Ko Samui Cruise Port
Ko Samui, Thailand · Asia
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Ko Samui — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysTender port; ships anchor off Nathon and tender to the pier. Songthaews and taxis reach the Big Buddha, beaches and waterfalls.
At a glance
Port summary
Cruise ships anchor offshore and tender passengers to Nathon Pier on the quiet west coast, the island's administrative town. There is no cruise terminal - just the pier, with taxis, songthaews (shared pickups) and tour vans waiting. The island's highlights are spread out: the golden Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem on the northeast cape, the lively Chaweng and Lamai beaches on the east coast, Fisherman's Village at Bophut, and the Na Muang waterfalls inland. Roads are winding, so plan one or two areas rather than the whole island, and keep a wide buffer for the tender queue back.
Cruise dock
Nathon Pier — Tender Landing
Ko Samui is a tender port: ships anchor off Nathon and the cruise line's tenders land at Nathon Pier on the west coast. Taxis, songthaews and tour vans wait at the pier head; Nathon town is a 5-minute walk. There is no cruise terminal building.
Latitude: 9.535997, Longitude: 99.930792
See dock on port map →Getting to Ko Samui
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Carry plenty of small baht notes for songthaews, taxis, markets and temple donations; cards are only useful at malls and resorts.
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Inside the Southeast Asia collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Ko Samui cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
4 comparedSamui Island Highlights: Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem and a waterfall
≈ 5 h · sold by 2 cruise lines
Cruise line
€70$79
Do it yourself
€22$25
Save ≈ €48Save ≈ $54 (69% off)
From Nathon Pier you can negotiate a taxi or songthaew for a half-day island loop (roughly 1,500-2,500 baht for the car, best shared). The Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem sit together on the northeast cape (about 40 minutes), and Na Muang Waterfall is in the interior. Agree the route and price first, and pre-booking a private driver makes the timing safer on a tender day.
See the DIY plan →
Samui Temples and Local Life: Wat Plai Laem, the mummified monk and Nathon
≈ 4 h · sold by 2 cruise lines
Cruise line
€60$67
Do it yourself
€20$22
Save ≈ €40Save ≈ $45 (67% off)
Nathon's old streets and market are right at the pier on foot. From there a taxi or songthaew reaches Wat Khunaram on the southern ring road (about 30 minutes) and Wat Plai Laem on the northeast cape. Temples are free with a donation; dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
9 plansThe Grand Island Loop with Your Own Driver
Samui's greatest hits — the golden Big Buddha, the Chinese-Thai Wat Plai Laem and a jungle waterfall — done at your own pace in a private car, and still cheaper than the ship's coach.
Big Buddha & the Northeast Temples
The two temples everyone comes to Samui for — the golden Big Buddha and the colourful Wat Plai Laem — plus a coffee by the sea, on a shared-songthaew budget.
Free & Easy: Nathon on Foot
The tender lands you five minutes from old Nathon — spend the whole day on foot among Chinese-Thai shophouses, a local temple, the seafront and the market, and pay for nothing but a bowl of noodles.
A Beach Day at Chaweng
Samui's longest, liveliest beach: six kilometres of white sand and clear water, a sun-lounger, a beachfront lunch and an air-conditioned mall next door when the heat wins.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Ko Samui?
- Ko Samui is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Ko Samui?
- Walking into Ko Samui from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Ko Samui centre?
- Typical options include Ferry, Taxi, Local bus, Motorbike taxi, Car rental, On foot. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Ko Samui?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Ko Samui independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Ko Samui and are cards accepted?
- Ko Samui uses the Thai Baht. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Ko Samui cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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