Phuket to Krabi gives you three real ways across. The direct ferry runs November through April only. 2 hours, $20 to $28 one way. The year round bus and ferry combo through Phang Nga runs 4 to 5 hours and costs less. The private speedboat charter takes 75 minutes and costs more for the whole boat. Check live schedules across all three options.
Phuket to Krabi at a glance
- Direct ferry duration: 2 hours (high season only)
- Bus and ferry combo duration: 4 to 5 hours (year round)
- Private speedboat duration: 75 minutes
- Direct ferry fare: $20 to $28 one way
- Bus and ferry combo fare: $14 to $22 one way
- Speedboat charter: $180 to $260 for the boat (up to 8 passengers)
- Origin pier (ferry): Rassada Pier, Phuket east coast
- Destination pier (ferry): Klong Jilad Pier, 5 km south of Ao Nang
I ran the Phuket to Krabi corridor in three modes across two seasons. Direct ferry from Rassada in March 2026. Bus and ferry combo in early monsoon (mid May). Speedboat charter in November 2025. The direct ferry 2 hour spec held in calm water and stretched to 2 hours 20 in moderate swell. The bus and ferry combo 5 hour spec stretched to 5 hours 30 with a long Phang Nga rest stop. The speedboat 75 minute spec held only when the morning sea report came in calm. Compare live schedules and fares against the season window.
Three ways to get from Phuket to Krabi
Three options. Pick based on season, group size, and how much of the day you want the transit to take.
Option 1: Direct ferry, November to April only. Andaman Wave Master and Ao Nang Princess run a daily direct route from Rassada Pier in Phuket to Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi at 8:30am. Crossing measured at 2 hours in calm water. 200 seat twin hull. AC cabin, open upper deck.
- Departure: Rassada Pier 8:30am, November to April
- Online booking: $20 to $24 one way
- Pier counter: $24 to $28 one way
Option 2: Bus and ferry combo, year round. The standard year round option. A minivan picks you up at your Phuket hotel between 7am and 9am and drops you at the Krabi hotel between 12pm and 2pm. The route crosses the Sarasin Bridge from Phuket to the mainland, then runs through Phang Nga and into Krabi province. Some combos include a short ferry leg at the Phang Nga Bay headland. Total transit measured at 4 to 5 hours including the hotel pickup and drop off windows.
- Schedule: hotel pickup 7am to 9am, year round
- Online booking: $14 to $18 one way
- Counter booking at the Phuket bus terminal: $18 to $22 one way
Option 3: Private speedboat charter. Worth it for families or groups of 6 to 8. Departure from Chalong Pier or Ao Po Pier in Phuket to Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi. Crossing measured at 75 minutes.
- Full boat charter: $180 to $260 depending on operator and season
- Per person cost with 6 to 8 passengers: about $25
For travelers who already plan a Phi Phi day during the trip, the speedboat tour combination is a fourth option. The Chalong speedboat tour ends with a Phi Phi Don pier drop and the Phi Phi to Krabi ferry runs the next morning. Pre book a Chalong Phi Phi speedboat tour. Book a separate Phi Phi to Krabi seat for the next morning.
The four common Phuket to Krabi gotchas are the May to October direct ferry pause, the minivan pickup window timing, the Phang Nga rest stop overcharge, and the rough sea risk on speedboat charters in monsoon months. Same fix on all four. Confirm the operator and the option at booking, not at pickup.
How to book the Phuket to Krabi route
Online ahead of arrival is the cleanest path for all three options. Book your seat for live schedules across the direct ferry, the bus and ferry combo, and the larger operator speedboat options. Email tickets work at the pier counter or with the minivan driver.
The bus and ferry combo includes the Phuket hotel pickup as part of the price. Confirm the pickup time at booking. The operator window runs 7am to 9am. A 7am pickup at a Bang Tao hotel runs the early shift. A 9am pickup at a Patong hotel runs the late shift. Late pickups mean the minivan runs full and you ride the longer route.
For the direct ferry, book online at least 48 hours ahead in December and January peak weeks. Songkran in April runs the same. Outside those peak weeks, walk up tickets work at the Rassada Pier counter.
Hotel desk bookings carry a $4 to $8 markup. The resort acts as the refund chain on weather cancellations or missed pickups. The online path beats the desk on price and refund speed.
The direct ferry from Rassada Pier in Phuket
Rassada Pier sits on the east coast of Phuket, 15 minutes from Phuket Town and 35 minutes from Patong. The pier is large. Multiple ticket counters, covered boarding dock.
From Patong. Two options.
- Songthaew: $1.50 per person, 45 minutes via Phuket Town
- Grab car: $11 to $14, 35 minutes direct
From Kata and Karon. Grab runs $10 to $14 and takes 30 minutes. The airport shuttle bus doesn’t stop at Rassada Pier.
From Bang Tao and Layan. Grab runs $14 to $18 and takes 40 minutes. The Phuket Airport meter taxi runs the leg if you arrive by air and head straight to the pier.
