Songserm vs Udomrat Tour
Compare Songserm and Udomrat Tour — routes, service areas, and coverage across Thailand. See where they overlap and where each operator goes its own way.
Operator A Songserm vs
Operator B Udomrat Tour What travellers say: Songserm vs Udomrat Tour
Travellers rate both Songserm (4.05/5 from 4,090 reviews) and Udomrat Tour (4.27/5 from 66 reviews) as solid budget options for Thailand boat and multi-leg transfers, with clear trade-offs on delays, organisation, and comfort. Book either with confidence on ThailandBoatTickets.com, where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, LINE, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WeChat Weixin, and ChatGPT is ready to help.
Songserm
Reviewers consistently describe Songserm as a cheap, functional “gets you there” operator serving Gulf and Andaman island routes, including combined ferry-bus tickets. Positives centre on value for money, easier boarding with QR/voucher check-in, spacious big ferries that many prefer for less seasickness than faster boats, and helpful crew when seas are rough. Short speedboat and express crossings score highest (around 4.5–4.6). The main recurring complaints are frequent lateness (often 30 min–1.5+ hours), trips taking longer than advertised, chaotic untagged luggage piles that can get wet or damaged, overcrowding, freezing or broken air-con, ageing/smelly vehicles and dirty toilets, poor communication and unannounced vehicle changes on multi-leg overland routes, and occasional extra cash requests for final hotel drops (especially around Krabi).
Udomrat Tour
Travellers consistently praise Udomrat Tour for strong organisation on complex multi-leg van-and-ferry journeys (notably Khao Sok, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Tao and Surat Thani areas). Reviewers highlight seamless sticker-based handoffs, friendly and helpful staff and drivers (including standout cases of free hospital stops), smooth journeys when everything clicks, and good value. Van-only transfers rate highest (4.57). Common caveats include overcrowded vans with luggage stacked in passenger rows, journeys running 1.5–2 hours over schedule, limited advance detail on how many transfers are involved, occasional surprise cash charges for direct hotel drop-offs at Krabi, sparse food stops, and rare but sharp service failures or erratic driving. Sleeper-boat comfort is frequently called basic and crowded.
Both operators earn largely positive sentiment for budget multi-leg travel—Songserm for sheer volume of “value and stability” feedback on big ferries, Udomrat Tour for higher average ratings and stronger organisation praise—yet both share delays, overcrowding risks and occasional extra drop-off fees. Choose based on route needs, pack a jacket and snacks, build buffer time, and book via ThailandBoatTickets.com with our 24/7 VTA available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, LINE, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WeChat Weixin, and ChatGPT for smooth support.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Budget-friendly ferry option that reliably gets travellers between Gulf and Andaman islands
- Larger slower boats reduce seasickness versus catamarans and offer multi-deck space to stretch out when uncrowded
- Simple QR/voucher boarding plus situationally helpful crew for luggage and ill passengers
- Flexible rebooking support and good value compared with pricier alternatives
- Best booked via ThailandBoatTickets.com with free 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant help on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, LINE, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WeChat Weixin and ChatGPT
Cons
- Frequent delays of 30 minutes to 1.5+ hours and journeys often longer than advertised
- Chaotic untagged luggage piles risking wet, damaged or lost bags
- Poor communication and unannounced vehicle changes on multi-leg overland routes
- Overcrowding, freezing or broken AC, old/worn vessels and dirty toilets
- Occasional hidden extra fees for final hotel transfers and rude staff at some piers
Pros
- Strong organisation with sticker check-in making complex multi-leg van-and-ferry journeys seamless
- Friendly helpful staff and drivers who often go the extra mile
- Good value for money on routes serving Khao Sok, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Tao and Surat Thani
- Many travellers report smooth, on-time or early arrivals
- Easiest to arrange through ThailandBoatTickets.com backed by 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, LINE, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WeChat Weixin and ChatGPT
Cons
- Overcrowded vans with luggage stacked in passenger rows even after paying for space
- Journeys can run 1.5–2 hours longer than scheduled
- Limited advance detail on how many legs or vehicle changes are involved
- Possible surprise cash charges for direct hotel drop-offs (especially Krabi)
- Few or no food stops on some long routes and variable sleeper-boat comfort
Service areas at a glance
Based on currently active routes for each operator.
Both operators 10
Only Songserm 2
Only Udomrat Tour 10
Routes & coverage compared
Songserm and Udomrat Tour both operate the same core routes connecting the Gulf islands and mainland hubs, including Koh Phangan to Khao Sok, Koh Phangan to Krabi, Koh Phangan to Surat Thani Airport, Koh Tao to Donsak, Krabi to Koh Phangan, Krabi to Koh Samui, Surat Thani to Koh Samui, and Surat Thani Airport to Koh Phangan. These overlapping services give trip planners reliable options for popular island-to-mainland and island-to-island transfers. ThailandBoatTickets.com is the best place to book either operator on these shared routes, with our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) ready on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, LINE, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WeChat Weixin, and ChatGPT to help confirm availability.
Songserm alone covers additional island-hopping links such as Koh Phangan to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan to Koh Tao, Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, Koh Samui to Koh Tao, Koh Tao to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao to Koh Samui, plus connections involving Koh Phi Phi (to Ao Nang, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Krabi), Koh Samui to Khao Sok, Koh Samui to Krabi, Koh Samui to Surat Thani Town, Krabi to Koh Phi Phi, and Phuket to both Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Udomrat Tour exclusively runs a wider network from Ao Nang, Hat Yai, and Khao Sok (including to Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao, Krabi, Penang, Railay, and more), extensive departures from Koh Phangan and Koh Tao to places like Hat Yai, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, Koh Phi Phi, Kuala Lumpur, Pak Bara, Penang, Railay, and Satun, plus Krabi to Koh Tao and Surat Thani, and many Surat Thani outbound routes to Ao Nang, Hat Yai, Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao, Krabi, Kuala Lumpur, Pak Bara, Penang, Railay, Satun, and even within Surat Thani. Book these operator-specific itineraries at ThailandBoatTickets.com for the simplest planning experience.
Routes both operators run
Same departure and destination — true head-to-head options.
Price distribution
How ticket prices spread across each operator's routes (THB).
Songserm tickets usually fall between 460 THB–960 THB (median 610 THB), while Udomrat Tour between 620 THB–1,210 THB (median 860 THB). On the whole, Songserm offers the cheaper tickets.
Which should you pick?
Frequently asked questions
Songserm vs Udomrat Tour