Bangkok to Krabi tickets

About the ride from Bangkok to Krabi

With ancient temples standing alongside modern skyscrapers, Bangkok is the definition of old meets new. It’s a place where you can visit ornate historical buildings by day and then hop on modern public transportation to party the night away at a sophisticated rooftop bar.

But while the food, fun and frenzy are worth experiencing, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if all you did in Thailand was visit the capital city. Down on the peninsula, there is a gorgeous resort area where you can replace the urban bustle with lush jungles, towering islands and stunning beaches. That place is Krabi Province.

For decades, visitors have been coming from around the world to sample Krabi’s wealth of natural attractions. Located on the Andaman Sea, Krabi Town and its satellite beach town of Ao Nang, just 25 minutes away, are overflowing with natural beauty and soft adventure activities. 

Whether you take a short 1.5-hour flight or an 11+ hour bus or bus + ferry ride, you can easily find an operator to drop you off in Krabi Town, Ao Nang or popular Railay Beach.

It’s not a stretch to say that Krabi Province has some of the best beaches and islands in the entire country, and if that isn’t worth a visit, we don’t know what is.

Unmissable things to see and do in Krabi

Krabi Town is not only a gateway to the wonders of the province of the same name, but it’s also a great base of operations for exploring them. Here are some unmissable things to see and do while in Krabi:

1. Find your favorite beach. Several world-class beaches are within reach when you stay in Krabi. With powdery white sand and calm turquoise waters framed by towering limestone karsts, this is the stuff tropical dreams are made of. Favorites are Phra Nang, Ao Nang and Railay beaches.

2. Go island hopping. The coastline around Krabi is blessed with some 200 islands worth exploring. You can check out the film-famous locations like the Phi Phi Islands and James Bond Island. For more natural beauty, try Koh Lanta or Koh Hong, located within Than Bok Khorani National Park — an excellent place for kayaking.

3. Go diving or snorkeling. With crystal clear water and soft corals galore, the west coast of Thailand has great places to snorkel and dive. Get ready to see lots of fish, sharks, rays, and, if you’re fortunate, a whale shark.

4. Shop till your heart’s content at the Krabi Town Market. Night markets are one of the best features of a trip to Southeast Asia. You can enjoy the lively atmosphere, pick up plenty of souvenirs, and sample delicious street food all in one place. Definitely something you need to experience at least once!

What you can expect when traveling from Bangkok to Krabi

What your journey from Bangkok to Krabi looks like has everything to do with the form of transportation you choose.

At a distance of 783 kilometers (487 miles) from Bangkok, flying is by far the quickest way to arrive. Flights from Bangkok last about an hour and change, and you can get from the city to the beach by lunch. 

If you are committed to slow travel and don’t mind traveling overnight, a cheaper but way longer alternative is to take a bus. Buses depart in the evening and take anywhere from 11 to 16 hours to arrive, including stops. Even though you might save some money, you’ll spend a lot more of your precious vacation time in transit.

And if Railay Beach is your final destination, a bus + ferry ride will have everything you need to reach this scenic spot accessible only by boat.

How to get from Bangkok to Krabi

To put it simply, flights are fast, and buses are slow. Below, we break down each option in greater detail.

By air

You can find flights to Krabi from Bangkok throughout the day, so you should be able to find one that works with your schedule. 

The flights take only an hour or so. Compared to an 11+ hour overnight bus ride, it really is a no-brainer. Plus, at a starting price of only $33, flights are generally a good value.

The downside is that you must navigate to and from the respective airports (Don Mueang [DMK] or Suvarnabhumi [BKK] in Bangkok to Krabi Airport [KBV]). But it still beats riding all night on a bus!

Krabi Airport is located to the east of town, about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away. There are all sorts of shuttles and taxis that will gladly take you into Krabi town or your accommodations in the area.

By bus

So you’ve decided to combine your transportation and hotel in one inexpensive ticket. Welcome to the bus!

As far as buses go, the ones running the Bangkok to Krabi route are pretty modern and comfortable. You can count on air conditioning, and many have toilets on board. You’ll want a jacket or sweater handy just in case the driver sets the A/C to Arctic mode.

Most buses make a few rest stops to stretch your legs — as long as you don’t mind getting up in the middle of the night to do so.

Each operator has only one or two departure times, so you’re stuck on their schedule. Most departures are at night and leave directly from the operator’s offices. Prices begin at $23. 

By bus + ferry

This option only makes sense if you’re heading directly to Railay Beach. Since the area is walled off by a line of stunning limestone cliffs, access is only possible by sea. A bus + ferry ticket provides you a seat on an air-conditioned bus to Krabi, then a transfer onto a ferry that will bring you the rest of the way to Railay. 

All in all, count on at least 16 hours of travel.

Prices start at $31, with departures leaving the operator’s offices. Your endpoint will be one of two piers at Railay.

When is the best time of year to visit Krabi?

Krabi is blessed with mild weather for the majority of the year. 

The high season goes from November through April. Not surprisingly, this is also the driest and least humid period. Truth be told, it will still be somewhat humid any time of year.

In September and the first half of October, the monsoon season arrives. This brings wet weather and higher humidity, though in most cases, this just means a few passing showers. Seas tend to get rougher as well.

How much time do I need in Krabi?

Krabi has so many things worth seeing that even if you filled every day from morning until night, four to five days would still not be enough. You might as well reserve a week to balance sightseeing with relaxing. You won’t regret it.

Where to go after Krabi

Now that you’ve arrived in Peninsular Thailand, your options for where to next have just increased in the best possible way. 

Just across the bay are the gorgeous Phi Phi Islands, with the tourism stronghold of Phuket a short ferry ride beyond. Several national parks around the area showcase the region’s incredible beauty. 

Alternatively, you could always head south and take on the lush landscapes of Peninsular Malaysia.