Take a minibus in the morning, or a car if there are three of you.
The journey from Krabi to Khao Lak leads north through Phang Nga province, approximately 130 km from Krabi Town and 140 km from Ao Nang and the airport. The drive takes two to two and a half hours. Since there are no flights, trains, or boats connecting the two cities, you can choose between a shared taxi or a private car. Most travelers use shared taxis. These depart from Krabi Town and Ao Nang between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM and cost 300–450 baht per person. The journey takes three to four hours and ends either at your hotel or at a McDonald's on the main road in Nang Thong.
Check the latest flight times and seat availability for Krabi → Khao Lak on 12Go.
A rental car costs approximately 2,400–3,500 baht for the entire vehicle. For three people, the price per person is roughly the same as for a van, and you save at least an hour. I would book the van for one or two people if departing in the morning, and the rental car for three or more people, or for everyone arriving at Krabi airport.
Accommodation in Khao Lak
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The short answer
Take a shared taxi (300–450 baht) from Krabi Town or Ao Nang. Buses run approximately every half hour from 7:00 a.m. until early afternoon. The journey takes three to four hours, including stops. A private car takes two to two and a half hours and costs approximately 2,400–3,500 baht. This option is cheaper for three or more people or immediately after landing. 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.
From Krabi Town it is about 130 km to Nang Thong, the center of Khao Lak, and 136 km to Bang Niang. From Ao Nang and the airport it is about 137 to 142 km.
Shared taxis operate from approximately 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Most trips are operated by Black Tiger and Phichet, with departures approximately every half hour from Krabi Town and hourly from Ao Nang. A ticket, including the 12Go fare, costs around 300–450 baht, and the journey takes three to four hours with stops along the way.
A car costs approximately 2,400–3,500 Baht.
12Go offers cars from around 2,400 baht including fees, while companies in Khao Lak and Krabi charge between 2,500 and 3,500 baht. The door-to-door journey takes two to two and a half hours.
Most delivery vans end up at McDonald's in Nang Thong.
Vans offered as hotel transfers stop directly at your door. The cheaper options terminate at McDonald's on the main road in Nang Thong. Therefore, check the distance of your hotel from there before booking.
There is neither airplane, train nor ship.
Both locations are only accessible by road. If you later leave Khao Lak by plane, Phuket Airport is about 75 km away and therefore significantly closer than Krabi Airport.
Khao Sok is more or less on the way.
The journey from Krabi to Khao Sok takes three and a half to four and a half hours by van, and from Khao Sok to Khao Lak about one hour by van or two hours by bus, so two nights in the jungle between coastal stays fit in well.
All routes from Krabi to Khao Lak compared
Distances according to OSRM route planning via OpenStreetMap. Minibus journey times and prices according to 12Go display boards for November 2026 (including booking fee); fares according to 12Go offers and prices from providers in Krabi and Khao Lak. Journey times to Khao Sok are taken from the travel guides on this website for the Krabi–Khao Sok route and Khao Sok.
Check out the vans from Krabi to Khao Lak
12Go lists shared taxis from Krabi Town, Ao Nang, and the airport, offering seats and e-tickets. Prices include a booking fee.
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The collection van
Taking a minibus is the usual way to get to Khao Lak. Two companies offer the most departures. On the 12Go website, Black Tiger departs from Krabi at 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 10:30, 12:00, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, and 15:00, while Phichet departs at 8:30, 9:30, 12:30, 14:30, and 15:30. There are also a few smaller operators. When booking through 12Go, a seat from the minibus station in Krabi Town costs approximately 340 baht including fees, or 400–450 baht with hotel pickup. The same minibuses are also available at travel agencies in Ao Nang and Krabi Town.
The journey by car takes about two and a half hours, but by van it takes longer. Passengers are picked up in town, and reviews on 12Go mention waiting times until all seats are filled, with a second van arriving after about an hour. Plan for three to four hours, and you won't be disappointed. These are vans with 10 to 14 seats, where luggage is stored. Therefore, pack as light as possible and ideally travel in the morning so you arrive in Khao Lak during daylight hours and have enough time to find your hotel.
By car or private transfer
A rental car is worthwhile for three or more people, families, and anyone with a lot of luggage. 12Go offers rental cars from around 2,400 baht including fees, providers in Khao Lak and Krabi charge 2,500–3,500 baht, and your hotel can book a rental car for you the day before. The door-to-door drive takes two to two and a half hours without detours, and you choose the departure time.
The car also allows you to make stops along the way. Phang Nga town and the Samet Nangshe viewpoint in Takua Thung are located near the road heading north, and the driver will usually make a short stop if you arrange this when booking. Grab and taxis are not reliable for a 130 km journey, so book in advance.
From Krabi Airport
If you're landing in Krabi and want to go directly to Khao Lak, renting a car is the best option. The distance to Nang Thong is approximately 137 km and to Bang Niang approximately 141 km, with a journey time of about two and a half hours. On 12Go you'll find over 30 cars available from the airport starting at around 2,500 Baht (including fees). The driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall.
A seat on a minibus from the airport costs around 700 baht via 12Go. Most airport tickets include pickup and transfer to the main bus in Krabi Town, so allow four hours for the journey. The last minibuses from Krabi depart in the afternoon, so if you arrive after 1:00 PM, consider renting a car or spending your first night in Ao Nang. If Khao Lak is your first stop and you haven't booked any flights yet, Phuket Airport is significantly closer, at 75 to 80 km and an 80 to 100-minute drive.
