Skip to Content

How to get from Krabi to Phuket: All Options

How to get from Krabi to Phuket: All Options

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and has become a favourite of many travellers. This idyllic paradise is filled with gorgeous sandy beaches, lush green landscape and incredible local Thai food. How could you not want to spend time here? With so many memorable experiences on offer, unique culture to see and amazing activities to do, this is definitely somewhere worth visiting. If you want to travel over from Krabi to Phuket, the best way to plan your commute and book a ticket is via 12Go.

Krabi to Phuket

HOW TO GET FROM KRABI TO PHUKET

This blog post will assist you in booking your journey from Krabi to Phuket and provide you with the information that you will need to know, which will help to take away the stress you may feel when planning a trip.

Within this article I am going to detail the forms of transport available for you to make your journey from Krabi to Phuket with. Alongside this, I will delve further into all aspects of the commute such as the best way to book your ticket, the options of travel available, key points including the most affordable ticket and quickest commute time, as well as top tips for when you arrive in Phuket.

Powered by 12Go system
Phuket Ferry

BEST WAY TO BOOK A TICKET FROM KRABI TO PHUKET

You may not have time to read this entire blog, so the short answer you will be looking for when planning your trip from Krabi to Phuket is the simplest way of booking your ticket. I can tell you that this is via 12Go, as this booking platform offers an array of information around all of the travel options available and the additional details you will need to know before embarking upon your chosen journey.

However, if you do have the time to read on further, then I am going to break down the steps and key points so that you don’t have to do all of the research yourself. By the end of this article you will have an informed idea around which type of transport you would like to take and may even know the exact commute you want to book via 12Go that is going to suit your travel plans the most from Krabi to Phuket.

Flight Krabi - Phuket $ 49.52–86.20 4h 35m – 1d 1h 35m
  •   Economy 09:30, 09:45, 13:45, 20:20
Bus Krabi - Phuket $ 8.18–8.73 3h – 3h 10m
  •   VIP 24 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
  •   Minibus 10:20, 10:30
Taxi Krabi - Phuket $ 62.74–345.06 1h 5m – 4h
  •   Comfort
  •   Van 9pax
  •   Economy
  •   SUV 4pax
  •   Mercedes S Class
  •   Toyota Alphard
  •   VIP Van 9pax
Ferry Krabi - Phuket $ 29.73 1h 50m
  •   Speedboat 13:40
Van Krabi - Phuket $ 7.09–27.28 2h – 6h 5m
  •   Van 9pax 07:30
  •   Van 13pax 06:00, 06:40, 07:20, 08:00, 08:40, 09:20, 10:00, 10:40, 11:20, 12:00, 12:40, 13:20, 14:00, 14:40, 15:20, 16:00, 16:40, 17:20
  •   Minivan 09:20, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:20, 11:30, 12:00
Krabi to Phuket

OPTIONS OF TRAVEL FOR HOW TO GET FROM KRABI TO PHUKET

There are nine ways to commute from Krabi to Phuket which can take between 1 hour and 15 minutes up to 6 hours, with a range of transport types available. These include;

  • Vans
  • Buses
  • Taxis
  • Ferries
  • Planes

When choosing which option suits you most, you will need to consider the date you would like to travel, the time you were planning on arriving to Phuket by and the budget you have to book your transport with. This will then help you in making the decision of which route you would like to take.

Option 1 – Van
Travelling by van from Krabi to Phuket is one of the most regular and affordable ways to make the journey, with over 50 running per day and ticket prices starting at $11 per person. Commute times can take from 2 hours and 30 minutes up to 4 hours and 40 minutes. The departure stations for vans are situated within locations in Krabi Town, Krabi Bus Terminal, Ao Nang and Ao Nam Mao Pier. The arrival stations into Phuket are located at Phuket Bus Terminal, Phuket Airport, Phuket Town and several beaches around the island.

Cheapest van option
The most affordable ticket for commuting with a van is the 438 Phuket Krabi Transport service, costing $11 per person and running over 15 times throughout the day, from early morning up until late afternoon.

Quickest van option
The fastest commute by van is the Good Luck Lanta Tour Service taking just 2 hours and 30 minutes in travel time, with only one running per day.

Option 2 – Bus
There is one travel operator when commuting by bus, this is the Minibus 1996 line which takes 3 hours, departing from Krabi Bus Terminal and arriving at Phuket Bus Terminal, costing $13 per person. It is a great way to take the journey from Krabi to Phuket, as it isn’t too long in travel time and is one of the most affordable ticket prices. You can purchase your ticket via 12Go.

Option 3 – Ferry
When choosing to travel by ferry you will arrive at either Bong Rong Pier or Rassada Pier on Phuket. The quickest ferry takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, with the longest commute being 2 hours and 15 minutes. There are approximately eight ferries running per day across four travel operators, costing between $30-$47 per person. To book your ferry ticket and to compare the travel options available, you can find more information via 12Go.

