How to Get from Koh Samui to Railay Beach: Complete Travel Guide
If you’re planning to travel from Koh Samui to Railay Beach, this is the travel guide I wish I had read before our journey.
We thought getting from Koh Samui to Railay Beach would be fairly straightforward. What we didn’t realise was that Railay Beach isn’t connected to the mainland by road, meaning you can’t simply take a bus or taxi directly to your accommodation. In fact, we only realised about halfway through our bus journey that we had booked accommodation directly on Railay Beach, which is only accessible by long-tail boat.
Cue a quick moment of panic as we tried to work out exactly where we needed to get off and how we were actually going to reach our hotel!
Thankfully, we figured it out, and the journey turned out to be much easier than we initially thought. But it did teach us an important lesson: when travelling from Koh Samui to Railay Beach, it’s important to understand the full journey before you book your transport.
In this guide, I’ll explain exactly how to get from Koh Samui to Railay Beach, including the different transport options, how long the journey takes, what to expect when you arrive in Krabi, and how to make that final journey across the water to Railay Beach.
How to Get from Koh Samui to Railay Beach
Getting from Koh Samui to Railay Beach is not a single direct journey. Because Railay is located on a peninsula with no road access, you’ll need to combine several different types of transport.
The route we took was ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak, bus from Donsak to Krabi Bus Terminal, taxi from Krabi to the pier, and finally a long-tail boat to Railay Beach. We booked our ferry and bus together through 12Go Asia for £11 per person, which made the first part of the journey really easy to organise. You can see the exact journey we booked here: our Koh Samui to Krabi ferry and bus booking.
We travelled by ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak before continuing by bus to Krabi Bus Terminal. From there, we paid 400 baht (approximately £4.50 per person) for a taxi to the pier before catching the public long-tail boat to Railay Beach for 100 baht (around £2.25) per person.
It sounds complicated, but once you know how each part of the journey works, it is actually fairly straightforward.
Step 1: Take the Ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak
The first part of the journey is taking a ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak, which is located on the mainland in Surat Thani province.
The ferry crossing is a common route for travellers leaving Koh Samui and takes you from the island back to mainland Thailand. Depending on your ticket, your ferry and onward bus may be booked together, which makes the journey much easier as you don’t have to arrange each individual section yourself.
We took the ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak before continuing our journey by bus towards Krabi.
Once you arrive at Donsak, you’ll need to continue by road.
Step 2: Take the Bus from Donsak to Krabi
From Donsak, we continued by bus to Krabi Bus Terminal.
This was the longest road section of our journey, and it’s worth being prepared for a fairly long travel day. If you’re travelling with luggage, keep anything you’ll need during the journey easily accessible, as you won’t necessarily want to unpack everything each time you change transport.
One thing we would recommend is checking exactly where your bus is going to drop you off in Krabi before travelling.
We assumed that getting to Krabi meant we would be close to the coast and could easily continue on to Railay. However, we were dropped at Krabi Bus Terminal, which meant we still had another journey to make before reaching the beach.
Step 3: Take a Taxi from Krabi Bus Terminal to the Pier
Once we arrived at Krabi Bus Terminal, we needed to arrange a taxi to take us to the pier.
This was when the reality of our accommodation booking really hit us.
We had booked accommodation directly on Railay Beach, but Railay isn’t accessible by road. This meant that even after completing the ferry and bus journey, we couldn’t simply get a taxi directly to our hotel.
Instead, we needed to get to the pier first and then take a boat across to Railay.
If you’re travelling this route, make sure you leave enough time for this additional taxi journey and don’t assume that your bus will take you directly to the boat departure point.
Step 4: Take a Long-Tail Boat from the Pier to Railay Beach
The final part of the journey is the most scenic — taking a long-tail boat to Railay Beach.
Once we reached the pier, we arranged our long-tail boat across to Railay. This is the only way to reach Railay when travelling from the mainland, as there are no roads connecting Railay to Krabi.
The boat journey itself is relatively short, but it’s worth remembering that you’ll be getting on and off a boat rather than arriving at a conventional ferry terminal.
If you’re travelling with large or heavy luggage, this is something to keep in mind.
Once you arrive at Railay Beach, you’re finally at your destination — and after such a long journey from Koh Samui, stepping onto Railay Beach feels pretty special.
Our Journey from Koh Samui to Railay Beach
Looking back, our journey from Koh Samui to Railay Beach was much more straightforward than we initially thought — we just hadn’t realised how many different stages were involved.
We took the ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak, followed by a bus to Krabi Bus Terminal. From there, we had to get a taxi to the pier before taking a long-tail boat across to Railay Beach.
The biggest mistake we made was booking our accommodation directly on Railay Beach without first checking how we would actually get there.
We only realised about halfway through our bus journey that Railay had no road access. Suddenly, we were trying to work out where we needed to get off, which pier we needed to reach and how we were going to get our luggage onto a long-tail boat!
