Surat Thani's airport is about 21 km from town and works as a transfer hub for the islands. Coaches meet flights, the airport bus to town costs ฿100, and combined bus and ferry tickets to Samui start from about ฿400 at arrivals. The terminal has free Wi-Fi and closes overnight.
By the bookingMentor Travel Desk · Updated · How we research
For most passengers Surat Thani is a 20-minute stop between the aircraft and an island coach. This guide covers the combination tickets, the town bus, taxis and car rental, and what the single terminal has if your connection runs late.
Please note: Flights, hotels near the airport and car hire with driver on this page can be booked directly on bookingMentor. We list places on merit, and bookings never affect what we say about them.
What to expect
Surat Thani International Airport (URT) is in Hua Toei subdistrict, Phunphin district, about 21 km west of Surat Thani town in southern Thailand. It handles domestic flights from Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and most of its passengers are bound for Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, using cheap flights plus a coach and ferry on one ticket. Travellers heading for Khao Sok National Park use it too.
The long road to a new airport
Surat Thani's first airfield, Donnok, sat about 3 km from the city with an 800 m gravel runway that the air force later stretched to 1,000 m, enough only for small aircraft such as the DC-3. Aviation planners chose a former Second World War military airfield outside town for a replacement, but in 1973 the government suspended the project and sent the money to Phuket. Local residents lobbied for it, the Ministry of Defence and civil aviation officials backed them in 1975, and work began in 1978.
The airport opened on 15 April 1981 with a 2,500 m runway, lengthened in 1993 for larger airliners and military jets. A windshear alert system is now installed at the airport.
An airport shared with the air force
The Royal Thai Air Force owns the land and the Department of Airports runs the civil side. The field is home to the 7th Wing, whose 701 Squadron, "Shark", flies Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters, and whose 702 Squadron operates airborne early warning and Saab 340 transport aircraft. You may see the Gripens on the far side of the field.
The 3,000 m runway, hours and traffic
The runway, 04/22, is 3,000 m long and 45 m wide, built of concrete and asphalt, at just 6 m above sea level. Fire cover is Category 8. The aerodrome operates from 06:00 to 22:00 local time, and customs and immigration are available on request; despite the "international" name, no scheduled international flights operate.
Traffic grew from 180,621 passengers in 2001 to more than a million in 2013 and peaked at 2,247,344 in 2017. In 2025 the airport handled 1,516,470 passengers on 9,692 aircraft movements.
Flights to Bangkok and Chiang Mai
Thai AirAsia flies to Bangkok Don Mueang, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Chiang Mai. Thai Lion Air and Nok Air fly to Don Mueang, and Thai Vietjet to Suvarnabhumi. The Chiang Mai flight links the north directly with the Gulf islands without a change in Bangkok.
Check-in, food and the departure lounge
There is one terminal building, with check-in on the ground floor and a restaurant, coffee shop and snack kiosks on the first floor, landside. The departure lounge has little choice, so eat before security. ATMs are available but there is no bank exchange counter, and no left luggage. The terminal opens for the day's flights, from morning to evening. A Department of Airports plan worth 1.7 billion baht would enlarge the terminal to 3.6 million passengers a year, extend the apron to hold 11 Boeing 737s, expand the car park to 700 spaces and add a transport centre.
Buses to town and the Don Sak ferry pier
A public bus to central Surat Thani meets each arrival for ฿100, taking 30 to 45 minutes, and a second service goes to the Don Sak pier for ฿300 if you are buying the ferry ticket separately. Taxis outside arrivals charge about ฿500 to ฿700 to town; agree the price first. Grab works in town, though airport pickups are not guaranteed. Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Thai Rent A Car and local firms have seven desks in the terminal, open roughly 07:00 to 20:00; bring an International Driving Permit. A car with a driver booked on bookingMentor is the simplest way to reach Khao Sok or the pier without waiting for a coach to fill.