Option 4 – Taxi
Taxis available for the journey from Krabi to Phuket can carry between 3 to 9 people and take from 2 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes in commute time. The cost of these taxis can be between $43 and $214 per journey. The price of the taxi depends on which travel operator you pick to go with, the commute time it takes and how many people you will be sharing with plus the type of package you choose to book.

Option 5 – Plane
To get from Krabi to Phuket via air, you will need to take 2 planes. The two airlines that make this commute are Bangkok Air and Thai AirAsia, both departing from KBV Krabi Airport and arriving at HKT Phuket Airport, with self connections for the changeover. Bangkok Air makes a change in USM Koh Samui Airport and Thai AirAsia in DMK Don Mueang Airport. Travel time can take between 3 hours and 5 minutes to 5 hours and 5 minutes from when you depart in Krabi, to when you arrive at Phuket. The cheapest flight option costs $81 with the most expensive costing $331. 

Option 6 – Taxi and van
When you book the taxi and van commute option from Krabi to Phuket you are guaranteed to make your connection. All of these depart from Ao Nang, Krabi and arrive at Phuket Bus Terminal, taking between 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours and 30 minutes, costing either $23 or $43 per person.

Option 7 – Bus and van
This is another affordable way to make your journey from Krabi to Phuket, costing between $25 and $30 per person. The journey can take from 5 to 6 hours and requires a transfer from bus to van. Departure stations from Krabi for this option of travel are at either Ao Nang or Krabi Town Hotel, with the arrival stations in Phuket being at either Kata Beach or Phuket Rawai Beach. You can book your ticket via 12Go.

Option 8 – Ferry and taxi
Travelling by ferry then taxi is only available in the afternoons, from 12pm onwards. Some of these journeys require two transfers with either more than one ferry or taxi included in the journey. The shortest commute takes 1 hour and 30 minutes with the longest commute taking 4 hours. It’s not a popular way for travelling from Krabi to Phuket but if you are interested in this option, 12Go has all of the departure and arrival time and destinations as well as costings for each.

Option 9 – Ferry and van
With this option you will either take a ferry and then van or a van and then ferry, as some of these journeys include transfers from specific hotels in Krabi, and some include transfers once arriving in Phuket. Choosing this option from Krabi to Phuket will take you from 2 hours and 20 minutes up to 6 hours, depending on which journey you decide upon. For more information around times and pricing for this, visit 12Go.

Krabi to Phuket Transfer

KEY POINTS

Most affordable ticket option
The cheapest option of getting from Krabi to Phuket is by booking a van with the travel operator 438 Phuket Krabi Transport which takes 3 hours in travel time, each costing $11 per person. These vans depart from Krabi Bus Terminal and arrive at Phuket Bus Terminal 1, with over 15 running per day from early morning till late afternoon.

Quickest commute time
The fastest way to get from Krabi to Phuket is by booking a speedboat ferry with the travel operator Tigerline Travel which takes 1 hour and 15 minutes in commute time, costing $47 per person. This ferry departs from Floating Pier East Railway, Krabi and arrives at Bang Rong Pier, Phuket. Please note, there is usually only one of these running in the middle of the afternoon per day.

Most convenient journey to book
Travelling by bus from Krabi to Phuket is one of the best options to choose as it is only a 3 hour journey, departing from Krabi Bus Terminal and arriving at Phuket Bus Terminal, with an affordable ticket price of $13 per person and no limit to how much luggage you can board with.

Luggage allowance dependent on transport type

Travelling by van
You are allowed approximately 1 piece of hand luggage plus 1 suitcase that can weigh between 20-30 kg. The weight of the suitcase varies depending on which travel operator you choose, please check specific details around the luggage allowance before booking your ticket Krabi to Phuket.

Travelling by bus
There is no limit on luggage allowance when travelling from Krabi to Phuket.

Travelling by ferry
Depending on which travel operator you decide to make your ferry journey from Krabi to Phuket with, will depend on the luggage allowance you can take on board. All ferries allow at least 20 kg in luggage weight with some accepting up to 30 kg. Please check specifics before booking.

Travelling by taxi
When taking a taxi to make the commute from Krabi to Phuket, they ask that each passenger only take 1 piece of luggage with them and for it not to be excessive or too big.

Travelling by plane
If you fly with Bangkok Air from Krabi to Phuket you are allowed to take 1 piece of hand luggage on board weighing no more than 7kg and 1 checked in piece of luggage weighing up to 20kg. If you are flying with Thai AirAsia from Krabi to Phuket you are allowed to take 2 pieces of hand luggage onboard weighing no more than 7kg and your checked in luggage can weigh up to 20 kg.

Arrival time to departure stations from Krabi
All options of travel via ground or sea are required to have checked in 30-60 minutes before the departure time. I suggest you arrive at least 3 hours before boarding your form of transport to ensure that you have everything in order to travel.

When travelling via plane, you are requested to check in 2-3 hours before your departure time, so arriving 3-4 hours before your flight time is never a bad idea.

