Phuket to Krabi Across the bay, or around it.
The short answer: if you are going to Ao Nang or Railay, take a boat: speedboats cross the bay in one to two hours and land close to the beach. If you are going to Krabi Town, the bus or minivan is cheaper and takes about three hours by road. There are no direct flights.
Below: the options compared with fares from 12Go on 6 November 2026, the piers and bus terminals on both sides, the boat season, and getting on to Railay, which has no road.
Phuket to Krabi at a glance
Prices are the cheapest one-way fares 12Go listed on 6 November 2026, and they can include 12Go's booking fee.
| Option | How long | From → to | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | About 1 – 2 hours | Rassada or Bang Rong pier → Ao Nang or Railay | From about US$21 | Ao Nang and Railay, fast |
| Big ferry (Ao Nang Princess) | About 2 – 2.5 hours | Rassada pier → Ao Nang and Railay | About 850–900 baht | A steadier ride, luggage |
| Bus or minivan | About 3 hours | Phuket Bus Terminal 2 → Krabi Bus Terminal | From about US$6–7.50 | Krabi Town, the lowest price |
| Minivan to Ao Nang | About 3.5 hours | Phuket Bus Terminal 2 or hotel pickup → Ao Nang | From about US$9–13.50 | Ao Nang without a boat |
| Private car | About 2.5 – 3 hours | Phuket airport or your hotel → Ao Nang | About 2,800–3,900 baht per car | Groups, door to door |
Compare live times and prices: Phuket to Ao Nang · Phuket to Krabi (12Go)
Which one should you pick?
Take a speedboat if you are staying in Ao Nang or Railay. It is the quickest way and drops you right there. Expect a bumpy ride when the sea is up.
Take the big ferry if you have a lot of luggage or get seasick easily, and it sails on your date.
Take the bus or a minivan if you are going to Krabi Town, or in the rainy season when fewer boats run.
By boat: piers and season
Phang Nga Bay is only about 42 km across, while the road around it is about 170 km, which is why the boat is so much quicker. Speedboats from Green Planet, Bundhaya and others leave Phuket from Rassada (just outside Phuket Town) or Bang Rong (on the north-east coast, the closest pier to the airport). On 6 November 2026, 12Go listed a Bundhaya speedboat at 09:00 arriving in Ao Nang at 10:00, and Green Planet at 13:00.
In Krabi the boats land at Nopparat Thara pier at the west end of Ao Nang Beach, or at the floating pier on East Railay. A few go to Klong Jilad pier near Krabi Town instead, so check which one your ticket names.
The big ferry, the Ao Nang Princess, is slower but steadier. In the high season, from about mid-November, it sails every day; in the rainy season it runs only some days of the week. Some ferries also go via Koh Phi Phi, which takes up to about four hours but lets you stop on the island. See Phuket to Phi Phi.
By bus or minivan
Buses and 13-seat vans leave Phuket Bus Terminal 2, a few kilometres north of Phuket Town, about every hour from early morning, and take about three hours to Krabi Bus Terminal, a few kilometres north of Krabi Town. From there a songthaew or taxi takes you into town or on to Ao Nang.
Some vans, such as 438 Phuket Krabi Transport, carry on to Ao Nang, and others pick you up at your hotel in Phuket for a higher fare. Allow extra time for the pickups.
Getting to Railay
Railay has no road. Either take a boat from Phuket that stops at East Railay, or go to Ao Nang and take a longtail boat across, about 15 minutes. If you are on the bus, book the Ao Nang drop-off rather than Krabi Town to keep the last part simple.
Booking Phuket to Krabi on 12Go
12Go lists the speedboats, the Ao Nang Princess ferry, the buses and vans from Phuket Bus Terminal 2, and private cars, so you can see what is running on your date.
Search Phuket to Ao Nang for the boats, and Phuket to Krabi for the buses into town. Prices on 12Go can include a booking fee.
Phuket to Krabi FAQ
How long is the ferry from Phuket to Krabi?
About one to two hours by speedboat to Ao Nang or Railay, and about two to two and a half hours on the big ferry.
Which pier do boats to Krabi leave from in Phuket?
Mostly Rassada, near Phuket Town, or Bang Rong, on the north-east coast near the airport. Your ticket names the pier.
How long is the bus from Phuket to Krabi?
About three hours from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to Krabi Bus Terminal.
Do boats run in the rainy season?
Fewer of them. The big ferry runs only some days of the week in the rainy season, and sailings can be cancelled in bad weather. The bus runs all year.
Is there a flight from Phuket to Krabi?
No direct flight. Booking sites only show connections through Bangkok, which take much longer than the boat or the bus.
Last checked: 6 November 2026. Boat, bus and van times and fares from 12Go (Phuket to Krabi and Phuket to Ao Nang); piers, ferry season and fare, distances, terminals and private-car prices from Visit Thailand Today (updated October 2026); Railay longtail from Rome2Rio and Thai Holiday Guide. Timetables change with the season, so check before you travel.