Guide: Bangkok to Phuket Overland by Train and Bus
You can travel overland from Bangkok to the popular Thai island of Phuket by taking a combined train and bus journey.
If you don’t want to take a domestic flight to Phuket, travelling by train and bus is a smooth and comfortable alternative.
It’s also highly affordable and allows you to see much more of Thailand along the way.
Let’s take a look at how you can make the overland journey from Bangkok to Phuket.
Bangkok to Phuket overland
Although Phuket is an island, it is connected to the Thai mainland by the Sarasin Bridge, making overland travel possible.
The following are the best ways to travel overland from Bangkok to Phuket:
- By a combined train and bus journey via Surat Thani (recommended)
- By direct bus from Bangkok to Phuket
Train arriving at Surat Thani railway station. ©AndyBTravels
Modern second class sleeper coach of a Thai train. ©AndyBTravels
Lower berth in a second class sleeper coach. ©AndyBTravels
Train and bus via Surat Thani
The most comfortable way to travel overland from Bangkok to Phuket is by taking a night train to Surat Thani, followed by a bus to Phuket.
The main advantage of this route is that you can enjoy a good night’s sleep in a proper bed on the train, while keeping the bus journey to just a couple of hours.
You need to book this trip in two steps.
First, book your night train from Bangkok to Surat Thani.
In my guide to the Bangkok to Surat Thani train, I explain everything you need to know, including the different trains, travel classes on board, and how to book your ticket.
Next, book your bus journey from Surat Thani railway station to Phuket.
Both the train and the bus can easily be booked on 12Go, the best transport booking website for travel in Thailand.
Most bus companies operating between Surat Thani and Phuket will send a small van to pick you up from the railway station and transfer you to the departure point of the main bus, making this a highly convenient option.
The train journey from Bangkok to Surat Thani takes between 9 and 11 hours, while it’s around 5 to 6 hours by bus to get from Surat Thani to Phuket.
It’s always smart to leave a few hours between your arrival in Surat Thani and your onward transfer in case of delays.
This also gives you the opportunity to buy some breakfast and supplies for the journey ahead.
Direct bus from Bangkok to Phuket
There are also direct buses running from Bangkok all the way to Phuket.
Although this might sound like a convenient option, it is certainly not the most comfortable, as you would spend between 12 and 16 hours in a cramped bus seat.
A direct bus is not necessarily much cheaper than the combined train and bus journey either, making it a less appealing option overall considering that you are unlikely to get much sleep.
Conclusion
You can travel overland from the Thai capital of Bangkok to the island of Phuket, as it is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
From Bangkok, you can either take a direct bus all the way to Phuket or opt for a combined train and bus journey, which is the recommended option as it is much more comfortable.
For this option, you first take the night train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, where you connect to a bus onwards to Phuket.
