The Raja Ferry Company provides the cheapest ferry services between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and the mainland Province of Surat Thani. Raja Ferry uses large car ferries which can sail in stormy conditions when most other ferry services cannot, making the Raja Ferry the most reliable and safest ferry operator in the Gulf of Thailand.
About the Raja Ferry
Since starting up 1981 with a single ferry operating between Surat Thani and Koh Samui, Raja Ferry has now expanded to operating 13 ferries on a total of 3 routes in the Gulf Of Thailand:
- Between Donsak (Surat Thani Province) and Koh Samui.
- Between Donsak (Surat Thani Province) and Koh Phangan.
- Between Donsak (Surat Thani Province) and Koh Phaluai.
Raja Ferry services between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan have now been suspended.
Raja FerryAll 13 ships are different, and some are newer and better than others. All the ships has indoor and outdoor seating, as well as on board toilets. Some of the ships on the routes between Surat Thani and Koh Phangan and Surat Thani and Koh Samui have air-conditioned cabins, however, the majority do not.
Inside seating area on the Raja FerryAll Raja Ferry ships also have a shop. The shop sells drinks and snacks. On servicess to and from Surat Thani Province there are a small number of boxes of freshly cooked food on sale. If you want to get one of these boxes of fresh food then you need to go to the shop as soon as it opens as they tend to sell out very quickly. If you are sailing from Donsak in Surat Thani Province it is advisable to buy fresh food before you board the ferry or alternatively to eat in the excellent and cheap restaurant at the ferry port, which has stunning views over the port and nearby coastline.
Shop on the Raja FerryRaja Ferry services are primarily car and lorry transportation services and this is historically where the company has made most of its revenue. A number of bus services between Koh Samui and Bangkok, as well as between Koh Phangan and Bangkok, travel on the ferry. The Raja Ferry Company, as well as several private transport operators such as Phangan Tour 2000, operate bus services connecting the ferry port with Surat Thani city, Surat Thani Railway Station and Surat Thani Airport, all of which are around 90 minutes by road away from the port in Donsak.
Car deck in the Raja FerryRaja Ferry services travel relatively slowly. If you are in a rush you can travel a lot quicker on a Lomprayah High Speed Ferry, but the tickets will cost you almost twice as much. For foot passengers Raja Ferry services are a budget option, and not an unpleasant one if you simply sit back, relax and enjoy the sea crossing. In the know travellers also opt to use the Raja Ferry when sea is rough because the other smaller ferries become unpleasant as they are affected a lot more by the waves.
Ferry Timetable from Surat Thani to Koh Samui
There are 15 departures a day from Donsak in Surat Thani Province to Koh Samui.
- Buy tickets from Surat Thani to Koh Samui.
| Surat Thani | Koh Samui | Ticket |
| 05:00 | 06:30 | ฿180 |
| 06:00 | 07:30 | ฿180 |
| 07:00 | 18:30 | ฿180 |
| 08:00 | 09:30 | ฿180 |
| 09:00 | 10:30 | ฿180 |
| 10:00 | 11:30 | ฿180 |
| 11:00 | 12:30 | ฿180 |
| 12:00 | 13:30 | ฿180 |
| 13:00 | 14:30 | ฿180 |
| 14:00 | 15:30 | ฿180 |
| 15:00 | 16:30 | ฿180 |
| 16:00 | 17:30 | ฿180 |
| 17:00 | 18:30 | ฿180 |
| 18:00 | 19:30 | ฿180 |
| 19:00 | 20:30 | ฿180 |
Ferry Timetable from Koh Samui to Surat Thani
There are 15 departures a day from Koh Samui to Donsak in Surat Thani Province.
- Buy tickets from Koh Samui to Surat Thani.
| Koh Samui | Surat Thani | Ticket |
| 05:00 | 06:30 | ฿180 |
| 06:00 | 07:30 | ฿180 |
| 07:00 | 18:30 | ฿180 |
| 08:00 | 09:30 | ฿180 |
| 09:00 | 10:30 | ฿180 |
| 10:00 | 11:30 | ฿180 |
| 11:00 | 12:30 | ฿180 |
| 12:00 | 13:30 | ฿180 |
| 13:00 | 14:30 | ฿180 |
| 14:00 | 15:30 | ฿180 |
| 15:00 | 16:30 | ฿180 |
| 16:00 | 17:30 | ฿180 |
| 17:00 | 18:30 | ฿180 |
| 18:00 | 19:30 | ฿180 |
| 19:00 | 20:30 | ฿180 |
Ferry Timetable from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan
There are 5 departures a day from Donsak in Surat Thani Province to Koh Phangan.
- Buy tickets from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan.
| Surat Thani | Koh Phangan | Ticket |
| 05:30 | 08:00 | ฿250 |
| 08:30 | 11:00 | ฿250 |
| 11:30 | 14:00 | ฿250 |
| 14:30 | 17:00 | ฿250 |
| 17:30 | 20:00 | ฿250 |
Ferry Timetable from Koh Phangan to Surat Thani
There are 5 departures a day from Koh Phangan to Donsak in Surat Thani Province.
- Buy tickets from Koh Phangan to Surat Thani.
| Koh Phangan | Surat Thani | Ticket |
| 05:00 | 07:30 | ฿250 |
| 08:00 | 10:30 | ฿250 |
| 11:00 | 13:30 | ฿250 |
| 14:00 | 16:30 | ฿250 |
| 17:30 | 20:00 | ฿250 |
Ferry Timetable from Surat Thani to Koh Phaluai
There are 2 departures a day from Surat Thani to Koh Phaluai.
- Buy tickets from Surat Thani to Koh Phaluai.
| Surat Thani | Koh Phaluai | Ticket |
| 09:00 | 10:30 | ฿400 |
| 16:00 | 17:30 | ฿400 |
Ferry Timetable from Koh Phaluai to Surat Thani
There are 2 departures a day from Koh Phaluai to Surat Thani.
- Buy tickets from Koh Phaluai to Surat Thani.
| Koh Phaluai | Surat Thani | Ticket |
| 11:00 | 12:30 | ฿400 |
| 18:00 | 19:30 | ฿400 |
Surat Thani Raja Ferry Pier
Raja Ferry services to and from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Phaluai dock at Donsak Raja Ferry Port, which is 66 km by road from Surat Thani city centre.
Koh Samui Raja Ferry Pier
Raja Ferry services to and from Surat Thani dock at Koh Samui Raja Ferry Port in Lipa Noi, which is 28 km by road from Chaweng Beach.
Koh Phangan Raja Ferry Pier
Raja Ferry services to and from Surat Thani dock at Koh Phangan Ferry Port, which is located 11 km by road from Haad Rin where the Full Moon Party takes place.