Phuket to Khao Lak — Buses from Terminal 2 ฿130–210, Shared Vans from Hotels, Airport Transfers, Times (September 2026)
Buses from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to Khao Lak run every 30–60 minutes from 05:30 for ฿130–210 and take 1.5–2 hours; shared vans with hotel pick-up from Patong or Kata are ฿550–750; from the airport it is an hour by taxi. Where the bus stops in Khao Lak, and how to time a Similan trip.
Quick answer: from Phuket town, the bus from Bus Terminal 2 — route 465 (Surat Thani–Phuket Transport) and Rung Kit coaches, every 30–60 minutes from 05:30, ฿130–210, 1.5–2 hours, dropping on the main road in Khao Lak. From Patong, Kata or Karon, a shared van with hotel pick-up (Call Me Taxi, ฿550–750, 2.5–4 hours door to door). From the airport, a taxi — Khao Lak is an hour north and the airport is already halfway there.
The route in numbers
| Phuket → Khao Lak | checked September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Distance | 80 km from Phuket town, 50 km from the airport, over the Sarasin bridge and up Route 4 |
| Bus | Terminal 2 · route 465 (06:00, 07:30, 08:20, 08:40, 09:30 …) ฿153–210 · Rung Kit 05:30, 10:10 … ฿130 · Phuket Bus and Van Travel ฿180 · TransBaanTon ฿250 · 1.5–2 h |
| Shared van, hotel pick-up | Call Me Taxi 06:30, 07:00, 08:00, 10:45 · ฿550–750 · 2.5–4 h including the pick-up round |
| Taxi / private transfer | Phuket town ฿1,500–1,800 · Patong ฿1,800–2,200 · airport ฿1,000–1,300 · 1–1.5 h |
| Getting to Terminal 2 | 4 km north of Phuket town: songthaew ฿30, tuk-tuk/Grab ฿100–150; from Patong ฿400–500, 45 min |
| Arrival | bus stops along Route 4 through Khao Lak (Bang Niang, Khao Lak centre, Nang Thong) — tell the conductor your resort area |
The bus
Every bus from Phuket to Phang Nga, Takua Pa, Ranong and Surat Thani goes up Route 4 through Khao Lak, so Phuket Bus Terminal 2 (on Thepkrasattri Road, 4 km north of Phuket town) has a departure every 30–60 minutes from 05:30 until late afternoon. On the September listing: route 465 buses to Surat Thani at ฿153–210, Rung Kit at ฿130, Phuket Bus and Van Travel at ฿180, TransBaanTon's coach at ฿250. Ordinary air-con buses with a luggage bay, 1.5–2 hours to Khao Lak.
Khao Lak is a 15 km strip of resorts along the highway rather than a town, so the bus stops where you ask: Bang Niang (the market and the tsunami museum), Khao Lak centre (Nang Thong) or the resorts further north. Say the resort name when you board.
Shared vans from the beaches
If you are staying in Patong, Kata or Karon, Terminal 2 is 45 minutes and ฿400–500 away by taxi, which cancels the bus fare's advantage. Call Me Taxi's shared 10-seat vans collect from hotels at 06:30, 07:00, 08:00 and 10:45 and drive straight to your Khao Lak resort, ฿550–750 per person; the pick-up round makes it a 2.5–4-hour trip. For three or four people a private car (฿1,800–2,200 from Patong) is quicker and about the same money.
From the airport
Phuket airport is at the north end of the island, 50 km from Khao Lak — the same direction, an hour by road. A taxi from the rank is ฿1,000–1,300; the airport minibus counters sell shared seats to Khao Lak for ฿300–500 when they have a load; most Khao Lak resorts arrange a transfer for ฿1,000–1,500. Going into Phuket first only makes sense if you are staying there.
Similan and Surin trips
Khao Lak is the base for the Similan Islands (day trips and liveaboards, roughly mid-October to mid-May only — the park closes in the monsoon). Boats leave from Thap Lamu pier, 20 minutes south of the resorts, at 08:00–08:30; tour operators collect from hotels. Arriving in Khao Lak the afternoon before is the sensible plan.
Onward and back
- Khao Lak → Phuket airport: any southbound bus (ask for "airport", the stop is on the highway 2 km from the terminal, songthaews wait) or a resort transfer.
- Khao Lak → Khao Sok: buses to Surat Thani stop at the Khao Sok junction, 1.5 hours — see Surat Thani → Khao Sok for the village side.
- Khao Lak → Krabi / Koh Lanta: vans daily, 3–4 hours.
Where to stay
Compare hotels and guesthouses along this route (prices change by season; check the live price on the booking page): Khao Lak · Phuket
Sources and last check
Checked 15 September 2026 against: 12Go listings for Phuket → Khao Lak (bus operators, departure times and fares; Call Me Taxi shared-van times and fares). Taxi fares, Terminal 2 access, bus-stop locations along Route 4, airport minibus prices and Similan season are traveller-reported details, not official tariffs.