How to get from Bangkok to Phuket on your own – cheap ways
Tourists who travel around 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:
Flight from Bangkok to Phuket
The option of traveling by plane saves a lot of time spent on the road, but at the same time such a trip can cost a tidy sum. 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 on Lion Air aircraft. The time spent on the road is 2 hours, the estimated 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, which 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 will be 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 at almost any time of the day, most flights depart in the evening and morning.
Travel from Bangkok to Phuket by bus
The trip by land means of transport will be longer, the approximate travel time is 10-12 hours. However, the cost of tickets is much more affordable for the economical tourist than traveling by plane. So, the options for traveling between cities by bus are as follows:
1 The VIP-class bus of the private company “TransportCo” departs daily from the southern bus station of Bangkok “Southern Bus Terminal”. Morning departure time: 07:30, in the evening the bus leaves 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, a trucking company, seats for passengers in the cabin – 24. Departure time from the bus station of the capital of Thailand – 16:30 and 17:30. Travel time will be 13 hours exactly. Buses usually come to Phuket according to the schedule. The bus fare is 970 baht.
3 First class bus, seating capacity – 32. Departure time from Bangkok South Bus Station – 19:45. The traveler will spend about twelve hours on the road, the fare will be 787 baht.
4 First class bus, cabin capacity – 50 seats. Departure times for Phuket are 18:30 and 19:15. Estimated travel time is 11 hours 50 minutes. The price of a ticket to the final destination is 626 baht.
5 First class bus with 32 seats. Check-out time is 18:30 and 19:30. The traveler will spend at least thirteen hours on the road and pay 625 baht for the trip.
VIP-class buses belong to private haulers, more comfortable conditions for passengers have been created here. They are easy to recognize – the buses are painted in bright colors, where blue prevails. First-class buses belong to the state, they are also quite comfortable, there is air conditioning and a TV in the cabin. At the same time, the cost of travel in public buses is much lower. It is not recommended to use second-class buses, here you can save on fares, but the journey will be long (up to fifteen hours) and not very comfortable.
Train from Bangkok to Phuket
There is no direct rail connection between the capital of Thailand and Phuket. Recommended option: take the southbound train to Surat Thani city and then transfer to the bus. The road will not be easy, but quite interesting. Note to the tourist: you can buy a single ticket from Bangkok to Phuket (train + bus), it is called a combined one, it is offered for purchase at all stops in the city.
Train schedule from Hualamphong railway station to Surat Thani city:
The average cost of a combined ticket will be 1,000 baht. The most convenient will be a trip on a night train, where each passenger will be provided with a bed. Thus, the traveler will be able to sleep at night, and in the morning continue his journey by bus to Phuket.
Driving to Phuket
The way to travel around the country by car is quite profitable if you travel 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 the ride here is right-handed. To move towards Phuket, you must use 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 travel distance will be about 860 kilometers. The time depends on the speed of movement, usually the route is overcome 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 Budget. The estimated amount of car rental will be from 1,200 to 1,500 baht.
In order to navigate well on unfamiliar roads of the country, it is recommended to use the navigator, make sure that the maps are up to date. A trip by car can be very interesting, you can visit the provinces of Thailand, stay in local hotels, explore the country from the inside.
Trip 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 for yachts. If you are a big fan of water travel and want to go from the capital of Thailand to Phuket, then during the trip, you need to make a transfer, since there is no direct water connection between the cities. The cost of such a trip will be expensive and lengthy, often the ferry service is canceled due to bad weather.
If the tourist is constrained by the time frame, but at the same time has additional funds, then it is better to use air travel. There are a sufficient number of flights operated by local airlines, you can fly at any time of the day. Just a few hours and the traveler will be at the final point of his route.
Undoubtedly, a trip on a first and second class bus is considered a budget trip. However, it must be remembered that there will be no comfort with such movement. Better for a slightly higher fee, use the services of private carriers and travel in a VIP-class bus.
The most striking and memorable trip to Phuket, of course, will be a trip by car. During such a trip, tourists can not only get to the end point of the route, but also get to know Thailand from the inside, it is possible to stay in local provinces, 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. Each traveler will find for himself the best option for moving around the country!