Phuket to Khao Sok From the beach to the rainforest in about three hours.
The short answer: Khao Sok has no airport or railway, so you go by road, about 145 km from Phuket Airport. A private car takes two and a half to three hours for about 2,600 to 3,100 baht. A seat in a shared van with hotel pickup costs about 900 to 1,100 baht. The cheapest is the Surat Thani bus from Phuket Bus Terminal 2, about four hours for around 370 baht, five times a day.
Below: the options compared, where the bus drops you, getting to Cheow Lan Lake, and the trip back to Phuket.
Phuket to Khao Sok at a glance
Times and fares from Visit Thailand Today's Phuket to Khao Sok guide (October 2026), cross-checked on 12Go in November 2026; 12Go prices include a booking fee.
| Option | How long | Leaves from | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private car | About 2.5–3 hours from the airport, 3–3.5 from the south of the island | Phuket Airport or your hotel | About 2,600–3,100 baht per car | Arriving by plane, families, groups |
| Shared van | About 2.5–5 hours, with pickups | Hotels across Phuket, about 07:00 to 15:30 | About 900–1,100 baht per seat | Travelling alone or as a couple |
| Bus | About 4 hours | Phuket Bus Terminal 2, Phuket Town: 06:00, 07:30, 08:30, 11:00, 13:40 | About 370 baht on 12Go, less at the counter | The lowest price |
Compare live times and prices: all Phuket to Khao Sok options on 12Go.
Which one should you pick?
Straight from a flight, take a private car or a van seat. No bus to Khao Sok stops at Phuket Airport, and Bus Terminal 2 is about 30 km back the way you came.
Already staying in Phuket Town, the bus is fine and by far the cheapest. Take one of the morning buses: the 13:40 is the last.
Going straight to a raft house on Cheow Lan Lake, check first whether your package includes the transfer from Phuket.
The bus from Phuket Town
The bus is the Surat Thani bus from Phuket Bus Terminal 2, on the north side of Phuket Town. It leaves at 06:00, 07:30, 08:30, 11:00 and 13:40, goes by Route 401 with a stop of about 20 minutes in Takua Pa, and takes about four hours. The fare is about 370 baht on 12Go and a little less at the counter. From Patong, Kata or the Old Town, add a taxi or Grab to the terminal and leave early.
Tell the driver or the conductor that you are getting off at Khao Sok. The bus stops on Route 401 where the village road turns off, not in the village itself.
Shared vans and private cars
Ten-seat shared vans pick up at hotels around Phuket from about 07:00 to 15:30 and take about two and a half hours from the north of the island, up to five from the south, for about 900 to 1,100 baht. A van from Rassada pier leaves at 14:30 for about 1,100 baht.
A private car from the airport costs about 2,600 to 3,100 baht for the whole car and takes two and a half to three hours. Check that the price includes the drop at your hotel up the village road.
Arriving in Khao Sok
Khao Sok village is a single road of guesthouses, restaurants and tour desks, running about 2 km from Route 401 up to the national park headquarters. Many hotels will collect you from the bus stop if you message them your bus time; otherwise taxis and tuk-tuks wait at the junction, about 50 to 80 baht a person. See where to stay in Khao Sok.
Cheow Lan Lake
Ratchaprapha pier, where boats leave for Cheow Lan Lake and its floating raft houses, is about 65 km beyond the village. Boats to the rafts do not run after dark, so reach the pier by early afternoon. A simple plan is a first night in the village and the lake the next morning. See our Khao Sok guide.
Going back to Phuket
Buses back leave from the same stop on Route 401 at about 08:20, 09:20, 11:20, 12:20, 14:20 and 16:00, and take about four hours to Bus Terminal 2, not the airport. For a flight, take a car: it is about two and a half hours to the airport, so leave Khao Sok four and a half to five hours before departure.
Booking Phuket to Khao Sok on 12Go
12Go lists the buses from Bus Terminal 2, the shared vans with hotel pickup and private cars from the airport, so you can compare them side by side.
Prices on 12Go include a booking fee; bus tickets are a little cheaper at the terminal counter. Avoid leaving Phuket in mid-afternoon, when the main roads are busiest.
Phuket to Khao Sok FAQ
How far is Khao Sok from Phuket?
About 145 km from Phuket Airport, two and a half to three hours by car. From Phuket Town, Patong or Kata it is about 165 to 185 km.
Is there a bus from Phuket Airport to Khao Sok?
No. The buses leave Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket Town. From the airport, take a private car or a shared van.
How much is a taxi from Phuket to Khao Sok?
About 2,600 to 3,100 baht for a private car booked ahead.
Where does the bus stop in Khao Sok?
On Route 401, where the village road turns off. The village is about 2 km long; taxis at the junction cost about 50 to 80 baht a person.
Can I visit Khao Sok as a day trip from Phuket?
Tours do it, but a day trip to Cheow Lan Lake means about five hours in a car for a few hours on the water. Staying at least one night is better.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Distances, options, bus times and fares, vans, private cars, the bus stop, the village, Cheow Lan Lake and the trip back from Visit Thailand Today's Phuket to Khao Sok guide (26 October 2026); cross-checked on 12Go (465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport buses from 06:00, Call Me Taxi shared vans) and CheckMyBus (Bus Terminal 2, 06:00 and 08:20 departures). Timetables and fares change, so check before you travel.