A lot of times it really isn’t all that intuitive to figure out how to travel from one place to another in Thailand. We’ll HELP!
Travel may consist of a combination of means like flight bus fairy train or taxi. Until recently there were not many companies that focused on getting you from one place to another. They were all different companies that were loosely connected but it was all invisible to you as a tourist. So you didn’t know what you were doing until the last minute.
Below, we cover some solutions for you to travel between islands and the province of Krabi.
Going from Ko Samui Island to Krabi Town or Ao Nang
The easiest way for a tourist to travel from Koh Samui to Krabi province is by taking a direct flight from Koh Samui Airport to Krabi Airport (KBV). This costs around 3000-4000 Thai Baht on average and Bangkok Airways goes every day. Flight time is around 1 hour.
The second best way to travel from Samui to Krabi is by taking a combination of ferry and bus.
You can take a ferry from Koh Samui to the mainland, arriving at Donsak Pier (in Surat). There are several ferry companies that operate daily between Koh Samui and Donsak Pier, and the trip takes around 1.5-2 hours.
Once at Donsak Pier, the tourist can take a bus or van to Krabi province. Buses and vans depart regularly from the pier to Krabi, and the journey takes around 3-4 hours depending on traffic.
Taking the ferry and bus combination is always the more affordable option, and it also allows the tourist to enjoy scenic views along the way. Please note, we never recommend taking a van anywhere in the country as it is far too dangerous. See “Driving in Krabi, Thailand“.
Going from Ko Phangan Island to Krabi Town or Ao Nang Beach
The easiest way for a tourist to travel from Ko Phangan Island to Krabi Town is by taking a combination of ferry and bus or minivan.
First, you will need to take a ferry from Ko Phangan Island to the mainland at either Don Sak Pier or Surat Thani Town. The ferry ride typically takes around 2-3 hours and tickets can be purchased at the pier or through a travel agency in advance.
Once you arrive at the mainland in Surat at either place, you can then take a bus or minivan to Krabi Town. The journey from Don Sak Pier to Krabi Town by bus takes around 4-5 hours, while the journey from Surat Thani to Krabi Town takes around 3-4 hours.
There are several companies that offer bus and minivan services from both Don Sak Pier and Surat Thani to Krabi Town, so it is recommended to check schedules and book in advance to ensure availability.
Overall, taking a combination of ferry and bus or minivan is the most convenient way for tourists to travel from Ko Phangan Island to Krabi Town. Please note, we never recommend you take a van anywhere in Thailand. Driving yourself is much safer.
Going from Ko Tao to Krabi Town or Ao Nang
The easiest way for a tourist to travel from Ko Tao Island to Krabi Town is by taking a combination of ferry and bus or minivan.
First, you will need to take a ferry from Ko Tao Island to the mainland at either Chumphon or Surat Thani. The ferry ride typically takes around 2-3 hours and tickets can be purchased at the pier or through a travel agency in advance.
Once you arrive at the mainland, you can then take a bus or minivan to Krabi Town. The journey from Chumphon to Krabi Town by bus takes around 7-8 hours, while the journey from Surat Thani to Krabi Town takes around 3-4 hours.
There are several companies that offer bus and minivan services from both Chumphon and Surat Thani to Krabi Town, so it is recommended to check schedules and book in advance to ensure availability.
Taking a combination of ferry and bus or minivan is the most convenient and popular way for tourists to travel from Ko Tao Island to Krabi Town.
The safest way to travel is to use the ferry to come to the mainland at Suratthani, then rent a car and drive down to Krabi yourself.
Going from Ko Samui to Ko Phi Phi Islands
The easiest way for a tourist to travel from Ko Samui to Ko Phi Phi islands is by taking a direct flight from Koh Samui Airport to Krabi Airport (KBV). Look at Bangkok Airways for reasonable costs for daily flights.
The next best way is a combination of ferry and bus or minivan.
First, you will need to take a ferry from Ko Samui to the mainland at either Don Sak Pier or Surat Thani. The ferry ride typically takes around 2-3 hours and tickets can be purchased at the pier or through a travel agency in advance.
Once you arrive at the mainland, you can then take a bus or minivan to Krabi Town, which is the closest mainland departure point for Ko Phi Phi. The journey from Don Sak Pier to Krabi Town by bus takes around 4-5 hours, while the journey from Surat Thani to Krabi Town takes around 3-4 hours.
From Krabi Town, you will need to take another ferry to Ko Phi Phi islands, which typically takes around 2-3 hours depending on the weather conditions. There are several ferry operators that offer services from Krabi Town to Ko Phi Phi, and it is recommended to check schedules and book in advance to ensure availability.
Find a fast boat at the Krabi Marina – they go every day and this is the easiest destination to leave for Phi Phi Islands in Krabi.
Going from Krabi Town to Ko Lanta Island
The easiest way for a tourist to travel from Krabi Town to Ko Lanta Islands is by taking a combination of minivan and ferry. The safest way is by renting a car and driving yourself a couple of hours it takes to reach the ferry, and putting your rental car on the ferry over to Ko Lanta.
You could also take a minivan from Krabi Town to the mainland departure point for Ko Lanta at the Klong Jirad Pier. The journey takes around 90-120 minutes depending on the traffic and ferry schedules.
From the pier, you can then take a ferry to Ko Lanta Island, which typically takes less than 30 minutes including the wait, depending on the weather conditions. Check the schedules or just show up and wait, like most people do. Sometimes you time it right and you get on a ferry quickly. Sometimes you may wait for half-an-hour to get one.
You could get a private taxi from Krabi Town to the Ko Lanta Pier, but really, just rent a car because you’ll have one to drive on Ko Lanta as well – this will be a huge convenience.
Going from Ao Nang Beach to Ko Lanta Island
Take a local white bus from Ao Nang into Krabi Town. Rent a car, or book a van or bus to Ko Lanta’s Klong Jilad Pier to go to Lanta Island(s).
Going from Krabi to Phuket Island
The easiest way for a tourist to travel from Krabi to Phuket Island is by taking a direct bus or minivan. The safest way is to rent your own vehicle in Krabi and drive yourself.
There are several bus and minivan operators that offer direct services from Krabi Town to Phuket Island, and the journey takes around 2-3 hours depending on the traffic and the departure point.
You can purchase tickets for the bus or minivan through a travel agency or online, and it is recommended to book in advance to ensure availability. Some operators also offer hotel pick-up and drop-off services for added convenience.
You could get a private taxi too. That’s better than a van (and probably safer), but will be more expensive. You’re so much better off to rent a car.
Going from Krabi to Trang (and back)
Just rent a car in Krabi at the airport or some other company found on Facebook and drive the 150 km (90 miles) to Trang yourself. It’s an easy drive and you’ll be better off having your own car while there.
- INFO about Renting Cars/Motorbikes in Thailand and License Requirements >
- Driving in Thailand >