Bangkok to Krabi and Ao Nang: Flights, Buses and the Train via Surat Thani

Published 2 October 2026 · By the Visit-Thailand editorial team · Editor: Terje Moy

The fast way from Bangkok to Krabi is a domestic flight to Krabi International Airport, then a short transfer to Ao Nang or Krabi Town. Without flying, take the night train to Surat Thani and a three-hour minivan to Krabi, or ride a night coach from the city's southern bus station.

Krabi has no railway station, so the choice is really plane, bus, or rail plus road. Few visitors stay in Krabi Town; the beaches of Ao Nang and Railay are the usual goal, which matters for the last leg. The flight is the obvious pick for a short holiday. The sleeper-and-van route eats a night and half the next day, yet many travelers like it because the night on the train replaces a hotel night and you reach the coast by early afternoon.

Flights to Krabi from both Bangkok airports

Krabi is one of the busiest domestic routes, flown from both of Bangkok's airports. OAG schedule data from 2025 shows four airlines at Suvarnabhumi (Thai AirAsia, Thai Vietjet, Bangkok Airways and the national carrier, Thai Airways) and three at Don Mueang (the low-cost Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and Thai AirAsia). Schedules change by season, so compare on the day you book.

Thai AirAsia sits in both columns. Don Mueang stays its home base, with up to six Krabi departures a day from 1 October 2026, and from the same date it also flies Suvarnabhumi–Krabi twice a day, according to TTR Weekly quoting the airline. If your ticket says AirAsia, the code BKK or DMK decides which side of Bangkok you need to be on.

Picking the airport is mostly about your starting point and any connection: staying airside at Suvarnabhumi after a long-haul arrival is easier than crossing the city. Our comparison of the two Bangkok airports covers that choice, and domestic flights in Thailand deals with baggage, check-in times and which airlines to expect. Starting in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or China? See regional flights into Thailand for connections.

From the airport, counters in the arrivals hall sell taxis and shared minivans to Ao Nang and Krabi Town, and Grab and Bolt both serve Krabi. Our Ao Nang guide describes that ride, and the sister site Viamo has a full page on Krabi Airport transfers.

By rail: sleeper to Surat Thani, van to Krabi

The rail route follows the Southern Line overnight to Surat Thani, whose station is actually in Phun Phin, about 14 km from the town. Evening departures from Krung Thep Aphiwat include train 85 at 19:50, due in Surat Thani at 06:23 with sleeping cars in both first and second class, according to the seat61 rail guide (October 2026). Before you go, our Krung Thep Aphiwat station guide explains Gate 4, the southern platforms and why you should arrive early.

In Surat Thani, Phantip Travel, a Department of Land Transport licensed operator that has run buses in the area for decades, keeps an office opposite the station. Seat61 says it collects train passengers and takes them to its town office, from which minivans to Krabi leave at 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00 and 16:30. The trip takes about three hours and ends at Krabi Bus Terminal; the fare is 290 baht one way in October 2026, and extra luggage or a door-to-hotel ride may cost more. Phantip's own booking form also lists drop-offs at Ao Nang or Krabi Town hotels and the Ao Nam Mao pier as drop-off points, so ask for the one that suits you. Seat61 adds that other buses to Krabi usually wait outside the station when the morning trains arrive.

On a late train, the 10:30 or 12:00 van is the realistic connection, which puts you in Krabi around lunchtime or early afternoon. If you pre-book the van, leave a few hours of buffer for delays on the line; buying it on arrival avoids that problem.

Krabi back to Bangkok by van and sleeper

Going north, the Phantip vans leave Krabi Bus Terminal at the same six times. To catch train 86 (Surat Thani 19:31, Krung Thep Aphiwat 06:10), seat61 suggests the 12:00 or 13:30 van; for train 84 (20:23, arriving 07:05), the 13:30 or 15:00. The company can arrange the transfer from its town office out to Phun Phin station, or you can take a local taxi.

Train fares depend on class and berth, and the figures published by secondary sources do not agree, so we leave them out; see the current price in SRT's D-Ticket system, which opens most trains 30 days ahead. Our guide to sleeper classes and berths helps you decide what to book, and the D-Ticket booking article shows the steps.

The night bus from Bangkok

Buses to Krabi start from Borommaratchachonnani Road, at the terminal Bangkok people call Sai Tai Mai, and run overnight, reaching Krabi in the morning. Many continue to other Andaman towns, so check that Krabi is the destination on your ticket and not just a stop. We could not confirm journey times or fares on Transport Co.'s own pages, so compare departures on the BKS booking site or ask at the counter before you commit.

Stick to Transport Co. (BKS) and its licensed partners, ideally in a VIP coach, and skip the cheap tourist buses sold around Khao San Road. Our page on Thai long-distance coaches explains classes and terminals; for comparison, minivans are the vehicles on the Surat Thani link.

From Krabi Town to Ao Nang, Railay and the islands

Krabi Bus Terminal is on the edge of Krabi Town, not at the beach. Shared pickup trucks run between Krabi Town and Ao Nang in daytime, and our guide to songthaews explains how to ride them; Grab is the alternative after dark. Railay has no road access at all, so the final step is a longtail boat, described in our Railay Beach guide.

Not sure where to stay? Our comparison of Ao Nang, Railay, Krabi Town and Klong Muang helps you choose. For onward trips, Krabi to Koh Lanta covers the van and the car ferry, and Phuket to Krabi covers the coast to the west. The Krabi province guide introduces the area.

Which route suits you

The night bus fits only the tightest budgets or last-minute plans, when flights and sleepers are full.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a train from Bangkok to Krabi?

No direct one: Krabi has no railway. Ride the sleeper south to Surat Thani overnight and finish with a van ride of about three hours to Krabi Bus Terminal. Phantip Travel's vans leave Surat Thani six times a day between 09:00 and 16:30.

Should I fly to Krabi from Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang?

Either works; Krabi flights leave both. Low-cost Thai Lion Air and Nok Air use Don Mueang, Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways use Suvarnabhumi, and Thai AirAsia and its two-airport schedule sit in between, so the airport printed on your ticket is the one that counts.

How do I get from Krabi Bus Terminal to Ao Nang?

The cheapest way is a shared songthaew from Krabi Town in daytime; otherwise use Grab or a taxi. Some minivans from Surat Thani can drop you at an Ao Nang hotel for an extra charge, so ask when you buy the ticket.

Is the overnight bus from Bangkok to Krabi safe?

Government and licensed buses from the Southern Bus Terminal are the safer choice: they have named operators, set stops and, on long routes, two drivers. Wear the seat belt, keep valuables with you, and avoid cheap tourist buses booked through guesthouses.

Sources

• Seat61 – Train travel in Thailand: Bangkok to Krabi by train and bus (checked October 2026)
• TTR Weekly – AirAsia ramps up Thai domestic flights (28 August 2026) (checked October 2026)
• Phantip Travel – Bus and ferry transfers from Surat Thani (checked October 2026)
• Tourism Authority of Thailand – Long-distance trains move to Krung Thep Aphiwat (checked October 2026)
• Transport Co. (BKS) – Online ticket booking (checked October 2026)
• Grab Thailand – Transport services and cities (checked October 2026)