Koh Samui to Koh Lanta
After you’ve had your fill of bumping nightlife and packed beaches on Koh Samui, you’re probably ready for a more tranquil and laidback island. Koh Lanta is precisely what you’re looking for.
Both places are stunning, so traveling from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta will make you feel pretty spoiled. But Koh Lanta is the perfect place to relax in a hammock on the beach all day long. Or to enjoy beachside beers as you watch the most gorgeous sunsets.
If you’re coming to Thailand for insane beaches, you can’t miss Kantiang Bay. It has the reputation of being the best beach in the entire country. Long Beach is another great spot. It seems like an endless stretch of powder-soft white sand along the edge of crystal clear water. It really is hard to imagine a place more beautiful than Koh Lanta!
For the adventure seekers, Koh Lanta is only a 45-minute boat ride from the Hin Muang and Hin Daeng undersea pinnacles. These sites are two of the best diving spots in all of Asia, if not the world. Large marine life like sharks, whale sharks, and giant manta rays go there to feed. And the diving is a bit cheaper than across the way in Koh Samui.
Koh Lanta National Park is a great spot to combine beach and adventure if you are up for a hike or want to check out a cool lighthouse.
Now that you’ve added yet another island to your Thailand bucket list, you may be wondering, How do I get from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta? Check out your options below and decide what will work best for you.
About the ride from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta
The distance from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta is about 350 km (~217 miles). The journey will take some time because no matter how you choose to travel, you’ll need to combine methods to get there.
Unfortunately, Koh Lanta doesn’t have an airport, which would make it too easy.
However, you’ve got other options for transport. So don’t worry, but prepare for a long but relatively easy day of travel.
It is important to note that the rainy season is May to October. The sea is much rougher during this time of year, and many ferries don’t run. If your travel plans fall during these months, make sure to confirm you can actually take a boat to the island.
How to get from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta
There are a few options when it comes to transport from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta. You can take a ferry + bus combination, or a ferry to Phuket or Krabi and then a flight.
Ferry + bus
When it comes to the ferry + bus combination, there is a standard and a high-speed option that will take you from one island to the other. You’ll take a ferry to get off Koh Samui, followed by a bus transfer across the mainland, and finally one last ferry to get you on to Koh Lanta.
No matter which company you chose, you’ll be able to take up to 20 kg of luggage, plus a carry-on bag.
Phantip is the first company that offers services from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta. Their standard bus + ferry ticket is US$32 per person and takes eight and a half hours.
This company offers one departure per day, which leaves Nathon Pier in Koh Samui at 7:30 am.
You will arrive at Saladan Pier in western Koh Lanta around 16:00. Saladan Pier is a great drop-off point. It’s a convenient place to reach most of the accommodation options around the island.
When you realize how far it is from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta, the last thing you want to deal with is organizing a last-minute taxi to your hotel. Phantip offers hotel drop-off or pick-up for US$7.
Other amenities include AC on both the bus and the ferry and the ability to cancel your ticket up to seven days prior to departure. In addition, you can make changes to your reservation up to 72 hours before you leave.
Seatran is another company that offers both a standard bus + ferry ticket and a high-speed bus + ferry ticket from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta.
The standard tickets start at US$25 per person, and the journey takes eight and a half hours. You’ll depart Koh Samui at Nathon Pier and be dropped off at Saladan Pier. For an additional US$7, you can be dropped off at your hotel in Koh Lanta.
The ferry has both AC and restrooms. While the coach-style bus does not have a bathroom, it makes stops so you can get out to stretch your legs and use the restroom.
It is important to note that if you book with Seatran, you cannot make changes or cancel your ticket.
The high-speed option is similar but only takes eight hours to arrive on Koh Lanta. The major difference is instead of a coach, you will ride across the mainland in a minivan.
Seatran high-speed bus + ferry combinations depart Bangrak Pier at 9 am and cost US$32 per person. You will arrive at Saladan Pier around 17:00.
You can cancel or change your ticket up to 24 hours before departure. When considering how to get from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta, this is a great option because it’s a little quicker and has a more forgiving cancelation policy.
The final bus + ferry combo option is with Lomprayah, and tickets start at US$31 per person.
You can arrange to be picked up at your hotel in Koh Samui for an additional fee. Otherwise, you’ll meet the ferry at Nathon Pier. You will take a standard coach, not a minivan and be dropped at Saladan Pier in Koh Lanta.
Lomprayah offers similar amenities, including AC, bathrooms, and an 8:00 am departure time.
Ferries are the best way to travel from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta if you are short on money and long on time.
Flight
If you prefer, you could take a flight from Koh Samui to Krabi and ferry the rest of the way.
Bangkok Airways operates a daily flight between Koh Samui and Krabi and takes less than an hour. Internal flights in Thailand can be very cheap, so you may be able to score a flight for US$75.
From Krabi Airport, take the bus to Ao Nang Pier, but it only operates every four hours and costs US$4. You could also take a Grab (Thailand’s version of Uber) or a taxi because it’s only a 35-minute ride. Grab is a great alternative that won’t break the bank!
From the pier, you’ll need to take a longtail boat to Railay beach. These boats depart every 15 minutes or so and generally cost US$2-3.
After you arrive at Railay, you can take an hour-long ferry ride to Koh Lanta. Be mindful that there are only two ferries per day between Railay Beach and Koh Lanta, so you’ll want to ensure that you can make that boat to avoid having to spend the night in Railay Beach.
No matter what you decide, the best way to get from Koh Samui to Koh Lanta is what works with your budget. Once you’re relaxing on the beach, watching the sun go down, you’ll be ready to make this island paradise your next home away from home!