Phuket to Koh Samui by motorbike (2026)
Riding from Phuket to Koh Samui means crossing the mainland to Surat Thani, catching the car ferry at Don Sak and landing on the island's quiet west coast. My GPS tracks are all on Samui, so the mainland part here is what to expect and plan for, not a mapped route. The Samui side is what I know road by road.
Colour — all the routes on this site (list under the Routes button on the map), faint — every road I have ridden. GPX works in Maps.me, Organic Maps, OsmAnd, Garmin.
The trip in numbers
| Distance | The distance depends on where on Phuket you start. Check the figure in your navigator before you go. |
|---|---|
| Riding time | Allow time for fuel, food and rest stops. Add the ferry and the wait at the pier, and it is a full day door to door. |
| Road | Mainland highways with heavy truck traffic and long straights. |
| Bike | 150cc and up is comfortable. A 125cc automatic can do it, but you will ride close to its top speed for hours. |
| Ferry | Car ferry from Don Sak to Samui, about 1.5 hours. Motorbikes ride on board with the cars. |
| Order | Phuket → across the mainland → Surat Thani → Don Sak → ferry → Samui west coast. |
The rental scooter question
The law is the same on both sides: a motorcycle licence (category A; a foreign one only together with an IDP showing A) and a helmet. Highway checkpoints on the mainland are common. Fines are up to 2,000 baht for no helmet (up to 4,000 for the rider if the passenger has none) and up to 1,000 baht for not carrying a licence. Drink-riding is a court matter: up to a year in prison and/or a fine of 5,000–20,000 baht. More on that in renting without a licence.
On the mainland: what to watch
- Trucks. The highways carry heavy freight. Keep to the left lane or the shoulder lane, and do not sit in a truck's blind spot.
- U-turns. Thai highways use U-turn gaps in the median instead of junctions. Cars slow down suddenly in the fast lane to make them, and they pull out slowly across your path.
- Heat. Five hours in the sun is tiring. Start early, stop every hour or so, and drink more than you think you need. Petrol stations with shade and a shop are frequent.
- Dark and rain. Plan to reach Don Sak in daylight. A tropical downpour on a highway is no place for a scooter. See rain and night riding.
In emergencies, call 1669 for an ambulance or 1155 for the Tourist Police.
The ferry from Don Sak
Get to the pier with time to spare. You buy the ticket at the pier, then ride onto the car deck when the crew waves you on. Leave the bike in gear on its side stand, take your valuables, and go upstairs for the crossing. Fares for bike and rider are typically a few hundred baht. They change, so check at the pier. Check the departure schedule in advance too, because the last boats leave in the evening and timings shift.
The car ferries usually land at Lipa Noi on the west coast, a short ride from the ring road 4169. From there, Chaweng on the east side is on the far side of the island, roughly 40 minutes of easy riding.
Samui roads vs Phuket
After the mainland, Samui feels slow. The ring road is about 51 km of two-lane asphalt, my mapped loop with detours is 63.7 km, and 40–50 km/h is the normal pace. Traffic is lighter than on Phuket except around Chaweng and Lamai.
The catch is inland. Side roads to viewpoints and waterfalls get steep fast. A heavier touring bike that was comfortable on the highway can be a handful on those hills. The mountain roads are rated hard on this site for that reason. If you are unsure, park at the bottom and walk the last part.
Weather runs on a different clock here too. The Gulf side gets its heaviest rain roughly from October to December, so a dry Phuket does not mean a dry Samui.
Questions
How long does it take from Phuket to Koh Samui by motorbike?
Plan a full day. That covers the ride to Don Sak, about 1.5 hours on the ferry, and waiting at the pier. Leave early so you reach the pier in daylight.
Can I take a rented scooter from Phuket to Samui?
Usually not without the shop's explicit permission. Many contracts and insurance policies only cover Phuket. Ask in writing before you go.
Which ferry takes motorbikes to Koh Samui?
The car ferries from Don Sak, near Surat Thani. They usually land at Lipa Noi on Samui's west coast. Check the schedule and fare at the pier, as both change.
Is a 125cc scooter enough for the Phuket to Samui road trip?
It will get you there, but you will ride at the edge of its speed among trucks for hours. A 150cc or bigger bike is more comfortable and safer on the highway.
Anton A.
I live on Koh Samui and have been riding the island for several years. Every road on these maps I rode myself — the track is a real GPS log. Spotted an error? Message me on Telegram: @abrameicev