Getting around Koh Samui: songthaew, taxi, car or scooter (2026)

Songthaew: the shared pickup on the ring road

A songthaew is a pickup truck with a roof and two benches in the back. On Samui they run along the 4169 ring road and through the coast towns on it: Nathon, Bang Por, Maenam, Bophut and the rest. Hail one from the roadside. Before boarding, confirm the destination and fare, and ask the driver how to signal when you want to get off.

The destination is usually painted on the side or the windscreen, but ask the driver before you get in anyway. In my experience a daytime hop along one stretch of coast costs roughly 50–100 baht. Longer runs across the island cost more. For an evening trip, agree the fare before boarding. Prices change, so check locally and agree the fare before you ride at night.

Taxis, Grab, and why there is no Uber

There is no Uber on Koh Samui. Grab works, and Bolt has appeared in recent years too. How many cars are online depends on the area and the hour, so open the app before you count on it. The real gain is that you know the price before you get in.

With a taxi, agree the fare before the ride. As a rough guide, a short ride along one coast costs a few hundred baht. Crossing the island, or going to a pier at night, costs from about 500 to over 1,000 baht. Fares change, so check locally. Your hotel can also book a car at a fixed price.

• Agree on the price and the exact destination before the door closes.
• Late at night, a taxi or an app car is a safer choice than riding yourself. See riding in rain and at night.

Renting a car

A car makes sense for families, groups of three or four, people with luggage or small children, and anyone who does not ride a motorcycle. Before renting a car, confirm which licence and documents you need for your stay. A small car costs roughly 800–1,500 baht a day, less if you rent by the week. Prices change, so check locally, and read what the insurance actually covers before you sign.

Traffic drives on the left. By car the ring road is easy: about 64 km around with the short detours. See the ring road route. Inland is a different story. The mountain route has steep and very steep sections. You can usually park at beaches and temples. On the busiest beach streets it gets harder in the evening.

Scooter vs the rest: what suits whom

A scooter lets you reach waterfalls and viewpoints in your own time. The legal side comes first: For a tourist stay of up to about three months, carry your national motorcycle licence together with a 1949 IDP showing category A, and wear a helmet. Longer stays need a Thai licence. Not carrying a driving licence can mean a fine of up to 1,000 baht. Read your insurance policy's licence requirements before riding. Details are in riding without a licence.

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