The cheapest way to travel by public transport from Koh Lanta to Phuket is to take a bus or minivan. The journey takes 5 to 6 hours, compared to 90 minutes by speedboat, but it costs a lot less.
Bus Timetable from Koh Lanta to Phuket
Click on the Koh Lanta – Phuket link in the timetable below for more information and to buy tickets.
| Koh Lanta - Phuket ฿ 1,500–2,000 1h 30m – 3h 30m | |
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| Koh Lanta - Phuket ฿ 550 6h 10m | |
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| Koh Lanta - Phuket ฿ 550–770 5h 30m – 6h 40m | |
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Koh Lanta Bus Stop
The main departure point for bus and minivan services from Koh Lanta to Phuket is the car park at Saladan Pier in Koh Lanta Yai.
Phuket Bus Stop
The main arrival point for bus and minivan services from Koh Lanta to Phuket is Phuket Bus Terminal 2.
About Travel from Koh Lanta to Phuket
There are two ways to travel from Koh Lanta to Phuket:
- The fastest way to complete the journey is to take a direct speedboat or ferry. By speedboat the journey takes around 90 minutes. By ferry it takes around 3 hours.
- The slower option is to take the road route from Koh Lanta to Phuket. This is the less expensive option, and in some cases the more suitable option. Pregnant women, for example, are advised not to travel by speedboat.
Journey by Road
The first stage of the journey by bus or minivan from Koh Lanta to Phuket is a short road journey (10 km) from the pick up point at Saladan Pier on Koh Lanta Yai to Khlong Mak Pier on the north coast of Koh Lanta Yai.
The sea crossing from Khlong Mak Pier takes around 15 minutes. The arrival point on the mainland is Hua Hin Pier.
By road it is then a 229 km journey from Hua Hin Pier to Phuket Bus Terminal 2. The route passes through Krabi Town, with buses and minivans calling in at Krabi Bus Terminal. The route also passes through Phang Nga Town with a stop at Phang Nga Bus Station. With stops along the way, this stage of the journey normally takes around 4 hours 30 minutes.
Patong is the most popular beach in PhuketArrival in Phuket
Most bus and minivan services from Koh Lanta to Phuket terminate at Phuket Bus Terminal 2, which is the island’s main long distance bus station. Phuket Bus Terminal is located just under 5 km by road to the north of Phuket Town.
Other than taxis, the only local public transport services available at Phuket Bus Terminal 2 is a shared taxi service which shuttles passengers from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to Phuket Bus Terminal 1, which is in the centre of Phuket Town. The shared taxi service departs from Platform 12 frequently and takes about 20 minutes.
Phuket Bus Terminal 1 is a local bus station with inexpensive services to most destinations in Phuket, and some longer distance services to Khao Lak.
Where to Stay in Phuket
Phuket Town is a destination in its own right, with an Old Town area and an interesting history. Relatively few leisure visitors to Phuket choose to stay overnight in Phuket Town because it has no beach. The most popular destination in Phuket is Patong, which has a beautiful 3 km long white sand beach.
Patong is very busy, with lots of bars and restaurants, and hotels, and also an infamous ‘Walking Street’ lined with go-go bars. To the south of Patong is Karon, which also has a great beach and is nearly as busy as Patong.
Some visitors may prefer one of the quieter beaches to the north of Patong, such as Kamala or Surin, or Kata, which is to the south of Karon.