Best way of travelling Hua Hin to Koh Samui and return

[easyas]

What would you recommend as the best way for 2 of us to travel Hua Hin to Koh Samui and return?
I'm happy to look at "de luxe" solutions, but I'd like to avoid overnight stays.
I have a friend in Koh Samui who will happily run us around for two weeks, although I'm equally happy to hire a beach buggy or whatever!

[Thriftydrifter]

I've not done it, but am looking at similar plans. It seems to come down to a choice between:-

1) train to Surat Thani then bus 68km to Donsak and ferry or catamaran. The catamaran company, Lomprayah, appear to provide bus transfer from Surat Thani station to Donsak connecting with the overnight train. Ferry companies may do the same. The daytime train arrives too late to get the catamaran the same day, not sure about ferry. Lomprayah have an office in Hua Hin somewhere I believe.

2) Air Asia and Nok Air do flight+bus+boat packages from Bangkok for about B1800 each way. The Nok Air option uses the Lomprayah catamaran and gets you to the Nathon ferry pier on Samui, the Air Asia uses the Raja ferry to the less convenient pier.

3) Fly Bangkok Airways Bangkok to Samui. Costs about B3500-5000 each way, depending on flight time.

[barrys]

Lomprayah have their own luxury bus from Bangkok -> Hua Hin -> their ferry terminal in Chomphon and then on their high-speed catamaran service to Ko Tao, Ko Panang and Ko Samui.

They leave from Hua Hin clock tower twice a day - 8.30 a.m. and 11.30 p.m. if I'm not mistaken.
The fare from HH to KS is about 1400 baht p.p. each way - certainly the most convenient route.

[bsdk1960]

^^ agree with you Barry,it's the best option and you won't miss the boat, since it the same company so I'm pretty sure they wait for the bus if it has a delay for some reason.

[Thriftydrifter]

Oh yes, sorry I'd wiped that option from my mind as I don't do 4 hour bus journeys. Also it's a much longer and generally rougher sea crossing, it appears.

[barrys]

Oh yes, sorry I'd wiped that option from my mind as I don't do 4 hour bus journeys. Also it's a much longer and generally rougher sea crossing, it appears.

Just to make it clear: Lomprayah operate their catamaran ferry service from Chomphon only, not from Surat Thani/Donsak.

The boats that go from Donsak to KS are mono-hull car ferries - crossing time 1 1/2 hours.

The Lomprayah ferry from Chomphon to KS is just under 4 hours.

However, the bus journey from HH to Chomphon is about 2 1/2 hours shorter than to Donsak.

As for rough crossings: if it's rough from Chomphon to KS, then it's also going to be rough from Donsak.
However, you don't get any roll on a cat!

[Thriftydrifter]

Lomprayah catamaran Donsak to Samui in 45 mins.

http://www.lomprayah.com/

Just looking at a map I'd have thought the bit of water between Donsak and Samui would be more sheltered than the stretch between Chumphon and Ko Phangan?

[easyas]

To all of you:
Thank you very much for your help - the Lomprayah option seems the way to go !!