The best-rated hotels in Khao Lak
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Khao Lak. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.
From Ao Nang, Railay and the islands
Ao Nang is the most popular starting point. Phichets Vans depart hourly from Ao Nang hotels between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM (see the 12Go display board) and take approximately three and a half hours. The fare, including fees, is around 400–450 baht. Black Tiger offers a transfer from Ao Nang to your hotel in Khao Lak starting at around 400 baht. Ao Nang is a few kilometers further from Khao Lak than Krabi Town, but the shuttle bus journey along the beach road takes slightly longer than from the town.
Railay is not accessible by road, so you should first take a longtail taxi to Ao Nang or Ao Nam Mao. 12Go vans list Ao Nam Mao as their pick-up point, as that's where the boats to Railay East dock. An early morning boat will bring you back by van in the late morning.
If you're arriving by boat from Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta, you can purchase a ticket for the boat and minivan from Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town through 12Go. Some minivan companies also offer a pick-up service directly at the pier. It's best to take a boat in the morning so you arrive before the last minivans depart.
Where the van drops you off in Khao Lak
Khao Lak is more of a string of beaches along Highway 4 than a single town. Coming from the south, the road passes the turnoff to Thap Lamu Pier, then Nang Thong, the busiest section with shops and banks, followed by Bang Niang with its market, then Khuk Khak, Pakarang, and Bang Sak.
Vans offered as hotel transfers will take you directly to your hotel. The more affordable ones terminate at McDonald's on the main road in Nang Thong, which is convenient for hotels in Nang Thong or Bang Niang. Some even go as far as Bang Sak. If you are staying further north, book a hotel transfer or arrange for your hotel to pick you up, as there are neither taxi ranks nor reliable shuttle services in Khao Lak.
Via Khao Sok, with two nights in the jungle
Khao Sok National Park lies inland between the two coasts and makes an ideal stopover. Minibuses depart from Krabi to Khao Sok approximately every half hour from 6:30 am until early afternoon. The journey takes three and a half to four and a half hours, including stops. Plan for two nights' accommodation: one in the village and one at Cheow Lan Lake, before continuing your journey westward to the coast. Buses run from Khao Sok to Khao Lak between approximately 8:20 am and 4:00 pm. The journey takes about two hours with a stop at Takua Pa and costs around 260 baht. Minibuses depart around 7:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 5:20 pm, taking about an hour and costing approximately 500 baht.
From Krabi, the road leads past the village to the Cheow Lan Lake jetty. So, if you're spending your first night at the lake, you can head straight there. My guidebook from Krabi to Khao Sok includes the van departure times and the jetty's address.
When to travel and what the return journey looks like
Since it's a round trip, the vans run year-round. The time of year plays a bigger role on the other end of the coast. December to March is the best time to visit this coast, while May to October is the rainy season. During this time, Khao Lak receives significantly more rain than Phuket, and the sea is rough. The Similan Islands, the main reason many visitors come to Khao Lak, are only open from mid-October to mid-May, so be sure to check your travel dates before planning your trip there.
On the return journey, the vans run in the opposite direction from approximately 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and most stop at the same McDonald's. My Khao Lak to Krabi travel guide includes the exact departure times, stops in Ao Nang and Krabi Town, and the recommended departure time for your flight. If you are flying back from Khao Lak, please use Phuket Airport.
You've arrived in Khao Lak? Plan the next leg of your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the Krabi–Khao Lak route.
From Krabi Town to Nang Thong, the main strip of Khao Lak, it is about 130 km by road, and from Ao Nang or Krabi Airport it is 137 to 142 km. The journey takes two to two and a half hours.
The shuttle bus journey takes three to four hours, with the actual travel time being about two and a half hours. Vans depart from Krabi Town approximately every half hour and from Ao Nang hourly, from about 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A seat costs 300–450 baht.
Approximately 2,400–3,500 baht for the entire car. 12Go offers cars from around 2,400 baht including fees, while local companies charge 2,500–3,500 baht. The process takes two to two and a half hours.
I wouldn't rely on a public bus. The timetables showing a bus stop in Khao Lak are inconsistent, and 12Go only offers vans and cars on this route, so a shared taxi is the most practical option.
The journey by car takes about two and a half hours and costs from approximately 2,500 baht; advance booking is recommended. A seat in a minibus from the airport costs around 700 baht and usually requires a transfer in Krabi Town. Therefore, allow four hours for the trip. If you arrive after 1:00 PM, it's best to take a car.
No. All routes are by road. The combination tickets offered (boat and van) include a boat trip from the islands to Krabi and a subsequent van journey to Khao Lak.
The hotel shuttle buses will take you directly to your hotel. The cheaper ones terminate at McDonald's on the main road in Nang Thong, which is sufficient for Nang Thong and Bang Niang. For Khuk Khak, Pakarang, or Bang Sak, a hotel shuttle is available for a fee.
No. Khao Lak does not have an airport. The nearest airport is Phuket, 75 to 80 km south, and Krabi airport is about 140 km away.
They are suitable for different types of trips. Krabi attracts visitors with its limestone formations, Railay, and island-hopping boats. Khao Lak, on the other hand, offers long, quiet beaches with resorts and the Similan Islands, where it's significantly less crowded in the evenings. Many tours connect both destinations, which are about two and a half hours apart.
Yes, and it's worth spending two nights there. You take a minibus from Krabi to Khao Sok (three and a half to four and a half hours) and then a minibus west to Khao Lak (about an hour) or a bus (about two hours).
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Further from Khao Lak
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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