How to Get from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Koh Samet
Suvarnabhumi is on the eastern edge of Bangkok, which makes it the best possible starting point for Koh Samet: you skip the city entirely and join the motorway heading east straight out of the airport. The drive to Ban Phe pier is under three hours in normal conditions. The thing that decides your day is not the drive, it is whether you land in time for a ferry.
Book a Private TransferThe journey at a glance
| From | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) |
|---|---|
| To | Koh Samet |
| Distance | ≈ 200 km to Ban Phe pier |
| Journey time | 2.5 – 3 hours by road, plus the ferry |
| Private taxi fare | Sedan ฿1,800 · SUV ฿2,100 · Van ฿2,600 — per vehicle, tolls included |
| Payment | Cash in Thai Baht to the driver on arrival. Nothing charged at booking. |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before pickup. |
Every option compared
| Option | Typical cost | Total time | Departures | Door to door | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private airport taxi + ferry | ฿1,800 car + ≈฿70pp ferry | ≈ 3.5 h total | Meets your flight | Arrivals hall to pier | Same day usually fine |
| Bus to Ekkamai, then bus east | ≈฿300–350pp total | 6 h+ | Two connections needed | No | Buy as you go |
| Airport minivan services | ≈฿400–600pp | 4 – 5 h | Fixed departures | No | Book in advance |
Bus, minivan, train and ferry fares are approximate and were last checked in September 2026. They change without notice. Our own taxi fares are live from our booking system.
How the journey works, leg by leg
Leg 1 — Road to Ban Phe pier
Your driver takes you door-to-door to Ban Phe pier in Rayong. This is the mainland ferry terminal for Koh Samet, and it is where the taxi journey ends. Tolls are included and the driver waits while you unload.
Leg 2 — Ferry or speedboat to the island
Ferries cross from Ban Phe to Na Dan pier on Koh Samet in about 40 minutes for roughly ฿70 per person, running through the day until early evening. Speedboats do the same crossing in 15–20 minutes and cost considerably more, but they run on demand and can drop you at a beach closer to your hotel. Buy tickets at the pier — no advance booking needed.
Leg 3 — National park entry and last mile
Koh Samet is inside Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, so there is an entry fee collected on the island: around ฿200 per adult and ฿100 per child for foreign visitors. From Na Dan pier, songthaews run to every beach for ฿20–100 depending on distance. Many hotels also arrange a pickup if you tell them your ferry time.
Practical tips
- Give us your flight number. We track it, so a delayed landing does not cost you the car — and airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting after touchdown.
- Land after about 3pm and the ferry becomes the constraint, not the drive. Landing in the evening usually means a night on the mainland at Ban Phe or Rayong.
- There is no direct public transport from Suvarnabhumi to Ban Phe. Every budget route means at least one connection in Bangkok, going the wrong way first.
- The national park fee is separate from both the taxi and the ferry, and is collected in cash on the island. Keep some small notes.
- Tell us your ferry plan in the booking notes and the driver will aim for a specific departure rather than just "the pier".
- Bags are carried onto the ferry by hand or trolley. If you are travelling with large suitcases, a speedboat straight to your beach saves a lot of hauling.
- Returning to the mainland, allow a full hour between the ferry landing at Ban Phe and your taxi pickup time — crossings are frequently a little late.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get from Suvarnabhumi to Koh Samet in one day?
Comfortably, if you land in the morning or early afternoon. The drive to Ban Phe pier takes under three hours, and ferries run through the day. A late-afternoon or evening landing usually means staying on the mainland overnight and crossing the next morning.
Is there a direct bus from the airport to Ban Phe?
No. Public routes require going into Bangkok first — typically to Ekkamai bus terminal — and then heading back east, which adds a couple of hours and a transfer with your luggage.
Do I need to book the ferry in advance?
No. Ferries to Koh Samet run frequently through the day and tickets are sold at Ban Phe pier when you arrive. Speedboats also operate on demand. Advance booking is only worth it for a private speedboat charter.
How much is the Koh Samet national park fee?
Roughly ฿200 per adult and ฿100 per child for foreign visitors, collected in cash on the island. It is a National Park charge, not something we or the ferry operators collect, and it is not included in any taxi or ferry ticket.
What is the last ferry from Ban Phe to Koh Samet?
Scheduled ferries generally finish in the early evening, though exact times shift with the season and demand. After that, a speedboat is the only crossing, at a much higher price. If you are arriving on a late flight, plan to stay on the mainland overnight.
Book this transfer
Fixed fare from ฿1,800 per vehicle. See the full fare card on the BKK Airport to Ban Phe Pier route page, or book directly below. Most bookings on this route are made the day before travel.