Phuket to Krabi by taxi: price, time, and road vs ferry

Fares by vehicle

The route

You leave the island over the Sarasin Bridge in the north, then follow Highway 4 east through Phang Nga. The road curves around the head of Phang Nga Bay through limestone scenery, and reaches Krabi province after Thap Put and Ao Luek. It is a good paved main road, with some long bends and hills.

Where you start matters. From the airport you are already close to the bridge, so the trip is shorter than the headline figure suggests. From Kata or Rawai, add about an hour to cross the island.

Taxi or ferry?

Boats also link Phuket and Krabi, often via Koh Phi Phi. They can be a lovely trip in calm weather, but you still need to get to and from the piers, and services are seasonal.

Good places to stop

• Phang Nga: close to the route, with bay viewpoints and temples nearby.
• Khao Lak: not on the way. It lies in the opposite direction, so don't plan it as a stop.
• Ao Luek area: limestone scenery along the road, close to Krabi.
• Tell us in advance about any stop so that we can plan and confirm the price.

Krabi Town, Ao Nang or the airport?

Krabi is a big province, and your final stop changes the fare and the time. Krabi Airport is reached first, Krabi Town is near the river, and Ao Nang is further west along the coast. For Railay, the car takes you to Ao Nang or the Ao Nam Mao area, then a longtail boat crosses, because Railay can't be reached by road. For Koh Lanta, allow about 240 km by road, including its ferry crossings.

Flying out of the other airport

Plenty of visitors fly into Phuket and out of Krabi, or the reverse, which saves retracing their steps. If you are heading to catch a flight, allow around 3 hours on the road, then add your airline's check-in time and a margin for rain or holiday traffic.

What the drive is actually like

This is one of the more enjoyable long drives from Phuket. For the first part you are on the island's main road, with its usual mix of shops and traffic, until the Sarasin Bridge lifts you over the strait to the mainland. Then the land opens up, with rubber and palm plantations on both sides and the first limestone cliffs rising from the flat ground.

The road through Phang Nga is a mix of dual carriageway and ordinary two-lane road, with some stretches that bend between hills. You will share it with trucks, pickups and motorbikes, and rain can reduce visibility quickly in the monsoon. A driver who knows it will overtake patiently and won't rush the bends. Most people find the time passes easily, and some sleep after a long flight.

Choosing where to stay in Krabi

Your choice of base decides the last half hour of the trip. Ao Nang is the usual pick for first-time visitors, with a seafront, restaurants and longtail boats to the nearby islands and Railay. Krabi Town is a more local place on the river, with a good night market and fewer big hotels. Klong Muang and Tubkaek, north of Ao Nang, are quieter resort beaches with long sandy stretches.

Give us the full hotel name when you book. A hotel at Tubkaek and one in Krabi Town are in the same province but a long way apart, and that can affect both your fare and your arrival time.

Coming back to Phuket for a flight

Going the other way, the airport is near the start of the island, so you don't need to cross Phuket to reach it. That makes a Krabi to Phuket Airport trip more predictable than you might expect. Work backwards from your flight, using your airline's check-in advice, then the 3 hours or so on the road, and then a margin for rain and holiday traffic. An extra hour at the terminal is much better than a missed flight.

If you are coming back with a group, the fare remains per car. Read Phuket to all Thailand for other long routes, or our Koh Lanta guide if you are continuing further south.

Travelling with children

Three hours is a comfortable length for most families. Ask about child seats when you book, and tell the driver if you want a break halfway.