Tourism Authority of Thailand – Cruise and Yacht Travel Brochure
The official cruise guide identifies Ko Samui among Thailand’s principal cruise ports.
Cruise planning
Research Ko Samui cruise calls before you travel.
Use the timetable to see upcoming cruise ship calls, busy-day signals, ship counts, and port context alongside the guide, map, weather, and readiness tools.
Schedule note
Port schedules can change because of weather, berth availability, itinerary updates, and operational decisions. Verify important times with your cruise line or the port authority before travel.
At a glance
Port profile
Country, code, and on-shore essentials.
Country
Thailand
Port code
THKSM
Coordinates
9.533, 99.933
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Your port day at a glance
Plan your time ashore in Ko Samui
Ko Samui is a tender port, with cruise passengers normally landing at a call-designated pier before dispersing around the island by road.
Before going ashore
Before going ashore, confirm the berth or tender point, local time, all-aboard deadline, and the meeting location for any independently booked transport or tour.
Arrival
Usually tenders
Town access
Shuttle recommended
Can you explore independently?
Choose a north-island circuit through Bophut and Big Buddha, a beach day, or a southern route with one waterfall or temple.
VoyagePro planning verdict
This port works best when you confirm the exact arrival point, choose one coherent plan, and protect the return to the ship with a comfortable time buffer.
Best for
- •Travelers who confirm the exact arrival point
- •A focused local plan
- •One well-timed longer outing
Needs extra planning when
- •Your transfer or pickup point has not been confirmed
- •Your itinerary depends on several tightly timed stops
- •Your plan assumes every attraction can be reached on foot
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Tourism Authority of Thailand – Cruise and Yacht Travel Brochure and Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Samui.
Step off the ship with a plan
Arrival, terminals and getting into town
Confirm the actual berth first—local access can change substantially between terminals.
Where your ship arrives
The official Thailand cruise guide identifies Ko Samui as a cruise port; ships anchor and use tenders or local boats to the assigned landing.
Getting into town
Confirm the landing—often in the Nathon area—then use a songthaew, taxi, or arranged excursion for beaches and temples.
Port shuttle
A call may offer a shuttle from the tender pier; verify its beach or town stop and protect time for the final tender.
Taxi and local transport
Agree a round-trip fare with an authorized taxi or songthaew and retain the driver for a multi-stop island circuit.
Airport and hotel transfers
Samui Airport is on the northeast side of the island and requires a road transfer from the tender landing.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Tourism Authority of Thailand – Cruise and Yacht Travel Brochure and Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Samui.
What official and local sources say
Local details from reviewed sources
A concise summary of useful details found in port, municipal, transport, terminal, and tourism material.
Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Samui
The official destination page identifies Samui’s temples, villages, beaches, and waterfalls.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Tourism Authority of Thailand – Cruise and Yacht Travel Brochure and Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Samui.
Build a realistic day
Choose a plan by time in port
Start with the usable time you have ashore, then leave a comfortable return margin.
Quick call
2–3 hours
Keep the day close to the port and choose one or two reliable nearby stops.
Half day
4–6 hours
Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Fisherman’s Village, Chaweng Beach, and Na Muang Waterfalls are key anchors. Confirm the landing—often in the Nathon area—then use a songthaew, taxi, or arranged excursion for beaches and temples.
Long call
7+ hours
Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Fisherman’s Village, Chaweng Beach, and Na Muang Waterfalls are key anchors. Keep the ship's all-aboard time as a hard deadline and allow extra time for weather, traffic, queues, security, or tender operations.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Tourism Authority of Thailand – Cruise and Yacht Travel Brochure and Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Samui.
Plan for comfort
Accessibility and mobility
Mobility overview
Tender boarding and variable piers are the main constraint; arrange assistance and a step-free island vehicle before selecting sights.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Tourism Authority of Thailand – Cruise and Yacht Travel Brochure and Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Samui.
Avoid the rushed version of this port
Common planning mistakes
1
Not checking the arrival point
2
Assuming everything is walkable
3
Leaving no return margin
Keep the ship's all-aboard time as a hard deadline and allow extra time for weather, traffic, queues, security, or tender operations.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Tourism Authority of Thailand – Cruise and Yacht Travel Brochure and Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Samui.
Answers from reviewed guide sources
Ko Samui port questions
These answers use the reviewed operational fields above; check the linked source when a detail affects a booking or transfer.
Will the ship dock or tender?
The official Thailand cruise guide identifies Ko Samui as a cruise port; ships anchor and use tenders or local boats to the assigned landing.
How do I get from the ship into town?
Confirm the landing—often in the Nathon area—then use a songthaew, taxi, or arranged excursion for beaches and temples.
Should I plan a shuttle, taxi, or transfer?
A call may offer a shuttle from the tender pier; verify its beach or town stop and protect time for the final tender. Agree a round-trip fare with an authorized taxi or songthaew and retain the driver for a multi-stop island circuit.
Can I explore independently?
Choose a north-island circuit through Bophut and Big Buddha, a beach day, or a southern route with one waterfall or temple.
What should I know about airport or hotel transfers?
Samui Airport is on the northeast side of the island and requires a road transfer from the tender landing.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Tourism Authority of Thailand – Cruise and Yacht Travel Brochure and Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Samui.
Guide review and sources
Operational details can change by berth, weather, and ship call. Confirm important arrangements before travel.
Reviewed Jul 16, 2026
2 sources
Build a route you can actually use
Practical places around Ko Samui
Choose a few places that fit your time ashore, then check access and transport before setting out.
