How to get from Krabi 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 160 kilometers (99 miles) from Krabi to Phuket. You can choose between the bus, minivan, taxi, indirect flight and ferry or Speedboat. The journey takes 1 to 8 hours and the quickest way is by ferry or speedboat. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 237 THB ($7).

Travelling to Phuket from Krabi is cheaper by bus or minivan. Costs start from 237 THB ($7) for a bus ride that takes around 3 hours.

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.

Krabi Bus Terminal

VIP

Phuket Bus Terminal 2

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Minibus 1996

From 237 THB ($7)

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237 THB ($7)

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Check on BookAway

305 THB ($9)

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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 267 THB ($7.90). Travel time is around 2 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes, 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.

Minivan options from Krabi to Phuket

Krabi Town Transfer except Ao Nang Ao Nammao Railay and Klong Muang

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Phuket Bus Terminal 2

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3h 30m

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Krabi Sea Pearl

From 339 THB ($10)

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339 THB ($10)

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• 24/7 customer support

379 THB ($11.20)

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Check on BookAway

Krabi Sea Pearl Travel

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Phuket Bus Terminal 2

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Krabi Sea Pearl

339 THB ($10)

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339 THB ($10)

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• 24/7 customer support

379 THB ($11.20)

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Check on BookAway

Ao Nam Mao pier

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Phuket Bus Terminal 2

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Krabi Sea Pearl

406 THB ($12)

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406 THB ($12)

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• 24/7 customer support

443 THB ($13.10)

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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 hour to 5 hours 55 minutes, depending on which ferry you book. Ticket prices start from 450 THB ($13.30). 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.

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 904 THB ($27).

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 30m - 4h. See below the schedules for some of the companies operating on this route:

Klong Jilad Pier

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Ton Sai Pier

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Andaman Wave

From 406 THB ($12)

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406 THB ($12)

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• 24/7 customer support

420 THB ($12.40)

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Check on BookAway

Klong Jilad Pier

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Ton Sai Pier

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Seatran Discovery

460 THB ($13.60)

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• 24/7 customer support

460 THB ($13.60)

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• 24/7 customer support

477 THB ($14.10)

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Krabi Town Hotel Transfer

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Ton Sai Pier Koh Phi Phi

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RTC Transport

718 THB ($21)

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718 THB ($21)

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Check on BookAway

• 24/7 customer support

1,391 THB ($41)

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Krabi Airport (KBV)

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Ton Sai Pier

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Seatran Discovery

779 THB ($23)

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779 THB ($23)

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• 24/7 customer support

836 THB ($25)

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Check on BookAway

Krabi Airport

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Ton Sai Pier Koh Phi Phi

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RTC Transport

799 THB ($24)

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• 24/7 customer support

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Check on BookAway

• 24/7 customer support

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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 6 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours.

And with combined costs starting from 2,650 THB ($78), 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.

There are 4 ways you can get from Krabi Town (or Ao Nang) to Krabi Airport: by songthaew for 50 THB ($1.50), by shared minivan for 150 THB ($4.40), by airport shuttle bus for 150 THB ($4.40), and by private transfer with rates from 540 THB ($16).

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 ($16) from Krabi Town and 670 THB ($19.80) 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.

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 ($74) and 4,000 THB ($120).

From Phuket Airport, you have several options when travelling to Phuket Town:

• Airport bus to Phuket Town (1.5 hours) – 160 THB ($4.70)
• Shuttle bus to the western beach destinations (1-2 hours) – 100 THB ($3)
• Shared minivan to your hotel (1-1.5 hours) – 200 THB ($5.90)
• Taxi to your hotel (30-60 minutes) – 600 THB ($17.70)

Your choice of transport really depends on where you’re headed in Phuket. Check out our page on Phuket Airport for a detailed guide.

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 2,234 THB ($66) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about 745 THB ($22) 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.

Taxi options from Krabi to Phuket