Phuket Ferry

HOW TO BOOK A TICKET FROM KRABI TO PHUKET

The most convenient and informative platform to book your ticket from Krabi to Phuket on is 12Go. Here you will be able to see all of the options available which include their departure from Krabi and arrival time at Phuket with locations, how much each commute costs, what form of transport it uses and the time it takes to travel from one island to the other.

Pre-purchasing a travel ticket via 12Go is the best way to ensure that you get the exact journey you want to book. If you wait until the day of travel, you are not guaranteed the journey you had been looking at and there is a chance you will have to wait for a long period of time in a ticket queue.

Phuket Speedboat

HOW TO GET TO DEPARTURE STATIONS IN PHUKET

Krabi has a few options of how you can travel around the area, meaning it should be no problem for you to get to your departure station for your journey from Krabi to Phuket. You have the choice of deciding between local buses, motorcycle taxis, private transfers, car taxis, or hiring a motorbike or car yourself. When deciding how you will get from your accommodation to departure location, please consider the amount of time it will take you and how early you will need to arrive before boarding your chosen form of transport to Phuket, before booking.

Krabi to Phuket Taxi

HOW TO GET TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION FROM PHUKET

Once you have arrived from Krabi to Phuket, you will have several options of how to get to your final destination. These include forms of transport such as;

  • Buses (Micro or smart)
  • Tuk Tuks
  • Taxis (Motorbike or car)
  • Boats
  • Songathews
  • Car rental

Depending on the location of your final destination, the time you arrive into Phuket and the budget you have for transport, will equate to which option you will choose. With the island being such a popular place to visit and having the accessibility to a variety of transport, there will be a perfect choice for you and you won’t have to be stranded with your luggage at your arrival point.

Phuket Beach

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT PHUKET

The most ideal time to plan your trip to Phuket is during the months of November, through to and including February. Throughout this period of time the climate is more pleasant, allowing you to really enjoy your time on the island. Temperatures stay between 25-30 degrees, and any monsoon weather is blocked by the mainland of Thailand, meaning there are always blue skies to relax under, a slight breeze to keep cool and the least amount of rainfall to not get in the way of exploring around the island.

HOW LONG TO VISIT PHUKET FOR

For you to really experience all that the island has to offer and to make sure that you fit in everything on your Phuket bucket list, 10 days is a great amount of time, and if you can push to 2 whole weeks then that’s even better. Also, within this amount of time you will be able to move to different locations around the island which is going to provide you with an even better insight into the culture, experiences and landmarks. It is possible to still enjoy this paradise within 5-7 days but there is a chance that you won’t be able to squeeze in all of the must-do activities.

Aerial View From Kata Karon

THINGS TO DO IN PHUKET

Visit The Phuket Big Buddha
This famous landmark stands at 45 metres tall and sits on the Nakkerd Hills. From here you will also be able to see a great panoramic view of the island whilst being in awe of this giant masterpiece. The atmosphere that surrounds the Big Buddha brings a calm feeling to those within its presence. Whilst the area is very quiet you will be able to hear dharma music and small bells chiming.

Walk up to the Karon View Point
At this spot you will have a magnificent view overlooking the Andaman Sea from one side, and the three west coast beaches on the other. The viewpoint is situated just South of Kata Noi Beach, and from here you can take a short 25 minute walk down to the golden sands and turquoise waters, making it a great day spent exploring and relaxing.

Check out the Chalong Bay Rum Distillery
Here you will be able to taste the flavours of locally made rum, as well as see the process of how they create it and take part in a cocktail workshop that will teach you how to make an array of specialities with this specific rum. It’s a great way to have a fun yet relaxing day out of the sun whilst learning more about the island and its unique personality.

Take part in a traditional Thai cooking class
If you are looking to completely emerge yourself into the Phuket culture, then this is a great activity to do. There are several locations across the island that offer cooking classes that will introduce you to the key ingredients needed to create those mouth-watering Thai flavours.

Admire the Jui Tui Shrine
Wrapped in vibrant colours, this breath-taking monument is a trio of statues that each represent a Chinese god. An interesting fact about this beautiful site is that it wasn’t always in the location where it stands today. Many years ago a fire broke out and nearly destroyed this landmark, which is why it was then decided to be moved to a different spot.

Krabi to Phuket

MORE THAILAND BLOGS

If you are inspired to find out more about exploring throughout Thailand, then you will want to check out these blogs. With so much to experience in the heart of Southeast Asia, you do not want to miss out, so take a read and get planning…

20 BEST OVERWATER BUNGALOWS IN THAILAND

15 AWESOME VIEW POINTS ON KOH SAMUI, THAILAND

10 AWESOME THINGS TO DO ON KOH LANTA, THAILAND

12 BEST ECO RESORTS IN THAILAND: COMPLETE GUIDE

HOW TO GET FROM KOH SAMUI TO KOH TAO: COMPLETE GUIDE

HOW TO GET FROM KOH TAO TO BANGKOK: ALL OPTION

HOW TO GET FROM LANGKAWI TO KOH LIPE BY FERRY