Getting around Thailand

Thailand is easy to get around without flying. Trains run north from Bangkok, overnight buses go everywhere, and ferries link the islands. In cities you have the BTS and MRT in Bangkok, songthaews in Chiang Mai, and Grab almost everywhere.

In Bangkok

Ride	Price
BTS Skytrain or MRT	฿16–60
City bus	฿8–20
Motorbike taxi	฿20–50
Grab or Bolt car	฿60–150
Tuk-tuk (agree price first)	฿50–150

The Chao Phraya river boats are the scenic way to reach the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun from the BTS at Saphan Taksin. Avoid tuk-tuk drivers offering very cheap tours: they end at gem or tailor shops (see scams to avoid).

Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Option	Price	Time
Sleeper train, 2nd class AC berth	฿688–1,038	12–14 h
Day train, 2nd class seat	฿388–558	10–14 h
Bus	฿400–800	overnight or day

The overnight train saves a night's accommodation. Lower berths are bigger and sell out first. Full details: Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train.

To the islands

Leg	Price
Bangkok to Surat Thani, bus	฿500–900
Bangkok to Surat Thani, train	฿400–1,000
Surat Thani to Koh Samui, ferry	฿300–500
Chumphon to Koh Tao, fast ferry	฿400–700
Krabi to Koh Phi Phi, ferry	from ฿490
Krabi to Koh Lanta, ferry	฿400–500
Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, ferry	฿490–700

Joint bus-and-boat tickets from Bangkok bundle these legs into one booking. They cost a little more but save you working out connections.

Within the islands and the north

Scooters cost ฿150–300 a day and are how most people get around islands and the north. Only ride if you have a motorcycle licence and check your insurance covers it, because many policies do not. See scooter and car rental.

In Chiang Mai, red songthaews charge a flat ฿30 per person within town. Chiang Mai to Pai is a winding minibus ride on a road with hundreds of bends, for ฿150–250.

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Questions people ask