Thailand Krabi

How to get from Surat Thani to Krabi

In this in-depth route guide, you can compare the best ways to travel the 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Surat Thani to Krabi. Our team of indpendent travel experts researched each route — breaking down each option by travel time, price, and comfort. Plus, we’ll share the best booking options to help you get the best deal.

Written by Maarten - Trip Planning ExpertReviewed by Abegail - Travel Writer

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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.

What are the 3 ways to travel from Surat Thani to Krabi?

There are 3 ways to travel the 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Surat Thani to Krabi. You can choose between the bus, minivan and taxi. The journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by taxi. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 190 THB ($5.70).

Transport

Duration

Pricing

Transport Options

Bus

From 190 THB ($5.70)

Book Tickets

Minivan

3h - 6h 30m

From 230 THB ($6.90)

Book Tickets

Taxi

2h 30m - 3h

From 2,852 THB ($86)

Book Tickets

Where to stay in Krabi?

Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Krabi at the bottom of this page.

Surat Thani to Krabi by Bus

Duration: 5h

Costs: 190 THB ($5.70)

Duration: 5h

Costs: 190 THB ($5.70)

There are available local buses departing from Talad Kaset 2 for the Surat Thani to Krabi route.

Although cheap, the thing about local buses is that there’s a huge chance you’ll have to wait a few hours at the station. Its schedules are erratic and even most locals don’t know what time exactly the bus departs and arrives.

It’s also worth noting that with a bus fare of 190 THB ($5.70), the local bus is only a bit cheaper than a minivan, which has a fixed schedule and is available to book online.

Bus schedule from Surat Thani to Krabi

Surat Thani

Krabi

no definite schedule

Local Bus

190 THB ($5.70)

No Online Tickets

Surat Thani Talad Kaset 2

Standard

Krabi Bus Terminal

10:00

15:00

16:10

21:10

Phichet Transport

230 THB ($6.90)

Get Your Tickets

Surat Thani to Krabi by Minivan

Duration: 3h - 6h 30m

Costs: 230 THB ($6.90)

Duration: 3h - 6h 30m

Costs: 230 THB ($6.90)

The minivan is a cheap and convenient option from Surat Thani to Krabi. Fare starts at 230 THB ($6.90) for the minivan trip that takes around 3 hours to 6 hours 30 minutes.

Phichet Transport, Phangan Tour 2000, Phantip 1970 and 12Go Transport are the four companies operating minivans for this route. Most of these companies receive good reviews.

There are several minivan departures a day from 02:00 to 16:30.

Departure stations

The minivans depart from different stations in Surat Thani town centre:

Phantip Travel departs from their head office.
Phangan Tour departs from their headquarters.
Pichet Transport is available at Tha Kaset 2 Market.

The stations are only a 3-6-minute walk from each other.

Minivan schedules from Surat Thani to Krabi

Surat Thani Kaset 2 Market

Standard

Krabi Bus Terminal

12:30

17:30

14:00

19:00

Phichet Transport

230 THB ($6.90)

Get Your Tickets

Phangan Tour 2000 Office

Economy

Krabi Bus Terminal

09:00

12:00

10:30

13:30

12:00

15:00

13:30

16:30

15:00

18:00

16:30

19:30

Phangan Tour 2000

297 THB ($8.90)

Get Your Tickets

Surat Thani Town

Standard

Krabi Bus Terminal

09:00

12:00

10:30

13:30

12:00

15:00

13:30

16:30

15:00

18:00

16:30

19:30

Phantip 1970

From 300 THB ($9)

