If you want to explore the southernmost corners of Thailand, the city of Hat Yai is the perfect place to start. This city is known as a shopping destination with great commercial significance. It has excellent day, night and floating markets, making it an ideal shopping destination in Thailand. Once you’ve sufficiently loaded your suitcases, a good option is to head to the beach and relax. Head northwest to Phuket to soak up the sun and sand and enjoy the nightlife. The scenery in this area is spectacular, so if you enjoy hiking and exploring natural areas, you’ll love the jungles and mountains of the interior.
Phuket is an island, but it is connected to the mainland by a bridge
Travel options from Hat Yai to Phuket
The shortest road route from Hat Yai to Phuket is about 430 kilometers, so there is quite a distance between them. If you already know the roads of Southeast Asia, you will know that they are not always in very good condition. Even with good surfaces, highways often have only one lane in each direction. As you traverse the mountainous terrain, the roads wind and the journey becomes even longer. Despite this, bus travel from Hat Yai to Phuket is quite common, especially because of how cheap it is to travel by bus in Thailand. If the idea of spending the whole day on a bus doesn’t excite you, don’t worry, you can also fly from Hat Yai to Phuket by plane.
Flights from Hat Yai to Phuket
Bangkok Airways ATR 72-600 flying over the beach near Phuket Airport © Phuong D. Nguyen / Shutterstock.com
While the price of flying from Hat Yai to Phuket may be prohibitive for those traveling through Thailand on a low budget, the idea of getting to Phuket in just an hour makes it seem more affordable. The truth is that a plane ticket costs about five times as much as a bus ticket. But if you are able to book your seat well in advance and are flexible with your departure dates, you can save a few euros.
The main reason why airfares are so expensive is that there is only one airline that serves the route from Hat Yai to Phuket, namely Bangkok Airways. It is one of the most prestigious airlines in Thailand, and although it is generally more expensive than other airlines, the ticket includes 20 kilograms of checked baggage. There is only one flight per day so you need to book plenty of time. You can buy a ticket via 12Go.asia performs a quick search. You will be able to see different travel options from Hat Yai to Phuket, including bus schedules. It’s an easy way to compare prices before making a decision.
Flights leave Hat Yai International Airport at 9:20 AM and arrive at Phuket International Airport one hour later. When it comes to speed, there is no doubt that it is the fastest transportation option to get from one city to another. Of course, don’t forget that Phuket Airport is 32 kilometers (20 miles) from the city center, so you’ll need to reserve some extra time for your transfer to Phuket. Even adding in transfers and waiting times, flying from Hat Yai to Phuket is still faster than traveling by bus.
From Hat Yai to Phuket by bus
Although the journey is much longer, taking the bus from Hat Yai to Phuket has several advantages. The first is, you imagine, cost. Traveling by bus is much cheaper than by plane, so it’s the best option for travelers on a budget. The second advantage is that many buses run on this route every day. If you are traveling by plane, you must adhere to the departure time of the only flight between the two cities. If you choose to take the bus, you have a choice of seven departures spread throughout the day. This gives you more flexibility in adapting the trip to your plans.
Bus tickets can be purchased online at 12Go. On this page, you’ll find it super easy to book your seat on the Hat Yai to Phuket bus. In addition, confirmation is received immediately. Sri Trang bus company has two types of buses on this route, Express and VIP 24. Express buses are cheaper, but you can’t expect luxury on board. You pay for space and nothing else. If you want to travel with a little more comfort, the VIP 24 bus offers more space, more comfortable seats, a bathroom, some food, stewardess service and TVs. Of course, it costs 50% more than an Express ticket.
There is only one VIP 24 bus per day on the Hat Yai to Phuket route. Therefore, if you want to enjoy these luxuries, you will need to book your ticket in advance. It should be noted that this bus leaves Hat Yai at 7:30 PM and arrives at Phuket Bus Terminal 2 at 3:55 AM, which is not a very good time to get around the city.
If you prefer to travel at a better time of day, choose one of the Express buses that run in the morning or early afternoon. The first leaves at 8:00 AM and arrives in Phuket at 3:00 PM. If you leave Hat Yai at 1:00 PM, you will arrive in Phuket by 8:00 PM, just in time for dinner.
The main disadvantage of taking the bus from Hat Yai to Phuket is the length of time. The scheduled travel time on Express buses is 7 hours and on VIP 24 buses it is 8 hours and 25 minutes. The good thing about traveling by bus is that you can admire the scenery of Thailand along the way, which is not possible from an airplane. You will have to consider whether you prefer to go from Hat Yai to Phuket in a short time but for more money, or in a few hours but cheaply.