Transport starting point
Confirm the landing—often in the Nathon area—then use a songthaew, taxi, or arranged excursion for beaches and temples.
Arrival location reference
Ko Samui cruise destination reference· Cruise destination area
Local landmark
Big Buddha
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Treat this as a longer outing and protect the ship return with confirmed transport and a generous time margin.
Longer outing; confirmed transport recommended
Local landmark
Wat Plai Laem
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Treat this as a longer outing and protect the ship return with confirmed transport and a generous time margin.
Longer outing; confirmed transport recommended
Local landmark
Fisherman’s Village
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Treat this as a longer outing and protect the ship return with confirmed transport and a generous time margin.
Longer outing; confirmed transport recommended
Beach
Chaweng Beach
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Treat this as a longer outing and protect the ship return with confirmed transport and a generous time margin.
Longer outing; confirmed transport recommended
Scenic landmark
Na Muang Waterfalls
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Ko Samui. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Treat this as a longer outing and protect the ship return with confirmed transport and a generous time margin.
Longer outing; confirmed transport recommended
Source summary6 sources
Reviewed 2026-07-25. Location placement, transport, and attraction information retain separate sources so each can be checked and updated independently.
Live port-day planner
Plan my port day in Ko Samui
Choose an upcoming call and ship to turn the published schedule into a practical planning window.
Choose a call date
Choose your ship
Your selected call
Royal Princess
Arrival
7:00am
Departure
5:00pm
Scheduled window
10h
1 ship that day
Up to 3,560 passenger capacity
Planning return buffer
Count back from the published departure time.
Planning checkpoint: 3:30pm
This is a personal planning checkpoint, not the ship's official all-aboard time. Always follow the time and instructions issued onboard.
Guide match for this window
A longer outing may fit, but protect the return journey from weather, traffic, queues, and tender delays.
Schedule source summary
Dates, ships, and times come from the currently published cruise-call records. Schedules can change, and passenger totals represent available ship-capacity data rather than a forecast of people going ashore.
Destination guide
About Ko Samui
Koh Samui is the most popular tourist destination on the Western Gulf coast, which isn't surprising, considering the island's gorgeous beaches, perfect weather, and sparkling blue, almost turquoise, water. Koh Samui has seen rapid development since the 1990s, and you'll encounter hotels in all price ranges. Koh Samui is half the size of Phuket, so you could easily drive around it in a day. But Koh Samui is best appreciated by those who take a slower, more casual approach.
Most people come for the sun and sea, so they head straight to their hotel and rarely venture beyond its beach. But it's worth exploring beyond your lodging. Every beach has its own character, and you might find the perfect one for you. One beach many visitors find to their liking is Chawaeng.
On Koh Samui's east coast, this stretch of glistening white sand is divided into two main sections—Chawaeng Yai (yai means "big") and Chawaeng Noi (noi means "little"). You'll find the greatest variety of hotels, restaurants, and bars here. Despite the crowds, Chawaeng is no Pattaya or Patong—the mood is very laid-back. A rocky headland separates Chawaeng Lamai Beach, whose clear water and long stretch of sand were the first place on the island to attract developers.
More budget accommodations are available here than in Chawaeng, and there are some happening nightclubs. On the west coast of Koh Samui, Na Thon is the island's primary port and the spot where ferries arrive from the mainland. It's home to the island's governmental offices, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and there are banks, foreign-exchange booths, travel agents, shops, restaurants, and cafés by the ferry pier. A few places rent rooms, but there's really no reason to stay here—nicer accommodations can be found a short songthaew ride away.
To the north and east of Na Thon lie a few beaches worthy of exploration. Laem Yai, 5 km (3 miles) north, has great seafood. East of here, a small headland separates two low-key communities on the northern shore, Mae Nam and Bophut Beach. Mae Nam is also the departure point for boats bound for Koh Phangan and Koh Tao . Just south of the Samui's northeastern tip you'll find sandy Choengmon Beach, a good area for swimming that's not overdeveloped.
Stay connectedPartner recommendation
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Explore ashore
Shore excursions in Ko Samui
Explore tour options for your port day. Check the meeting point and return time against your ship’s schedule before booking.
Excursion partner
Shore Excursions Group
Independent shore excursions
Select any tour card to view current details, availability, and booking on the Shore Excursions Group website.
Private
Private
6.5 hours
Fishing for Big Game
Go fishing with locals and snorkel the impressive Koh Taen coral reef. Plus, enjoy an on board BBQ on this festive Ko Samui tour.
Fishing Easy
View & book with Shore Excursions Group
Private
Private
5 hours
Private Highlights of Ko Samui
Embark on a quick but unforgettable tour of Ko Samui. Gorgeous scenery and notabe landmarks await on this Ko Samui excursion, such as Big Buddha and Grandpa Rock.
Scenic, Cultural, Historical Moderate
View & book with Shore Excursions Group
Standard
7 hours
A Jungle Adventure
Take a wild Four Wheel Drive excursion up into a mountain jungle, swim at a breathtaking waterfall, and experience the fascinating Koh Samui culture on this exciting jungle safari.
Eco, Nature Moderate
View & book with Shore Excursions GroupVoyagePro may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Photo credits
Place photos are resized for display and cropped where needed.
- Sand and shoreline at Chaweng Beach on Ko Samui — Wipkinger (Wikivoyage) · Public domain
- Guanyin statue with twelve arms at Wat Plai Laem on Ko Samui — Gunther Dihlmann · CC BY-SA 3.0