Bangkok To Phuket: 4 Ways To Get There
Phuket is one of Thailand’s most iconic and popular destinations for visitors, tourists, and locals for its beautiful water, white sand beaches, water activities, nightlife, culture, and many outdoor options.
Since most international visitors arrive into Thailand via Bangkok, there’s a plethora of options to get to Phuket from Bangkok, be it air, car, or public transport.
Another beautiful tropical area that Thailand is famous for is Koh Tao. It’s also extremely easy to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok.
On a side note, flying to Malaysia from Bangkok is another option if you want to experience another country. Some people think Malaysia is a better value - here is a great resource for a Thailand vs Malaysia price breakdown.
Depending on if you want to take the scenic route with multiple stops along the way or get there quickly, here’s a breakdown of all the options.
This is the easiest, fastest, and sometimes the cheapest way to get to Phuket due to the many low cost airlines such as Air Asia, Nok Air, Vietjet, and Lion Air.
Tickets can range as low as $20 one way during low season and up to $100 one way during high season. If you book ahead, prices are usually heavily discounted.
I usually use Google Flights to find the cheapest flights.
Once you get to the airport in Phuket, you’ll need to find a way to get into town.
You can hire a taxi to take you to town for around 800 THB ($25).
(Unfortunately the Grab Car Hire app is unreliable at the Phuket airport due to the taxi mafia in town.)
For cheaper options you can do a shared minivan or public bus (No A/C) to get to town.
If you want to take the scenic route, you can take the train which involves an 8-12 hour ride to Surat Thani and then taking a bus to Phuket from there.
Most trains have air conditioning with sleeper bunks and varies from 1st to 2nd class cabins.
First class tickets will land you a private two-person cabin while second class means sharing a carriage with other passengers.
The bus ride from Surat Thani is about 4-5 hours.
The train ride is usually around $30 and bus ride about $6, so you can see that flying is surprisingly cheaper if you find a good deal.
Another option to get to Phuket is by day or overnight bus. They all have air conditioning, on-board snacks/drinks, and movies. Overnight buses are popular amongst the backpacker crowd since it saves you a hotel room night.
There are two types of buses, 1st class and VIP. The main difference between the two is that the VIP buses give you more leg room, more comfortable seats that recline, and the seats are single row. Given that the journey will be around 14 hours, I’d recommend going for the VIP bus.
VIP Bus Seat - Spacious!
Buses leave from either the Southern Bus Terminal or the Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok with a 30 minute stop at the halfway mark.
Book through a reputable travel agency here.
Note: Daytime buses are cheaper but will arrive at Phuket in the middle of the night.
Overall, buses ($30) aren’t that much cheaper than flying (and in certain cases flying is cheaper) but if for some reason flights are priced higher during high season, buses may be a good alternative.
Khao Sok National Park
If you’re looking for some adventure and the freedom to stop and explore while you make your way down to Phuket, then renting a car would be a great option!
Many car rental companies allow you to pickup a car in Bangkok and return it in Phuket for around $20 a day.
Along the route to Phuket there are many interesting places to stop at including Hua Hin, Prachuap Bay, Baan Krood Beach, Chumpon, Khao Sok National Park, Krabi, and Phangnga.
In fact, if you have the time, I’d recommend turning this road trip into a 3-4 day adventure with all the interesting stops along the way!
Just remember that Thailand drives on the left side of the road and not to drive at night due to the increase of drunk driving after the sun sets.