What to expect when visiting 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.
4 ways to get from Krabi to Phuket
There are four ways to travel the distance of 160 km (99 miles) from Krabi to Phuket: by bus (3h-5h), taxi (2.5-3 hours), indirect flight (7h-8h30m) and ferry or speedboat (1h-5h55m). The journey takes between 1h - 8h30m and the quickest way is by ferry or speedboat. The lowest priced tickets start from 260 THB ($7.00) for the bus.Where to stay in Phuket?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Phuket at the bottom of this page.
Krabi to Phuket by Bus
Travelling to Phuket from Krabi is cheaper by bus or minivan. Costs start from 300 THB ($8.00) for the 3-hour bus ride.
When taking the bus, you can choose between two companies: Good Luck Lanta Tour and Minibus 1996.
Departure and arrival station
All buses depart from Krabi Bus Terminal, about 10 minutes from Krabi town. You can also be picked up from Krabi Airport.
Good Luck Lanta makes its last stop at Phuket Bus Terminal 1, while Minibus 1996 parks at Phuket Bus Terminal 2.
From Bus Terminal 1, you can take a direct songthaew to Patong for around 60 THB ($1.60). If you’re coming from Terminal 2, you will first have to take one of the pink songthaews to Terminal 1. This costs around 15 THB ($0.40).
You can also opt to spend a little extra and take a taxi to your hotel. There are plenty of metered taxis in Phuket, so hailing one on the street shouldn’t be a problem, although it might be a bit expensive. Be sure to agree with the driver on a flat rate or to run the meter prior to departure.
Bus schedule from Krabi to Phuket
Pre-pandemic, there were also local buses at Krabi Bus Terminal that could take you to Phuket. These local buses departed every 30 minutes from 06:20 to 17:00. Tickets were 150 THB ($4.20) and could only be bought at the bus station.
The last time we checked (September 2023), though, we couldn’t confirm if the public bus was still available. If you have any info on this public bus, we would love to hear about it in a comment below!
Alternative: Shared minivans from Krabi to Phuket
The minivans from Krabi to Phuket offer more trips per day than the bus. Fares start from 260 THB ($7.00), and travel time is 3-4 hours, depending on which van you take and where you’re coming from in Krabi.
Keep in mind that because of the limited space in the minivan, you can only bring small pieces of luggage with you.
Bus options from Krabi to Phuket
Same as the bus, Phuket Krabi Transport departs from Krabi Terminal and heads to Phuket Bus Terminal 1. On the other hand, Krabi Sea Pearl offers hotel pick-up in Krabi town and Ao Nang and arrives at Phuket Bus Terminal 2.
Want to explore more? Before going to Phuket, you can have a side trip first to Koh Lanta, which is just a 2-hour minivan ride from Krabi. You can check out our guide on Koh Lanta to Phuket for more info.
Krabi to Phuket by Ferry or Speedboat
It’s no surprise that the ferry is the most preferred option for tourists. During the ride, you’ll be entertained with marvellous coastal views between Krabi and Phuket.
This sea journey takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours and ticket prices start from 450 THB ($12.50). Unfortunately, there are only a few trips daily, so we recommend planning and booking in advance.
Speedboat or Ferry from Krabi to Phuket?
Both ferries and speedboats are available on the Krabi-Phuket route. Ferries are bigger, slower and cheaper, the better choice if you’re prone to motion sickness or if you’re travelling in the rainy season from June to October. Ao Nang Princess offers two ferry trips daily — one from Nopparat Thara Pier and the other from East Railay.
If you prefer to travel fast and don’t mind spending more, you can take a pricier speedboat. Koh Yao Sun Smile and Green Planet operate speedboats to Phuket from Krabi.
Departure ports in Krabi
Boats operating from Krabi to Phuket depart from two ports: Nopparat Thara Pier and East Railay. You can choose your departure point depending on your hotel’s location in Krabi.
Ferry schedule from Nopparat Thara Pier, Krabi to Phuket
Ferry schedule from Floating Pier East Railay, Krabi to Phuket
Arrival ports in Phuket
In Phuket, there are two arrival ports: Rassada Pier on the southeast coast and Bang Rong Pier on the north.
