In the south of Thailand is the city of Krabi, an ideal place to explore the surrounding beaches, forests and temples. It’s about 770 kilometers (482 miles) from Bangkok to Krabi, so it’s not a short trip, but it’s well worth seeing the white sand, enjoying great snorkeling opportunities, and visiting the top of the Tiger Cave Temple.
If you like the idea of a trip to this southern area, flights from Bangkok to Krabi are available. If you want to take the train from Bangkok to Krabi, you should know that there is no direct route, although you can take part of the journey by train and then transfer to a bus. Finally, Krabi can also be reached by direct bus from Bangkok, but be prepared for a long journey.
Flights from Bangkok to Krabi
A Thai Lion Air plane at Suvarnabhumi Airport. © Farbregas Hareluja / Shutterstock.com
Due to the long distance between the two cities, it seems obvious that the best option to travel from Bangkok to Krabi is by plane, and finding flights shouldn’t be difficult. There are several domestic airlines that offer daily flights between both destinations. The airlines that serve this route are Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air. The average one-way fare is 2,500 baht, but deals for 1,700 baht are common. The flight time from Bangkok to Krabi is 1.5 hours. You will need to check in for your flight at least one hour before departure and most check-in counters will close 40 minutes before departure. Please note that it can take up to two hours to reach Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport from riverside hotels during rush hour, so plan your journey to the airport well in advance.
Air Asia, which handles most of its daily flights, uses the former Don Muang International Airport. Nok Air and Thai Lion Air also fly from Don Muang.
The easiest way to get to Don Muang Airport is by taxi. It costs around 250-300 THB, is 23 kilometers from the city center and the journey takes 30 to 60 minutes.
There is also a bus line (A1) that runs from Skytrain Station Mo Chit (BTS) to Don Muang Airport and from Don Muang to BTS Mo Chit. The buses are air-conditioned and run from 8:30 to 23:30. The ticket costs 30bt and is payable on the bus. The journey usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. The A2 bus will take you to the Victory Monument and make several other stops along the way.
Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways flights from Bangkok to Krabi depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport, a modern space opened in 2006. This airport offers many services, including a hotel where you can stay the night before your flight for added comfort.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has its own transportation system, including a free shuttle bus that connects the passenger terminal with the car rental and bus terminal. There are several public bus lines that provide 24-hour service in various parts of the city. The charge is 35 baht. Buses to and from the airport stop at the hub, where you can catch a shuttle bus.
If you don’t want to travel by bus, you can also take a taxi to the airport. The price will be as indicated by the taximeter and you need to add tolls for highways and an airport surcharge of 50 baht. The arrival point for taxi passengers is on the 4th floor and the pickup point is on the 1st floor.
There is also a link to the Airport Rail Link which runs through Suvarnabhumi Airport, Phaya Thai Station, Makkasan Station and five other less crowded stations. Phayathai Station is connected to the Skytrain BTS line. Makkasan station is connected to MRT metro lines. The train journey to Phaya Thai Station takes 26 minutes and costs 45 baht. The train journey to Makkasan Station takes 22 minutes and costs 35 baht. Trains can be crowded, especially during the morning and evening rush hours. Makkasan and Phaya Thai stations are usually very crowded in the afternoon to get to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Trains from Bangkok to Krabi
There is actually no train going from Bangkok to Krabi as there is no train station in Krabi. If you are traveling by train, you will need to depart at Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok and get off at Surat Thani Station. From there, you can continue your journey with the shuttle bus that will take you to Surat Thani bus station and then take the bus that will take you to Krabi.
Hua Lamphong station is located in the center of Bangkok, so it’s very easy to get there. It is part of the MRT subway system and the nearest BTS skytrain transfer point is Si Lom (MRT) / Sala Daeng (skytrain). If you live in Sukhumvit, Asok BTS Skytrain station is connected to the MRT.
Regular buses run from all areas of Bangkok to Hua Lamphong Railway Station. Red buses run more frequently, in many cases also at night. These buses are usually crowded and do not have air conditioning, although they do have a fan. The red buses are operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), which also operates the orange bus (Euro II) which is air-conditioned and more comfortable. There are also private buses which are slightly more expensive. Another option to reach Hua Lamphong is by taxi. Note that if you return to Bangkok from Krabi, there is no organized queue to wait for taxis, so you may struggle with other users during peak hours. Make sure the taxi driver turns on the meter when getting into the car and report it to the station authority if he refuses to do so.
Hua Lamphong Station is always busy: about 60,000 passengers pass through here every day. Make sure you arrive on time to buy tickets and catch the train. At the station, you can buy a combined train and bus ticket that will be valid until you arrive in Krabi. If you buy your ticket on the same day of your tour or the day before, you can do so at the ticket offices located under the red, orange or green screens. If you need to book in advance, you should go to the platform area and look for the sales office on the right.
As already mentioned, you will not buy a train ticket from Bangkok to Krabi, but a train ticket to Surat Thani and a bus ticket for the rest of the way. Trains to Surat Thani run during the day and evening. Daily express trains take approximately 8 hours and 45 minutes to reach their destination. You can book second class seats with air conditioning and meals. The overnight sleeper train takes around 11 hours and 45 minutes to reach Surat Thani, but has the advantage that you can buy a berth first class ticket for around 1,500 baht and a berth second class ticket for around 960 baht. Upon arrival at Surat Thani Station, you will board an air-conditioned bus that will take you to Krabi in 3 hours.
Buses from Bangkok to Krabi
Bangkok South Bus Station (Sai Tai Mai) © Settawat Udom / Shutterstock.com
The entire journey from Bangkok to Krabi can be made by bus. Air-conditioned buses leave South Bus Terminal in the afternoon and arrive in Krabi in approximately 12 hours. The South Bus Station, also known as Sai Tai Mai, can be difficult to find from downtown Bangkok. The easiest way to get there from the old area is by taxi, which costs around 120 baht. There are also local buses from areas like Sukhumvit that cost just a few baht. If you are traveling by bus from Bangkok to Krabi, you can expect the trip to cost around 920 baht.
Whether you choose to travel from Bangkok to Krabi by plane, bus, or train and bus, it’s well worth taking this trip to enjoy the fantastic views from the Tiger Cave Temple or stroll along the white sands of Krabi’s beaches.