Landside and airside
Surat Thani is a domestic airport with one terminal. Landside is the check-in hall, arrivals hall and first-floor restaurant area, open to anyone. Airside is the departure lounge past security, which has fewer outlets, so eat before you go through.
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Good to know
IATA / ICAOURT / VTSB
Terminals in useMain terminal
OpenFlight times only (closed overnight)
To city centre~21 km
Fastest to the cityCar hire with driver
Free WiFiYes
CurrencyThai baht (฿ THB)
24-hour foodNone
About this guide
How we research this airport guide
This guide is written and maintained by the bookingMentor Travel Desk. We check airline, coach and ferry details against operators and official sources and update the page when timetables or fares change.
Last updated . Coach, ferry and taxi fares are typical ranges and change by season and operator. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
Checked against trusted sources: Department of Airports announcementsFerry and coach operator timetablesAirline schedules
Lounge list coming soonLounges at Surat Thani Airport are not listed yet. Your airline or lounge programme can confirm access.Ask the travel team
Water, showers & mobile charging
Drinking water
Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Bottled water is sold in the snack shops and coffee shop.
Showers
There are no public showers in the terminal.
Mobile charging
Power points are limited in the seating areas, so carry a power bank for long waits. Thailand uses types A, B, C, F and O sockets at 220 V.
Luggage storage & lockers
Surat Thani Airport has no left-luggage service.
WiFi & connectivity
Free WiFi
Yes
Time limit
Not stated
Registration
Not stated
WiFi is available in the terminal. For the coach and ferry journey, mobile data is more reliable; buy a SIM in Bangkok or use an eSIM, as there is no confirmed SIM counter here.
Food & drinks
Food is concentrated on the first floor landside. Eat before security, as the departure lounge has little choice.
First-floor restaurant
First floor, landside
Thai and international dishes, the only sit-down meal in the terminal
Daytime hours
Coffee shop
First floor, landside
Coffee, soft drinks and pastries
Daytime hours
Snack shops
Terminal
Bottled water, snacks and drinks for the journey
Daytime hours
No outlets match that filter.
More airport information
Search for what you need: try "cash", "car", "ferry" or "parking".
Airport busPublic bus to central Surat Thani (฿100) and to the Don Sak ferry pier (฿300).
ATMsA few cash machines in the terminal. There is no exchange counter.
Car rentalSeven rental firms, including Avis, Hertz, Sixt and Thai Rent A Car, with desks in the terminal.
Ferry and bus countersCombination tickets to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Don Sak and Khao Sok near the arrivals exit.
Information deskA staffed information desk in the terminal.
Left luggageNot available.
LiftA lift serves both floors. Request wheelchair help from your airline before travel.
ParkingFirst 30 minutes free, then ฿15 an hour; ฿180 for 7 to 24 hours. Drop-off at the upper kerb is limited to 20 minutes.
Restaurant and caféRestaurant, coffee shop and snack shops on the first floor.
Souvenir shopsA few souvenir shops in the terminal.
TaxisTaxis wait outside the arrivals hall; agree the fare first.
WiFiWiFi available in the terminal.
Nothing matches that search. Try "sim", "wifi", "bag" or "food".
Airport hours
Terminal
Flight times only (closed overnight)
Check-in opens
2 hrs before
Check-in closes
By airline, typically 45–60 min before
Overnight access
Closed overnight
The terminal opens for the day's flights, from morning to evening. Car rental desks keep their own hours, mostly from about 07:00 to 20:00 or 21:00.
Arriving and departing, step by step
Arrivals here move quickly; the step that matters is choosing your onward ticket before the coaches leave.
Arriving
From the aircraft to the island coach
1
Baggage claim
Flights are domestic, so there is no immigration. Collect your bags from the belt in the arrivals hall.
2
Choose your onward ticket
Bus and ferry counters are near the exit. Buy from the ferry operators or Phantip Travel; independent 'tourist information' desks sell the same tickets at higher prices.
