The distance from Surat Thani to Bangkok is approximately 640 km. For the return journey, I would recommend taking the night train. Nine trains depart from Phun Phin station between 6:25 pm and 11:28 pm. Express train number 86 departs at 7:31 pm and arrives at Krung Thep Aphiwat at 6:10 am. A second-class sleeper berth costs approximately 700–1,000 baht and includes overnight accommodation. If you have a flight from Bangkok on the same day, you should fly. Flights to Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi take about 1 hour and 15 minutes and cost approximately 1,000–2,000 baht. The last flights depart around 8:00 pm.
Check live flight times and seat availability from Surat Thani to Bangkok on 12Go.
Night buses take about 10 hours and cost approximately 500–800 baht. The bus station is not in Surat Thani, but in Phun Phin, 14 km west. Therefore, allow plenty of time for your journey.
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Key facts
Approximately 640 km by road, 635 km by rail.
The train station is located in Phun Phin, 14 km west of the city of Surat Thani, and the airport is 28 km from the city.
Ten trains per day, nine of them overnight.
Night trains depart Phun Phin between 18:25 and 23:28 and arrive at Krung Thep Aphiwat between 03:45 and 10:50. Railcar No. 40 is the daytime train, running from 09:00 to 18:05.
A second-class bed costs approximately 700–1000 Baht.
Fares are the same as southbound. A first-class seat costs approximately 1,300–1,600 baht, and a seat in carriage number 40 costs 524 baht.
Tickets are available 90 days in advance.
All northbound trains will be opened 90 days prior to departure, except for trains No. 172 and No. 38 from Sungai Kolok, which will be opened 30 days prior.
Most flights go to Don Mueang.
Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, and Nok Air fly to Don Mueang. Thai Vietjet flies to Suvarnabhumi, the airport for most long-haul flights.
Night buses depart between 18:25 and 20:00.
You can reach Bangkok's southern bus station or Khao San Road between approximately 04:30 and 06:45 for about 400–800 Baht.
All routes from Surat Thani to Bangkok compared
Train timetables are from siamtickets.com (as of December 5, 2025) and correspond to the Southeast Asia Trains timetable (as of October 2026). Fares are based on information provided at individual stations and were taken from Richard Barrow's Thai Train Guide and Southeast Asia Trains. Flight times were obtained from Trip.com and 12Go; bus schedules from thailandlife.info and 12Go (including booking fees). Road distances were determined using the OSRM route via OpenStreetMap.
Check train, flight and bus connections from Surat Thani to Bangkok.
12Go sells sleeper berths, night buses, and flights for travel to the north, including e-tickets. Prices include a booking fee, and train times may differ by 10–20 minutes from those of the national railway. Therefore, please check the train number using the table below.
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Which train should I book (No. 86 or No. 84)?
Nine night trains, and the arrival time in Bangkok will determine which one it is.
All northbound trains start further south, in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Kantang, Hat Yai, Yala, or Sungai Kolok, and stop in Surat Thani on their way to Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue Grand), not at the old Hua Lamphong station. Therefore, they pass through Phun Phin in the evening and arrive in Bangkok in the morning.
I would book Express Train No. 86 (7:31 PM to 6:10 AM). It offers first-class twin cabins and second-class air-conditioned sleeper cars and arrives in Bangkok early enough for a morning flight or a full day in the city. Express Train No. 84 (8:23 PM to 7:05 AM) offers the same classes an hour later, and Special Express Train No. 32 (10:24 PM to 8:10 AM) has the newest carriages if you prefer to board later and arrive after the biggest rush. Fast Trains No. 168 (6:32 PM to 5:10 AM) and No. 174 (8:02 PM to 6:45 AM) are the cheaper sleeper cars with no first class. I would skip Train No. 44 at 6:25 PM, as it only offers seats and drops you off at Krung Thep Aphiwat at 3:45 AM.
Train number 40 at 9:00 AM is the only daytime train and costs 524 baht for an air-conditioned seat. It arrives at 6:05 PM. It's a good option if you've stayed overnight in Surat Thani. From the islands, you would need a very early ferry to catch it, so I would recommend a night train instead.
These trains have already traveled a long distance and may arrive in Phun Phin an hour late. Wait at the train station, not in the city.
Surat Thani (Phun Phin) → Bangkok train timetable (2026)
Departure times are from siamtickets.com and are based on the timetable dated December 5, 2025. This corresponds to the timetable in our travel guides for the Bangkok–Surat Thani and Koh Samui–Bangkok routes and matches the Southeast Asia Trains (SRT) timetable from October 2026. According to the 12Go sales list, some of these departures are delayed by 10–20 minutes, so please check your ticket for details. The "Available Seats" column is based on our calculations according to SRT's fare tiers from April 2026 (90 days where your journey covers at least 60% of the train route). The Surat Thani–Bangkok route is 635 km, and only the trains on the Sungai Kolok line (km 1,143) fall below the 60% threshold.
How much the train journey costs and how to buy a ticket on the same day
Fares are the same as for southbound journeys. On Express Train No. 86, an air-conditioned second-class sleeper berth costs approximately 755 baht for an upper berth and 825 baht for a lower berth. A first-class sleeper berth in a two-berth cabin costs approximately 1,265–1,465 baht, and the entire cabin costs 1,965 baht. On Special Train No. 32, the same sleeper berths cost approximately 910–1,010 baht in second class and approximately 1,380–1,580 baht in first class. Third-class seats cost approximately 250–280 baht.
