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How to get to Phuket from Bangkok
By air (1.20 hrs)
Domestic airlines operate several flights daily between Bangkok and Phuket. Some flights go to Phuket via Samui Island with a 40-minute stopover. Check with your travel agent for more details for phone numbers of domestic airlines.
By bus (about 12 hrs)
Air-conditioned and non air-con buses leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal for Phuket several times daily. The trip by air-con bus, normally leaving in the evening, takes about 13 hours. (I do not recommend you get a tourist bus even if it says VIP!), they pack the tourists in, over fill the bus with bags and people. It is much better to get a bus from the soutern bus terminal, and do a journey through the night.
For further details,
call the Southern Bus Terminal, 0 2435 1199, 0 2435 1200 (air-con bus)
or 0 2434 5557-8 (non air-con bus).
By car (about 12 hrs)
From Bangkok, take Highway No.4 (Phetchakasem Road) through Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang-nga, then cross the Thep Krasattri Bridge or Sarasin Bridge to Phuket Island. The total distance is 862 kilometres.
By rail
There is no direct train service to Phuket. Travellers by train must get off at Phun Phin railway station in Surat Thani and continue by regular bus to Phuket.
For details, call
the State Railway of Thailand, 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2220 4444 (RSVN),
0 2220 4334, 0 2621 8701.
How to get to Phuket from Aboard
There are several direct flights between Phuket and international destinations, e.g. Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Penang, Singapore, and Sydney.
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| Travel around Phuket |
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Airport Bus Route 8411 operates daily from Phuket International Airport to Phuket downtown and from Phuket downtown to Phuket International Airport. The fares range from 6 to 52 baht, depending on the distance of the trip. A bus leaves at 1 to 1.30 hour intervals.
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The buses depart Phuket Bus Terminal to Phuket International Airport from 05:00 to 18:00 hrs., and from Phuket International Airport to Phuket Bus Terminal from 06:30 to 21:30 hrs.
30 and 15 Trips tickets are available as follows:
• Bus stop at Phuket Bus Terminal
• Bus stop at Phuket International Airport
• On each bus (ask fare collector)
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Destination |
Joint Minibus Fare (Baht) |
Taxi |
Minibus |
| Phuket City |
- |
100 |
| Patong, Nanai |
- |
150 |
| Kata, Karon, Kata Noi, Karon Noi |
- |
180 |
| Merlin Beach |
- |
250 |
Destination |
Private Limousine Fare (Baht) |
Taxi |
Minibus |
| Phuket Town |
400 |
800 |
| Phuket Pier, Kathu |
450 |
900 |
| Bangthao, Laguna, Surin, Layan |
450 |
900 |
| Kamala, Laem Sing, Phuket Fantasea |
500 |
1000 |
| Chalong Bay, Chalong Intersection |
550 |
1100 |
| Patong, Kalim, Nanai |
550 |
1100 |
| Coral Beach, Nakalay |
550 |
1100 |
| Kata, Karon, Kata Noi, Karon Noi |
650 |
1300 |
| Rawai, Naihan, Saiyuan, Phromthep |
650 |
1300 |
| Panwa Cape |
650 |
1300 |
Note: Fares are subject to change without prior notice. |
| Types of Vehicles |
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Town to beaches |
Medium-sized buses (large songthaeos) run regularly from Ranong Road near the market to various beaches. The fares range from 15 - 30 baht. The buses leave at half-hour intervals from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. After that, you must hire a taxi (tuk tuk). The fare must be agreed on before departure. |
Normally from town to Patong beach, the fare is around 210 baht, to Kata and Karon beaches, 240 and 270 baht respectively.
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Taxis(tuk tuk) and motorcycle taxis are communal service and available everywhere. The taxi meter fares are 50 baht for a distance of no more than 2 km. and 7 baht/ km for every next kilometre. |
Public air-con bus in Phuket town |
Public air-con buses are operated in two routes:
1) Big C - Phuket Vocational College.
This route passes the following roads: Bypass, Yaowarat, Mae Luan, Wichit Songkhram, Ranong, Phang-nga, Rasada and Phuket Road. |
2) Rajaphat Institute - Laemchan Public Health Centre (Phattana Thongthin Road).
The route passes Sakdidet, Chaofa, Bangkok, Poon Phon, Kra, Ong Sim Phai, Dilok Uthit, Surin, Damrong and Thep Krasattri.
The fare is 10 baht for the whole distance. |
Note: Fares are subject to change without prior notice |
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| Getting to nearby Provences |
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By bus
There are regular bus services to neighbouring provinces such as Krabi, Phang-nga, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Surat Thani, Satun, Hat Yai and Trang. Departures are from the Phuket Bus Terminal off Phang-nga Road.
Phuket Air-con Bus Station, tel. 0 7621 1977.
Taxis & Vans
There are shared taxi and van services between Phuket and other nearby provinces. Fares of both are generally around double the fare of an ordinary bus. The stations of both taxis and minivans are also on Phang-nga Road.
By air
Some domestic airlines operate flights from Phuket to Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Hat Yai and Samui.
For more details, check with your travel agent.
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| Getting to nearby Islands |
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Boats to nearby islands can be found at the following ports:
Rawai Beach
Inhabited by the sea gypsies, this beach is an old local port. From here, long-tail boats sail for nearby islands such as Ko He, Ko Racha Yai, Ko Mai Thon, Ko Lon, etc. The charter price depends on the distance.
Ao Chalong
This is the largest port of Phuket where all kinds of boats can be found including cruisers of tour companies which organize package tours to other islands.
Ao Makham
This port, near Phanwa Cape, is only for cruisers and container ships.
Boat Lagoon Port (Ao Sapam)
This port is for travelling boats of tour companies.
Many travel companies in Phuket operate tours of islands around Phuket. Check with your travel agent or hotel.
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Phuket Hotels and Travel Guide |
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