Phuket Airport to Khao Lak About 80 km up the coast.
The short answer: Khao Lak has no airport, so most people fly to Phuket, about 75–80 km south, and go by road. A taxi or pre-booked car takes about 80–100 minutes and costs roughly 1,500–2,000 baht per car. A seat in a shared van is cheaper but slower, and public buses leave from Phuket Town, not the airport. There is no ferry.
Below: the options compared with prices checked on 7 November 2026, how far each Khao Lak beach is from the airport, where the buses stop, and how early to leave for your flight home.
Phuket Airport to Khao Lak at a glance
Prices come from the airport taxi counter, 12Go and local transfer firms; 12Go prices include a booking fee.
| Option | How long | Leaves from | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport taxi counter | About 80–100 min | Arrivals hall, Phuket Airport | About 1,800–2,000 baht per car | Landing without a booking |
| Pre-booked private car | About 80–100 min | Phuket Airport or your hotel | About 1,500–2,500 baht per car | Most people, and groups |
| Shared van | About 1.5–2 hours, with stops | Phuket hotels or the airport | About 550–1,000 baht per seat | Travelling alone |
| Public bus | About 2 hours | Phuket Bus Terminal 2, Phuket Town | About 130–280 baht | The lowest price |
Compare live times and prices: Phuket Airport to Khao Lak on 12Go · Phuket to Khao Lak
Which one should you pick?
Pre-book a car in most cases. Split between two to four people, it costs little more than shared seats and takes you straight to your resort.
Use the taxi counter if you land without a booking. The price is fixed by zone, so there is nothing to haggle over.
Take a shared van or the bus if you travel alone on a budget and are not in a hurry. The airport's own buses go to Phuket Town and the west-coast beaches, not north to Khao Lak.
How far each Khao Lak beach is from the airport
Road distances from Phuket Airport, from Visit Thailand Today (October 2026). The drive takes about 80 to 100 minutes, depending on where you stay.
| Area | Distance | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Thap Lamu pier | About 71 km | Where the Similan Islands boats leave from |
| Nang Thong | About 75 km | The main centre, with most shops and restaurants |
| Bang Niang | About 78 km | Calmer, with the well-known market |
| Khuk Khak | About 81 km | Wide, quiet beach and large resorts |
| Pakarang | About 87 km | Quieter resorts further north |
The taxi counter and pre-booked cars
The official taxi counter is in the arrivals hall. Its fares go by zone: on the price list we saw, a car to Nang Thong or Bang Niang cost about 1,800 baht, and about 2,000 baht from Khuk Khak northwards.
Pre-booked cars from transfer firms and 12Go are often a little cheaper, and many Khao Lak resorts arrange their own transfer if you ask a couple of days ahead.
Shared vans and the bus
Shared vans pick up at Phuket hotels and the airport a few times a day and drop along the Khao Lak coast, so with several stops the trip can take two hours or more.
Public buses to Khao Lak leave Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket Town and stop on the main road at Nang Thong, Bang Niang and the Thap Lamu junction. Avoid the slower routes that go via Phang Nga town.
Going back to Phuket Airport
Leave Khao Lak about three and a half to four hours before your flight: the drive is up to an hour and forty minutes, and the airport asks you to be there two hours before departure.
For the Similan Islands, which are open only from 15 October to 15 May, the boats leave from Thap Lamu pier, about 15 km south of Nang Thong, so you do not need to go back to Phuket.
Booking Phuket to Khao Lak on 12Go
12Go sells private cars from Phuket Airport, shared vans from Phuket hotels and the buses from Phuket Town, so you can compare them side by side.
Booking a car before you land means a driver is waiting in arrivals, which helps after a long flight.
Phuket Airport to Khao Lak FAQ
How far is Khao Lak from Phuket Airport?
About 75 to 80 km, depending on the beach, a drive of about 80 to 100 minutes.
How much is a taxi from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak?
About 1,800 to 2,000 baht per car at the airport counter; pre-booked cars cost about 1,500 to 2,500 baht.
Is there a bus from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak?
Not from the terminal. Buses to Khao Lak leave Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket Town; shared vans pick up at the airport and hotels.
Is there a ferry from Phuket to Khao Lak?
No. The trip is by road only.
Does Khao Lak have an airport?
No. Phuket is the nearest airport by far; Krabi's is about 140 km away.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Distances, taxi counter fares, van and bus details from Visit Thailand Today (October 2026), cross-checked with 12Go, Theo Courant, Thrifty Family Travels and Phuket Insider; Similan season from Thai National Parks and the Department of National Parks (2026–27 season). Prices change, so check before you travel.