Surat Thani Town Phantip Travel Office

Standard

Krabi Bus Terminal

09:00

12:00

10:30

13:30

12:00

15:00

13:30

16:30

15:00

18:00

16:30

19:30

12Go Transport

307 THB ($9.20)

Get Your Tickets

Surat Thani Phangan Tour 2000 Office

Standard

Krabi Van Terminal

09:00

12:00

10:30

13:30

12:00

15:00

13:30

16:30

15:00

18:00

16:30

19:30

Phangan Tour 2000

317 THB ($9.50)

Get Your Tickets

Surat Thani Town

Standard

Ao Nang Transfer except Krabi Town and Railay

09:00

13:00

10:30

14:30

12:00

16:00

13:30

17:30

Phantip 1970

467 THB ($14)

Surat Thani Town

Standard

Ao Nam Mao Pier

09:00

13:00

10:30

14:30

12:00

16:00

13:30

17:30

Phantip 1970

467 THB ($14)

Surat Thani Town Phantip Travel Office

Standard

Ao Nang Beach

09:00

13:00

10:30

14:30

12:00

16:00

13:30

17:30

12Go Transport

497 THB ($14.90)

Get Your Tickets

Surat Thani Town Phantip Travel Office

Standard

Ao Nam Mao Pier

09:00

13:00

10:30

14:30

12:00

16:00

13:30

17:30

12Go Transport

497 THB ($14.90)

Get Your Tickets

Surat Thani Town Transfer

Standard

Krabi Bus Terminal

08:00

12:00

11:00

15:00

12Go Transport

497 THB ($14.90)

Get Your Tickets

Surat Thani Phangan Tour 2000 Office

Standard

Ao Nang Pier

09:00

13:00

10:30

14:30

Phangan Tour 2000

570 THB ($17.10)

Get Your Tickets

Surat Thani Town Transfer

Standard

Ao Nang Beach

08:00

5h 30m

13:30

11:00

6h 30m

17:30

12Go Transport

624 THB ($18.70)

Get Your Tickets

Show 7 more operator(s)

Arrival stations

The last stop for the minivans is Krabi Bus Terminal, which is about 10 minutes away from Krabi Town by taxi. Phantip Travel also has minivans arriving at Ao Nam Mao Pier near some beach resorts.

We suggest booking your tickets online in advance.

Surat Thani to Krabi by Taxi

Duration: 2h 30m - 3h

Costs: 2,852 THB ($86)

Duration: 2h 30m - 3h

Costs: 2,852 THB ($86)

When travelling in a group, you can be more comfortable with a private transfer from Surat Thani to Krabi. Prices start at 2,852 THB ($86) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about 951 THB ($28.50) per person.

The journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours to complete by taxi, depending on your destination in Krabi.

We recommend Andaman Taxis for the private transfer from the Surat Thani to Krabi route. You can book via BookAway to get a fixed price.

Alternatively, you can book a taxi through local companies and travel agencies. You can also hail a taxi from the street, although this is often more expensive and you might have to haggle for cheaper rates.

Private Transport options from Surat Thani to Krabi

Economy

Economy Car 3 PAX

Price per person = 951 THB ($28.50)

Andaman Taxi

2,852 THB ($86)

Get Your Tickets

Economy

Economy Car 3 PAX

Price per person = 951 THB ($28.50)

Andaman Taxi

2,852 THB ($86)

Get Your Tickets

Standard

Standard Minivan 9 PAX

Price per person = 343 THB ($10.30)

Andaman Taxi

3,086 THB ($93)

Get Your Tickets

Standard

Standard Minivan 9 PAX

Price per person = 343 THB ($10.30)

Andaman Taxi

3,086 THB ($93)

Get Your Tickets

Best places to stay in Krabi

Krabi province is much bigger than most people first think, 4,709 km² to be exact, but visitors still tend to cluster in the same places. Here’s a quick rundown of the areas most people tend to stay in:

Ao Nang — here you’ll have access to everything you need; the beach, restaurants, shops, international brands, bars and clubs. It’s a great jumping-off point to the nearby islands such as Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. The downside is that it almost feels overrun by tourists.
Railay — a small peninsula south of Ao Nang and separated from the mainland by those towering limestone cliffs most of us associate with Thailand. The only way to get to the magical beaches of Railay is by boat.
Krabi Town — despite the tourists, it’s managed to maintain a quaint Thai-Chinese market feel. Accommodation is cheaper here whilst not being too far from the beach.