Luckily, everything worked out perfectly, but it was definitely something we wish we’d known before starting the journey.
Our biggest tip? Check where your accommodation is located before booking your transport. If you’re staying directly on Railay Beach, remember that your journey doesn’t end when you arrive in Krabi — you’ll still need to travel to a pier and take a long-tail boat across to Railay.
How Long Does It Take to Travel from Koh Samui to Railay Beach?
The journey from Koh Samui to Railay Beach takes most of a day, as there is no direct road or ferry connection between the two destinations.
The exact travel time will depend on the ferry and bus schedules, waiting times between connections and how long it takes to arrange your taxi and long-tail boat in Krabi.
For the route we took, our journey involved:
- Ferry: Koh Samui → Donsak
- Bus: Donsak → Krabi Bus Terminal
- Taxi: Krabi Bus Terminal → pier
- Long-tail boat: pier → Railay Beach
How Long Does Each Part of the Journey Take?
As a rough guide, you can expect the journey to take around 6–8 hours in total, although it can take longer depending on your connections and waiting times.
| Journey | Approximate Time |
|---|---|
| Koh Samui → Donsak by ferry | 1.5–2 hours |
| Donsak → Krabi by bus | 3–4 hours |
| Krabi Bus Terminal → pier by taxi | 30–45 minutes |
| Pier → Railay Beach by long-tail boat | 10–20 minutes |
| Total journey | Around 6–8 hours |
It’s important to remember that these are approximate journey times rather than a guaranteed schedule. Your overall travel time can be longer if you have to wait for your next connection.
Our Koh Samui to Railay Beach Travel Time
For us, the journey felt like a full travel day. While none of the individual sections were particularly difficult, having to change from a ferry to a bus, then a taxi and finally a long-tail boat meant there were several stages to keep track of.
The final boat journey was also something we hadn’t planned for when booking our accommodation. We had assumed that arriving in Krabi would mean we were almost at Railay, only to discover that we still had to reach the pier and cross the water.
If you’re travelling from Koh Samui to Railay Beach, we’d recommend allowing the majority of the day for the journey rather than planning anything important for your arrival. This gives you plenty of time for delays, connections and the final boat across to Railay.
Our Koh Samui to Railay Beach Travel Costs
We found the journey from Koh Samui to Railay Beach surprisingly affordable. We booked our ferry and bus as one combined ticket through 12Go Asia, which cost us just £11 per person.
Once we arrived in Krabi, we paid 400 baht for a taxi to the pier, which worked out at approximately £4.50 per person.
For the final part of the journey, we were able to use the public long-tail boat to Railay Beach. This cost us just 100 baht per person, around £2.25.
| Transport | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| Koh Samui → Donsak ferry | Included in combined ticket |
| Donsak → Krabi bus | Included in combined ticket |
| Combined ferry + bus | £11 |
| Krabi Bus Terminal → pier taxi | £4.50 |
| Public long-tail boat → Railay Beach | £2.25 |
| Total | Approximately £17.75 per person |
Take the Public Long-Tail Boat to Save Money
One of our biggest money-saving tips is to use the public long-tail boat to Railay Beach if your arrival time allows.
We were lucky enough to arrive at the pier in time to catch the public boat, which cost us just 100 baht (£2.25) per person. However, the public service stops running at around 6:30pm, so make sure you check the timing before travelling.
We only just made the last public boat, so this was definitely something we were grateful for!
If you arrive after the public boats have stopped running, you’ll need to arrange a private long-tail boat, which can cost 600 baht or more depending on the time and circumstances.
This could make a significant difference to the cost of your journey, especially if you’re travelling alone or as a couple.
Our advice is to plan your journey with the 6:30pm public boat cut-off in mind. We wouldn’t want to arrive in Krabi thinking we’d only have a short journey left, only to discover we’d missed the cheap public boat and had to pay considerably more for a private transfer.
Can You Fly from Koh Samui to Railay Beach?
Yes, you can fly from Koh Samui to Krabi, but you cannot fly directly to Railay Beach. Railay does not have an airport and, because there is no road access, you will still need to travel by boat for the final part of the journey.
Flying can be a much quicker option than taking the ferry and bus, although it is likely to cost considerably more. Direct flights from Koh Samui Airport (USM) to Krabi Airport (KBV) are operated by Bangkok Airways, with the flight itself taking around 50 minutes.
Flying from Koh Samui to Krabi
If you want to save time, flying from Koh Samui to Krabi is probably the most convenient option.
The flight between the two airports is only around 50 minutes, compared with spending most of the day travelling by ferry and bus. However, you’ll need to factor in getting to Koh Samui Airport, airport check-in and security, collecting your luggage in Krabi and then continuing your journey to Railay.
Bangkok Airways currently operates direct flights on this route, although flight schedules and fares vary depending on your travel date.
