The heralded Samui Plus Plan is a government plan to reopen Thailand without Quarantine for foreign tourists and travelers. According to the so-called Samui Plus Plan, Koh Samui, and nearby islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in Surat Thani province will reopen for travelers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, following the Phuket Sandbox Plan.
What is Samui Plus?
Samui Plus Plan (sometimes called Samui Sealed Route), similar to “Phuket Sandbox” plan, is a new model to reopen Thailand without quarantine to foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated. Koh Samui, together with Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, is set the be a specified route or tourist point to travel. The program is scheduled to start on 15 July 2021, before Thai borders will be fully reopened. The vaccinated tourists will need to stay no less than 14 nights on the islands if they want to travel elsewhere in the country.
Koh Samui is another important tourist destination of Thailand that has prepared a plan to reopen Thailand without quarantine to tourists. It was also mentioned that there will be a designated beach that provides service by vaccinated staff with protecting facilities, and a Boat to offer services for tourists.
Samui Plus Rules
On the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, travelers will be more restricted in movement. Travelers entering Thailand via Samui Plus Plan should complete the following steps:
Day 0 (Day of arrival)
Tourists will be transferred from the airport to the pre-booked Samui Extra Plus hotel. The first Covid-19 test will be performed and tourist will need to wait for the negative test result in the hotel room before getting out of the room.
Day 1-3
After getting a negative result of the first COVID-19 test, tourists are allowed to leave the hotel room for designated areas in the Samui Extra Plus hotel only.
Day 4-7
Tourists can leave their hotel and travel within designated routes and on tour programs on Koh Samui only. Travelers need to undergo the second COVID-19 test on Day 6 or 7.
Day 8-14
If the second test is negative, tourists can travel freely in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao and stay at any SHA Plus certified hotel. The third COVID-19 test needs to be performed on Day 12-13.
Day 15
If the result of the third COVID-19 test is negative, tourists can go anywhere in Thailand.
Who can use Samui Plus?
✔️ Vaccinated travelers aged 18 and over, traveling from medium/low risk countries of SAR-CoV-2 virus, need to be fully vaccinated for more than 14 days before departure date and able to provide a vaccination certificate
✔️ Children aged under 18 years old, traveling with parents or guardians, must have a medical certificate with a laboratory result by an RT-PRC method indicating that COVID-19 is not detected no more than 72 hours before their travel date
✔️ Thais and foreigners traveling from the low or medium risk countries can join Samui Plus
Samui Plus plan will be available for travelers flying to Thailand from countries that will be regarded low risk or medium risk of SAR-CoV-2 virus.
The list of eligible countries approved by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) as proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS) and TAT. Later the list should be updated every few weeks.
Travelers who are not nationals of those listed countries must have been in the listed countries at least 21 days before entering Koh Samui.
Documents Required for Samui Plus
International travellers need to apply for Certificate of Entry (COE), just like everyone else traveling to Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic. Proper type of Thai visa or eligibility to use Thailand visa exemption will also be needed.
For entering Thailand and using Samui Plus model, travelers will need to show COVID-19 vaccine certificate with a vaccine that has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Thai Authority. Proof of vaccination must be submitted when applying for a COE.
The requirement to have a health insurance policy with coverage including COVID-19 related treatment in the amount no less than 100,000 USD for the total duration of your planned stay in Thailand should also stay in place as it’s currently mandatory for everyone entering the country. You can easily buy online the special insurance policy such as AXA Sawasdee Thailand or Tune iPass to meet all these requirements
You will also need to present a prepaid booking of Samui Extra Plus hotel for the first 7 nights and the prepaid booking of SHA Plus certified hotel(s) in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao for at least another 7 nights. Together with accommodation, the mandatory COVID-19 Tests must also be booked with your chosen hotels and prepaid. Have a look here for hotel accommodation on Koh Tao.
Air ticket for a direct international flight to Koh Samui or international flight via Bangkok that must be connected with approved sealed flights (flight reservations booked separately are not allowed).
To enter Koh Samui by using Samui Plus model, tourists will have to present the COVID-19 free certificate issued within 72 hours before departure to Thailand and a vaccination certificate, as well as undergo a COVID-19 test at the airport.
Travelers are also required to download the Samui Health Pass in order to track the journey to the island.
Despite the fact that there is no quarantine requirement, arriving tourists under Samui Plus scheme are restricted to stay at approved accommodations.
After the arrival to Koh Samui, the first 7 nights must be spent at the chosen Samui Extra Plus hotel.
Samui SHA Plus Hotels
After spending 7 nights at Samui Extra Plus hotel, you will be allowed to travel freely around Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao but you will have to stay at accommodation with SHA Plus certificate, which is issued by Thai government for safety and health measures standards. You will need to stay at SHA Plus hotel for no less than 7 nights and the hotel(s) will need to be pre-booked in advance.
Passengers seeking to travel to Koh Samui should contact airlines directly for current flights and travel requirements.
For using Samui Plus program, you need to take a direct international flight to Koh Samui.
Another option is taking an international flight via Bangkok that must be connected with approved sealed flights listed below. For the flight via Bangkok, the ticket must be issued on the same booking with international flight in conjunction with such approved Bangkok-Samui-Bangkok flights. Flight reservations booked separately are not allowed!
Special flights reserved for the international transit/transfer passengers with inbound/outbound connection to/from Bangkok (booking of these flights is allowed when in conjunction with international flights only!):
From Bangkok to Koh Samui (BKK-USM)
PG 5125: departure 10:05 – arrival 11:35
PG 5151: departure 14:35 – arrival 16:05
PG 5171: departure 17:10 – arrival 18:40
From Koh Samui to Bangkok (USM-BKK)
PG 5126: departure 12:15 – arrival 13:45
PG 5152: departure 16:45 – arrival 18:15
PG 5172: departure 19:20 – arrival 20:50
How to Transfer at Suvarnabhumi Airport
Arrival and disembarkation is at GATE E10 at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Airline staff will escort passengers to the Health Control Checkpoint at Concourse F.
Go through the Immigration process at the FAST-TRACK area.
Airline staff will escort passengers to the security checkpoint and wait at GATE D4.
Board at GATE D4 and take the bus to embark the Bangkok Airways aircraft at the Remote Parking Stand.
To find out more please have a look here.
