How to Get to Khao Sok National Park From Phuket or Krabi: Bus, Minivan & Transfer Guide
The road to Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park sits between Phuket, Krabi and Surat Thani. Phuket and Krabi both have direct flights from Malaysia. That makes them the easiest gateways for many Malaysian travellers.
From either one, you can reach Khao Sok by bus, shared minivan or private taxi in about 2.5 to 5 hours. This guide compares every option with prices in baht, departure times and tips.
- Bus prices from Phuket conflict. Thailandee lists a local bus from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 at ฿120. Backpackers Thailand (January 2025) and Visit Thailand Today list ฿370. The ฿120 fare may be a slower, non-express bus.
- Krabi minivan prices vary. Khao Sok Riverside Cottages (May 2025) says about ฿450. Visit Thailand Today says ฿400 to ฿500. 12Go's page title says "from ฿383" but its timetable only shows US dollar fares.
- Travel times vary a lot. Visit Thailand Today says about 2 hours from Krabi and 2.5 to 3 hours from Phuket by car. Shared minivans and buses take 3 to 5 hours, including pickups and stops.
- Some sources are a year or more old. Backpackers Thailand and Khao Sok Riverside Cottages were last updated in 2025. Confirm times and prices before you travel.
- Private taxi prices may rise. Thai National Parks says a temporary fuel surcharge may apply. It's confirmed when you enquire.
- Khao Sok Riverside Cottages is a Khao Sok hotel. It may recommend its own transport partners.
Quick comparison
From Phuket
| Option | Price | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public bus | ฿120 to ฿370 per person | About 3 to 4.5 hours | Budget travellers |
| Shared minivan with hotel pickup | From ฿900 per person | About 2.5 to 5 hours | Convenience on a budget |
| Private taxi | From ฿2,700 per car | About 2.5 hours | Families and groups |
From Krabi
| Option | Price | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public bus (Phantip) | ฿320 to ฿450 per person | About 3.5 hours | Budget travellers |
| Shared minivan | About ฿400 to ฿500 per person | About 3 to 5 hours | Most travellers |
| Private taxi | From ฿2,300 per car | About 2 to 3 hours | Families and groups |
Getting there from Malaysia
Both Phuket and Krabi have direct flights from Kuala Lumpur. Book a morning flight so you can reach Khao Sok the same day. Khao Sok Riverside Cottages advises leaving Phuket before 15:00. Traffic on the island's main roads gets very heavy after that.
Phuket to Khao Sok
Option 1: Public bus (cheapest)
Buses to Khao Sok leave from Phuket Bus Terminal 2
Buses towards Surat Thani stop at Khao Sok on the way.
- Price: ฿370 (Backpackers Thailand and Visit Thailand Today). Thailandee lists a local bus at ฿120.
- Where to catch: Phuket Bus Terminal 2, Phuket Bus Terminal 1 or near the airport
- Departures: Backpackers Thailand lists 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport buses from 06:00 to 14:10, including 06:00, 07:30, 08:30, 09:30, 11:00, 13:30 and 14:10.
- Time: About 3 to 4.5 hours
- Drop-off: The national park entrance in Khao Sok village
From the airport: Khao Sok Riverside Cottages says there's no regional bus stop at the airport. You can take the city bus to Bus Terminal 2, which takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Option 2: Shared minivan with hotel pickup
Shared minivans pick you up from your Phuket hotel
- Price: From ฿900 per person (Backpackers Thailand)
- Operator: Call Me Taxi
- Pickups: Phuket Airport, Patong, Kata, Karon, Phuket Town, Rassada Pier and Bang Rong Pier
- Departures: 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 09:00, 09:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30 and 15:30
- Time: About 2.5 to 5 hours
Good to know: Backpackers Thailand says the price includes drop-off at your Khao Sok hotel.
