Take a van to Ao Nang or a car for a flight.
The journey from Khao Lak to Krabi follows a road heading south and east through Phang Nga. From Nang Thong to Krabi Town it's about 130 km, and to Ao Nang or the airport it's 140 km, with a travel time of two to two and a half hours. There are no direct flights, trains, or boat connections. Shared taxis are the usual mode of transport, operating between approximately 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM for 330–450 baht per person. They depart from McDonald's on the main road in Nang Thong, or you can arrange for hotel pick-up. The journey ends at the bus station in Krabi Town, at hotels in Ao Nang, or at the airport.
Check the latest flight times and seat availability for Khao Lak → Krabi on 12Go.
A rental car costs approximately 2,400–3,000 baht. For a trip to Ao Nang or Krabi Town, I would recommend taking a minibus in the morning, and a rental car if you plan to fly from Krabi in the afternoon or take a boat to the islands.
Where to stay in Krabi
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The short answer
Take a shared taxi (approximately 330–450 baht) between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The journey to Krabi Town takes two and a half hours, and to Ao Nang about three hours. A private car takes two to two and a half hours and costs approximately 2,400–3,000 baht. This option is the safest choice if you're flying from Krabi Airport, as there are no flights, trains, or boats on this route.
Key facts
It's about 130–140 km, the journey takes two to two and a half hours by car.
Nang Thong is approximately 131 km from Krabi Town, 137 km from the airport, and 138 km from Ao Nang. Bang Niang adds another 4 km.
The vans depart from approximately 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Most of these trips are operated by Black Tiger and Phichet, with about a dozen departures daily, for approximately 330–450 baht including the 12Go fee. The journey to Krabi Town takes two and a half hours, and to Ao Nang about three hours.
Most delivery vans start at McDonald's in Nang Thong.
The cheaper tickets are for the meeting point at McDonald's on the main street in Nang Thong; the tickets with hotel pick-up will take you directly to your destination. Please check which ticket you have purchased before your departure.
A car costs about 2,400–3,000 baht.
12Go offers cars starting at around 2,400 baht, while companies in Khao Lak charge between 2,500 and 3,500 baht. It's best to book through your hotel the evening before, as there are no reliable taxi ranks or ride-hailing services in Khao Lak.
For a flight from Krabi, you should allow 4.5 to 5 hours in advance.
The journey to the airport takes two to two and a half hours, and the airport requests that you arrive two hours before departure. There are only two airport buses per day, both in the morning.
There is no boat connection to Krabi, but there is one to Railay.
12Go sells a combined van and boat ticket that terminates at Railay East Pier and departs from Khao Lak at 9:00 AM. All other routes are by road.
All routes from Khao Lak to Krabi compared
Distances according to OSRM route planning via OpenStreetMap. Travel times and prices for minibuses according to 12Go display boards for November 2026, including booking fee; fares according to 12Go offers and the prices of the providers in Khao Lak.
Check out the vans from Khao Lak to Krabi
12Go lists shared taxis from Khao Lak to Krabi Town, Ao Nang, and the airport, offering seats and e-tickets. Prices include a booking fee.
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The collection van
Two companies operate the majority of the vans. According to the 12Go display board, Black Tiger departs from Khao Lak at 8:45, 10:45, 11:45, 13:45, 15:45, and 17:15, taking approximately two and a half hours. Phichet departs at 9:20, 11:20, 12:20, 14:20, 16:20, and 17:50, taking about two hours and forty minutes. There is also an 8:00 AM departure with a transfer en route, which takes approximately five hours. Seats cost from around 330 baht (including the 12Go fee). These same vans can also be booked at travel agencies in Khao Lak.
The meeting point for most tickets is McDonald's on the main street in Nang Thong. For hotel pick-up tickets, you will be collected instead, which is worthwhile from Khuk Khak, Pakarang, or Bang Sak. The stated times tend to be optimistic, and reviewers report stops at hotels and occasional van transfers. Therefore, it's best to allow an hour's buffer time before doing anything unnecessary.
To Ao Nang
Most tourists go to Ao Nang, and the vans that go directly to your hotel there are a bit more expensive. Phichet vans run from approximately 9:00 AM to 5:50 PM and take about three hours and ten minutes. The price, including fees, is approximately 450 baht. Black Tiger vans depart from approximately 9:10 AM for about 370 baht and also take about three hours. They stop along the beach road in Ao Nang, as well as in Nopparat Thara and Klong Muang.
A van that terminates in Krabi Town is cheaper, but the route is about 20 km shorter. A songthaew from the town to Ao Nang costs around 50–80 baht and is therefore an option, but with luggage, hotel delivery is the more economical choice. A rental car from Khao Lak to a hotel in Ao Nang costs approximately 2,400–2,700 baht.
To Krabi Town
The cheapest tickets terminate at the bus station in Krabi Town, about two and a half hours from Khao Lak. Some operators, however, list the Krabi bus station in Talat Kao, about 4 km north of the town, as the final destination. Check which bus station your vehicle will arrive at before booking. Some tickets include a transfer to a hotel in Krabi Town.
Krabi Town is the ideal starting point for an early ferry crossing to Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta, as the Klong Jilad Pier is located on the outskirts of the town.
The best-rated hotels in Krabi
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Krabi. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.
After Railay
Railay is not accessible by road, so every route ends with a boat trip. The easiest option is the combined van and boat ticket from 12Go. It departs at 9:00 AM from McDonald's in Khao Lak and arrives at Railay's East Pier about three hours later for approximately 530 baht.
