it's been having over 2 million passengers every year which makes it a very popular destination in Thailand. The airport contains one huge terminal that serves both international and domestic flights. Also, aside from the commercial services, Surat Thani Airport works as a Royal Thai Force active base.
For most travellers, the airport is not the final stop but the starting point of a longer journey. It sits on the mainland side of the Gulf of Thailand, roughly west of the provincial capital, and it is the closest airport to the piers that serve the Samui Archipelago. That makes it a natural transfer point for onward travel by road and sea.
Why travellers use Surat Thani Airport
Surat Thani province is the gateway to some of Thailand's best-known islands, and the airport handles a large share of the arrivals heading that way. Passengers typically land, transfer to a pier or a bus terminal, and continue to their island or mainland destination the same day.
The airport is also useful for travellers heading south towards the Thai–Malaysian border, or north along the Gulf coast. Because it is a single-terminal airport, transfers between arrival and onward ground transport are usually straightforward.
How to get to and from the airport
Ground transport from Surat Thani Airport is built around connecting flights with onward journeys. Shared shuttle services, scheduled road transport and private transfers all operate from the terminal, and many onward tickets combine the road leg with a ferry crossing in a single booking.
If you are travelling to an island, a through ticket is usually the simplest option: one booking covers the transfer from the airport to the pier and the sea crossing that follows. Check the exact pick-up point shown on your ticket, as it may be a designated meeting area rather than the main arrivals door.
Nearby transport connections
- Surat Thani city — the provincial centre, with bus and minivan connections across southern Thailand.
- Phunphin — the district where the airport sits, and home to the area's main railway station on the southern line.
- Gulf coast piers — the departure points for services to the Samui Archipelago, reached by road from the airport.
Because connections are timed around flight arrivals, it is worth allowing a buffer between your landing time and your onward departure, especially if you are booking the two legs separately.
Main departure and arrival points
The airport itself is an air terminal, so sea journeys begin at the piers along the Surat Thani coastline. These piers handle crossings to the islands in the Gulf of Thailand, while the city's bus and minivan terminals handle longer overland routes on the mainland.
On our platform you can see which piers and terminals are served, which company runs each leg, and how the legs connect. Operator details appear as our transport partners on the relevant route pages so you always see who is actually carrying you.
Popular routes to and from Surat Thani Airport
We currently list several routes connections linked to this area, covering both island crossings and mainland journeys. The most-searched options are transfers towards the Gulf islands and services running along the southern mainland corridor.
Prices vary by operator, class and season. The current entry-level fare on this route group is shown as our online fares, and live results update as availability changes.
To compare onward options, see our ferry routes from Surat Thani and the destination guide for Surat Thani Airport, which lists the piers, connections and travel notes for that area.
Practical travel information
- Arrive early for onward legs. Ferry and bus check-in usually closes before departure, and delays on the road leg are common in peak season.
- Keep luggage manageable. Transfers between vehicle and vessel often involve carrying your own bags over short distances.
- Bring your booking reference. Some operators exchange your confirmation for a boarding pass at the pier or terminal desk.
- Check the season. Sea conditions in the Gulf of Thailand change through the year and can affect departures.
What to see and do nearby
Surat Thani rewards travellers who pause before heading to the islands. The riverside town has a night market and a working port atmosphere, and the surrounding province is known for its limestone landscapes, national park scenery and inland lakes.
Many visitors use the area as a base for a night before an early departure, which also removes the pressure of a same-day flight-to-ferry connection.
Book your onward journey
Enter your dates to compare departures, operators and fares for journeys connecting with Surat Thani Airport, then confirm your seat in a few steps. Search availability to see live results for your travel date.
Surat Thani Airport Highlights
Ratchaprapha Dam
Religious Sights
Koh Phangan
Natural Beauty
Frequently asked questions
Where is the pier that my ferry departing from?
Phuket Ferry :
We understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Pier Information page for the most comprehensive local pier information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents; we are happy to help.
Ferry Samui :
FWe understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Pier Information page for the most comprehensive local pier information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents, we are happy to help.
Bali Ferry :
We understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Departure Point Information page for the most comprehensive information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents, we are happy to help.
What are the tourist seasons ?
Phuket Ferry :
Phuket really just has two seasons, which are known as "high season" and "low season" (or "green season"). During the low season months (May- September), boat numbers are reduced. During the high season (October - April), boats to the surrounding islands are increased so you will have some more options.
Ferry Samui :
There are three distinct weather seasons on the tropical island of Koh Samui: the dry season (December until February), the hot season (March until August) and the rainy season (September until November).
Bali Ferry :
Bali actually has a variety of tourist periods, notably around the Balinese New Year, 15 December - 15 January, and 1 June - 30 September. During these high traffic periods, boats to the surrounding islands are increased so you will have some more options. The quieter periods are between 16 January - 30 April and 1 October - 14 December historically.
Will bad weather affect my travels?
Ferries are large and can usually operate in the rain, except in extremely bad weather. During storms or strong winds, the journey may take a little longer than usual.
Speedboats are more likely to be canceled than ferries. If a trip is canceled due to bad weather, you can choose to receive a refund or reschedule. Please note that refunds for bad weather are only issued if the ferry operator cancels the trip.
On rough days, we recommend bringing motion sickness medication and taking it about 20 minutes before boarding if you are prone to seasickness. Boat staff may also provide Dramamine upon request, but you will need to remain indoors during rough conditions. On sunny and calm days, the sun deck is open for passengers to enjoy the weather.
What's the boarding process on the day of my trip?
At the pier named on your ticket, look for the staff of the ferry operator listed on your ticket as well. Please present your e-ticket (QR code) from your phone or other device—they’ll provide you with a sticker and/or boarding pass and direct you to your boat. Most piers have staff available to help load your luggage. In Koh Samui, staff are usually stationed at booths near the boarding area; at other locations, they’re typically near the boats, wearing their company uniforms.
When will I receive my ticket confirmation?
After completing your online booking, your reservation will remain in “Pending” status until it is processed. Once confirmed, we will send your e-ticket via email. The process is usually very quick.
On the day of travel, please present your e-ticket to the ferry staff at the relevant booking counter. If you do not receive your confirmation within 24 hours, contact us immediately.
What are the baggage allowances?
Your ferry e-ticket includes ferry transport, baggage fees, and handling. The free baggage allowance per person is 20–25 kg, depending on the operator. If your baggage exceeds this limit, you can pay the extra fee directly to the ferry operator in cash.
To check the baggage allowance for your specific trip, please refer to the trip details for your selected route.
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