Option 3: Private taxi
A private taxi is the fastest way to Khao Sok
| Route | Sedan (2 to 3 people) | MPV (3 to 4 people) | Minivan (8 to 9 people) | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket to Khao Sok village | ฿2,700 | ฿3,000 | ฿3,800 | View transfer |
| Phuket Airport to Khao Sok village | ฿2,800 | ฿3,100 | ฿3,900 | View transfer |
| Phuket to Cheow Lan Lake | ฿2,700 | ฿3,000 | ฿3,800 | View transfer |
Prices from Thai National Parks.
Thailandee also lists Andaman Taxis at ฿3,300 for a 9-seat van. Backpackers Thailand lists private taxis from ฿2,875.
Time: About 2.5 hours
Krabi to Khao Sok
Option 1: Public bus (Phantip)
Phantip buses leave from Krabi Bus Terminal
- Price: ฿320 to ฿450 (Khao Sok Riverside Cottages)
- Where to catch: Krabi Bus Terminal
- Departures: About every 4 hours
- Time: About 3.5 hours
Option 2: Shared minivan (most popular)
Shared minivans run from Krabi to Khao Sok all morning
- Price: About ฿450 per person (Khao Sok Riverside Cottages), or ฿400 to ฿500 (Visit Thailand Today)
- Operators: 12Go lists Black Tiger Tour, Phichet Transport, Krabi Sea Pearl, RTC Transport and Thubthim Siam Travel
- Departures: 12Go lists vans roughly every 30 to 60 minutes from 06:30 to 15:30
- Time: About 3 to 5 hours
Good to know:
- Khao Sok Riverside Cottages advises asking for a direct van. Some take a long detour via Khao Lak.
- Shipped Away recommends a 07:00 to 08:00 departure so you arrive by check-in time.
- Shipped Away says pickups and drop-offs can add 30 minutes to an hour.
Option 3: Private taxi
| Route | Sedan (2 to 3 people) | MPV/SUV (3 to 4 people) | Minivan (8 to 9 people) | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krabi town to Khao Sok village | ฿2,300 | ฿2,500 | ฿3,100 | View transfer |
| Krabi Airport to Khao Sok village | ฿2,400 | ฿2,600 | ฿3,200 | View transfer |
| Ao Nang to Khao Sok village | ฿2,400 | ฿2,600 | ฿3,200 | View transfer |
| Krabi town to Cheow Lan Lake | ฿2,200 | ฿2,400 | ฿3,000 | View transfer |
Prices from Thai National Parks.
Khao Sok Riverside Cottages says a Grab or Bolt taxi costs ฿2,500 to ฿3,500.
Time: About 2 to 3 hours
Going straight to Cheow Lan Lake
If you're staying in a floating bungalow, you can go straight to Ratchaprapha Pier. Thai National Parks charges the same or less for the lake as for Khao Sok village. For example, Krabi town to the lake is ฿2,200 by sedan.
Which should you choose?
- Cheapest from Phuket: Public bus from Bus Terminal 2
- Easiest from Phuket: Call Me Taxi shared van with hotel pickup
- Cheapest from Krabi: Phantip bus or a shared minivan
- Families or groups of 3 or more: Private taxi. It works out at about ฿600 to ฿900 per person for 3 to 4 people.
Tips for Malaysian travellers
- Leave early. Morning departures arrive by check-in time.
- Pack light. Minivans have limited luggage space.
- Bring snacks and a jacket. Shipped Away says stops are limited and the air-conditioning can be strong.
- Book ahead from November to April, when vans fill up.
- Leave Phuket before 15:00 to avoid heavy traffic.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking a Krabi van that goes via Khao Lak, which adds hours.
- Leaving Phuket in the late afternoon.
- Not allowing extra time for hotel pickups.
- Assuming the bus stops at Phuket Airport. Take the city bus to Terminal 2 first.
Sourced from Thailandee Buses from Phuket to Khao Sok, Backpackers Thailand Phuket to Khao Sok, Khao Sok Riverside Cottages Phuket to Khao Sok, Khao Sok Riverside Cottages Krabi to Khao Sok, 12Go Vans from Krabi to Khao Sok, Thai National Parks Taxi Services to Khao Sok, Shipped Away Krabi to Khao Sok, Shipped Away Phuket to Khao Sok and Visit Thailand Today Khao Sok Guide.