Bang Kao Pier, Koh Samui: Where It Is, How to Get There and What Leaves From It

Bang Kao Pier is a small pier on Koh Samui’s south coast, in the quiet Bang Kao area between Hua Thanon and Thong Krut. It is where our 1-Day Catamaran leaves for the Five Islands, Koh Tan and Pig Island. It is not a ferry pier, and plenty of visitors confuse it with Bangrak Pier in the north-east, where the Koh Phangan and Koh Tao boats leave. This guide explains where it is, how long it takes to get there, what is around it and why nearly everyone on our trip arrives by hotel pickup.

Quick answer: Bang Kao Pier is on the south coast of Koh Samui, roughly 20–30 minutes by road from Lamai and 30–45 minutes from Chaweng, depending on traffic. It is used by tour boats, not public ferries. If you are on the Samui Journey catamaran, hotel transfers are included, so you do not need to find the pier yourself.

Quick facts

Location	Bang Kao, on Koh Samui’s south coast, between Hua Thanon to the east and Thong Krut to the west
Type	Small pier used by tour boats. Not a ferry terminal
Not to be confused with	Bangrak Pier near Big Buddha, Bang Por beach, or the ferry piers at Nathon, Lipa Noi and Maenam
Samui Journey trip from here	1-Day Catamaran to the Five Islands, Koh Tan and Pig Island (Koh Madsum)
Hotel pickup	About 9:00–9:40 AM depending on your zone; back at your hotel around 4:30 PM
Nearby	Laem Sor Pagoda, Bang Kao Beach, Thong Krut, the Namuang waterfalls inland

Where Bang Kao Pier is

Koh Samui is roughly round, with a ring road (Route 4169) circling it a little way inland. The south coast is the quietest stretch. There are no big resort strips, the coast road runs past rubber and coconut plantations, and villages such as Hua Thanon, Bang Kao and Thong Krut still have a fishing character.

Bang Kao sits in the middle of that coast. From the ring road you turn south, usually via Route 4170, and follow the smaller roads down towards the sea. Laem Sor Pagoda, on the island’s southern tip, is a short drive further west, and Thong Krut, the main longtail village for Koh Tan and Pig Island, is beyond that.

This coast is very shallow. At low tide the sea pulls a long way back, leaving sand and seagrass flats, which is one reason the south coast is better for boats and quiet walks than for swimming. Koh Tan and Koh Madsum lie a few kilometres offshore, which is why trips to the southern islands start on this side of Samui.

Getting there

Drive times from the main beaches

These are typical ranges by car. Traffic in Chaweng and around Lamai at busy times, roadworks and rain can all add time.

Taxi

Samui taxis rarely run the meter, and fares to the south coast are not cheap. Published transfer prices from the main beaches to this part of the coast run roughly 500–950 baht per car one way. Agree the fare before you get in. The bigger problem is the return: few taxis wait around in Bang Kao, so book your ride back in advance.

Scooter or car

Driving yourself is easy enough on the ring road, but the last stretch is on smaller local roads, and map apps do not always label piers on this coast clearly. If you ride a scooter, wear a helmet, carry the right licence and check that your insurance covers you. The UK government’s Thailand travel advice has blunt warnings about road accidents on the islands.

Songthaew

Samui’s shared pickup trucks run fixed routes around the ring road at set fares (the Wikivoyage Ko Samui guide gives a rough fare range). They will not take you to a small pier at a set time, so they are not a practical way to make a boat departure.

Why most guests take the hotel pickup

On the Samui Journey 1-Day Catamaran, hotel transfers are included in the price, and almost everyone uses them. The reasons are practical:

• It costs nothing extra. A taxi each way to the south coast can add 1,000–1,900 baht per car to your day.
• The timing is done for you. Pickup runs from about 9:00 to 9:40 AM depending on your zone, and the transfer brings you to the pier in time for boarding. You do not have to work out how long the drive will take on the day.
• No finding a small pier. It is a local pier, not a signposted terminal. Your transfer driver knows where to go.
• The ride home is waiting. The boat comes back in the afternoon and you are back at your hotel around 4:30 PM, with no hunt for a taxi on a quiet coast.
• You can switch off. After a day of swimming, snorkelling and lunch with free-flow drinks on board, nobody wants to drive.

If you are staying somewhere unusual, such as a private villa up a hill, or you want to make your own way, message us on WhatsApp before you book so we can talk through what works for your hotel.

What leaves from Bang Kao Pier

The pier is a departure point for day trips to the islands south of Samui, not for scheduled ferries.

• The Samui Journey 1-Day Catamaran. A VIP four-engine fibreglass catamaran with a licensed captain (10+ years’ experience) and English- and Chinese-speaking guides. On the current itinerary it leaves at about 10:30 AM for the Five Islands, then a long stop at Koh Tan with snorkelling, kayaks, paddleboards and the water slide, lunch on board, and Pig Island in the afternoon.
• Other tour boats. Some other operators also run trips to Koh Tan and Pig Island from piers along this stretch of coast. If you booked elsewhere, check the exact pier name on your ticket, because several south-coast departure points sound alike.
• No public ferries. Boats to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and the mainland use Nathon, Lipa Noi, Bangrak and Maenam piers, among others, on the other sides of the island.

If you want to hire your own longtail to Koh Tan or Pig Island instead, Thong Krut is the place to go. Our guide on Koh Samui boat trips compares the main types of day at sea.

What is nearby

If you are staying on the south coast, or have a free afternoon before or after a boat day, the area around the pier is worth a slow look.

• Laem Sor Pagoda. A gold-tiled chedi on the shore at Samui’s southern tip, part of Wat Laem Sor. Free to visit; dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
• Bang Kao Beach. A long, mostly undeveloped stretch of sand. Pleasant for a walk, but very shallow at low tide, so not a swimming beach.
• Thong Krut. The fishing village a little further west, with seafood restaurants on the waterfront and longtails to Koh Tan and Pig Island.
• Magic Alambic rum distillery. A small rum distillery with a bar in the Bang Kao hills. Check opening hours before you go.
• Hua Thanon. A fishing village to the east with a long-established Muslim community and colourful boats.
• The Namuang waterfalls. About 20–30 minutes inland. See our Namuang waterfall guide.

Tips for your departure day

• Be ready in the lobby at the start of your pickup window. The transfer has other hotels to collect.
• Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen. Our boat trip packing list covers the rest.
• Take seasickness tablets before you leave the hotel, not at the pier, if you need them.
• Bring a little cash for personal spending. Lunch, drinks and the Pig Island landing fee are included on our trip.
• Weather. If the sea is unsafe, we move you to another date first, with a full refund if the new date is also affected.

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