Koh Samui to Khao Sok From the Gulf to the rainforest in one day.
The short answer: There is no direct boat or bus: every ticket is a boat to Donsak pier on the mainland and then about 190 km by bus or van. The quickest is Lomprayah: its 08:30 speedboat from Maenam reaches Khao Sok at 12:30, and its catamarans from Nathon at 08:30 and 11:45 arrive at 13:30 and 16:30, all for 1,250 baht. Car-ferry-and-van tickets cost about 600 to 1,300 baht and take five to eight hours; the last same-day ticket leaves around 14:00.
Below: every option side by side, which Samui pier to use, where you are dropped in Khao Sok, and the trip back.
Koh Samui to Khao Sok at a glance
Times and fares from Visit Thailand Today's Koh Samui to Khao Sok guide (October 2026) and the 12Go board (November 2026); 12Go prices include a booking fee.
| Option | Leaves Samui | Arrives Khao Sok | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomprayah speedboat + van | 08:30, Pralarn pier, Maenam | 12:30 | 1,250 baht | The quickest trip |
| Lomprayah catamaran + bus or van | 08:30 or 11:45, Nathon | 13:30 or 16:30 | 1,250 baht (1,400 with hotel pickup) | Most people |
| Car ferry + minivan | About 06:00 to 14:00, several firms | About 5–7¾ hours later | About 600–1,300 baht | A lower fare |
| Ferry + bus | About 04:20 to 10:45 | About 7–10 hours later | About 620–860 baht | The lowest fare |
| Private car with the ferry | When you like | About 4½–6 hours, door to door | About 4,000–6,000 baht per car | Groups of three or four |
Compare live times and prices: all Koh Samui to Khao Sok options on 12Go.
Which one should you pick?
Take Lomprayah if you want the simplest day: the 08:30 speedboat from Maenam if you stay on the north coast, otherwise the catamaran from Nathon.
Take a car-ferry-and-van ticket to spend less. It is slower, and the car ferry to Donsak takes about an hour and a half instead of 45 minutes.
Book a private car if there are three or four of you: shared between you, it costs about the same per person as Lomprayah and takes you to your door.
Which Samui pier
Lomprayah's catamarans and Seatran's ferries leave Nathon on the west coast; Raja's car ferry leaves Lipa Noi, a few kilometres south. Lomprayah's 08:30 speedboat leaves Pralarn pier in Maenam on the north coast and arrives an hour earlier than the Nathon boat, which suits stays in Maenam or Bophut.
From Chaweng or Lamai every pier means crossing the island, so the hotel pickup, about 150 baht more, is worth it.
Crossing to Donsak
Lomprayah's catamaran crosses to Donsak in about 45 minutes; the Raja and Seatran car ferries take about an hour and a half. From Donsak it is about 190 km, roughly three hours, by bus or van to the village. Buy one ticket for the boat and the road together, so that a late boat does not leave you stuck at Donsak.
Arriving in Khao Sok
Most buses and vans stop on Route 401 at the foot of the village road, about 2 km below the park headquarters. A local taxi or pickup to your guesthouse costs about 50 to 80 baht a person. Grab does not work in Khao Sok, so arrange the last kilometre before you leave Samui. See where to stay in Khao Sok.
Going straight to a raft house on Cheow Lan Lake? Ratchaprapha pier is about 150 km from Donsak. Book a raft package with the transfer, or a van that names the pier, and arrive by early afternoon: boats to the rafts stop after dark. Lake entry costs 300 baht for foreign adults, plus a 40 baht pier fee.
From Koh Phangan or Koh Tao
Lomprayah sells the same trip from the other islands: from Koh Phangan at 08:05, arriving at 12:30 for 1,350 baht, and from Koh Tao by the 07:05 speedboat, arriving at 12:30 for 1,550 baht.
Khao Sok back to Koh Samui
Combined tickets back leave Khao Sok in the morning and take six to eight and a half hours, for about 560 to 770 baht on 12Go. Lomprayah does not run from Khao Sok. Tickets usually end at Nathon or Lipa Noi, so you need a taxi to Chaweng or Lamai. The last car ferry leaves Donsak at about 19:00, so leave Khao Sok by early afternoon.
Booking Koh Samui to Khao Sok on 12Go
12Go sells the boat-and-bus combinations as one ticket, with the Samui pier and the drop-off in Khao Sok shown on each.
Prices on 12Go include a booking fee. Nothing that leaves Samui after about 14:00 reaches Khao Sok the same day.
Koh Samui to Khao Sok FAQ
Is there a direct ferry from Koh Samui to Khao Sok?
No. Every ticket is a boat to Donsak pier and then a bus or van, about 190 km.
How long does it take?
About five to seven hours on most tickets, up to ten on the slowest bus. Lomprayah's 08:30 speedboat from Maenam arrives at 12:30; a private car takes four and a half to six hours.
How much does it cost?
About 600 to 1,300 baht for a car-ferry-and-van ticket, 1,250 baht with Lomprayah (1,400 with hotel pickup), or about 4,000 to 6,000 baht for a private car.
What is the last departure from Samui?
The last same-day combined ticket leaves around 14:00; Lomprayah's last is the 11:45 from Nathon, arriving at 16:30.
How many nights should I stay in Khao Sok?
Two or three. One night only covers the travel; with two you can have a night in the village and one on the lake.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Options, piers, times, fares, the Donsak crossing, drop-off, lake fees, the trip back and the Phangan and Tao boats from Visit Thailand Today's Koh Samui to Khao Sok guide (26 October 2026); cross-checked on the 12Go board (Phantip 1970, Raja Ferry, Faiz Travel and Tour departures from 04:20 to 14:00). Timetables and fares change, so check before you travel.