Phuket to Khao Lak

Is Khao Lak in Phuket?

No. Khao Lak is a stretch of beach resorts in Phang Nga province, north of Phuket island, and Phuket Airport is the closest airport.

The resorts run from Nang Thong and Bang Niang up to Khuk Khak and Pakarang. Here's the tip: give the driver your resort's name, not just "Khao Lak". Ask Tanner which beach suits your group.

The fastest way and the easiest way

Your own van is the fastest and the easiest: over the Sarasin Bridge on Highway 402, then up Highway 4, 80 to 100 minutes from the airport. There's no ferry, train or flight; it's a road trip. From Patong it's about 106 km, closer to two hours.

The Phuket to Khao Lak bus

The Phuket to Khao Lak bus leaves Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket Town from about 5:30am to 4:30pm, takes about 2 hours and costs ฿130 to ฿250 at the counter. Shared vans pick up at Phuket hotels at 6:30, 7, 8 and 10:45am, ฿550 to ฿750 a seat.

Insider tip: skip buses routed through Phang Nga town; they take the long way. Fine for one or two with time; for a group with bags, it's a taxi to town first and a bus in the heat. See every route on Getting around Thailand. Ask Tanner to skip the bus station altogether.

Taking a taxi

The airport taxi counter is at exit gates 1 and 2 in arrivals, with fixed fares by car size, not a meter. Grab isn't a sure thing here, with no reliable fare on this route.

A car fits three and their bags; four or more with luggage needs a van. Ask Tanner and one van replaces three taxis.

Why the group goes by private car

One van fits everyone and the bags, waits at arrivals if the flight is late, and goes straight to the resort, with a supermarket run or a bottle shop on the way.

A luxury van for up to 4, a party van for up to 10, or a coach for 20 and more. Ask Tanner to set the van, drinks on ice.

From Bangkok

Khao Lak has no airport, so fly to Phuket, about 1.5 hours, then drive north. Krabi airport is about 140 km away, more than two hours, and the planned Andaman airport in Phang Nga isn't expected before 2030.

See Bangkok to Phuket and the Phuket airport transfer, and ask Tanner to book the flight and the van together.

What the taxi costs

The counter charges ฿1,800 a car for up to three to Nang Thong, Bang Niang and central Khao Lak, ฿2,000 to Khuk Khak and the resorts further north, ฿2,200 for an SUV for four (7am to 6pm only) and ฿2,500 for a minibus for up to 10 (checked October 2026). Pre-booked cars run about ฿1,500 to ฿2,500.

Here's the tip: ask your resort for its transfer price, and if it's above the counter's, use the counter.

Tanner's pick: for four or more, the van every time. One car, one stop, straight to the resort. Ask Tanner to have the van at arrivals.

Going back to the airport

The first buses back leave Bang Niang at about 6:20am and Nang Thong at 6:25, about 1 hour 50 minutes to the highway stop outside the airport.

Insider tip: leave Khao Lak three and a half to four hours before your flight; the airport wants you there two hours ahead. Ask Tanner to time the pick-up for your flight.

Phuket first, then Khao Lak

Phuket is the party: Bangla Road, the beach clubs, the yachts. Khao Lak is the reset: long quiet beaches and dive trips.

Many groups do Phuket first, then a few slower days in Khao Lak, with a van back for the flight home. The coast is driest from December to March, with November and April good edge months. The Similan boats leave Thap Lamu pier, 15 km south of Nang Thong; the islands are open from 15 October 2026 to 15 May 2027, the Government Public Relations Department says (checked November 2026).

See Phuket nightlife, Phuket to Khao Sok and Thailand in January, then plan it with Tanner.

Phuket to Khao Lak in short

• Khao Lak is 75 to 80 km from Phuket Airport, 80 to 100 minutes by car.

• What it is: a quiet beach coast in Phang Nga, north of Phuket island.
• The bus leaves Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in town, not the airport, about 2 hours.
• The airport taxi counter has fixed fares by car size.
• Leave 3.5 to 4 hours before your flight home.
• For a group: your own van, airport to resort. See Khao Lak.

Checked October 2026.