For us, the ferry and bus option worked out much cheaper, so we were happy to spend longer travelling. Our combined ferry and bus ticket cost just £11 per person, which was significantly cheaper than flying.
Getting from Krabi Airport to Railay Beach
Once you land at Krabi Airport, your journey to Railay Beach isn’t quite finished.
There is no road directly to Railay Beach, so you’ll need to travel from the airport to one of the nearby piers before taking a boat across to Railay.
One common option is to take a bus or taxi from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang, where you can catch a shared long-tail boat to Railay. The boat journey from Ao Nang to Railay takes around 10–15 minutes, with shared boats costing around 100 baht per person during operating hours.
Alternatively, you can arrange transport from the airport to Ao Nam Mao, where boats also operate to Railay.
Whichever route you choose, don’t make the same mistake we did and assume arriving in Krabi means you’re immediately at Railay Beach. You still need to complete the final journey by boat.
If you’re arriving later in the day, pay particular attention to the boat times. The shared long-tail service generally operates during the daytime and private boats can be considerably more expensive outside those hours.
We booked our ferry and bus together through 12Go Asia for £11 per person, which made the first part of the journey really easy to organise. You can see the exact journey we booked here: our Koh Samui to Krabi ferry and bus booking.
We travelled by ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak before continuing by bus to Krabi Bus Terminal. From there, we paid 400 baht (approximately £4.50 per person) for a taxi to the pier before catching the public long-tail boat to Railay Beach for 100 baht (around £2.25) per person.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting from Koh Samui to Railay Beach
What is the easiest way to get from Koh Samui to Railay Beach?
For us, the easiest and most affordable option was to book a combined ferry and bus ticket from Koh Samui to Krabi, then take a taxi to the pier and a public long-tail boat to Railay Beach.
We booked our ferry and bus together through 12Go Asia, which cost us £11 per person. From Krabi Bus Terminal, we paid £4.50 per person for a taxi to the pier and then £2.25 per person for the public long-tail boat to Railay.
The journey does involve several different forms of transport, but booking the ferry and bus together made the first part much easier.
How long does it take to get from Koh Samui to Railay Beach?
We would recommend allowing most of the day for the journey. Your total travel time will depend on the ferry and bus schedules, connections and how long you have to wait for your taxi and boat.
Our journey involved a ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak, a bus to Krabi Bus Terminal, a taxi to the pier and finally a long-tail boat to Railay Beach.
Is there a direct ferry from Koh Samui to Railay Beach?
No, there isn’t a direct ferry from Koh Samui to Railay Beach. There are various combined ferry and transport options, but you’ll generally need to change transport along the way.
The route we took was ferry from Koh Samui to Donsak, followed by a bus to Krabi before taking a taxi and long-tail boat to Railay.
Can you fly from Koh Samui to Railay Beach?
You can fly from Koh Samui to Krabi, but you cannot fly directly to Railay Beach as Railay has no airport.
After arriving at Krabi Airport, you’ll still need to travel to a pier and take a long-tail boat to Railay. Flying is therefore a quicker option, but generally more expensive than travelling by ferry and bus.
How do you get from Krabi to Railay Beach?
Railay Beach has no road access, so the final part of your journey must be completed by boat. Long-tail boats operate from several locations around Krabi, including Ao Nang, Ao Nam Mao and Krabi Town.
For our journey, we took a taxi from Krabi Bus Terminal to the pier before catching a public long-tail boat to Railay Beach.
How much does it cost to travel from Koh Samui to Railay Beach?
We paid approximately £17.75 per person for our journey:
- Ferry and bus from Koh Samui to Krabi: £11
- Taxi from Krabi Bus Terminal to the pier: £4.50 per person
- Public long-tail boat to Railay: £2.25 per person
This gave us a total of approximately £17.75 per person, although prices can vary.
The biggest money-saving tip is to catch the public long-tail boat rather than arranging a private boat. We were lucky to make the public service, as it stops running at around 6:30pm. Missing it could mean paying considerably more for a private boat.
Is Railay Beach accessible by road?
No. Despite being technically part of mainland Thailand, Railay is cut off from the road network by its limestone cliffs. You cannot drive directly to Railay Beach, which is why the final part of your journey needs to be by boat.
This is something we wish we’d realised before booking our accommodation!
We had booked a hotel directly on Railay Beach and only discovered halfway through our bus journey that we couldn’t simply take a taxi directly to our accommodation.
Do you need to book your ferry to Railay Beach in advance?
We would recommend booking your ferry and bus in advance, particularly if you know which day you want to travel.
We booked our ferry and bus as a combined ticket through 12Go Asia, which meant we didn’t have to organise these two sections separately. We also recommend checking the arrival time in Krabi carefully so you have enough time to reach the pier and catch the public long-tail boat.
Most importantly, check the last public boat time before you travel. We only just made ours, and having to arrange a private boat after the public service had stopped would have added considerably to our costs.
