From Bangkok

Getting Around

From Bangkok

Local transportation in Thailand ranges from good to bad and can be tricky. There is excellent transportation from Bangkok to Surat Thani and other parts of the southern Thailand via bus, train, or domestic plane service

By Plane

Thai Airways International operates a daily flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani which takes one hour with the cost of 1,785 baht for economy class M, 2,085 baht for economy class Y, and 2,585 baht for business class. From Chiang Mai, Thai Airways International flies twice a week with the cost of 3,060 baht, and from Hat Yai with a fare of 1,450 baht. There are also quite frequent services to Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket and Ranong.

Contact number: +66 2 280 0060 or +66 77 272 610, 273 710 for more information.

There are five flights a week between Surat Thani and Chiang Mai for 2,450 baht one way and these flights also continue to Hat Yai for 1,150 baht more. Orient Express Air, a relatively new service, operates these flights.

From the Surat Thani Airport to the provincial capital, Thai Airways International provides a shuttle van for 40 baht per person and a more expensive limousine service for 150 baht.

You can also travel from Bangkok to Samui Island daily on Bangkok Airways in one hour and ten minutes. Contact numbers: +66 2 229 3456 or +66 77 425 011 to 4, 425 029 to 30.

By Bus

Daily buses from Bangkok to Surat Thani leave from the Southern Route Bus Terminal on Borom Ratchachonnani Road and take about 11 hours.

First class air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal daily at 8 a.m., 8.20 a.m., and 8.30 p.m. with the fare of 346 baht. Daily 2^nd class air-conditioned buses departure at 9.30 a.m. and 8.45 p.m. for 269 baht and one VIP departure at 8 pm costs 350 baht. There are also “Super VIP” buses with only 30 seats for 450 baht operated by private companies and 1^st class super VIP buses with 24 seats for 535 baht leaving at 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

The non-air conditioned buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal at 9.20 and 11 p.m. and cost only 192 baht.

In addition, you can get direct buses from Bangkok to Samui Island here. Contact number: +66 2 434 5557 to 8 (non-air conditioned buses) and +66 2 435 1199, 435 1200 (air conditioned buses).

By Train

One can catch a daily train at Hua Lam Pong Station in Bangkok. The destination is Punpin district, Surat Thani, where you have to take local buses or taxis into the city in a distance of 14 km west of the town. The alternative routes are to take a train to Chaiya or Ta Chana districts and then, if you want to enjoy the exuberant town life, you can take local buses or taxis from the station.

Trains to Surat Thani leave Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong terminal at 12.25 p.m. on rapid train, 2.45 p.m. and 2.20 p.m. on special express, 3.50 p.m. on rapid, 5.05 p.m. on express, 6.20 p.m. on rapid, 7.15 p.m. on express, 5.35 p.m. on express, 10.50 p.m. on express diesel, and 10.30 p.m. on express diesel. The journey takes almost 11 hours to arrive at Surat Thani. The most convenient train leaves at 6.30 p.m. on rapid No. 41 and it arrives at 5.44 a.m., so you don’t have to rush to get a boat to Samui if it is your main destination because you can have plenty of time left before the boat off shores. The costs of train tickets are 519 baht for 1^st class, 248 baht for 2^nd class, and 107 baht for 3^rd class, not including the surcharges and berths. Fares available only for the 2.35 and 3.15 pm special express train are 470 baht in first class and 224 baht in 2^nd class, not including the rapid/express/special express surcharges or berths.

There are no 3^rd class trains directly to Surat Thani from Bangkok, but you can take the trains from Chumphon to Surat Thani on the ordinary Nos 119 or 149 that cost 25 baht.

The Sprinter or first class special express No 39 leaves Bangkok daily at 10.30 p.m. and arrives in Phun Phin at 7.20 a.m. for 448 baht with the surcharge. There are no sleeping berths available on this train.

There is a 24 hours left-luggage room at the Phun Phin train station that costs 5 baht for the first day and 10 baht thereafter. You can buy a ticket from the office which is open daily from 6 to 11 a.m and noon to 6 p.m.

Contact the transportation services center at the State Railway of Thailand: +66 2 223 7010, 223 7020 or Phunpin railway station: +66 77 311 213 for more information.

By Car

Taking a your leave from Bangkok, you can follow down the route called “Thonburi-Parktor”, or highway 35. Then, driving on Highway 4, you will pass through Phetchaburi, Prachueb Kirikun, and Chumporn provinces heading toward Highway 41 to get to Surat Thani, 644 km from Bangkok.

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