Check out our favourite places to stay in Krabi:

The Morning Mini House - Budget Friendly

The Morning Mini House is a great budget option in Ao Nang Beach. It’s a 10-minute drive to the beach. The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable, offering a great night’s sleep. Some of them even come with balconies.

The owners of the guesthouse are incredibly friendly and helpful, taking your stay in Krabi to another level. You’ll instantly feel at home here.

Amazing owner
Large and clean rooms
Great value for money
10-minute drive from Ao Nang Beach

Private rooms start from $20 per night.

Check Available Rooms

The Box House - Budget Friendly

Located centrally in Krabi Town, The Box House puts you within minutes of many sights in the town. The spacious and colourful rooms boast large, comfortable beds that offer you a great night’s sleep.

Each room is equipped with air conditioning and a flat-screen tv for your enjoyment. The owners are friendly, welcoming and offer motorbike rentals onsite.

Beautiful gardens
Comfortable and clean rooms
Motorbike rentals available onsite
Friendly staff

Private rooms start at $16 per night.

Check Available Rooms

Vipa Tropical Resort - Mid Range

Need to escape to nature? Vipa Tropical Resort is the perfect place to do just that. The resort is backed by towering limestone mountains and surrounded by lush greenery.

The cottages are cute and cosy, with private balconies where you can relax after a day at the beach. Or chill by the pool and go for a swim. The resort is a 5-minute drive to Ao Nang Beach, which the resort provides a free shuttle for.

Cosy cottages with balconies
Outdoor swimming pool
Surrounded by nature and mountains
Free shuttle to Ao Nang Beach

Cottages start at $48 per night.

Check Available Rooms

@Aonang Guesthouse - Mid Range

@Aonang Guesthouse offers both comfortable dorm rooms and modern private rooms. Whatever you choose to stay in, you can enjoy their refreshing and clean swimming pool.

Tin is one of the best hosts in Thailand, offering the best recommendations and help when you need it. The guesthouse is located in a more local neighbourhood in Krabi and next to one of the best Thai restaurants in the area. This place has a near-perfect rating and it’s easy to see why!

An amazing host
Beautiful swimming pool
Modern and clean rooms
Located in a local neighbourhood

Private rooms start from $48 per night.

Check Available Rooms

Pinthong Aonang Villa - Treating Yourself

Pinthong Aonang Villa might be classed as high-end accommodation, but it doesn’t have to be expensive if you find some friends! The hotel offers two-bedroom villas for $80 that can fit 4 people. That’s $20 a night for a luxury villa.

The outdoor swimming pool is beautiful, and every inch of the hotel is spotlessly clean. Located in Ao Nang, they even arrange a free shuttle to the beach. This place is the perfect place to relax and take life slowly.

Great value for money
Beautiful villas
Outdoor swimming pool
Free shuttle to the beach

Two-bedroom villas start from $80 per night.

Check Available Rooms

Aonang Eco Villa - Treating Yourself

Aonang Eco Villa is the kind of place you dream of. Beautifully designed and spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open up to lush gardens. Wander through the gardens to the refreshing outdoor swimming pool or the onsite bar. The cocktails and fruit juice are delicious!

The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, making sure that you can fully relax and enjoy your stay. There are only 10 villas, creating an exclusive and private feel.

Beautiful swimming pool
Bright and spacious villas
Great onsite bar
10 minutes from the town

Villas start from $122 per night.

Check Available Rooms

Frequently Asked Questions about Surat Thani to Krabi

What is the distance from Surat Thani to Krabi?

The distance from Surat Thani to Krabi is 150 kilometers (93 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Surat Thani to Krabi?

The fastest way to get from Surat Thani to Krabi is by taxi and takes 2 hours 30 minutes.

What is the cheapest way to get from Surat Thani to Krabi?

The cheapest way to get from Surat Thani to Krabi is by bus with ticket costs starting from 190 THB ($5.70).

Rounding it up

We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Surat Thani to Krabi. 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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About the author(s)

Maarten

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.

Abegail

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.