Destinations
How to get from Krabi to Phuket
10
Sep
Sep
How to get from Krabi to Phuket
Both of these places can be gotten to via land and sea routes since although Phuket is an Island is connected to the mainland via the Sarasin Bridge. Phuket and Krabi are not really that far from one another and the journey can take anywhere from two to three hours depending on the state of traffic in the area.
Phuket and Krabi both are one of Thailand’s most famous tourist destinations. Both these beautiful places are jammed packed with gorgeous views and fun things to do. Phuket might see more tourists than Krabi because the Island is more marketed towards foreigners with bars, clubs and outdoor activities but the Krabi has its own charm.
Krabi is more in touch with the natural side of Thailand and has beautiful coasts and jungles for you to explore. Krabi is generally more famous with couples and people who enjoy nature and solitude.
Phuket generally draws more youngsters who enjoy partying or high-end families because of the many highly rated and well-developed worldwide resort brands,
From Krabi to Phuket via the sea
Since Phuket and Krabi are so near each other there are plenty of options one can take in order to get from one place to another and this definitely includes the sea.
Since both Phuket and Krabi are located in the Andaman Sea it is quite easy to hop on a ferry for a slow scenic route or if you do not have much time and want to get to Krabi quick you could always hire a speed boat to take you to Krabi.
Below, let’s go through both the ferry and speedboat as travel options for you your friends and your family.
The Ferry service between Krabi and Phuket
The ferry is one of the slowest ways of getting to Krabi from Phuket since it takes an average of 4.45 to 8.5 hours to reach your destination. The ferry can set off from two points in Phuket and just outside of Phuket. The one in Phuket Town is called Rassada pier, there is another pier outside the town called Bang Rong.
Relevant piers in Phuket for this transfer services:
- Rassada Pier
- Sea Angel Pier
- Bang Rong Pier
While the Pier at Krabi is called Nopporat Thara pier and is actually situated in Ao Nang.
There is a port that goes directly to Krabi town too, the Klong Jilad pier, which is where to Ferry discussed below will take you. This is the Pier where basically all ferries arrive and dock at Krabi.
The route by ferry
Travelling by ferry is a great option because you not only get to enjoy your time watching the beautiful scenery of Thailand’s coast and enjoy the beautiful sea breeze brushing your face and the splashing of the salty seawater against the ferry deck.
The ferry will travel to one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand called the Phi-Phi islands. The Phi Phi islands are a great place famous for the beautiful green islands and the magnificent and stunning scuba diving spots.
Option 1. Offered by several ferries. 4 hours and 45 minutes.
The ferry dock at Toosai pier on Phi Phi islands and there will be approximately 45 minutes waiting time to depart again and continue the route
Option 2. Offered as well by several ferries. 8 to 9 hours.
The ferry docks on Phi-Phi Island and then you are carted off to the island to do as you please for several hours. NOTE: keep in mind that this trip does come with the small burden of lugging your suitcases around with you everywhere you go because there is no storage on the islands unless you spend the night there.
Spending time on Phi phi island is always a great option.
One of the favourite things for people to do on the island is to have a great lunch near the beach looking out at the beautiful sea or walking up to the 3 Phi Phi Don viewpoints to enjoy incredible views.
Once you have had a bit of fun you will have to make your way back to the ferry and get ready for the other half of the journey.
You should remember though that during a certain few months (monsoon season) the ferries do not depart and get frequently cancelled because of choppy waters and very high waves. So you should always do your research and have some flexibility as to your travel plans in case the ferry gets delayed (during the monsoon season).
Krabi to Phuket / Phuket to Krabi routes. The pricing
A trip from Phuket to Phi Phi islands can cost anywhere from $12USD to around $42 USD depending on the offer and then from Phi Phi islands which is around 367 Baht to 1286 Baht and then you can go from Phi Phi to Krabi in around $10 USD to $15USD which around 300 Baht to 460 Baht.
This is great option and even though it costs a little more than taking a direct ferry from Krabi to Phuket which would cost around $32 USD (but is usually offered as lower pricing with many discounts) and takes around 4 hours and 45 minutes, but this way you get to explore another island that really is worth the hassle and not only that if you were planning to see it anyway then this way you can incorporate it within your travel itinerary.
Also, do remember that you may get caught in the rain so make sure you pack a raincoat just in case.
The Speedboat service between Krabi and Phuket
Now if you want to travel by sea have an exhilarating ride and get from Krabi to Phuket in a matter of minutes then look no further and hire a speedboat to take you there.
The only problem with the speedboat is that even though it’s the fastest ways to travel between both Phuket and Ao Nang it is the most expensive and as a downside:
- the speedboats do not dock in Krabi town but outside in the pier situated in Ao Nang.
This service can be availed via the pier terminal but as always be safe and book in advance in case they are sold out since a lot of people like travelling this way due to the speed at which you can reach Krabi.
We would advise you to book via a travel agent and combine it with a taxi or private car service to pick you up from your hotel drop you off Bang Rong pier in Phuket.
