In this article, we will be looking at ways to reach Ao Nang from various locations in Thailand such as Krabi Town, Phuket, Bangkok, and Khao Lak. I’ll also give some recommendations on how to get around Ao Nang.
Ao Nang is a popular beach destination located in Krabi Province, southern region of Thailand. This area is known for its vibrant nightlife scene, beautiful beaches and limestone cliffs. It is a great base to do island hopping to see Hong island, Phi Phi island, Koh Poda, and Chicken Island.
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How to Get to Ao Nang from Krabi
Ao Nang is part of Krabi Province. It is located around a 30 minutes drive from Krabi Town and Krabi Bus Terminal, 40 minutes drive from Krabi international airport.
The most comfortable way to travel between Ao Nang and Krabi, either Krabi town center, bus station, or airport, is by private taxi. You can use apps like Grab, Bolt, and InDrive. I used Indrive to travel from Ao Nang to Krabi Town and it cost me only 290 baht.
InDrive is my favorite riding share service in Thailand. It has a cheaper price compared to Bolt and Grab. You can check options on all apps to see the best price.
Krabi Airport to Ao Nang
It is easier to get from Ao Nang to Krabi airport by using rideshare services such as Grab, InDrive, or Bolt. Firstly because its crowded tourist areas and has high demand. Secondly, the driver will pick you up at the hotel, so you don’t have to navigate around.
At the airport, you can try these apps to get to your hotel in Ao Nang. If you are not lucky to get a driver at the time, you can book a taxi or shuttle bus at the airport. Everything can be booked in person at the arrival hall or online on 12go.asia.
Private taxis are good for groups and are the fastest ways to get to your destination. The shuttle bus is a better option for those traveling on a budget and who don’t mind waiting a bit for the bus to fill up before departure. It takes longer to reach your hotel in Ao Nang as it will drop off people along the way.
How to get to Ao Nang from Phuket
There are two ways to get from Phuket to Ao Nang. You can travel:
- by road directly from Phuket to Krabi
- Or use the combination of road + ferry.
The ferry departs at Rassada Pier, which is convenient for those staying in Phuket Old Town and on the east coast of the island. It will arrive at Nopparat Thara Pier, located just a few minutes drive from the Ao Nang center area.
The journey between Phuket and Ao Nang is ranging from 2 hours to 6 hours depending on your starting location on Phuket and arriving location in Ao Nang. The ferry ride is from 1.5 hours to 3 hours depending on the type of boat you are taking.
There are several companies that offer van transfer, including pick up from hotel popular tourist areas such as Kata, Karon, and Patong. Some boat companies also offer free pick up in these areas to the pier on the east coast then ferry to Nopparat Thara Pier.
If you stay in old town Phuket, you can easily get to Phuket Bus Terminal 1 to get to the bus to Ao Nang. This route is operated by 438 Phuket Krabi Transport. The bus runs every hour starting from 6.40 am to 6pm daily. This is the most budget friendly way to get from Phuket Old town to Ao Nang.
You can choose to fly from Phuket Airport to Krabi Airport, but this option does not make it faster to get to Ao Nang compared to by road + ferry. This is because there are no direct flights between these two airports. You also need to travel to Phuket airport from your hotel and travel from Krabi airport to Ao Nang.
You can book ferry tickets, van tickets, bus tickets to travel from Phuket to Ao Nang at local agencies, online at 12go.asia, or ask your hotel for more information.
How to get to Ao Nang from Bangkok
Bangkok to Ao Nang by air
Taking a flight is the fastest way to get from Bangkok to Ao Nang. The flight from Bangkok Airport to Krabi Airport is around 1.5 hours. From Krabi Airport, you can easily use a shared minivan or taxi to get to your hotel in Ao Nang. It is around 40 minute taxi ride.
Bangkok to Ao Nang by bus
Taking the bus from Bangkok to Ao Nang is a more affordable option than taking the flight. Bus is around 15 hour ride departing from Khao San Road or Southern Bus Terminal. You can consider taking a night bus, so you can save money on a night staying in a hotel.
Bangkok to Ao Nang by train
Traveling by train to Ao Nang from Bangkok is not the best option but it is possible to do so. You need to take a train from Krungthep Aphiwat Station to Surat Thani train station first, then take additional transport to get to Ao Nang.
Train ride is 12 hours and the taxi ride between Surat Thani and Ao Nang is around 3 hours. I highly recommend booking the 2nd class sleeper train for your comfort.
You can easily get a private transfer from Surat Thani train station to Ao Nang if you have a problem. Otherwise, you need to travel to Surat Thani town first then get a bus and minivan to Ao Nang. It is 15 km away.
There are more options to get transport to go to Ao Nang from Surat Thani Town and its bus station. You can ask Phantip Travel’s staff at the train station for more information.
How to get to Ao Nang from Railay Beach
It is only a 20 minutes long tail boat ride from Ao Nang Beach to Railay Beach. You can easily buy boat tickets at the ticket counter at Ao Nang Longtail Boat Service Club. Ticket is only 100 baht. It opens from 8 am and closes at 6pm every day.
How to get to Ao Nang from Koh Phi Phi
It is around 45 minutes to 2 hours traveling from TonSai Pier Koh Phi Phi to Nopparat Thara Pier. The journey depends on the type of boat you are taking, speed boat or ferry. You can easily buy tickets at local travel agencies or online.
How to get to Ao Nang from Khao Lak
I personally traveled from Khao Lak to Ao Nang by combination of minibus and van. The journey is around 3 hours. I booked a ticket online on 12go.asia.
You can choose the minivan option with Call Me Taxi. They only have one trip per day departing at 8am. This includes pick up at your hotel in Khao Lak, and drop you off at your hotel in Ao Nang.
I wanted to leave in the afternoon, so I booked my ticket for the Black Tiger Tour. This doesn’t include pick up at the hotel in Khao Lak, but it was not the problem for me. I stayed at We HOSTEL@ Khao Lak which is located just a minute walk from McDonald Khao Lak where the minibus stops.
The minibus top is just on the other side of the road opposite McDonald Khao Lak. When they arrive, I show my ticket and double check if this will drop me at my hotel in Ao Nang. They say yes, then I onboard.
After a 2.5 hour ride, the minibus stopped at a petrol station and I was transferred to a minivan to get to my hotel in Ao Nang. It was another 20 minute drive. As I took the late bus, it was only me on the minibus with the bus driver and his assistance.
Best ways to get around Ao Nang
Walking
Ao Nang is not too big of a beach town. You can easily reach beaches, restaurants, bars, shops, and night markets on foot. Whenever you feel tired (of the heat, maybe), you can take Grab or tuk tuk. Grab Bike is ideal for solo travelers, while taxi and tuk tuk are best for groups of friends or couples.
I walked all the way from my hostel, Fahsai Hostel, to the beach, then followed the monkey trail to reach Pai Plong Beach. I also walk to Ao Nang Landmark Night Market from my hotel. These are the main tourist areas in Ao Nang, packed with tourist amenities.
Long tail Boats & Speed Boats
Along Ao Nang beach, you can easily buy long tail boat tickets to get to Railay Beach, Tonsai Beach, Hong island, or the four islands. This is a great way to do day trips and island hopping. You can book private boats, or if you book a shared boat, you just need to wait to have enough people before departure.
Tuk tuk and Uber-like apps such as Grab, InDrive, and Bolt
There are lots of tuk tuk in Ao Nang, just be sure to bargain the price with the driver. Uber services such as Grab, Bolt, and InDrive are available in Ao Nang. I prefer to use Grab Bikes and when I need a taxi, I use InDrive.
InDrive often gives me the best price of three apps, not only in Ao Nang, Krabi, but also other cities in Thailand such as Phuket.
Explore Ao Nang on Guided tours
There are many guided tours in Ao Nang. No need to book tours online in advance. You will see lots of travel agencies on the main road. They are everywhere. Just check several shops to have the best price.
You can choose island tours such as a boat trip to Hong island, the four islands, Phi Phi island, or James Bond island. There are also day trips to the mainland’s attractions such as Hot Springs, night markets in Krabi Town, and Tiger Cave temple.
Explore Ao Nang on a Rented motorbike
Renting a motorbike is one of the best ways to explore Ao Nang and its surrounding beaches and Krabi Town. Make sure you have a valid license and insurance before renting one. The traffic in Ao Nang is quite heavy so take it in consideration too.
If you just want to explore the Ao Nang area and its major islands and beaches nearby, you can easily explore on foot, long tail boat. For temples and night markets in Krabi Town, you can use guided tours.
With a motorbike, you can go far to Tubkaek Beach and Dragon’s Crest (Ngon Nak Nature Trail). Of course, this is also doable by using Grab taxi. So, don’t worry if you don’t ride a motorbike, you can still explore everything easily by taxi, boat, and on foot.
See more:
- Best Places to Stay in Krabi
- Best Places to Stay in Ao Nang
- Stay in Ao Nang or Krabi Town?
- Stay in Ao Nang or Railay?
- My 5-7 Days In Krabi & Ao Nang Itinerary
- 27 Epic Things to Do in Ao Nang & Krabi
So there you have it, my guide on how to get to AO Nang from various locations in Thailand including Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket, and Khao Lak. I’ve also shared ways to get around, I hope you have wonderful trip in Ao Nang.