Phuket and Krabi are the most popular tourist destinations in Southern Thailand. As a result, there’s a good chance you’ll want to travel between these two beautiful islands during your journey in Thailand. There are three effective travel options from Phuket to Krabi, and they’re all relatively easy, quick, and stress-free.
Distance from Phuket to Krabi
The total distance from Phuket Town to Krabi Town is 165km, and it will take you between a 2 and 3 hours road journey depending on the type of vehicle you use.
Of course, it also depends on traffic – not so much in Krabi as it is on Phuket Island, particularly during the first part of the journey along Main Road 402 until you pass the Sarasin Bridge, which connects the island to the mainland. The journey is also one of the most beautiful routes in Thailand as you’ll pass all these massive limestone cliffs, the most notable of which is probably Elephant Hill in Phang Nga.
Note: There are no direct flights between Phuket and Krabi.
Easy Ways from Phuket to Krabi
1. By Bus
The most popular mode of transportation is by bus. The buses run between the two cities at least once every hour at 7 AM to 10 PM. The ticket costs 150-180 Baht depending on the type of coach (Standard, VIP, First Class, etc.), and the trip takes about 2.5 hours.
There is no need to pre-book your ticket; simply show up at the bus terminal and purchase it from one of the bus companies’ booths.
Note:
In Phuket, there are two bus terminals. Our recommendation is that you go to the Phuket Bus Terminal 2, located in the northern part of the town and is the newer one of both. They operate more frequently and with newer coaches.
If you stay on the beach, such as Patong, Kata, or Karon, a taxi should cost between 100 and 150 Baht. Coming from Phuket Town, you can simply hop on a motorbike taxi, which will cost you around 60-80 Baht.
2. By Minibus
Minibus is the second best option and it provides a bit more convenient ride than traveling by bus. You can book a seat at the minibus at one of the many travel agencies located throughout Phuket. The advantage is that they will pick you up directly from your hotel, but the disadvantage is that you will have less legroom than on the bus, and if you have a lot of luggage, you may need to purchase two tickets.
If you book your ticket at a travel agency, the one-way fare for the mini buses from Phuket to Krabi Town is about 200-250 Baht, and the trip is slightly faster than the bus – just over 2 hours – because they drive much faster.
3. By Taxi
Traveling by taxi from Phuket to Krabi is the most convenient mode of transportation, but it is also the most expensive. You can simply ask one of the drivers in your Phuket beach town (note: there aren’t many of them in Phuket Town) if they want to do the trip – not everyone will go because they aren’t sure if they will be able to find a customer in Krabi to drive back to Phuket.
The trip should take about 2 hours and cost between 1,500 and 2,000 Baht. Sure, you can book a taxi through a travel agency, but you will have to pay an additional charge and you will end up paying around 2,500 Baht. Taking a taxi ride from Phuket to Krabi will be a fantastic option especially if you’re sharing a taxi with two or three other people.
4. By Ferry
While it’s going to be a wonderful journey to take a ferry ride between the islands, but traveling from Phuket to Krabi by ferry is also the slowest option as it will take you about 4 hours in total. Approximately one hour from your Phuket hotel to the pier and waiting time, about 2.5 hours Ferry ride to Krabi Pier, and 30 minutes from the pier to Krabi Town. The total cost you have to pay is around 750 Baht.
However, if you intend to visit one of the region’s many beautiful islands, such as Koh Phi Phi, it makes sense to take the ferry to the others islands first, stay there for a couple of nights, and then take another ferry to Krabi.
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