Thailand: Koh Samui - How to go Koh Samui and Glimpse of Lamai Beach.

So March 2013 John and I went to Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, the famous islands in Thailand. 

John loves sea and Koh Tao has the most dive spots among all the islands in Thailand, so we decided to just stay one night in Koh Samui, and transferred to Koh Tao for 4d3n. We took a day for Koh Phangan too. 

So if you're taking Airasia, you will stop in Surathani, the state of Koh Samui.

You will have to take bus to pier and change ferry to reach the island. In short...

How to go Koh Samui from Surathani Airport?

Airasia = Kuala Lumpur - Surathani (bout 1h +)

Bus = Surathani Airport - Pier (1 & half hour, )

Ferry = Pier - Koh Samui DokSak Pier (2 hours)

Don't worry because you're clueless on where to get bus and ferry ticket. 

There are ticket counter for Bus + Ferry ticket sold in Surathani airport, 500bath / way / person (as in March 2013), and bus is waiting right outside of airport to send you to the pier, just hop on the ferry and you'll arrive in Koh Samui in next 3 to 4 hours. 

Alternatively, if you want quicker route, you can take Berjaya Air for direct route from Kuala Lumpur to Koh Samui. So you can save on bus and ferry transfer time. 

And yea, there is an airport in Koh Samui, but its not a busy airport anyway. 

Random on the air pix taken by John

You can see this in the exist of custom in airport.

Pier meeting point.

The ferry.

and there we reach samui.

Alright, Koh Samui is not an big Island, but defo a very developed tourist destination.

There are a few bays in Samui but the most happening aka most tourists bay is Chaweng Beach (refer to map below), you can get almost everything (including airport and pier) in that bay. If you had ever been Phuket, you can expect Chaweng Beach is similar with that.

But John and I both dislike happening place, we prefer small town so that we could real relax.

And for that we choose Lamai Beach for our 1 night stay before transfer to Koh Tao in the next day.

grad from internet.

Its take half hour from DokSak Pier to Lamai Beach, there are plenty of minivan waiting in the pier so nothing to worry bout.

Just to remind you, some hotel do provide pier pick up service with minimal cost or free if you stay with them, so check with hotel before spend extra for taking transport. 

Lamai Beach has shorter bay but less happening, suitable for those who want a relax holiday.

Yet Lamai is handy enough even there are only one main street. You can get convenience store, McDonald, a right size of night market aka hawker center, tour center, budget to luxury accommodation in this place.

quite street in the late afternoon

started to see crowd and road block for night market later.

went for a short walk in the beach, thru this public road.

thanks for the great evening.

can you see the blue sea and sky?

Don't worry on restaurant and food in Lamai, wide range of restaurants in the place, you can choose a sea side restaurant for a romantic dinner date, you spend minimal bucks for maximum street foods in night market.

And we choose the latter.

Totally different with what we seen in the day time. 

hawker center is not huge but full of food!

the eating area 

John's fave pork

stir fried rice, noodle, meat and vege.

we couldn't get a table so we packed some food and had it in our hotel room. 

The next day, we went to a seaside hotel for buffet breakfast (our hotel doesn't provide breakfast), and enjoy our last few hours in Samui before depart to Koh Tao.

we came here for the view but not food.

nice and comfortable.

average foods though.

but the atmosphere worth it all. 

Ok now you may ask, how to go Koh Tao from Koh Samui?

There are plenty of tour center organize ferry / speed boat ticket to and from Koh Tao, 2 trips in a day and plenty of seats, so you have nothing to worry about even you book it one day before depart.

There are 2 ship companies organize the transfer trip:
1. Seatran
2. Lamprayah.

Both companies have same schedule, which is 8am and 130pm, both 750/way/person including hotel transfer to the pier.

We choose 130pm and minivan pick up in hotel between 11.30am to 12nn.

last but not least, my best travel partner and I.

Alright next post will be Samui hotel review. 

I promise i will pick up blog post as fast as i can ok! I putting effort la you see? this is the 3rd post of the month le!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kthxbye!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
20140514, 1111am
Rach in prepare to work mood and yea my working hour start by 1230nn lalalalalalalal.