Introduction To most western tourists visiting Thailand, the Thai people are a friendly happy go…
There is a lot written about Thailand, and after some research it is quite easy to build a great itinerary with tons of great places to go and visit, as well as what you are going to do while you are there. One of the more difficult aspect of organizing your trip is choosing the best options for moving between all these great destinations in Thailand. There are plenty of options available for travelers, from flights and public transport to private minibuses and taxis, so here are some of the best options for getting around Thailand.
Bangkok itself has two airports, the main international airport is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), which is the main airport for international flights. The second airport in Bangkok is Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), which although it is an international airport is the base of many of the low-cost carriers operating around Southeast Asia as well as many domestic flights within Thailand.
If you are heading to the north of the country, there are several options available. The main airport is the Chiang Mai international airport (CNX), which is conveniently located next to the tourist capital of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai. This airport has 19 airlines operating out of it, and is a secondary hub for the low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia.
For travellers heading to the tourist meccas in the south of the country, there are two main airports; in Krabi and in Phuket. The Krabi International airport (KBV), which opened in 1999, is the second major hub and gateway to southern Thailand. It is a great option for travelers heading further into the south of the country and the airport handles domestic flights as well as many international flights from around Southeast Asia. The Phuket International airport (HKT) is the third busiest airport in Thailand after the two Bangkok airports. It is the main avenue for tourists visiting Phuket, Khao Lak and other neighboring tourist destinations, a major domestic hub which also receives many international flights.
Many airlines operate in Thailand, the biggest being the national carrier Thai Airways. There are other low-cost options available for budget conscious travelers; they include Thai Air Asia, Lion Air, and Bangkok Airways. It is worth noting for travelers who want to head directly to the south of Thailand, and skip the whole Bangkok experience, that several major carriers operate flights directly to Phuket.
Thailand has a reasonably well-developed rail network that gives access to most major cities in the country. The country is served by four main rail lines originating from the center in Bangkok. The north bound line heads up from Bangkok. There is a north-eastern line, and the eastern line heads out to the east of the country and curves down around the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Finally, the southern line services the south of the country and terminates at Sungai Kolok in the furthest south of the country.
Perhaps the most widespread form of transport in Thailand, are taxis, public buses, and private minibuses and coaches. While taking a taxi for long journeys around the country is not the most cost-effective way of moving around, some travelers choose to. A much better option is the many public buses that crisscross the country. Alternatively, for more convenience there are plenty of private buses that are targeted at tourists; these tend to connect between tourist. You just need to find the hub in the area where you are.
Check out our Taxi service from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak.
While it is possible to hire a car and drive around Thailand yourself, this is not generally recommended. Firstly, Thais drive on the left which does take some getting used to (if you’re not used to it already!). Secondly, the country does not have the best road safety record, so opting to drive yourself around the country is not the safest of options. Needless to say, motorcycles are great for getting around specific destinations but should not be considered at all for any types of major journeys around the country.