How to get from Bangkok to Krabi province

Krabi is the capital of the tourist province of the same name and a popular resort in Thailand on a par with Phuket. In 1999, a new airport was opened to serve the tourist flow in the suburbs.

Because of its topography, the area is not easily accessible. There is an automobile road, but there are no railroad connections to other cities, including Bangkok.

Bus

From Bangkok to Krabi City by road is 778 km. By bus, the journey takes 11 to 13 hours. From Bangkok, transport departs from the South Bus Terminal (Terminal) located on Borommaratcha Chonnani Road. Departure times vary, but there is usually one flight in the morning and about ten between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm.

Thus, the trip takes place at night. On the one hand, it is convenient because it allows you to reach your destination in the morning. On the other hand, if you plan to see what is not a touristy ordinary Thailand from the bus window, it is better to choose a day trip. The bus terminal in Krabi is located 5 km north of the city. The frequency of flights is about the same, with a shift to the evening.

The trip will cost from $20 to $30 depending on the carrier, the comfort of the bus, the time of departure and the availability of additional services. The cheapest buses are those operated by the state company. They are also a social mode of intercity transport.

A minimum level of comfort - air-conditioned cabin air and a bottle of water - is guaranteed on any long flight. The higher the cost, the more comfortable it will be, and the distance between the seats is greater. Thailand has a complex system of bus categories. Among them are. premium, express, vip, svip. Of course, if the name of the flight has the letters VIP - this is the best of what the Thai carriers have to offer. As elsewhere, the time of arrival affects the ticket price: arriving at the final destination at 8 am is more convenient than at 5 am, and therefore more expensive.

Buses along the way make stops every 2-3 hours near peculiar road "hubs". Here you can go to the store, have a quick snack at a roadside cafe or buy local fast food from a street vendor, and do other necessary things.

Train + bus

A complicated and longer route with a transfer. The route by train is from Bangkok to Surat Thani. From the capital's Hualamphong Station, 11 trains depart daily, 10 of which arrive at their destination at night or in the morning.

If you choose 1st or 2nd class cars - compartment and parlor - the trip will be much more comfortable than on the bus. On a night trip, you can sleep in a normal horizontal position, not sitting in a chair. If we talk about third class cars, on this route they are often equipped with padded seats and air conditioning systems, have much more space inside than the bus cabin. However, there are also the cheapest options like our

of electric trains with wooden benches.

Travel time:

• special express - 9 hours.

• express - 11 h.

• fast - 12 hours.

The cost of the route Bangkok - Surat Thani on one of the special express trains:

• A single compartment - $50.

• Seat in a double compartment - $30-$37 depending on the location of the shelf (top / bottom).

• A seat in a reserved car is on average $23.

• Seating in third class (soft car) - $17.

• Seating in third class (rigid carriage) is $6.

Despite the fact that travel by train is longer and more expensive than by bus, many people choose this option as a safer mode of transportation.

From the station in Surat Thani buses go in many different directions. There is no need to go to any additional bus station. One of the major carriers, Phantip Travel, operates regular flights in the desired direction every 1.5 hours throughout the day. It costs $5 to get one person to the final destination. Travel time is about 3.5 hours.

If you are traveling light, have the ability to pay for a comfortable single or double compartment, then train and bus travel will be the best option.

Plane

The easiest way to get to Krabi is by air. Planes take off from Bangkok almost every hour. There are low-cost carriers with one-way tickets at $35 (if you're lucky) and the "cool" carriers Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways with tickets at $135. The average price if you buy a ticket immediately before departure is $70-$90.

Here everyone chooses for himself whether to save money or not. All the same, lowcosters are lowcosters, and South Asian lowcosters are far from European ones. The high price of solid companies is largely associated with the brand and level of service. But it should not be forgotten that the cost of the flight depends on the condition of the aircraft. In addition, the airport of departure affects the choice of carrier.

Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways depart from Suvarnabhumi, while the low-cost carriers depart from Don Muang. But it's not a big problem: there is a shuttle bus between airports (travel time - 30 minutes). In Krabi the airport is outside the city (14 km).

Car

A trip by car is the most extreme way to get from Bangkok to Krabi. First of all, the distance is quite decent. Secondly, the organization of traffic in Thailand is quite different from the usual European type (up to the complete absence of any organization). Local drivers are governed by unwritten local rules of driving and parking. And the traffic is left-handed, which itself is a problem during the first 2-3 days.

Finally, thirdly, traveling by car over such a distance is not a cheap pleasure. A liter of gasoline in Thailand costs about $1. You will have to travel about 800 km. In the best case it is 56 liters of fuel. Total - $56 only for gasoline. Depending on the appetite of the car could be and $80, and $100. Plus rental car and toll roads (!). In general, if you go in a company of 4-6 people, you can go by car, but two or three - better by train.

Road map by car:

• Highway 35 is the road from Bangkok to the west (1 hour).

• Highway 4 - South of Route 35 is the main part of the route (550 km) to Chumphon Province.

• Then you can continue on Highway 4, which turns right and runs along the west coast of the Malacca Peninsula, making a detour to Krabi. But it's a long one.

There is a way to get by a shorter route with the passage through Surat Thani.

• Highway 41 - Exit 4 at Chumphon, continuing south.

• Highway 44 is the turn at the intersection with Route 41 to the southwest.

• Then turn left onto the familiar Highway 4, which goes through Krabi.

It's up to you how you get there. For clarity, see the summary table of possible transport, time and cost of travel.