Info on buses from Phuket - terminals, costs, times and more

Phuket bus timetable

Though the arrival of discount air lines has cut into the bus travel business, it remains a popular way to get around the Kingdom. It's inexpensive and quite comfortable, especially if you shell out a bit more for an air conditioned ride. From Phuket, there are frequent daily departures to 12 destinations around Southern Thailand , plus more than 20 buses a day to Bangkok .

The non-air con buses and occasionally the air conditioned buses get packed to standing room only, so be sure to book a seat in advance if possible. During holiday periods such as Songkran, it's best to book at least a few days before setting out, as buses fill up quickly.

Tickets are available through the government office and about half a dozen private companies at the Phuket Bus Terminal on Phang Nga Road , Phuket City . Air conditioned mini buses (vans) are also available for several destinations. These can usually be arranged through your hotel, and at the locations listed in the schedule below.

When travelling longer distances, the bus service is much like an air line, with snacks and drinks handed out by a hostess. Buses dubbed ‘1 st class’ have toilets, while 2 nd class buses are air conditioned but have no toilets on board. For trips longer than three to four hours, there are usually one or two rest stops anyway, and the lack of toilets on board is often a plus.

Videos are shown on most buses, usually in Thai language, and they go on through the night, making sleep a little difficult sometimes. Thais also love their air-conditioning to be set on sub-zero temperatures, so remember to dress warmly.

Buses from Bangkok to Phuket depart frequently from the Southern Bus Terminal and take roughly 12 hours. We recommend VIP buses (fare 486-755 baht), offered by either the government or private companies. To make absolutely sure that the bus you've booked is truly of "VIP" standard, it's better to buy the ticket directly at the bus terminal. The ones touted by some agents, particularly those on Khao San Road , often turn out to be far less luxurious than promised, and make many inexplicable and infuriating stops along the way, adding several hours to travel time.

Phuket regional bus timetable

To PhattalungDepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus8.107 hours
Air conditioned bus10.406 hours

To Phang Nga DepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus10.10 / 12.00 / 13.40 / 15.20 / 16.30 2.5 hours

To Takuapa DepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus6.20 / 7.40 / 9.00 / 10.20 / 11.40 / 13.00 / 15.00 / 16.00 / 17.00 / 18.003 hours

To Ranong DepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus8.00 / 13.20 * (pass Kao Lak)6 hours
Air conditioned bus 8.10 / 11.50 / 14.005 hours

To SatunDepartureDuration
Air conditioned bus 8.15 / 10.15 / 12.15 / 20.15 7 hours

To Su-Ngai KolokDepartureDuration
Air conditioned bus 6.00 / 8.00 / 20.00 11 hours

Phuket to Krabi coast bus timetable

To Krabi DepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus11.25 / 15.50 4 hours
2 nd class air conditioned bus10.50 / 12.50 / 14.30 3.5 hours
Air conditioned bus7.00 / 7.30 / 8.00 / 8.30 / 9.00 / 09.30 / 10.00 / 10.30 / 11.00 / 11.30 / 12.00 / 12.30 / 13.00 / 14.00 / 15.00 / 17.00 / 18.30 3 hours

Phuket to Bangkok bus timetable

To bangkok DepartureDuration
2 nd class air conditioned bus6.00 / 6.30 / 15.20 / 19.00 (through Phang Nga-Surat Thani)12 hours
2 nd class air conditioned bus 8.25 / 12.35 / 14.15 / 16.20 / 17.30 / 18.15 / 19.30 (through Takuapa-Ranong) 14 hours
1 st class air conditoned bus 7.00 / 15.00 / 15.30 / 16.00 / 17.30 / 18.00 / 18.30 12 hours
VIP air conditioned bus7.30 / 16.00 / 17.20 / 18.00 / 18.20 / 18.30 / 19.00 10 hours

To Chumphon DepartureDuration
1 st class air conditioned bus 8.10 / 11.50 / 14.00 11 hours

Phuket to East coast bus timetable – for Samui

To Nakhon Sri Thammarat DepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus4.30 / 8.20 / 09.20 / 10.50 8 hours
Air conditioned bus 6.00 / 07.15 / 13.00 / 16.30 7 hours
Minibus Every 1 hour from 8.10-16.10 (Opposite Tisune Café) 7 hours
Minibus Every 1 hour from 8.00-16.00 (Behind Sengho Book Shop 7 hours

To Surat ThaniDepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus 4.45 / 5.30 / 7.00 / 8.20 / 9.40 / 11.00 / 12.20 / 13.50 6 hours
Air conditioned bus7.30 / 9.00 (through Khao Lak and Khao Sok) 5 hours
Air conditioned bus8.00 / 10.00 / 12.00 / 15.30 4.5 hours
Minibus Every 2 hours from 7.00-17.00 (opposite Montree Resortel) 7 hours

Phuket to Southern provinces bus timetable

To Hat YaiDepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus 10.20 8 hours
2 nd class air conditioned bus 6.25 / 7.45 / 8.45 7 hours
1 st class air conditoned busEvery 1 hour from 7.30-12.30; 19.30 / 21.30 6 hours
VIP air conditioned bus21.45 7 hours
Minibus21.006 hours

To TrangDepartureDuration
Non air conditioned bus 5.05 / 7.05 / 8.05 / 9.45 / 12.25 6 hours
2 nd class air conditioned bus 6.00 / 7.15 / 9.15 / 11.15 5 hours
1 st class air conditoned bus7.00 / 8.00 / 9.00 / 11.00 / 12.00 / 13.00 / 14.00 / 15.00 / 16.00 / 17.00 / 18.30 5 hours

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