Penang state is one of the main tourist destinations in Malaysia. Here you will find the island of Penang and the state’s historic capital, George Town, as well as stunning beaches and scenery. In this area, George Town is the destination with the most visitors and has won several awards for it. It is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to the number of historic buildings, but it also has a unique atmosphere and fantastic cuisine, as well as Asian temples or European fortresses where you can spend a few days of entertainment. When on a trip to Southeast Asia, why not visit Phuket after spending a few days in this city? Phuket is one of the best places in Thailand. It is an island with a wide range of activities such as movie beaches, diving, culture, jungles and great places to eat and go out at night, although there are also quiet areas if you are looking for relaxation.
Phuket is an island, but it is connected to the Thai mainland by a bridge
Travel options from Penang to Phuket
Penang and Phuket are not too far away on the map. The distance by plane, which is practically a straight line, is only 352 kilometers, from Phuket northwest of Penang. The story by road is quite different as you have to cut through the terrain along the way and the roads go quite far in the centre, adding a few kilometers to the journey. In total, if you go by car, bus or van, you will have to drive 645 kilometers. You should also remember that going from Malaysia to Thailand you are crossing an international border. If you are flying, the process is quite simple as you will have to go through immigration and customs control upon landing. However, on the road it can be quite a slow process depending on what time of day you are traveling and there can be significant delays. Before booking your tickets, check that you meet the necessary requirements to avoid potential problems at the border.
Flights from Penang to Phuket
Firefly uses ATR 72 propeller plane for short haul from Penang to Phuket © Sorbis / Shutterstock.com
Penang International Airport is one of the busiest in Malaysia, so there are flights from Penang to major Asian destinations. One of them is Phuket, which means there is a direct flight from Penang to Phuket. The not so good part is that only one airline offers these direct flights and there are no daily departures. Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, flies from Penang to Phuket on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, although schedules may vary depending on the season and passenger demand. The flight takes just over an hour. It leaves Penang at 14:20 and arrives in Phuket at 14:35 local time as there is an hour difference between the two locations.
With limited flights between Penang and Phuket, it’s advisable to book your tickets as far in advance as possible to secure a seat on the day you intend to travel and find the best prices. If you’re unlucky booking with Firefly, there are other airlines that offer connecting flights. This can make your journey longer, depending on where you are staying and how long the connection is. If you are interested in this option, take a look at Scoot, Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air flights.
From Penang to Phuket by bus and van
In addition to the fact that it can be difficult to find tickets for a flight from Penang to Phuket, the plane is also more expensive than other options. A plane ticket costs much more than a bus or van ticket. So if you are traveling in Asia and on a budget, flying may not be a viable option for you.
Buses from Penang to Phuket are quite cheap and the route is easy, but the journey is very long and it will not be the most convenient solution.
Due to the value for money, the bus from Penang to Phuket may be the best transport option. It is not possible to take the bus for the entire tour, but you must start your journey by van and then transfer to a bus to reach Phuket. But since you can buy combined tickets for the entire trip, it’s not a big deal. On the website 12Go.asia Combination tickets can be purchased to start your journey in a van operated by New Asian Travel. These vans are designed for 14 passengers, are quite modern and have air conditioning. They leave New Asian Travel’s Komtar office in Penang at noon and take four hours to reach Hat Yai Van Terminal. Here, you disembark from the van and drive a short distance to the main bus station to continue your journey to Phuket. Unfortunately, the wait is quite long: the scheduled hours indicate that you have to wait 4.5 hours for the bus to depart, although you can use this time to get to know Hat Yai.
VIP 24 bus seats in Thailand. 2+1 per row.
The bus portion from Hat Yai to Phuket is on a VIP bus that has restrooms, refreshments and hostess services on board. This part of the tour lasts another 8 hours and 25 minutes, so the entire tour lasts until 4:00 PM.
To get from Penang to Phuket faster, you can consider the whole trip by van. These vans are also operated by New Asian Travel and tickets can also be booked on 12Go. The price is almost the same as a combined bus and van ticket, but you can save a few hours this way as the trip is scheduled for 11 hours. The advantage of traveling by van is that you don’t have to make any changes along the way, apart from saving 4.5 hours of time. However, remember that you have less space in a van than in a bus.
There is no doubt that flying from Penang to Phuket has many advantages as you can get there faster and enjoy your time on the beautiful islands of Thailand more. However, the cost of a plane ticket is not affordable for all budgets, so you may also want to consider the van or bus and van option if you don’t mind spending a few hours.