At the southern tip of Thailand, near the Malaysian border, is the city of Hat Yai. Although not as large as Bangkok, Hat Yai has a large urban area, making it the largest metropolitan area in the south and the third largest in Thailand. Since Hat Yai is a big city, you might wonder why go there from Bangkok. The truth is that Hat Yai is a city known for its malls, both shops and markets, so it offers something for everyone. In addition, like any Thai city, it has some fantastic temples. Read on to find out how you can travel from Bangkok to Hat Yai.
Travel options from Bangkok to Hat Yai
If you want to go from Bangkok to Hat Yai, you will see that there are many transport options to make this trip. Before you make your decision, keep in mind that there are almost 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) between the two cities. This means the journey is long, but the good thing is that there are flights available in case you’re short on time. For those travelers who have more time, the train is a fantastic option. There are also buses and vans that serve this route. Below are the details of all these options.
From Bangkok to Hat Yai by train
Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. Easily accessible from the MRT. The metro station bears the same name.
As we mentioned earlier, it is over 900 kilometers from Bangkok to Hat Yai. Therefore, if you want to travel by train, you will have to prepare yourself for a very long journey. Several train options are available, and the total travel time can vary from 14 to 18 hours. In each train, you can choose which type of carriage you want to travel with. If you want to save money, you can buy a second class seat, but think about it because the seats are not very comfortable and it can be tiring.
Traveling by night train and choosing a carriage with beds is a good idea. This way, you can enjoy the views outside the window while exploring Thailand, but you can lie in bed and sleep when you need to. There are several sleeping car options, both first and second class, but you can also choose between air-conditioned or fan cars. You may be tempted to travel with the air conditioning on, but the truth is that they usually turn it up so loud that a fan would be much more useful. If you are a woman and feel more comfortable, you can book a female-only ticket.
Hat Yai Train Station © Chadawan Heemsuhree / Shutterstock.com
Thai Railways operates trains from Bangkok to Hat Yai. They depart from Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok and arrive at Hat Yai Railway Station, which is located in the center of the city. Almost all trains leave Bangkok in the early afternoon and arrive in Hat Yai the next morning. Journey times can range from 16 to 18 hours, but there is a faster train that leaves Bangkok at 10:50 p.m. and arrives in Hat Yai at noon. This train fills up more easily than others, so if you don’t want to risk running out of tickets, you’ll need to book in advance.
Bus from Bangkok to Hat Yai
Bangkok South Bus Station (Sai Tai Mai) © Settawat Udom / Shutterstock.com
At the south bus terminal in Bangkok, you can choose from several buses going to Hat Yai. Buses are faster than trains with a scheduled duration of 13.5 to 15 hours, although they are often an hour or two late. Generally, buses are cheaper than trains. There are several different types of buses. The espresso machine is the most basic and the cheapest. There are also VIP buses and in some cases VIP 24. The latter is the most expensive, but offers more comfort and better services, as well as more space to stretch and sleep. Some of the companies that operate this tour are Siam Lane Tour and Piya.
A faster option is to travel by van from Bangkok to Hat Yai. This should be the fastest ground transportation, although it is slightly more expensive than the bus. The disadvantage of vans is that they do not have the same services onboard and are not necessarily more comfortable than a bus.
Flights from Bangkok to Hat Yai
Hat Yai International Airport © rachata photography / Shutterstock.com
Now we will talk about the quickest solution, which is usually also the most expensive, to get from Bangkok to Hat Yai: by plane. There is no doubt that this is a fantastic option for tourists who can spend a little more and want to get from place to place in the shortest possible time. But interestingly, flights from Bangkok to Hat Yai are not much more expensive than trains. In fact, a first-class sleeper ticket is much more expensive than a plane ticket. As this is a route operated by several low-cost Thai airlines, competition keeps prices low.
Almost all flights to Hat Yai depart from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok. The flight takes only 1.5 hours. Some of the airlines that serve this route are Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai AirAsia, which offer all-day departures. Thai Smile also flies to Hat Yai, but their flights depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which can make the trip a bit more expensive.
Hat Yai International Airport is 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city center. You can reach the city by taxi, bus, van or songthaew.
As you can see, there are many options to get from Bangkok to Hat Yai. You can choose the most suitable one depending on your budget and travel plans.