Major city · Thailand
Bang Rakบางรัก
Half a day or a stopover between Samui airport and the ferry pier: see the Big Buddha, eat, then move on. Not a beach base.
Bang Rak, also called Big Buddha Beach, is the ferry and flight hub of Ko Samui. The 12 m golden Buddha on its own island is the main draw. The beach is narrow and busy, the flight path is overhead, and most travellers use it as a transit point between the airport, the pier and other beaches. One meal and one sight are enough.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Feb–Sep
- avoid Oct–Jan (wettest months on the Gulf coast)
- Airport
- USM
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Bang Rak191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bang Rak, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyVery safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 ambulance · 1155 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportUSM Samui Airport (5 min by taxi or songthaew; no public bus).
- Getting aroundSongthaews (shared pickups) run the ring road; flag one down.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- BeerLarge beer (Chang/Singha)฿80–120 (≈ US$3–4)
- Budget bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room฿800 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room฿1,500 (≈ US$50)
- High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room฿3,000 (≈ US$95)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ฿1,000 (≈ US$35) · Mid ฿2,000 (≈ US$65) · High ฿4,000 (≈ US$130)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- USM Samui Airport (5 min by taxi or songthaew; no public bus)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Feb–Sep. Avoid: Oct–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C) low), wettest Oct (18 rain days), driest Feb (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bang Rak: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
5 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
5 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
8 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
15 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Songthaews (shared pickups) run the ring road; flag one down. Taxis from the airport to Bang Rak are about ฿200–300. A scooter rental (about ฿250–300/day) gives you flexibility.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Ko Pha-ngan
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Ferry from Bang Rak Pier, about 30 min
For Haad Rin or the full-moon party; check the return ferry time.
Door to door: About 2.5 h
Ferry from Bang Rak Pier, about 2 h
A full day or an overnight trip.
Door to door: About 10 min
Songthaew or taxi, about 5 min
Fisherman's Village walking street on Friday.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Big Buddha area
Close to the temple and pier; a few mid-range hotels and guesthouses.
Along the ring road
More options, but you'll need a scooter or taxi to reach the pier.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ฿1,000–1,500 (≈ US$35–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- ฿1,500–3,000 (≈ US$50–95) excl. bed
- High
- ฿3,000 (≈ US$95)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × ฿1,500 | ฿1,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ฿2,000 | ฿4,000 |
| Taxi airport to Bang Rak, one way1 × ฿300 · check | ฿300 |
| Scooter rental, one day2 × ฿300 | ฿600 |
| Ferry Bang Rak → Ko Pha-ngan, one way2 × ฿400 · check | ฿800 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ฿720 |
| Trip total≈ ฿3,960 per person per day, bed included | ฿7,920≈ US$250 |
2026 estimate in baht; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Pad Thai at a local shop | ฿60–100 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Large beer (Chang/Singha) | ฿80–120 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Scooter rental, one day | ฿250–300 (≈ US$8–10) |
| Taxi airport → Bang Rak | ฿200–300 (≈ US$7–10) |
| Ferry Bang Rak → Ko Pha-ngancheck | ฿300–500 (≈ US$10–16) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The beach is under the airport flight path: expect noise every few minutes.
- Ferry schedules change with the monsoon: check the operator's site the day before.
- Big Buddha is a working temple: cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes on the platform.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance
- 1669
- Tourist police
- 1155
Pocket card
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Bang Rakบางรัก
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ไปที่อยู่นี้ครับTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance1669
- Tourist police1155
Embassy
Most embassies are in Bangkok. For urgent help, call tourist police 1155.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → Bang Rak, taxi: about ฿200–300 (≈ US$7–10), 5 min
- Bang Rak → Chaweng, songthaew: about ฿50–100 (≈ US$2–4), 10 min
- Ferry Bang Rak → Ko Pha-ngan: about ฿300–500 (≈ US$10–16), 30 min (check)
Say or show
- สวัสดี — Hello (sawasdee)
- ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khob khun)
- เท่าไหร่ — How much? (thao rai)
- ท่าเรืออยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the ferry pier? (tha ruea yu thi nai)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bang Rak. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Feb–Sep · avoid Oct–Jan (wettest months on the Gulf coast) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Bang Rak
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