How to Get From Krabi to Phuket

Travelling to Phuket from Krabi is cheaper by bus or minivan. Costs start from $7 (234 THB) for a bus ride that takes around 3h.

When taking the bus, you can choose between three companies: Minibus 1996, Nakhonborrikarn and Nakhon Borrikarn.

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.

All buses park at Phuket Bus Terminal 2.

You can 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.

The minivans from Krabi to Phuket offer more trips per day than the bus. There are several minivan operators running this route and fares start from $7.90 (265 THB). Travel time is around 2h 30m - 6h 30m, 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.

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  1h - 5h 55m, depending on which ferry you book. Ticket prices start from $14 (450 THB). 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 to 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.

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 around 6h 30m - 8h.

And with combined costs starting from $79 (2,650 THB), 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.

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.

Rates start from $66 (2,200 THB) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about $22 (740 THB) per person.

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.