When you think of Thailand, you probably think of paradise beaches. But this Southeast Asian country also has some spectacular wildlife. If you are going to Thailand to see these landscapes, there are two places you should not miss: Krabi and Khao Sok. Krabi is a place that gives access to the fantastic Phi Phi Islands and has impressive limestone cliffs and wonderful beaches. A few hours north is Khao Sok National Park. With the highest rainfall concentration in Thailand, Khao Sok boasts a lush, green, pristine jungle that can be explored by boat from the Sok River. The karst formations are spectacular, similar to those found in Krabi. Whether you want to relax on the beach, go hiking, go kayaking or even go on an elephant safari, you will find it all in these two places. In this guide, we show you the best ways to travel from Krabi to Khao Sok.
Travel options from Krabi to Khao Sok
It’s not far from Krabi to Khao Sok, but the mountains of Khlong Phanom National Park make the road meander through nature, adding a few miles to the journey. Despite this, the shortest route is only 150 kilometers, so the journey is not too long and can be covered in a few hours. Although you can only travel between these cities by road, you can choose between three different means of transport: taxi, bus and van. There are also several departure points in Krabi, so you can choose the one closest to where you are staying.
From Krabi to Khao Sok by bus
A bus waiting for passengers in Krabi © Igor Rozhkov / Shutterstock.com
Buses run daily from Krabi to Khao Sok, so it’s an easy and practical transportation solution, as well as cheap. Phantip operates conventional, air-conditioned buses which are quite comfortable, but you can’t expect any other services on board. The tour lasts about 4 hours, so you don’t need too many extras either.
These Phantip buses depart from the Sea Pearl Travel office in Krabi, which is located in the city center. If you are already in Krabi, taking one of these buses to Khao Sok will be simple and convenient, but it won’t be the best option if you are out of town or near one of the beaches in the area. Although there are always ways to get from your accommodation to Krabi Town. You can take a taxi or public bus, and there are even minibuses on the main routes.
The biggest disadvantage of traveling by bus from Krabi to Khao Sok is that the journey is longer than other transport options. The truth is that a bus journey shouldn’t take 4 hours, but companies schedule this time in case there is a delay on the way. In addition, the bus travels at a lower speed than taxis and vans, which is necessary on this route as the road has many curves.
At the end of the journey, in Khao Sok, the bus stops at Khao Sok Van Station. It’s the perfect place to start your next adventure as it’s right in the center of the city. There are many hotels near this station, so finding accommodation will not be difficult for you.
There is only one scheduled bus departure from Phantip at the moment. It departs Krabi at 11:30 AM and arrives at Khao Sok at 3:30 PM.
From Krabi to Khao Sok van
Traveling by van from Krabi to Khao Sok is more convenient than by bus because vans have more departure points. This means that you can easily choose the one that suits you best, depending on where you are in Krabi. You can also buy a combined ticket that includes transfer from your hotel. This is a particularly practical solution, thanks to which you do not have to worry about dragging your luggage around the city.
You probably think that vans are more expensive than buses, but the truth is that they are very similar in price. There are two companies that organize this van tour. You can book tickets in any of them through the website 12Go.asia. Phantip is one of these companies and offers taxi transfers from any hotel in Ao Nang, an ideal option if you are staying in this area. With hotel pickup and travel by air-conditioned coach, the total journey time is approximately 5.5 hours.
Another company operating the route from Krabi to Khao Sok van is Hat Yai World Tour. It has a 14-seater van and offers three departure options: any hotel in Krabi Town, any hotel in Ao Nang and Ao Nam Mao. The duration of the journey depends on where you take it, but the journey time from Krabi to Khao Sok is approximately 3 hours to 50 minutes and 4.5 hours. The price is similar to other alternatives.
From Krabi to Khao Sok by Taxi
A BangkokTaxi24 taxi from Krabi to Khao Sok costs 2,500 to 3,000 yen
The most expensive transport option from Krabi to Khao Sok is a private taxi. On the other hand, you can say that a taxi is the most convenient and at the same time the fastest way. Whilst you may be able to include a transfer from your hotel if you are traveling by van, a taxi allows you to choose where you want to be picked up from. In addition, it will take you exactly to the place of your choice and you will not have to look for accommodation on your own on the day of arrival. But the biggest advantage is that you can choose your departure time instead of adjusting your plans to bus or van schedules.
It is obvious that this additional comfort comes at an additional cost. If you are traveling alone or with another person, a taxi may be too expensive for you. However, if you are traveling with more passengers, the price per person will not be so high as you pay a fixed price for the entire vehicle. For example, if you book a van for 9 passengers, the price per person will be similar to the price of a bus ticket.
Any of these travel options from Krabi to Khao Sok can be booked online via 12Go. So you can compare prices and timetables and read reviews from other travelers before you buy.