3
Board the coach
Coaches to the piers and the town bus wait outside arrivals and leave after the flight's passengers are loaded. Keep your ticket to hand for the ferry.
4
Or go by car
Taxis and rental car desks are by the exit. A pre-booked car with driver meets you in the arrivals hall.
Departing
From the kerb to the Bangkok flight
1
Plan the journey from the island
Combination tickets from Samui, Phangan or Tao take three to six hours. Leave a margin for ferry delays in rough weather.
2
Arrive early
Aim to be at the terminal 90 minutes to 2 hours before departure. Budget airlines close bag drop well before the flight.
3
Check in
Check-in and bag drop are on the ground floor. Weigh bags first; low-cost carriers charge at the counter for excess.
4
Security and boarding
Clear security into the departure lounge. Eat on the first floor first, as there is less choice airside.
Getting to & from the airport
Surat Thani Airport is a transport interchange as much as an airport. Coaches meet flights for the town, the ferry piers and the islands, and the timings are built around arrivals. Coaches wait outside arrivals and carry passengers to the ferry piers on through tickets. For Samui, joint coach and boat tickets start at about ฿400 and take three to four hours: Seatran and Raja sail from Don Sak, and Lomprayah uses Tapee pier in town. Most connections stop in the afternoon, so land before about 15:00. Lomprayah runs coaches at about 09:30 and 12:30 to its catamaran, which calls at Samui and Phangan before Koh Tao; the 09:30 coach reaches Koh Tao at about 14:15, for about ฿1,100. Phantip Travel sells combination tickets to Koh Phangan, around four and a half hours door to pier, for about ฿500. This route costs less than flying directly to Samui but adds three to six hours, depending on the island.
Pre-book a car with a driver on bookingMentor. It is the simplest way to reach the town, the Don Sak pier or Khao Sok without waiting for a coach to fill.
Coach from the airport to the ferry pier, then the boat to Samui, on one ticket. Seatran and Raja sail from Don Sak; Lomprayah uses the town's Tapee pier. Most connections stop in the afternoon, so land before about 15:00.
Bus and catamaran to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
Best for: Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
Mid-range
To Koh Taoabout ฿1,100
Departures09:30 and 12:30
To Koh Phanganabout ฿500 (Phantip)
Lomprayah runs a coach from the airport to its catamaran, which calls at Samui and Phangan before Koh Tao; the 09:30 coach reaches Koh Tao at about 14:15. Phantip Travel sells combination tickets to Koh Phangan, around four and a half hours door to pier.
Airport bus to town
Best for: Surat Thani town
Budget
Fare฿100
Journeyabout 30 – 45 min
DepartsAfter each arrival
A public bus to central Surat Thani meets flights outside arrivals. A second service goes to the Don Sak ferry pier for ฿300 if you are buying your ferry ticket separately.
Taxi
Best for: Small groups
Mid-range
To townabout ฿500 – ฿700
Journeyabout 30 min
PickupOutside arrivals
Taxis wait outside the arrivals hall. Agree the price before setting off. Grab operates in the town, but airport availability is not guaranteed.
Car rental
Best for: Self-drivers
Mid-range
Firms7 desks
Hoursabout 07:00 – 20:00
LocationTerminal
Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Thai Rent A Car and local firms have desks in the terminal. You will need an international driving permit along with your licence.
Security & safety
The terminal itself is safe and quiet. The issues here are overpriced tickets and missed connections.
1Buy ferry tickets from the operatorsDesks styled as tourist information at the airport are private agencies, not the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Buy from the ferry companies or Phantip Travel.
2Watch the afternoon cut-offIsland ferries largely stop in the afternoon. A late flight can leave you with a night in Surat Thani or a slow night boat.
3Be wary of repeated questionsIf strangers keep asking where you have come from and where you are going, they are usually steering you to a commission-paying agent.
