How to get from Koh Lanta to Phuket

Why visit Phuket?

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and one of the most visited destinations in the country. The beautiful shores of Karon Beach, the historic charm of Old Town, and the nightlife in Patong beach attract millions of tourists every year.

Surrounded by numerous smaller islands, Phuket also offers unbeatable snorkelling, diving, and water sports adventures. You can explore the colourful marine life while snorkelling at the nearby Koh Phi Phi Island or embark on a diving trip. Located just a short distance from the international airport, Phuket is easily accessible for travellers who want to visit Thailand’s beautfiul beaches without having to travel too far.

There are 5 ways to travel the 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Koh Lanta to Phuket. You can choose between the bus + ferry*, shared minivan, private transport, ferry and indirect ferry + van. The journey takes 40 minutes to 9 hours 10 minutes and the quickest way is by ferry. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus + ferry* with tickets starting at 525 THB ($16.10).

*The last time we checked (October 2024), there were no available combined buses and ferries from Koh Lanta to Phuket. Please click the link provided to see if anything has changed.

Are you travelling on a budget? Travelling by land and ferry takes a few more hours, but saves you some money.

If you are prone to seasickness, this alternative might also be better. You only have to take a 30-minute ferry in the first part of the trip from Koh Lanta to Phuket.

Departure and arrival stations

The ferry will depart from Saladan Pier, about 25 minutes away from Koh Lanta.

This ferry will then arrive at the Hua in Pier, north of Phuket. From there, you will be transferred to a bus which will bring you in about 4.5 hours to Phuket Bus Terminal 1 station.

The ticket below is for a combined bus and ferry ride, which means you don’t need to buy separate tickets. Goodluck Lanta Tour offers this trip every other day.

A minivan ride from Koh Lanta to Phuket costs around 533 THB ($16.30). The minivan journey takes about 5 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours 10 minutes, depending on traffic.

There is one company operating on this route: Goodluck Lanta.

Note that this includes a short ferry ride from Koh Lanta to the mainland.

There is also an option to take an indirect ferry and van via Krabi. This allows you to spend some time in Krabi (if you haven’t already) before continuing to Phuket.

Combined prices start from 569 THB ($17.40) and travel time is around 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes.

The first step includes booking a minivan ride from Koh Lanta to Krabi. Conveniently, a minivan picks up guests from any hotel on the island. Just make sure you book a ticket going to Krabi Bus Terminal and not Krabi Airport.

The trip will take about 2h 30m - 3h 10m and the last stop is at the Krabi Bus Terminal. From the terminal, you can hop on a bus to Phuket.

Make sure you align this trip with the bus departures for your next transfer.

From Krabi, you can take either a bus or a minivan going to Phuket. Luckily, there are many van trips for this route.

The direct bus/van departs from Krabi Bus Terminal and takes 3h of travel to reach Phuket. Ticket starts at 242 THB ($7.40) per person for this trip.

The last stop for both options is at the Phuket Bus Terminal 1.

Travelling by ferry from Koh Lanta to Phuket is the fastest option. It can be pricey but you will reach your destination in just 40 minutes - 5 hours while having a scenic view of the vast and beautiful Andaman Sea.

Departure and arrival stations

The ferry from Koh Lanta to Phuket departs from Saladan Pier, which is a 25-minute drive away from Koh Lanta centre.

The seven companies offering this direct ferry trip from Koh Lanta to Phuket are TigerlineSirilanta, Lanta Petpailin, Goodluck Lanta, Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club, Satun Pakbara Speed Boat, Jolly Travel and Bundhaya Speedboat.

Satun Pakbara company offers free pick-up in many areas of Koh Lanta. Please check their booking page for the areas and hotels that include free pickup.

The final stop of the ferries is at Rassada Pier in Phuket, which is 5 km away from Phuket town.

Koh Lanta Saladan Pier

Speedboat

Rassada Pier

10:00

1h 30m

11:30

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1h 30m

14:30

15:30

1h 30m

17:00

Bundhaya Speedboat

From 1,472 THB ($45)

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1,472 THB ($45)

10:00

1h 30m

11:30

13:00

1h 30m

14:30

15:30

1h 30m

17:00

Check on 12GoAsia

• 24/7 customer support

1,543 THB ($47)

10:00

1h 30m

11:30

13:00

1h 30m

14:30

15:30

1h 30m

17:00

Check on BookAway

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Koh Lanta to Phuket.

Rates start from 4,840 THB ($150) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about 1,613 THB ($49.50) per person. Travel time is around 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes.