Krabi to Phuket Ferry 2026: Speedboat, Scheduled, or Sarasin Bridge Bus

The Krabi to Phuket trip splits into two very different days. One is a scenic island-hop across the Andaman that threads past the Phi Phi group. The other is a faster, duller minivan over the Sarasin Bridge that never sees open water. Most travelers want the boat, and most do not realize the cheapest “direct” services route through a change at Phi Phi Don rather than running straight across.

This guide tests the three transport tiers on time versus cost, the Rassada Pier arrival math for Patong-bound travelers, and the Sarasin Bridge overland option that runs year round when weather cancels ferries.

Krabi to Phuket at a glance

• Andaman Wave Master duration: 1h 59min speedboat (fastest)
• Bus + minivan overland: 2 to 3 hours via Sarasin Bridge
• Chureang Travel duration: 4 hours scheduled ferry
• Phi Phi Cruiser duration: 6 to 7 hours via Phi Phi Don stop
• Bus + minivan fare: $6 to $22 one way (cheapest)
• Chureang Travel fare: $25 to $40 one way
• Phi Phi Cruiser fare: $25 to $40 one way
• Andaman Wave Master fare: $32 to $75 one way
• Daily sailings combined: 4 ferry + multiple bus departures
• First ferry sailing: 08:30 from Klong Jilad (Chureang)
• Last ferry sailing: 13:30 from Klong Jilad (AWM)
• Distance ferry: 180 km across the Andaman Sea
• Distance overland: 165 km via Sarasin Bridge
• Origin ferry pier: Klong Jilad Pier, 5 km south of Krabi Town
• Destination ferry pier: Rassada Pier on the east coast of Phuket Town

Photographer: Satdeep Gill. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Three operators on the route plus the overland alternative

Three ferry companies plus an overland minivan run service on the Krabi to Phuket route. The choice splits cleanly across three tiers: speedboat for speed, scheduled ferry for mid-cost, overland for budget. Direction matters because the arrival point determines onward taxi cost to your final hotel.

One thing to settle before booking is whether you want a true direct crossing or a service that changes boats at Phi Phi Don. The Andaman Wave Master and Chureang sailings run straight across to Rassada. The Phi Phi Cruiser routes through the islands with a connection, which adds hours but turns the transfer into a half-day on the water. Read the fine print, because some listings sell the connecting service as “direct” when it is not.

Andaman Wave Master, the speedboat option

AWM runs the 10:00 and 13:30 sailings on a 1h 59min speedboat crossing. Foot-passenger fare runs $32 to $75 one way, the premium tier on this route. The 10:00 sailing arrives Rassada by 12:00, leaving time for a Phuket Old Town lunch before transferring onward to Patong or Karon.

Chureang Travel, the scheduled ferry option

Chureang runs the 08:30 daily sailing on a 4-hour scheduled ferry. Foot-passenger fare runs $25 to $40 one way. The 12:30 Rassada arrival pairs well with hotel check-in by 14:00.

Phi Phi Cruiser via Phi Phi Don, the half-day stopover option

Phi Phi Cruiser runs the 09:00 daily sailing on a 6 to 7 hour route via Phi Phi Don. Foot-passenger fare runs $25 to $40 one way. The Phi Phi stop adds 4 hours but lets travelers spend 3 to 4 hours on Phi Phi Don between connecting ferries.

Photographer: Diego Delso. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Bus and minivan via Sarasin Bridge, the overland alternative

Bus and minivan service runs from Krabi Bus Terminal to Phuket Bus Terminal (Surakul) via the Sarasin Bridge land crossing. Duration is 2 to 3 hours. Foot-passenger fare runs $6 to $22 one way, the cheapest option on the route.

The overland route runs year round and is weather-immune. For Patong-bound travelers with light luggage, the door-to-door time often beats the ferry route once the Rassada-to-Patong taxi (45 minutes$0 600) is added.

Arrival at Rassada Pier and the Phuket transfer math

Rassada Pier sits on the east coast of Phuket, 4 km north of Phuket Old Town and 22 km from Patong Beach. The transfer to most Phuket beach destinations runs by taxi or shared minivan.

• Rassada to Phuket Old Town: 4 km, 10 min taxi$0 150 to 200
• Rassada to Patong Beach: 22 km, 45 min taxi$0 600 to 800
• Rassada to Karon Beach: 25 km, 50 min taxi$0 700 to 900
• Rassada to Phuket Airport (HKT): 35 km, 1 hour taxi$0 800 to 1,100

The Patong-bound taxi adds 45 minutes and THB 600 to 800 to the journey. For Patong travelers, the overland minivan to Phuket Bus Terminal then taxi to Patong is often faster door to door than ferry plus Rassada transfer.

Worth knowing before you land. The shared minivan counters that meet the boats at Rassada handle full-size luggage at no extra charge. The longtail and speedboat operators on the Krabi side load bags onto open deck, so anything that cannot take a soaking should go in a dry bag. On rough monsoon days the speedboat tiers feel every swell. Travelers prone to seasickness do better on the slower Chureang ferry, which sits heavier in the water and pitches less than the AWM boat.

Photographer: Wolfgang Holzem. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Season reality and the weather-immune overland option

High season (November to April) sees full ferry schedules on all three operators. Sailings rarely cancel. AWM and Chureang both run reliably.

Monsoon season (May to October) brings rougher Andaman seas. AWM speedboat occasionally drops the 10:00 sailing on heavy weather days. Phi Phi Cruiser sometimes cancels. The overland minivan via Sarasin Bridge runs year round regardless of weather and is the only fully weather-immune option on this route.

For travelers in monsoon season with tight Phuket airport connections, the overland minivan is the safest pick. Ferry cancellations during peak monsoon (July to September) can strand travelers in Krabi an extra day.

Best booking window and the direction-matters trade

The route prices on lead time and tier. AWM and Chureang sell out 2 to 3 days ahead in high season. Overland minivans have walk-up capacity at Krabi Bus Terminal year round.

Direction matters for total trip cost. Krabi to Phuket arrivals at Rassada need a Patong taxi (THB 600 to 800). The reverse direction Phuket to Krabi ferry arrives at Klong Jilad which is 5 km from Krabi Town and 22 km from Ao Nang. The Ao Nang-bound traveler pays a similar transfer cost regardless of direction.

For travelers building a multi-island Andaman trip, consider the Krabi to Phi Phi ferry as an alternative entry route to the Phi Phi islands before reaching Phuket. The quieter ferry between Phuket and Koh Yao Noi is another island option from the same coast. If Krabi is your base first, see where to stay in Krabi and our 3 days in Krabi itinerary.

For the most current 2026 schedules, check current Krabi to Phuket ferry schedules across all operators plus overland options.

Frequently asked questions about Krabi to Phuket

Where to stay in Phuket after the ferry

Three SHA-certified picks across Phuket Old Town, Patong, and Karon to anchor the first night after Rassada arrival.

SHA Extra Plus ★ 8.8

Phuket Town

Royal Phuket City Hotel

From $45 Check rates

SHA Extra Plus ★ 9.4

Pansea Beach

Amanpuri Phuket

From $1,500 Check rates

SHA Extra Plus ★ 8.8

Kamala

Keemala Phuket

From $461 Check rates

For all 27 Thailand ferry routes plus operator reliability, seasonal cancellation patterns, and booking strategy, see our complete Thailand ferry guide.