How to get to Phuket

Transfer to Phuket

By Air

Domestic airlines operate several flights daily between Bangkok and Phuket. Some flights go to Phuket via Koh Samui with a 40-minute stopover.

Phuket Air offers daily flights to Phuket and the journey takes only 1.20 hours. Call 02 6798999 or visit www.phuketairlines.com for more details on flights.

Bangkok Airways has daily flights connecting Phuket with Pattaya and Samui. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 66 2265 5678. Reservations can be made at tel. +66 2265 5555. Alternatively, browse its website at www.bangkokair.com for more flight details.

Thai Airways International has numerous daily flights servicing the Bangkok-Phuket route. In addition, they have regular flights connecting Phuket with Hat Yai, Surat Thani, and Narathiwat Provinces. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 02 628 2000 or book your seat online at www.thaiairways.com
One-to-Go by Orient Thai operates a daily flight between Bangkok and Phuket. The flight time is 1:20 hours. Call 1126 or visit www.onetwo-go.com for more information.

Air Asia also offers several daily flights connecting Bangkok and Phuket. The flight time is 1:20 hours. Visit www.airasia.com or call 02 5159999 for reservations.

Nok Air has several daily flights between Bangkok and Phuket with a flight time of 1.20 hours. Visit www.nokair.com or call 1318 to make your reservation.

Getting to Phuket from abroad

There are several direct flights between Phuket and international destinations, e.g. Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Penang, Singapore, and Sydney.

Dragon Air, Malaysia Airlines, Silk Air and Singapore Airlines also operate international flights connecting Phuket with other destinations. Please contact airline offices for more details.

Transportation to and from Phuket Airport

Phuket International Airport is located approximately 30 kilometers north of the city, Tel: 076 327230. Taxis between Phuket City and the airport costs approximately 400 Baht but the fare to the beach ranges between 500 Baht and 600 Baht (The rate may decline in some periods). Minivans charge approximately 80 Baht per person to town, but 120 Baht per person to Patong, Kata and Karon Beaches. Phuket Limousine (Tel: 076 248596), located approximately 1 kilometer west of the city, operates hourly shuttles to the airport from 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

By Train

There is no direct train service to Phuket. Travelers arriving by train must get off at Phun Phin Railway Station in Surat Thani Province and continue by regular bus to Phuket. For more information, call the State Railway of Thailand, 1690, 02-2237010, or 02-2237020.

By Bus

Air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal for Phuket several times daily. Trips by air-conditioned bus, which normally leaves in the evening, take about 13 hours. Call 02- 4347192, 02-4351199 or visit www.transport.co.th for more information.

By Ferry

During the high season, travelers may opt to get to Phuket from Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta (both are in Krabi Province). Few ports in Phuket provide this service with fares ranging between 300 bahts and 500bahts. The trip may take 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on weather conditions.

By Car

From Bangkok, take Highway No.4 (Phetchakasem Road) through Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang-nga Provinces, then cross the Thep Krasattri Bridge or Sarasin Bridge to Phuket Island. The total distance is 862 kilometers and the travel time is approximately 12 hours.

Getting around Phuket

Car Rental Service

Avis Car Rent Airport Tel: 0-7635-1243, Kata Beach Resort Tel : 076-381530 -- 3
- Boomerang Travel & Tour 71/13 Patak Road, Chalong Bay Tel: 076-381690
- Dusit Laguna Hotel Bang Thao Beach Tel: 076-324322 -- 9
- Hertz Car Rent Thawon Palm Beach Hotel, Karon Beach Tel: 076-381034 -- 7
- Holiday Inn Patong Beach Tel: 076-340608
- K.M. Travel Phangnga Road Tel: 076-210893
- Phuket Airport Tel: 076-327258
- Phuket Car Center Takua Pa Road Tel: 076-212671 -- 3
- Phuket Island Tel: 076-381010
- Phuket Yacht Charter 5/3 Chao Fa Road Tel: 076-216556
- Phuket Horizon Car Rent 235/4 Yaowarat Road, Tambon Talat Nua, Muang District Tel: 076-15200
- Pure Car Rent Opposite Thavorn Hotel, Ratsada Road, Tel: 076-211002
- Via Rent A Car 70/85 Rat U-Thit, Patong Beach Tel: 0-7634-0160

Songthaeo and Tuk-Tuk

Songthaeos are operated along Ranong Road to several destinations on the beaches. The cost varies from approximately 20 Baht to 25 Baht per person per trip. Normally the service is provided from 7.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. Tuk-Tuks can be chartered to the beach however, the rates which can be negotiated are higher at 200 Baht to Patong Beach, 230 Baht to Karon and Kata Beaches and 300 Baht to Nai Han and Kamala Beaches. However, Tuk-Tuks drive around the town at the rate of 20 Baht.

Motorbike Taxis

It costs approximately 20 Baht per person per trip to travel around Phuket City.  Alternatively, motorcycles can be rented from rental agencies located on Rasada Road or from several operators along beaches. The cost may vary from 150 Baht to 300 Baht per day, depending on the number of cylinders.

Taxi Meter

Visitors can call 076-232157--8 to get a metered taxi that will take them anywhere in Phuket. The metered fare will have an addition of a 20-Baht surcharge.

Getting to nearby provinces

By bus

There are regular bus services (VIP, air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned) to neighboring provinces such as Krabi, Phang-nga, Chumphon, Ko Samui (bus/boat), Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Surat Thani, Satun, Hat Yai, Takua-Pa and Trang. Departures are from the Phuket Bus Terminal off Phang-nga Road. For more up-to-date schedules and fares, call Phuket Air-conditioned Bus Station, Tel. 076-211977.

By Air

Some domestic airlines operate flights from Phuket to Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Hat Yai and Samui. For more details, check with your travel agent or the TAT office.

Taxis & Vans

There are shared taxi and van services between Phuket and other nearby provinces. Fares of both are generally around double the fare of an ordinary bus. The stations of both taxis and minivans are also on Phang-nga Road.

Getting to nearby islands from Phuket

Boats to nearby islands can be found at the following ports:

Rawai Beach

An old local port, it is from here that long-tail boats depart for nearby islands such as Koh Ngai, Koh Racha Yai, Koh Mai Thon, Koh Lon, etc. The chartered price depends on the distance.

Ao Chalong   geting

The largest port of Phuket that has all kinds of boats, including cruisers of tour companies which organize package tours to other islands.

Ao Makham

Located near Panwa Cape, the port is only for cruisers and container ships.
Boat Lagoon Port (Ao Sapam) The port is for traveling boats of tour companies

Source: Information by Tourism Authority of Thailand