Rassada Pier is the closest to most tourist destinations on the island — 4 km away from Phuket Old Town and 16 km away from Patong Beach. Only Ao Nang Princess docks at Rassada Pier.
From Rassada, you can take a taxi to your hotel. Prices start from 950 THB ($26.50) if you book online via 12go.Asia. There are also shared minivans waiting at the port. Vans are cheaper, but they make several stops to drop off passengers along the way so travel time is longer.
Are you heading to Phuket’s more laidback northern coast? If so, it will be better to take a speedboat that arrives at Bang Rong Pier. Both Koh Yao Sun Smile and Green Planet dock at this port. You can get a taxi at the port or you can ask your hotel beforehand to be picked up.
Alternative: Krabi to Phuket by Combined Van + Ferry
If you don’t want the hassle of getting your own transfer to and from the ports, you can also just book a combined van and ferry ride from Krabi to Phuket.
This way, the tour operator will take care of all your transfers: a shared van from your hotel in Krabi to the port, a boat ride from Krabi to Phuket, and then a shared van from the pier to your hotel in Phuket. Prices for a combined van and ferry start from 600 THB ($16.50).
Ferry or Speedboat options from Krabi to Phuket
Green Planet Speedboat provides door-to-door services from Krabi town centre to Phuket city centre.
Ao Nang, on the other hand, also picks you up from the centre of Krabi, but takes you to Phuket’s southern coast at Nai Harn Beach, some 40 minutes away from Patong.
Heading to the Phi Phi Islands?
If you want to travel from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi, we’ve got good news for you! The ocean between Krabi and Koh Phi Phi can be crossed within one hour if you book a speedboat ferry. If you want to travel with a larger ferry, travel time takes 3 hours. See below the schedules for some of the companies operating on this route:
Ferry or Speedboat options from Krabi to Phuket
Keep in mind that there are several ferry departure ports in Krabi as well as arrival piers in Phuket. When booking your ferry ride, double-check these details so that you can depart and arrive at the nearest ports to your hotels.
TIP: When travelling from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi, there are a few companies that offer hotel pick-up service at your hotel in Ao Nang or Krabi Town if you book with 12GoAsia. Check the Taxi + Ferry option to see which companies offer pick-up services in your area.
Krabi to Phuket by Indirect Flight
Phuket and Krabi sit just across each other and are separated only by the Andaman Sea. However, there are no direct flights from Krabi to Phuket. All flights between the two towns make a stop in Bangkok.
The flight itself takes at least 4.5 hours. When you add the transfers to and from the airports, travel time takes between 6 and 8 hours.
And with combined costs starting from 2,650 THB ($74.00), we don’t think it’s worth taking a flight to Phuket from Krabi. But if you really prefer to fly, we give you a step-by-step guide below.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: Krabi Town to Krabi Airport by Airport Shuttle
There are 4 ways you can get from Krabi Town (or Ao Nang) to Krabi Airport: by songthaew for 50 THB ($1.40), by shared minivan for 150 THB ($4.20), by airport shuttle bus for 150 THB ($4.20), and by private transfer with rates from 540 THB ($15.00).
You can find songthaews, shared minivans and airport buses at the public bus stop in Krabi Town and at the transfer station in Ao Nang. It’s important to note that these shared modes of transport make a lot of stops. We don’t suggest these options if you don’t have a lot of time before your flight.
When you’re short on time or travelling in a group, you can also just take a private transfer. Prices for a 9-seater car start from 540 THB ($15.00) from Krabi Town and 670 THB ($18.50) from Ao Nang. You can book your ride beforehand through BookAway.
Travel time by shared transport to Krabi Airport is around 40-50 minutes from Krabi Town and about 1 hour from Ao Nang. Taking a private transfer is faster: 30 minutes from Krabi Town and 50 minutes from Ao Nang.
