How to get here
International flights: you want to make your way to Samui International Airport (USM), which would be via Bangkok or Kuala Lumpar. Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways fly to this airport.
TIP: if you book all the way from your home destination to Samui with one booking agent then you will be directly transferred through Bangkok airport and do immigration at Samui instead, which is much faster. For example, use Skyscanner.net and put your departure city and then Samui as the destination. This will find packages with the transfer included and it will cut several hours and a lot of hassle off your travel time. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOUR FLIGHT LANDS AFTER 17.00 THEN YOU WILL NEED ONE NIGHT IN KOH SAMUI (see below). |
Visas
On arrival, most nationalities are granted 30 days. If you plan to stay longer you will need to apply for a visa in your home country. You can get a 60 day visa which can be extended in Koh Samui for an extra 30 days...this 90 days in total. Please do check your own nationality information, especially if you are from a more unusal country! |
Cheap Flights
There are a number of cheaper flight options from Bangkok to Surat Thani on the mainland, such as AirAsia. However we do not recommend for two reasons:
1. The airport in Bangkok is not the main one you will fly into! It is about an hour across Bangkok, which may be affected by traffic. This makes a long extra time and can be stressful to make it on time.
2. The trip for Surat Thani to Phangan is a long day...there is a 2 hour bus trip, a long wait at the pier and then a 3 to 4 hour boat crossing.
These flights really only suit long stay travelers who have more time than money!
There are a number of cheaper flight options from Bangkok to Surat Thani on the mainland, such as AirAsia. However we do not recommend for two reasons:
1. The airport in Bangkok is not the main one you will fly into! It is about an hour across Bangkok, which may be affected by traffic. This makes a long extra time and can be stressful to make it on time.
2. The trip for Surat Thani to Phangan is a long day...there is a 2 hour bus trip, a long wait at the pier and then a 3 to 4 hour boat crossing.
These flights really only suit long stay travelers who have more time than money!
Onward Travel
Taxi from Airport
When you arrive at Samui airport, after collecting the luggage you will exit into a hall with several booths. Look for either of the counters that says "Limousine" and book your minibus ticket to the port that you require. Sometimes they will even sell you and combination ticket with the minibus plus the ferry ticket. It costs just a few hundred baht.
Ferry Boats
There are many boats from Samui to Phangan, all between 250 and 350 baht.
Ferrysamui.com has all the times and an online booking service. However, you do not need to prebook unless it is close to full moon. Most of the time you can pay when you arrive (the reason for choosing this is if you are uncertain how long you will take to clear the airport). Only at Full Moon there are more tourists, and it is safer to book in advance.
Staying in Samui
Should you arrive later than the last boat (18.30, so flight that arrive after 17.00) then you will need to stay a night on Koh Samui. We recommend The Pier in Bangrak which is great value and close to the pier to Tong Sala in the morning (8am or 1pm). It is right on the pier to Hadrin, but better to go to the Seatran ferry which is less than 1km away. Yaniv is the owner of The Pier and if you tell him Shashi sent you he will give you VIP treatment! (I always stay there).
Arriving in Phangan
We have our own associated taxi driver called Pele. You can find him on facebook. He will wait for you when you arrive.
When you arrive at Samui airport, after collecting the luggage you will exit into a hall with several booths. Look for either of the counters that says "Limousine" and book your minibus ticket to the port that you require. Sometimes they will even sell you and combination ticket with the minibus plus the ferry ticket. It costs just a few hundred baht.
Ferry Boats
There are many boats from Samui to Phangan, all between 250 and 350 baht.
- Lomprayah is the most professional, the fastest (only 20 minute crossing!) and the easiest with heave bags as the staff offload for you. They have a small cafe on board. The Maenam Terminal is about 20 mins from the airport. Nathon is a bit far away (form the airport) and will take 30 minutes or more. It stops in Tong Sala, 20 mins from Serenity.
- Seatran is convenient from the airport as the port is about 10 minutes away. The boat is big and has a cafe, and the crossing takes about 40 minutes. However, there is a steep slope onto the boat and it is best to ask for help at that point! It is easy to disembark at Phangan. It stops in Tong Sala, 20 mins from Serenity.
- HadRin Queen is least convenient as it stops in HadRin. It is a small boat with no cafe. However, the one good thing about this boat is that it runs the latest boat! The last ferry is at 18.30 and so it is often the only option to Phangan if you arrive late. There are aircon minibuses from the HadRin pier up to the north of the island, and it takes about 40 minutes to Serenity.
Ferrysamui.com has all the times and an online booking service. However, you do not need to prebook unless it is close to full moon. Most of the time you can pay when you arrive (the reason for choosing this is if you are uncertain how long you will take to clear the airport). Only at Full Moon there are more tourists, and it is safer to book in advance.
Staying in Samui
Should you arrive later than the last boat (18.30, so flight that arrive after 17.00) then you will need to stay a night on Koh Samui. We recommend The Pier in Bangrak which is great value and close to the pier to Tong Sala in the morning (8am or 1pm). It is right on the pier to Hadrin, but better to go to the Seatran ferry which is less than 1km away. Yaniv is the owner of The Pier and if you tell him Shashi sent you he will give you VIP treatment! (I always stay there).
Arriving in Phangan
We have our own associated taxi driver called Pele. You can find him on facebook. He will wait for you when you arrive.
LocationSerenity Retreat
Had Yao Beach Koh Phangan Thailand The retreat is secluded and is best reached with our pre-arranged drivers. If you do come yourself, then take the turning off the main beach road that is signposted to Had Yao Bay View. Then turn first right off this road at "reefer Divers" and immediately off the concrete up the sand road to the right of Reefer Divers. This becomes concrete again and is a steep road up with the Serenity car park right at the top. |
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Contact Us
If you have any problems with your travel plans, please email us