Ferries to Donsak

The ferry port of Donsak is on the gulf coast of the Thai province of Surat Thani and is the mainland gateway to the islands in the gulf. From here you can reach Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Together the services add up to as many as 41 departures a day. Crossings take between 1.5 and 2.25 hours. The port is served by Seatran Ferry.

Getting there and the terminal

The berth is named after the operator, Seatran Ferry Pier, and lies in Don Sak district, not in the town of Surat Thani. Type only the province name into a satnav and you end up in the town, a long way from the ship. Check as well which berth is named on your ticket, and head for exactly that one. Without your own vehicle you do not have to make your own way to the water: Seatran runs its own buses to the berth, starting in Surat Thani at the New Market Road stop and at Surat Thani airport. Bus and ferry can be booked on one ticket, which is the easiest way from the town or the airport to the ship. On Koh Samui the vessels berth at Nathon, on Koh Phangan at Thong Sala.

Check-in

Seatran asks you to be at the berth at least 45 minutes before departure. That applies even if you are only walking on board: the ships carry vehicles, and loading sets the pace. The first departures are early in the morning, so plan the drive from the mainland accordingly.