Step 2: Krabi Airport to Phuket Airport by Flight
Thai Airways, Air Asia, Bangkok Airways and Vietjet Air offer indirect flights from Krabi to Phuket daily. These flights make a stop at either Don Mueang Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
Depending on the layover in Bangkok, the flight time from Krabi to Phuket takes at least 4.5 hours.
Airfares range between 2,500 THB ($70.00) and 4,000 THB ($110.00).
Step 3: Phuket Airport to Phuket Town by Bus
From Phuket Airport, you have several options when travelling to Phuket Town:
Your choice of transport really depends on where you’re headed in Phuket. Check out our page on Phuket Airport for a detailed guide.
Krabi to Phuket by Taxi
If you prefer a door-to-door transfer, it will be easier to book a private transfer from Krabi to Phuket. When travelling in a big group, this is often cheaper than taking the ferry. There’s just one downside: you’re going to miss the scenic ferry ride through the Andaman Sea.
A benefit of booking a taxi or private transport is that you don’t have to take into account the ferry schedule and don’t need to arrange transportation to and from your hotel and the ferry ports.
Fares start from 2,530 THB ($71.00) for a minivan that can fit up to 8 passengers.
Hailing a taxi from the street is often more expensive. Also, there are not many taxis in Krabi so we suggest booking in advance. This can be done through your hotel, a local travel agency, or our preferred booking platform, BookAway.
Our favourite places to stay in Phuket
Aekkeko Hostel - Budget Friendly
Aekkeko Hostel is set in central Phuket Town within walking distance of numerous bars, restaurants, and sights. It’s a vibrant and colourful place with so many chillout places it’s impossible to keep count.
Offering both dorm beds and private rooms, there’s something for everyone. Plus, the dorm beds are huge! The staff will welcome you like family making you feel right at home.
- Excellent staff
- Ideal location
- Terrace and many chillout spots
- Clean and comfortable
Private room starts at $19 per night.
Baan Sutra Guesthouse - Budget Friendly
Baan Sutra Guesthouse is in the perfect location, just a 1-minute walk from the Old Town. Yet when you step through its doors, you forget about the chaos outside. The hotel is clean, serene and homely.
The rooms are bright and very spacious. You’re guaranteed to have a comfortable stay here, especially with the helpful and friendly staff.
- Beautiful rooms
- Clean and comfortable
- Perfect location
- Helpful staff
Private rooms start from $28 per night.
HOMA Phuket Town - Mid Range
Calling all digital nomads or anyone looking to relax without having to spend too much money. HOMA has everything you could need — a huge rooftop swimming pool, games room, gym, co-working space and an Italian restaurant. You never have to leave!
The rooms are modern with vibrant pops of colour and huge beds. Need any help? The staff are always there to give you recommendations and make sure you have the best stay.
- Huge rooftop swimming pool
- Games room
- Onsite gym and co-working space
- Italian restaurant
Private rooms start from $49 per night.
Hotel Tide - Treating Yourself
Staying at Hotel Tide puts you seconds from the beach and in the middle of luxury. The huge swimming pool overlooks the beach and is the perfect place to escape the heat. Or relax on the terrace or nets overlooking the sea.
Here you’ll be a 10-minute drive from the Old Town, but if you don’t want to make the journey, you can enjoy the onsite delicious restaurant. This is the ideal place to unwind and chill in Phuket.
- Amazing swimming pools
- Right on the beach
- Beautiful and spacious rooms
- Onsite restaurant
Private rooms start from $57 per night.
Frequently Asked Questions about Krabi to Phuket
What is the distance from Krabi to Phuket?
The distance from Krabi to Phuket is 160 km (99 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Krabi to Phuket?
The fastest way to get from Krabi to Phuket is by ferry or speedboat and takes 1h-5h55m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Krabi to Phuket?
The cheapest way to get from Krabi to Phuket is by bus with ticket costs starting from 260 THB ($7.00).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Krabi to Phuket. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Abby is a writer who finds joy in mountains, beaches, and road trips. She considers her solo backpacking trip to the rice terraces of Bontoc one of the most fulfilling moments in her life. She’s loyal to the islands of her home country, the Philippines, but Thailand’s beaches also have a special place in her heart.