Ao Nang-Phuket-Ao Nang transfers by speedboat
Then once you arrive in Krabi at Nopporat Thara pier in Ao Nang, you will have a private car or taxi waiting for you to take you to your hotel or guesthouse in Krabi.
Be warned though the speedboats, during the rainy season, do actually get cancelled because of the monsoons and heavy rain so again make sure to plan accordingly. The cost of a speedboat is around 1200 Baht and the journey takes around one hour and thirty minutes.
Krabi to Phuket via Land
Since we have discussed the sea routes now let’s discuss how you can get from Krabi to Phuket via the land. Since Phuket is connected to the mainland via the Sarasin Bridge you can perform the entire journey via roads and not even have to touch the water once.
Taxi
Even though the taxi is the most expensive form of travelling on land from Krabi to Phuket it is still the only one that will give you the utmost flexibility.
The option that I really suggest, together with the ferry option.
With a taxi not only do you get a door to door service you also get to have the driver and car all to yourself and you can control when and where you get to go. You could even take detours from the main route and see sites and explore a little along the way.
The route is very cinematic and you could stop at Sarasin Bridge, Phang Nga, to take mesmerizing pictures!
The taxi is a great way to travel although expensive costing around 2500 Baht to 4000 Baht depending on the travel route. The roads are of course pretty good but the journey may take anywhere from 2-3 hours depending on the traffic and or road works going on, and it depends of course from what area you are departing in Phuket, as the island is more than 1-hour drive from south to north.
The distance from Krabi to Phuket is around 150-180km depending on where you are going exactly so it’s not a long drive.
Taxi is good in case you are travelling alone or as a couple or small family since there will be more room and more flexibility and of course, is a great alternative to renting out your car in case you are not comfortable with driving the car on unfamiliar roads.
Rent A Car
The Rent a car is a great option for all those who are either travelling in a group or a family of 5 since you can not only split the cost but half the ultimate freedom of travelling from Krabi to Phuket that is of course if you are comfortable with driving on Asian roads., and with left driving.
Some companies even allow pick and drop service to make the journey even smoother. The way is straight forward enough since you have GPS helping you and also the roads are have easily spotted signs for you to not get lost.
Minivan ( I strongly do not suggest this)
Now if you are a rugged adventurer like some people tend to think they are then you will be used to all types of driving that can possibly occur on a road.
However, if you are not and you have never sat in a minibus or bus in Thailand then do prepare to pray to whatever God or Gods you believe in because the minibus drivers in Thailand are infamous for their fast pace driving.
If you have ever wanted to feel like Dwayne Johnson riding a fast car as he does in the movie just book a cheap minibus from a local travel agent and your wish will be fulfilled. Minibuses are cheap costing around 450 Baht for the service which can be done at any travel agent.
The travel agents can make sure your minibus comes directly to your doorstep and you can hop right on in. At first, the ride is mind-numbingly slow since the minibus driver has to go door to door and pick up all the other passengers on the way. However, once that is done and dusted then the driver does not look back or stop for anyone as he pushes the accelerator all the way done and zig zags across the road to your destination.
The minibus will not take you directly to your hotel or guesthouse since they will either drop you off at a terminal or another travel agents office from you can either arrange another transport or hire a taxi. The journey takes around 3-4 hours in total.
Bus
The government-run Buses are comparatively cheaper than the fast-paced death race action of a minibus and of course, they do not make you feel like you are in a roller coaster about to drop from an incredible height. The buses run from terminal to terminal in both Phuket and Krabi and cost around 200 Baht so they are very cheap. The journey takes around 3-4 hours but it is a quiet journey.
You do have to realize that the cost might be a little bit more because you will have to hire a taxi or some other means of transport to get from your hotels door to the nearest bus terminal and then once you have arrived at Krabi from the bus terminal to the hotel or guesthouse you have booked for yourself. You can find a bus relatively easily since they leave at regular intervals from early morning to late in the afternoon.
If you have an interest in connecting and talking to locals then the bus is one of the best places to travel in since you can try and chat with a few locals and get to know them. Do keep in mind that some bus drivers will try to overcharge you because you are a foreigner, still shaming typical scene in Thailand, and will not let you travel on the bus unless you pay extra so be sure to able to haggle your way to Krabi.
Better take the buses from the Bus terminals to avoid any problem what so ever.
Another thing that should be kept in mind is the fact that there is not a lot of space in the bus so if you have a lot of luggage or want to travel in a little more comfort then just skip the bus entirely unless you pay for a more luxury liner bus
Some more indications
Going from Krabi to Phuket is not that difficult since you can easily go there from the various options listed above it is quite apparent that you are spoilt for choice. Depending on how fast you want to get Krabi and how much you want to spend you can choose from land or the sea to get to your destination.
Remember that when you travel from Phuket to Krabi, if you will be staying at any hotels at Tonsay bay or Railay beach (like the Centara Grand resort), you will still need to take a longtail boat to reach Railay or the hotel jetty to arrive at your final destination.
See also:
Weekend in Khao Sok National Park
