Phuket is an island that offers a little bit of everything, from luxury beachfront hotels, exclusive spas and relaxing days in the sun to a lively nightlife, bars and clubs where you can find friends on Patong Beach. Phuket has stunning nature and boasts some of the most famous beaches in the country. After visiting Phuket, you may be curious about other beaches, and Ao Nang could be the perfect destination. Ao Nang has fantastic diving and climbing spots, so you can do a lot of different activities. With beaches fringed by limestone cliffs and the beautiful Phi Phi Islands just a stone’s throw away, Ao Nang can keep any traveler entertained for days. Explore the best transportation options to get from Phuket to Ao Nang.
Phuket is an island, but it is connected to Thailand by a bridge
Travel options from Phuket to Ao Nang
Although Phuket is an island, it is connected to the rest of the country by a car bridge that makes it easy to access the island. Phuket is located on the eastern coast of the Andaman Sea and Ao Nang is located on the eastern coast. Therefore, if you are traveling by road, you will have to cross the northern end of the bay to get from Phuket to Ao Nang. Although buses are a popular means of transport in Thailand, the route from Phuket to Ao Nang is currently not operated by any company. But don’t worry, as you can travel between the two cities either by taxi if you prefer to go by road or by ferry across the bay.
From Phuket to Ao Nang by ferry
It’s always nice to travel by boat because, in addition to paying for transportation, you can also enjoy some unique views. To get from Phuket to Ao Nang, you need to cross Phang Nga Bay and other Thai islands, which makes the journey particularly pleasant. You will usually be able to sit on the ferry, but you can also enjoy the deck, sunbathe a bit and admire the scenery.
But not everyone likes to travel by boat. The waters in this area can be quite choppy. Therefore, if you tend to get dizzy, it is best to take a taxi. Please note that if the sea is very rough, ferries do not run on the route, so you can choose this option without much worry. But if you have a ferry ticket and the service is canceled due to poor conditions, it can be difficult to find an alternative. The good thing is that you can always book through a website like 12Go.asia. Confirmation is received instantly and there are refund options. If you buy your ticket in advance and the weather is bad, you can talk to 12Go customer service to find an alternative.
Ferries usually run non-stop during the season, unless there is unusual weather at that time. They fill up almost every day, so it’s worth buying tickets for the ferry from Phuket to Ao Nang in advance. Out of season (May to October) ferry travel can be more uncertain as the weather changes more frequently.
If you want to go from Phuket to Ao Nang by ferry, you will find different options with different durations. If you take a direct ferry from Ao Nang Princess, the crossing will only take 2 hours, but that means leaving Phuket at 8:30 AM. There are later ferry departures, but they involve a change at the Phi Phi Islands. Although this allows you to see another island and contemplate other landscapes, the journey takes another two hours. You can travel this route with Chaokoh Travel Group and you can book tickets on 12Go.
From Phuket to Ao Nang by taxi
Throughout the year, the ferry is the most used means of transport from Phuket to Ao Nang. But taxis are worth considering, a good alternative that can be very useful out of season or in bad weather, or simply if you don’t like traveling by boat.
The biggest disadvantage of traveling by taxi is the cost. But if you do some research, you can save some money as there are several private taxi companies that offer this route. You can also choose the type of vehicle you want to travel in depending on the number of passengers. If you go with friends or family, you’ll find that taking a taxi from Phuket to Ao Nang can be cheaper than taking the ferry as you pay a fixed price for the entire vehicle regardless of the number of passengers. Therefore, if you book a car for 4 passengers or a van for 9 people, you will see that the price per person is very reasonable when you share the cost.
Private taxis can also be booked with 12Go. When you search on this page, you’ll see multiple results with different pick-up locations in Phuket. You can choose, for example, Phuket Airport, but also hotels in Patong or Phuket Town. In Ao Nang, a taxi will take you to your hotel door, so this is a very convenient and practical service.
In any case, it is important to consider the duration of the trip. The road route from Phuket International Airport to Ao Nang is 150 kilometers and is slightly longer from Phuket or Patong city. It is common for companies to budget for an hour of travel, but the journey from Phuket to Ao Nang takes at least two hours. You’ll save time compared to the ferry as the shorter boat trip is also two hours long, but you have to count the time it takes to get to the pier and get to your hotel in Ao Nang, which makes the whole trip long. three hours.
Both ferry and taxi are good transportation options from Phuket to Ao Nang. You will have to decide which one you prefer depending on what time of year you are traveling and whether you are prone to sea sickness as these factors will influence the decision you make.