Tourists who travel to Thailand often wonder how to get from Bangkok to Phuket. There are several options here, the choice of one or another of them depends on the planned travel costs, on the amount of travel time that the tourist is willing to spend.
Types of transport by which you can get to the island part of Thailand:
- plane
- private road transport
- regular bus
- train (with a change)
- sea transport
Flight from Bangkok to Phuket
The option of traveling by plane significantly saves time spent on the road, but such a trip can cost a lot of money. So, the names of air carrier companies that travel between two points: Thai Airways, Air Asia, Bangkok airways, Lion Air, NOK Air. Travel time ranges from 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours. The most economical option would be to fly from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Phuket Island on Lion Air aircraft. The time spent on the road is 2 hours, the approximate cost of tickets is 4,600 rubles. In general, the fare ranges from 4,600 to 100,000 rubles, depending on the chosen airline, time of year and flight class.
You can also fly from Bangkok Airport, which is called "Don Muang". In the evening, a Lion Air plane takes off and lands in Phuket two hours later. The cost of an economy class ticket will be about 4,700 rubles. A slightly more expensive option for moving between the two cities will be the Bangkok - Phuket flight of NOK Air, here the travel time will be 1 hour 20 minutes, the cost of the road is from 5,400 rubles. The price of air tickets from Don Muang airport ranges from 4,700 to 98,000 rubles. You can fly from the capital of Thailand to Phuket almost at any time of the day, most of the flights depart in the evening and morning.
Travel from Bangkok to Phuket by bus
The trip by land transport will be longer, the approximate travel time is 10-12 hours. However, the cost of tickets is much more affordable for a budget traveler than a trip by plane. So, the options for moving between cities by bus are as follows:
1. A VIP bus from the private company TransportCo departs daily from the Southern Bus Terminal of Bangkok. Morning departure time: 07:30, in the evening the bus runs at 17:30, 18:00, 18:30 and 19:00. Travel time is 11 hours 50 minutes. The cost of the trip is 970 baht (the local currency of Thailand).
2. VIP-class bus, Phuket Travel Service, the number of seats for passengers in the cabin - 24. Departure time from the bus station in the capital of Thailand is 16:30 and 17:30. Travel time will be 13 hours exactly. Usually buses arrive in Phuket according to the schedule. The bus fare is 970 baht.
3. Bus of the first class, the number of seats in the cabin - 32. Departure time from the southern bus station of Bangkok - 19:45. A traveler will spend about twelve hours on the road, the fare will be 787 baht.
4. First class bus, cabin capacity - 50 seats. Departure time for Phuket is 18:30 and 19:15. Estimated travel time - 11 hours 50 minutes. The ticket price to the final destination is 626 baht.
5. First class bus with 32 passenger seats. Check-out times are 18:30 and 19:30. The traveler will spend at least thirteen hours on the road and will pay 625 baht for the trip.
VIP-class buses belong to private road carriers, more comfortable conditions for passengers have been created here. They are easy to recognize - the buses are painted in bright colors, where blue predominates. The first class buses are owned by the state, they are also quite comfortable, the cabin has air conditioning, TV. At the same time, the cost of travel on public buses is much lower. It is not recommended to use second-class buses, here you can save on the fare, but the journey will be long (up to fifteen hours) and not very comfortable.
Train from Bangkok to Phuket
There is no direct rail link between the capital of Thailand and Phuket. Recommended option: take a southbound train to the city of Surat Thani, and then change to a bus. The road is not easy, but quite interesting. Note to the tourist: you can buy a single ticket from Bangkok to Phuket (train + bus), it is called combined, it is offered for purchase at all stopping points in the city.
Train schedule from Hualamphong Railway Station to Surat Thani City:
- The sprinter train departs at 08:05, 14:45, 15:10, 22:10, arriving at Surat Thani station at 16:30, 00:46, 01:53 and 08:11, respectively
- The Fast train leaves daily at 13:00, 15:35, 17:35 and 18:20. Arrival time respectively - 00:09, 03:02, 05:09, 05:38
- The Express train with a berth leaves every day at 17:05 and 19:30, arrives at the final destination at 04:20 and 06:27, respectively
The average cost of a combined ticket is 1,000 baht. The most comfortable trip will be on the night train, where each passenger will be provided with a sleeping place. Thus, the traveler can sleep at night, and in the morning continue his journey by bus to Phuket Island.
Travel to Phuket by car
The way to travel around the country by car is quite profitable if you are traveling with a group of people (3 - 4 people). The roads in the country are good, so the trip will be a great addition to the impressions received the day before.
The driver needs to know some of the features of traffic in Thailand, do not forget that driving here is right-hand. To move towards Phuket, you must use the route number 4. On the way to the island part of the state, tourists will pass such settlements as Petchaburi, Chumpon and Phang-nga. The total distance of the route will be about 860 kilometers. The time depends on the speed of movement, usually the route is covered in ten to twelve hours. Not all travelers have a car with them. In Thailand, it will be offered to rent a car, this can be done in such large firms as Avisa or Budgeta. The approximate amount for renting a car is from 1,200 to 1,500 baht.
In order to navigate well the unfamiliar roads of the country, it is recommended to use the navigator, make sure that the maps are fresh. A trip by car can be very interesting, you can visit the provinces of Thailand, stay at local hotels, and see the country from the inside.
Travel to Phuket by water transport
Since Phuket is an island part of Thailand, its territory can be reached by sea. Phuket has a large port as well as small marinas. If you are a big fan of water travel and want to go from the capital of Thailand to the island of Phuket, then during the trip, you need to make a transfer, since there is no direct water communication between the cities. The cost of such a trip will be expensive and time-consuming, often the ferry service is canceled due to bad weather.
If a tourist is constrained by time frames, but at the same time has additional funds, then it is better to use air links. There are a sufficient number of flights operated by local airlines, you can fly at any time of the day. In just a few hours the traveler will be at the final destination of his route.
Undoubtedly, a first and second class bus ride is considered a budget trip. However, it must be remembered that there will be no comfort during such movement. Better, for a slightly higher fee, to use the services of private road carriers and travel in a VIP-class bus.
The most vivid and memorable trip to Phuket Island will undoubtedly be a car trip.During such a trip, tourists will be able not only to get to the final point of the route, but also to get acquainted with Thailand from the inside, it is possible to stay in local provinces, to see the traditions and customs of the country's inhabitants.
Thus, there are a lot of options for moving between two places attractive for tourists. Every traveler will find for himself the best option for traveling around the country!