Alternatively, you can take a van to Ao Nang and from there a shared taxi (longtail) (100 baht per person, journey time 10–15 minutes). Or you can take a van that drops you off in Ao Nam Mao. From there, a speedboat departs every 30 minutes to Railay East (150 baht). Both services run until about 6:00 PM. It's best to take a van that departs from Khao Lak in the early afternoon.
Flight from Khao Lak to Krabi Airport
For a flight, a rental car is recommended. The distance from Nang Thong is approximately 137 km and from Bang Niang 141 km, with a drive of two to two and a half hours. The airport requests that passengers arrive two hours before departure. Therefore, plan to arrive in Khao Lak four and a half to five hours before your flight. On 12Go, you can find approximately 24 rental cars available for the airport starting at around 2,400 Baht. Your hotel can also reserve a rental car for you the evening before.
12Go operates only two airport buses daily, both departing around 9:00 AM. The journey takes approximately three hours and costs about 765 Baht. This works well for an afternoon flight departing around 3:00 PM. Most other buses terminate in Krabi Town, about 12 km from the airport. Therefore, if you take one of these buses, you should also factor in a taxi from town and allow extra time. If you haven't yet booked your return flight: Phuket Airport is significantly closer to Khao Lak, approximately 75 km away and reachable in 80 to 100 minutes.
Continue directly to Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta
Phi Phi is reachable from Khao Lak via Krabi in a day trip, but only by the first minibuses. The 8:45 am minibus arrives in Krabi Town around 11:20 am, missing the last ferry from Klong Jilad Pier at 1:30 pm (3:00 pm in December) or the afternoon speedboats, which run until 4:00 pm. Traveling by car is a safer option. If Phi Phi is your destination and you're not stopping in Krabi, traveling from Phuket is easier, as the ferries from Rassada Pier take about two hours from Khao Lak and run until early afternoon.
For the trip to Koh Lanta, the best option is to take a van to Krabi Town and then another van to Koh Lanta. Alternatively, you can spend a night in Krabi and continue your journey the next morning. My travel guide for the route from Krabi to Koh Lanta provides information about the vans and boats.
About Khao Sok
If you're not yet familiar with Khao Sok: It's an ideal stopover between the coasts. Buses from Khao Lak to Khao Sok depart at approximately 8:20, 9:30, 10:40, 11:30, 13:10, and 15:40, taking about two hours with a stop in Takua Pa. Minibuses depart at 11:00 and 17:00 and take about an hour. After two overnight stays, minibuses run from Khao Sok to Krabi between approximately 7:30 and 16:30; the journey takes two and a half to four hours.
When should you go?
The vans operate year-round, so the time of year is important in Krabi. December to March is the best time for the beaches and island excursions in Krabi, while May to October is the rainy season, during which some boat trips may be cancelled due to rough seas. Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh is closed every year from August 1st to September 30th.
In the other direction, from Krabi to Khao Lak, the vans run from approximately 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. My guidebook for the Krabi–Khao Lak route includes departure times from Krabi Town, Ao Nang, and the airport.
Are you traveling to Krabi? Plan the next leg of your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the journey from Khao Lak to Krabi.
The distance from Nang Thong to Krabi Town is approximately 130 km by road, and 137 to 138 km to the airport and Ao Nang. The journey takes two to two and a half hours.
According to the timetable, the journey to Krabi Town takes about two and a half hours and to Ao Nang three hours, but often longer with stops along the way. Vans run between approximately 8:00 am and 6:00 pm and cost 330–450 baht per person.
Renting a car costs approximately 2,400–3,000 baht. 12Go offers cars from around 2,400 baht including fees, while local providers charge 2,500–3,500 baht. It's best to book through your hotel or online in advance, as there are no reliable taxi ranks in Khao Lak.
Most ticket holders meet at McDonald's on the main street in Nang Thong. Hotel pick-up service is available; this service is recommended in Khuk Khak, Pakarang, or Bang Sak.
By car, the journey takes two to two and a half hours and costs around 2,400 baht or more. Therefore, you should allow four and a half to five hours before your flight. There are two airport buses per day, departing around 9:00 AM and costing approximately 765 baht. The journey takes three hours.
Take a minibus with hotel transfer in Ao Nang; the journey takes about three hours and costs 370–450 baht, between approximately 9:00 am and 5:50 pm. By car, the journey takes two to two and a half hours and costs about 2400–2700 baht.
12Go sells a combined van and boat ticket departing from McDonald's in Khao Lak at 9:00 AM and arriving at Railay East Pier about three hours later for approximately 530 baht. Alternatively, you can take a van to Ao Nang and then a longtail boat from there.
No. Khao Lak and Krabi are both on the mainland and are accessible by road. Only the final leg to Railay, which is not accessible by car, is covered by boat.
I wouldn't rely on public buses, and 12Go only sells vans and cars. A shared van is therefore the most practical solution.
Yes, by minibus in the morning. The 8:45 am bus arrives in Krabi Town around 11:20 am, in time for the 1:30 pm ferry from Klong Jilad Pier (3:00 pm in December) or a speedboat before 4:00 pm. The ferries from Rassada Pier in Phuket are the easier option if you're not stopping in Krabi.
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Further from Krabi
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? From Krabi to Khao Lak – All 11 routes from Krabi
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