4Expect rough seas in the monsoonFrom about October to December crossings can be delayed or cancelled. Leave a buffer day before an onward international flight.
Pro tip: if you are heading to Koh Tao, the 09:30 Lomprayah coach links with the first morning flights from Bangkok and gets you to the island by mid-afternoon.
No. Surat Thani is on the mainland; Samui Airport is on the island itself and served mostly by Bangkok Airways.
Possibly. The runway is shared with a Royal Thai Air Force base whose squadrons fly Gripen fighters.
Also in Phunphin, roughly 12–15 km from town, and served by its own coaches to the piers.
Coaches are timed to arrivals, but a long delay can mean missing the last ferry. Ask the operator at the counter.
No lounge is known to be open to passengers, so plan to use the first-floor restaurant.
Night boats leave from the town pier, not the airport. Take the bus or a taxi into town first.
No. It is free for the first 30 minutes, then ฿15 an hour, capped at ฿180 for 7 to 24 hours.
Still looking?
Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown through Surat Thani Airport.
Sleeping at the airport
The terminal closes overnight, so plan a hotel if you land too late for the island ferries or have an early flight.
Rest & relaxation zones
There are no rest zones; seating is standard airport chairs in the check-in hall and departure lounge.
Cots for sleeping
Cots are not provided. If a flight is cancelled, rebooking and any hotel are handled by your airline.
Sleep pods, day rooms & transit hotel
A few small hotels sit near the airport in Phunphin, but most choice and value are in Surat Thani town, about 30 minutes away.
Nearest hotel
About 2 km
Hotels near the airport
No hotels near Surat Thani Airport are listed yetSearch hotels for your dates in the airport's area instead.Search hotels
Layover sightseeing
Surat Thani town is a working river town rather than a sightseeing destination, but the riverfront and markets fill a long wait. Khao Sok National Park is about two hours away by road.
No sights listed near Surat Thani yetBrowse attractions on bookingMentor to plan a long layover.Browse attractions
Layover planner
Tell us how long you have and whether you can leave the secure area.
How long is your layover?
Immigration, security and Surat Thani traffic are already factored in.
Everything travellers ask before flying through Surat Thani. Checked against Department of Airports, ferry operator and travel sources, October 2026.
Getting there
About 21 km west of the town centre in Phunphin district, roughly 30 minutes by road.
Buy a bus and ferry combination ticket at the counters in arrivals. Coaches meet flights and take you to the ferry pier; the whole trip takes about three to four hours and costs from about ฿400.
Yes. Combination tickets run to both. Lomprayah's bus and catamaran to Koh Tao leaves the airport at 09:30 and 12:30 and costs about ฿1,100; the boat calls at Samui and Phangan on the way.
Most ferry services to the islands stop in the afternoon, so aim to land before about 15:00. Later arrivals usually mean a night in Surat Thani or a night boat from the town pier.
Yes. A public bus to central Surat Thani costs ฿100 and connects with flights. A separate bus to the Don Sak ferry pier costs ฿300.
Expect about ฿500 – ฿700. Taxis wait outside the arrivals hall; agree the price before you set off.
No. The terminal opens for the day's flights, which run from morning to evening. There is nowhere to wait overnight.
Despite the name, scheduled flights are domestic, to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. There is no immigration on a normal visit.
Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and Thai Vietjet, with flights to Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and Chiang Mai.
No. There is no left-luggage service, so keep your bags with you or leave them at your hotel.
Yes. Several firms have desks in the terminal, including Avis, Hertz, Sixt and Thai Rent A Car, mostly open from about 07:00 to 20:00 or 21:00.
Cancellations & changes
There is no exchange counter, but there are ATMs in the terminal. Withdraw enough for ferry tickets and the first day on the island.
Stay & facilities
Yes, WiFi is available in the terminal.
General
Surat Thani is usually much cheaper but adds hours of bus and ferry. Flying straight to Samui saves the day, at a higher fare.
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