How to get from Phuket to Krabi

Why visit Krabi?

Krabi is a tropical gem on Thailand’s southwest coast. This bustling region is filled with stunning beaches and spectacular limestone cliffs. But as with most places in Southeast Asia, you’ll have to go to its outskirts to see it at its most beautiful.

There are so many things to do in Krabi, making you feel that a few days will not be enough to fit them all into your itinerary. You can go beach-hopping, rock-climbing, and island-hopping. Krabi is also a strategic gateway to the nearby islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta.

There are 5 ways to travel the 170 kilometers (106 miles) from Phuket to Krabi. You can choose between the bus, minivan, private transport, flight and ferry. The journey takes 45 minutes - 11 hours and the quickest way is by ferry. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 237 THB ($7.10).

Looking for a cheaper option? If you travel solo and on a budget, there are public buses and minivans that you can take.

This non-stop journey takes around 3 hours and a bus ticket from Phuket to Krabi costs only 237 THB ($7.10) per person.

You will miss the scenic ferry ride, but it will leave you with some more cash to spare once you arrive in Krabi.

Departure and arrival station

To catch the bus from Phuket to Krabi, you will depart from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 on Thepkasattri Road. This terminal is about a 15-minute drive from the centre of Phuket.

Buses arrive at the Krabi Terminal, about 6 km outside the city centre. From Krabi Bus Station, you can take a songthaew or taxi to Ao Nang or to Krabi Town. A songthaew costs only around 20 THB ($0.60) if you share the ride.

Alternatively, you can arrange a transfer with your hotel before departure. However, this may be more expensive.

There are minivans that depart from the Phuket Bus Terminal 1, about 5 km away from Terminal 2. Minivans aren’t as spacious as buses, but they offer more trips — almost every hour from 06:40 to 18:00 daily.

The four minivan companies operating on this route are 438 Phuket Krabi Transport, Goodluck Lanta, Call Me Taxi Thailand and Van Shuttle.

Ticket prices start from 341 THB ($10.20) per person, and the journey time is about 2 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours.

The ferry is the most popular way to travel from Phuket to Krabi. This picturesque ferry ride is not just transportation but a sightseeing experience of the breathtaking scenery along Phang Nga Bay — overlooking the Phuket and Krabi coast and islands.

Ferries to Krabi depart from Rassada Pier and Bang Rong Pier in Phuket, both taking about 2 hours. If you already ventured out to Koh Phi Phi, we have good news for you! There are direct ferries departing from Koh Phi Phi which only take about 1 hour.

Departure from Phuket main island

The main departure point from Phuket to Krabi is Rassada Pier. This pier is located 4 km southwest of Phuket Town centre and takes about 15 minutes by taxi.

Another popular departure point is Bang Rong Pier, which is more convenient if you’re coming from Phuket Airport. From Phuket Airport, it’s only a 20-minute taxi ride to Bang Rong Pier, compared to a 1-hour ride to Rassada Pier.

We recommend carefully checking the departure and arrival point before you book the ferry.

Check Ferry Tickets from Phuket to Krabi

Arrival in Krabi

The Phuket to Krabi ferry arrives at Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang. You can get off here if your hotel is close to Krabi Town.

Are you heading to Railay Beach? After dropping off passengers at Nopparat Thara Pier, some ferries continue on to East Railay Floating Pier on the south tip of Krabi. That’s an additional journey time of 20 minutes.

Ton Sai Pier

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Klong Jilad Pier

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2h

11:00

13:30

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15:30

Seatran Discovery

From 461 THB ($13.80)

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461 THB ($13.80)

13:30

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15:30

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481 THB ($14.40)

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If you stay in one of the destinations on the west coast of Phuket, like Patong, it will be easier to take a private transfer from Phuket to Krabi. It offers more comfort, freedom, and convenience of direct hotel drop-offs (no unnecessary stopover) compared to shared rides.

To secure a safe drive with a trusted driver, you can book your private transport in advance via BookAway. Rates for a 3-seater car starts from 2,205 THB ($66). With BookAway, prices are fixed so no need for haggling.

While Phuket and Krabi both have their own airports, there are no direct flights from Phuket to Krabi. All flights make a stop in Bangkok, making the journey take much longer compared to the other transport options discussed above.

Depending on the layover time in Bangkok, flying from Phuket to Krabi will take at least 5 hours 30 minutes to 11 hours.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Phuket Airport is located about 30 km away from the town centre and 40 km from Patong Beach on the west coast.

You have several options when travelling to Phuket Airport:

• Airport bus from Phuket Town centre (1.5 hours) – 125 THB ($3.70)
• Smart bus from the western beach destinations (1-2 hours) – 100 THB ($3)
• Shared minivan from your hotel (1-1.5 hours) – 200 THB ($6)
• Taxi from your hotel (30-60 minutes) – 655 THB ($19.60)

For more info on how to travel to the airport, visit our Phuket Airport guide.

Several airlines offer indirect flights from Phuket to Krabi. This includes Air Asia, Thai Airways, and Bangkok Airways.

As there are no direct flights, all flights make a stop at either Don Mueang Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Depending on the length of your layover, the indirect flight from Phuket Airport to Krabi Airport will take 4.5-8 hours.

Airfares from Phuket to Krabi start from 2,000 THB ($60).

At Krabi Airport, you can find buses and minivans operating from 08:00 to 20:00.

If you prefer a private transfer, you can also take a taxi from the airport. BookAway offers several low-priced transport options to get from Krabi Airport to Krabi Town. See the fares and destinations below.

• Minivan to Krabi town (30 minutes) – 145 THB ($4.30)
• Bus to Khlong Muang Beach (1 hour) – 270 THB ($8.10)
• Taxi to hotel (30 minutes) – 270 THB ($8.10)