Getting around in Thailand

Thailand offers various means of transportation, and with the renowned hospitality of the Thai people, getting around is very easy. You'll have plenty of options between air, land, and sea travel, ranging from tuk-tuks to private transport and even low-cost flights.

Air travel

Most major Thai cities have medium-sized airports catering to domestic flights. Bangkok, serving as the departure point for all flights, has two airports: Suvarnabhumi, used for international flights, and Don Mueang, mainly for domestic and low-cost carriers like Air Asia or Nok Air. Depending on the airline, you can fly to various destinations across the country. Air Asia, for example, flies to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, or Udon Thani. Thai Airways operates flights from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to destinations such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Surat Thani, Phuket, or Krabi. Nok Air, from Don Mueang Airport, flies to Amnat Charoen, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Ratchathani, Phuket, or Chiang Rai. With Orient Thai Airline, you can fly directly to Phuket without any stopovers.

Bus

Buses are the most convenient mode of transportation for traveling between destinations in Thailand. The kingdom's major cities are connected by well-maintained four-lane roads, ensuring smooth traffic flow and fast arrivals. For long-distance trips, a network of highways and expressways operated by private bus companies links several Thai destinations and extends to neighboring countries like Laos, Cambodia, or Myanmar. These companies offer various fare options categorized into different types of buses, including VIP buses, gold buses, sleeping buses, first class, and second class. The number of seats, comfort level, and service quality differentiate these categories. Public buses or local buses, with or without air conditioning, remain the cheapest means of transport in Thailand. However, they make frequent stops during the journey and offer minimal comfort. Bangkok has three major bus terminals, each serving different destinations. So, be sure to pay attention and check your bus before departing. From downtown, starting from Mo Chit or the Northern Bus Terminal, you can travel to the northern regions like Chiang Mai or Issan. Buses departing from Ekamai, or Eastern Bus Terminal, head to the eastern part of the kingdom. To reach the southern part of the country, including Kanchanaburi, Phuket, Krabi, or Surat Thani, choose Sai Tai Mai or Southern Bus Terminal.

Taxis

Taxis are among the cheapest means of transport and are plentiful in Thailand, except in the southern part of the country. Additionally, shared taxis, commonly known as Songthaew, are also available. These are pickup trucks modified for public transportation. Cheaper than taxis, Songthaews have two wooden benches for passengers. They can transport several people in a single trip.

Tuk-tuks

As a symbol of Thailand and Asian countries in general, tuk-tuks are very convenient for short distances within cities. Prices are usually negotiated before boarding but remain very affordable. Riding in a tuk-tuk is a unique experience, especially in Bangkok, where dense traffic sometimes requires weaving between cars.

Train

Trains traverse the Kingdom of Thailand from north to south and from east to northeast. From Bangkok, they stop at over 30 stations, including towns and small villages. Thailand's trains offer three very different categories of wagons based on comfort level and service quality: first-class, second-class, and third-class. First-class wagons are very comfortable and air-conditioned. With very old trains and an aging railway network, this mode of transportation is slow. For example, trains take 12 hours to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Fortunately, the scenery along the railway line is beautiful, allowing passengers to relax and enjoy nature peacefully.

Boat

Surrounded by numerous small paradise islands, the Land of Smiles relies on boats as the only means of transportation to reach them. Since most of these islands are popular destinations, they are connected to Thailand by numerous ferry companies. Companies like Seatran and Raja Ferry depart from Donsak to the Gulf of Thailand, while Lomprayah from Chumpon takes you directly to Koh Tao. If you want to arrive at your destination faster, it's best to choose the famous "speed boats," which, although a bit more expensive, are very practical and fast.