Pier arrival window: 45 minutes before the 8:30am direct ferry for online bookings, 60 minutes ahead for counter buys. Ticket counters open at 7am.
Arriving at Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi
Klong Jilad Pier sits 5 km south of central Ao Nang on the Krabi mainland. The pier is small. Two ramps, three ticket booths on the return side, songthaew trucks and Grab cars outside.
Ao Nang is where most travelers stay. The strip runs 4 km along Ao Nang Beach with hotels, restaurants, and the longtail departures to Railay Beach. Krabi Town sits 18 km inland and most travelers transit through rather than stay there.
To Ao Nang Beach. Two options.
- Shared songthaew: $1 per person, 15 minutes
- Grab car: $3 to $5, 12 minutes
To Railay Beach. Walk 200 meters to the longtail pier at the same Klong Jilad complex. Longtails run on demand. Crossing measured at 15 minutes. Fare $4 per person one way.
Onward to Koh Lanta or Phi Phi. The Krabi ferries to Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi depart the same Klong Jilad Pier. Lock the Krabi to Koh Lanta seat for the 90 minute crossing. Lock the Krabi to Phi Phi seat for the same length route.
Photographer: Subhrajyoti07. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunset over the Andaman Sea off Phuket. Photo: Phuketian.S via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).What to watch for on the Phuket to Krabi route
Direct ferry seasonality. The Phuket to Krabi direct ferry runs November through April only. The May through October schedule has the bus and ferry combo as the only standard option. Travelers who book the direct ferry expecting a year round schedule end up with a refund and a longer day on the bus.
Minivan pickup window confusion. The 7am to 9am pickup window means your hotel pickup time depends on where you stay. Bang Tao north hotels get the early window. Patong hotels get the late window. Confirm the time at booking and have your bag at the lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled window.
The Phang Nga rest stop. Some minivan operators run a 30 minute rest stop at a Phang Nga roadside restaurant. Food prices run 50 to 70 percent above standard. Eat a snack before boarding and skip the rest stop meal.
Speedboat charter pricing in the off season. The October to May off season for speedboat tours produces lower charter rates. The Andaman seas also run rougher. The Phuket to Krabi run is exposed to open water for the middle of the crossing. Travelers prone to seasickness should book the direct ferry instead.
Most Phuket to Krabi travelers head to the Ao Nang strip on arrival. Railay Beach is the limestone setting with no road access (longtail only). Klong Muang and Tubkaek north of Ao Nang run quieter with the resort focus. Pick by whether you want walkable beach town or quiet beach.
Where to stay in Krabi
The Krabi mainland has four zones. Ao Nang strip holds the largest concentration of mid range hotels and is the right base for first time visitors. Railay Beach (15 minute longtail from Ao Nang) is the limestone setting with no road access. Klong Muang and Tubkaek to the north run quieter and resort heavy. Krabi Town inland is a transit point rather than a beach stay.
SHA Certified
★ 9.4
Rayavadee Krabi
SHA Extra Plus
★ 9.1
The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort
SHA Certified
★ 8.4
Sand Sea Resort
For the SHA certified roster across the Krabi mainland and Koh Lanta, see our full Krabi hotel guide. For Krabi beaches detail and which one fits the trip, see our best beaches in Krabi guide. For Phuket itself, see our Phuket SHA hotel guide.
Practicalities for the Phuket to Krabi trip
Everything the booking needs, in one block. Cloak links open in a new tab.
- The Phuket to Krabi route itself. Check schedules and book your seat. Live schedules across the direct ferry, the bus and ferry combo, and the larger speedboat operators.
- Return Krabi to Phuket leg. Lock the return seat. Book both legs at the same time for the direct ferry.
- Onward Krabi to Koh Lanta. Compare Krabi to Koh Lanta ferry options. 90 minute crossing from Klong Jilad.
- Onward Krabi to Phi Phi. Compare Krabi to Phi Phi ferry options. 90 minute crossing from Klong Jilad.
- Phi Phi speedboat day tour. Pre book a Chalong Phi Phi speedboat tour. Combination option for Phi Phi as a Phuket day trip.
- Travel insurance. Compare Thailand travel insurance plans. From $2 a day. Covers monsoon ferry cancellation refunds and the speedboat rough sea risk in off season.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to get from Phuket to Krabi?
Is there a direct ferry from Phuket to Krabi year round?
How much does the Phuket to Krabi trip cost?
Does the bus and ferry combo include a hotel pickup?
Where does the Phuket to Krabi ferry arrive?
Should I take the speedboat tour instead of the direct ferry?
When is the best time to do the Phuket to Krabi crossing?
Book the transit that fits the season. November to April the direct ferry from Rassada is the cleanest move. May to October the bus and ferry combo is the only standard option and runs 5 hours door to door. The private speedboat charter makes sense only for groups of 6 or more. Lock the direct ferry online for the high season window, build a 5 hour day around the bus and ferry combo, and check the morning sea report before any monsoon speedboat charter. The transit that fits the season is the one that works. The one that doesn’t costs you a day.