Tickets are available on the State Railways website (D-Ticket), at the ticket counter at the station, or online at 12Go. While the latter is a paid service, it readily accepts foreign credit cards. Advance sales begin 90 days in advance, except for the two Sungai Kolok trains, where they start 30 days in advance. Most guidebooks still recommend booking 180 days ahead. Any remaining tickets available that day are sold at the ticket counter in Phun Phin. Outside of December to February and Thai holidays, there are often still seats available. However, every northbound train departs from further south, and during peak season, seats may be booked before arrival in Phun Phin. Therefore, I recommend booking in advance rather than trying to book spontaneously.
Arrival at Phun Phin train station
From the city of Surat Thani, the airport, or directly from an island
Although the station signs point to Surat Thani, the station is actually located in Phun Phin, 14 km west of the city. Red buses depart from there approximately every 15 minutes. If you have luggage, a taxi is the most convenient option. I would recommend leaving the city at least an hour before your train's departure.
If you are coming directly from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, or Koh Tao, buy a combined ferry and bus ticket valid to the train station. A ticket that arrives at the station in the early afternoon will allow you to catch all night trains. These tickets are available at the pier offices on the islands. Our travel guides for the Koh Samui–Bangkok, Koh Phangan–Bangkok, and Koh Tao–Bangkok routes provide information on ferry connections and timetables.
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Bookable departures · updated daily
Surat Thani Airport → Bangkok: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
Flight
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Surat Thani Airport → Bangkok
Check flights from Surat Thani to Bangkok.
12Go lists flights from Surat Thani Airport to Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi with current prices. Prices include a booking fee.
Fly if you have a return flight.
Don Mueang for most airlines, Suvarnabhumi for most connections
Approximately ten flights depart daily from Surat Thani to Bangkok, between about 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The flight time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Most flights go to Don Mueang and are operated by Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, and Nok Air. Thai Vietjet flies to Suvarnabhumi, with daily departures at approximately 1:10 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. The flight costs about 1,000–2,000 baht. Low-cost carriers charge fees for checked baggage.
Choose your airport according to your connecting journey. If you're flying back from Suvarnabhumi on the same day, flying from Suvarnabhumi will save you the trip across the city. If you land at Don Mueang, the free shuttle bus between the two airports is only available to passengers with connecting tickets; therefore, be sure to bring your booking confirmation. Allow at least four hours between landing and your international departure from the other airport.
Surat Thani Airport is located 28 km from the city. The journey from the islands to the airport takes between 2.5 and 5.5 hours by ferry and minibus. Therefore, a flight before approximately 11:00 AM requires an overnight stay in Surat Thani.
The night bus to the southern bus station or to Khao San Road
Most buses depart from Surat Thani bus station between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, arriving in Bangkok between approximately 4:30 AM and 6:45 AM. Sri Suthep, Bangkok Busline, and Krung Siam each offer several connections for approximately 500–780 baht. Sri Suthep and Bangkok Busline buses terminate at the Southern Bus Station (Sai Tai Mai). The 7:00 PM Thai Sriram bus costs approximately 1,200 baht and terminates on Chakkapong Road, a short walk from Khao San Road. On 12Go, the Jarinthon departs at 6:25 PM and arrives at 5:55 AM for approximately 550 baht, while the Saptaweephol departs at 7:00 PM. Krung Siam also offers a daytime bus at 7:40 AM, arriving at 5:40 PM.
It's the cheapest way to get back, but the difference isn't significant when you consider the price of a train seat, and you'll be up all night. Check where your bus departs from, as private companies often use their own offices in addition to the bus station.
Where you arrive in Bangkok
A train station with the MRT line underneath, two airports and the South Terminal
Trains terminate at Krung Thep Aphiwat station. The MRT Blue line is located directly beneath the station concourse. From there, you can reach Sukhumvit by taxi for approximately 150–250 baht. The SRT Red line runs to Don Mueang Airport from the same station for 33 baht. The Southern Bus Terminal is located in Thonburi, 12 km west of the Old City. There you will find a taxi rank and local buses. From Don Mueang, the MRT Red line and bus lines A1 and A2 run to Mo Chit. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Airport Rail Link runs to Phaya Thai for 45 baht. Our Bangkok travel guide offers all the options.
More on returning to Bangkok
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the route from Surat Thani to Bangkok.
Approximately 640 km by road and 635 km by train. This equates to 9 to 11 hours by night train, about 10 hours by night bus, or about 1 hour 15 hours by plane.
Nine trains depart Phun Phin between 6:25 PM and 11:28 PM. Express train No. 86 departs at 7:31 PM and arrives at Krung Thep Aphiwat at 6:10 AM, and express train No. 84 departs at 8:23 PM and arrives at 7:05 AM.
At the train station, an air-conditioned sleeper berth in second class costs approximately 700–1,000 baht, a sleeper berth in first class approximately 1,300–1,600 baht, a seat in carriage no. 40 approximately 524 baht, and a seat in third class approximately 250–280 baht. Online providers charge an additional fee.
Yes, the remaining seats are sold at the Phun Phin ticket office, and outside of December to February, there are often still seats available. During peak season, seats can be fully booked, so it's recommended to book up to 90 days in advance via D-Ticket or 12Go.
One. Special Express No. 40 departs Phun Phin at 9:00 AM and arrives at Krung Thep Aphiwat at 6:05 PM. Air-conditioned seats cost ฿524.
Most people fly to Don Mueang with Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, and Nok Air. Thai Vietjet flies to Suvarnabhumi, which is convenient for connecting to a long-haul flight on the same day.
No. Ferries from Surat Thani go to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. You can reach Bangkok by train, plane, or bus.
In Phun Phin, 14 km west of the city. Red buses run from the city there approximately every 15 minutes, and taxis are easy to find.
The train. A second-class seat costs only slightly more than on the bus, and you can lie down. The bus is the alternative when the trains are full.
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Continue your journey from Bangkok
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? Bangkok to Surat Thani – All 27 routes from Bangkok
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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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