Night train or flight? Ferry or speedboat? How to move between Bangkok, the north and the islands — with honest pros and cons, typical journey times and the routes most travellers actually take.
The short answer
Thailand is easy to cross: cheap domestic flights for long hops, the night train or VIP bus to save a night's accommodation, ferries and speedboats to reach the islands, and Grab in cities. The only thing to avoid is renting a scooter without a motorbike licence.
Bangkok → Chiang Mai
~1h10 flight
Or around 11–13 hours by night train
Rail network
State Railway
Main lines run north, north-east, east and south
Island ferries
7 main routes
Gulf and Andaman, see the table below
In cities
Grab & Bolt
Fixed fare shown before you ride
Transport modes
Prices vary with season, class and how early you book — the € scale below is a relative guide, not a quote.
Long distances: north ↔ south
Bangkok has two airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang) — check which one your flight uses.
Bangkok ↔ Chiang Mai, Bangkok ↔ the south
Lower berths are slightly wider and pricier. Book through the State Railway of Thailand.
Budget long-distance travel
Prefer government-run or well-reviewed companies over very cheap tourist-area buses.
Short regional hops (2–4 h)
Ask for a seat near the front if you get motion sickness, especially to Pai.
Reaching the islands
Island schedules depend on the weather and season — reconfirm departure the day before.
Getting around cities
In Bangkok, combine with the BTS Skytrain and MRT metro to beat the traffic.
Short hops and the experience
Agree the price before getting in and ignore offers of shopping 'tours'.
Shared rides in towns & islands
In Chiang Mai, the red songthaews work like shared taxis: tell the driver your destination.
Only for experienced, licensed riders
Riding legally needs a motorbike licence plus an International Driving Permit. Always wear a helmet.
€ = budget · €€ = mid-range · €€€ = most expensive of the options. Always check current fares when you book.
Bangkok → Chiang Mai
The most-travelled route in the country. Here is roughly how long each option takes door to door.
About 1h10 in the air — roughly 4 hours door to door with transfers and check-in
Around 9–10 hours, usually overnight
Around 11–13 hours in a sleeper berth
Key routes
Straight-line distances are calculated from our destination data; road times are rough estimates that don't account for traffic.
| Route | Distance | Fastest | Budget option | By road (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BangkokChiang MaiFull route guide | 582 km | Flight, about 1h10 | Night train (~11–13 h) or VIP bus (~9–10 h) | ~10.5 h |
| BangkokPhuketFull route guide | 693 km | Flight, about 1h20 | Overnight bus (around 12 h) | ~12.5 h |
| BangkokKoh SamuiFull route guide | 475 km | Direct flight to Samui (~1 h), usually pricier | Night train or bus to Surat Thani/Chumphon + ferry, often on one combined ticket | — |
| BangkokKrabi & RailayFull route guide | 664 km | Flight to Krabi (~1h20) + transfer | Overnight bus, or train to Surat Thani + bus | ~12 h |
| BangkokAyutthaya | 67 km | Train or minivan, about 1.5–2 h | Local train, very cheap | ~1 h |
| BangkokKanchanaburi & Erawan | 109 km | Minivan or car, around 2–3 h | Scenic train from Thonburi station (~3 h) | ~2 h |
| BangkokHua HinFull route guide | 145 km | Minivan or car, around 3–4 h | Train (~4 h) or bus | ~2.5 h |
| BangkokKoh Chang | 274 km | Flight to Trat + ferry | Bus to Trat + car ferry, a full day | — |
| Chiang MaiPaiFull route guide | 85 km | Minivan, about 3 h on a very winding road | Minivan or local bus | ~1.5 h |
| Chiang MaiChiang Rai & the Golden Triangle | 154 km | Bus or car, about 3–4 h | Bus, frequent departures | ~3 h |
| Koh SamuiKoh TaoFull route guide | 68 km | Catamaran, direct or via Koh Phangan | Slower ferry | — |
| PhuketKrabi & Railay | 51 km | Minivan or car, around 3 h | Bus, or ferry via Koh Phi Phi | ~1 h |
| Krabi & RailayKoh LantaFull route guide | 46 km | Minivan with short car-ferry crossings | Minivan; ferries in high season | — |
| Khao SokKoh Samui | 175 km | Minivan to the pier + ferry, often one ticket | Local bus to Surat Thani + ferry | — |
Straight-line distance; actual road distance is longer. Build a whole route with our itinerary planner, which calculates each leg for you.
Ferries
The main sea routes in the Gulf of Thailand, the Andaman Sea and the east coast, with typical durations and frequencies. Step-by-step guides cover Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by boat and Krabi to Koh Lanta by ferry.
Operators: Lomprayah, Seatran
Operators: Lomprayah, Songserm
Operators: Chao Koh, Andaman Wave Master
Operators: Tigerline, Ao Nang Princess
Operators: Satun Pakbara, Bundhaya Speedboat
Operators: Tigerline Ferry, Bundhaya
Operators: Bangbao Boat, Boonsiri High Speed
Operators: Boonsiri High Speed, speedboats inter-îles
Operators: Ferries publics et speedboats privés
Operators: Speedboats et longtails publics
Operators: Satun Pakbara, Tigerline Ferry
From the mainland, boats to the Gulf islands leave from piers near Surat Thani (Donsak) and from Chumphon. Most travellers buy a combined ticket (train or bus + ferry) from Bangkok, or fly directly to Samui (see our Koh Samui airport guide). For Koh Tao, our Bangkok to Koh Tao route guide compares every option.
More safety advice in our Thailand practical guide.
Booking tips
Sleeper berths on popular lines sell out weeks ahead in high season and around Thai holidays.
Full-service and low-cost flights leave from different airports. Allow at least an hour to cross the city.
Bus + boat or train + boat tickets are convenient and usually good value for reaching the Gulf and Andaman islands.
Ferries can be cancelled in bad weather — don't book an island ferry on the same day as an international flight.
Grab and Bolt show the price upfront and avoid haggling. Keep some cash for drivers who prefer it.
Low-cost airlines have strict weight limits; minivans have little space for big suitcases.
FAQ
It depends on distance: domestic flights for long hops (Bangkok to the north or south), night trains and VIP buses for budget overland travel, ferries for the Thai islands, and Grab or taxis in cities.
The fastest is a flight of about 1h10. The most memorable is the night train (around 11–13 hours in a sleeper berth). VIP buses take roughly 9–10 hours and are usually the cheapest option. Details in our Bangkok to Chiang Mai guide.
Either fly to Koh Samui, or take a train or bus from Bangkok to Surat Thani or Chumphon and continue by ferry — combined tickets are widely sold. Catamarans link the three islands several times a day. See our Bangkok to Koh Samui route guide.
Around 20–30 minutes by catamaran, with roughly hourly departures during the day.
Rental shops often don't ask, but riding without a valid motorbike licence and International Driving Permit is illegal, can lead to fines and will likely void your travel insurance.
Yes. Grab and Bolt operate in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and most tourist areas, with prices shown before you ride.
Plan your route
Before you go, read our practical guide to Thailand and check the packing list.
By Kylian Dev