Bangkok to Krabi — Flights, the Overnight Bus, the Train to Trang or Surat Thani, and Getting On to Ao Nang and Railay
Krabi is the hub for the southern Andaman. How to reach it from Bangkok by air, bus or rail, and how to continue to Ao Nang, Railay and the islands once you land.
Krabi is the practical base for the southern Andaman: Ao Nang and Railay's cliffs are half an hour away, and boats leave for Phi Phi, Lanta and the Trang islands. From Bangkok, flying is almost always the right answer, but the overland routes still have their uses.
Options
| Option | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fly | 1 h 20 min | Frequent low-cost flights from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi; Krabi airport is 30 minutes from Ao Nang |
| Overnight bus | About 11–13 hours | Arrives at Krabi bus terminal (Talat Kao) before dawn |
| Train to Surat Thani + bus | Overnight sleeper (about 9–11 h) + 2.5–3 hours by road | For rail travellers; Surat Thani is the closest main-line station |
| Train to Trang + minivan | Overnight sleeper (about 15 h) + 2 hours by road | Alternative rail route; useful if you are heading to Koh Lanta or the Trang islands |
Flying
Krabi airport has flights all day and fares are competitive with the bus when booked a few weeks ahead. From the airport, shared minivans and airport buses run to Krabi Town, Ao Nang and the Klong Muang beaches; private taxis are quicker. If you are going straight to Railay, take a transfer to Ao Nang and a longtail from there.
- Compare flights, buses and trains Bangkok–Krabi: open 12Go
The overnight bus
VIP coaches leave Bangkok's Southern Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) in the evening and arrive around 5–6 am. The terminal is a few kilometres north of Krabi Town; songthaews and taxis run to town and Ao Nang from early morning. Pick a 24-seat VIP coach for the twelve hours.
Train routes
There is no railway to Krabi itself. The two workable approaches are the Surat Thani sleeper followed by a bus or minivan (about 2.5–3 hours), or the Trang sleeper followed by a minivan (about 2 hours). The Surat Thani connection has more frequent onward transport; Trang suits people continuing to Koh Lanta or Koh Mook.
Krabi Town, Ao Nang or Railay?
- Krabi Town is the transport hub with the bus terminal, Klong Jilad ferry pier and cheaper guesthouses, but no beach.
- Ao Nang is the main beach resort, 30–40 minutes from the airport, with the longtail piers for Railay and boat tours.
- Railay has no road access: longtails from Ao Nang (10–15 minutes) or Krabi Town (about 45 minutes). Boats run until early evening; arrive late and you sleep in Ao Nang.
Seasons
Krabi is on the Andaman coast: dry and calm from November to April, wet from roughly May to October. Boats to the islands are reduced in low season, but Ao Nang and Railay remain reachable year-round.
Common mistakes
- Landing late and expecting a boat to Railay. Longtails stop around dusk; book a night in Ao Nang instead.
- Booking the bus to save money without checking flight fares. Off-peak flights are often within a few hundred baht of a VIP bus.
- Arriving at Talat Kao terminal before dawn without a plan. Songthaews start later; a taxi is the only option at 5 am.
Summary
Fly to Krabi and take a shared transfer to Ao Nang; from there, longtails reach Railay and ferries reach the islands. Use the overnight bus or the Surat Thani/Trang sleepers only if you prefer overland travel or are combining destinations along the way.