Distance from Patong to Phuket Town. Other blue bus routes. Buses from Phuket Airport

Everything in detail about songteos - public buses in Phuket.

Public buses in Phuket are called songteos. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the questions related to this topic (when, where, how buses run and much more), so read carefully and to the end.

To be honest, public transport in Phuket is just a disaster. For a long time I tried to understand why there are no buses in Phuket, like in Russia or like in Malaysia? And she blamed everything on the mafia community of taxi drivers, who massively launched their activities in transporting drunk and not very tourists from point A to point B, the distance between which is 10 km, for crazy money ...

But in fact, everything is simpler.

Firstly, this is Thailand, baby! No one here really cares about your problems. Do you want to go to the nearby beach? Take a taxi. No money for a taxi? Well, you're a miser, stay at home then! This is how Thailand takes care of its guests. Although, this is tourist country, after all, taxis function very well, and what else does a relaxed tourist need, who came to Thailand to taste heavenly life and spend N-th amount of money?

Secondly, public transport is simply not needed in Phuket - the authorities decided so))) In Thailand, everyone travels on motorbikes. Even the poorest, most poor family has its own gibberish, whether it be an old motorcycle or a bicycle. In Thailand, there is no such thing as getting off at a stop, taking a minibus and getting to the next stop, paying 20 rubles for it. Either you walk or drive a bike.

But what if you don’t drive a bike, and you won’t get to the right place on foot until tomorrow morning? There are no hopeless situations! And here, attention, songteos come to our aid - public buses in Phuket. It turns out they are. And from this fact, the fact that they still exist, the soul becomes somehow lighter and warmer.

But what is songteo? This is a bus with no windows, no doors. Yes Yes. Exactly. And he needs to be caught. No, do not run after him ... just stand on the street in a place convenient for you and wave your hand to a passing bus if you see it. You can recognize them by their blue color and by the absence of those same doors and windows. And yes, according to incomprehensible Thai inscriptions and inscriptions on English language where it says where the bus is going.

The bus is coming.

Songteo times and routes.

Most of all, I am surprised by the logic of the routes and the running times of these buses. On the island of Phuket there is Phuket Town, a kind of city center. That's where all the buses go. Moreover, from each beach, for example, from Nai Harn, from Kata and Karon, from Patong, and so on, there is a bus to Phuket Town. By the way, why do all the buses go there, and what should a tourist do there, I wrote in the article "". Read it, maybe go and have a look. In this article, I also wrote about songteo.

Bus to Surin and Kamala beaches.

Bus to Rawai and Nai Harn beaches.

Bus to Patong.

The services of these buses are mainly used by courageous tourists who were not afraid to leave the territory of their hotel and look at the life of Thais from the inside. And people like me…People who live in Thailand spend 500 baht (about 800 rubles at the exchange rate on 05/08/2015) one way, and who are afraid to ride a motorbike. Although I think the second is much more than the first. And if you take a closer look, then indeed, those who want to ride a songthaew are much less willing to ride a taxi.

Bus "station" in Phuket Town (all buses leave from here).

Buses in Phuket start running at 7 am and run until 5 pm. Many say and write that until 18.00. I don’t know, I tried to leave caron at 17.00. One bus passed, and the driver happily waved his hand at me, because he was already rushing home to his family. The latest time I managed to leave is 16.30. In the morning they run more often, in the late afternoon - every half hour.

One consolation is that from any beach you can get to Central Festival and Big C, the main shopping and entertainment centers where tourists like to come. All songteos go to Phuket Town through these centers. What is Big C, what kind of entertainment is there for children, how to eat deliciously, I wrote, read, you will learn a lot of interesting things. And be sure to visit yourself!

How long does it take to get to Phuket Town?

Songteos drive fast enough, I didn’t get stuck in traffic jams. From Karon to Central Festival 20 - 30 minutes drive, to Phuket Town - 40 - 50 minutes.

From Phuket Town to Patong 20 - 30 minutes.

Songteo prices.

The price of the bus is the same for the whole journey. It starts from 30 baht, and depends on the distance of the beach. For example, from Phuket Town to Karon - 35 baht (against 500 baht by taxi), to Patong - 30 baht.

You jump on the bus (only not on the go), sit down and drive calmly, because the driver trusts you. On the way, the bus stops at a certain place, the driver enters the salon and collects money. If you did not get to this moment (that is, you sat down earlier or later than this place), then you pay the fare when you leave.

This is what the songteo looks like from the inside. Three rows of benches. Nobody will stand

There is an offer!

The most annoying thing is that buses from each beach go only to the center. Well, why are there no buses that would take people from beach to beach? In fact, all the beaches in Phuket are located in one line. It takes 15 minutes to drive from Karon to Patong. But there are no buses that run directly. You have to get to Phuket Town or to the Central Festival (this is in reverse side from Patong), and from there change to another bus to Patong. Costs: at least an hour of time and 65 baht one way.

And here's what I thought. If I met the Governor of Thailand, smiling sweetly, I would suggest that he let several buses run directly from beach to beach, along the same direct line so that you can get to Patong or Nai Harn in 15 minutes. To which the comrade governor, also smiling pretty, would tell me: “Don’t you go to hell with your proposals!”))) This is Thailand, baby! Here everyone sends each other, smiling sweetly. Learn)

And finally, some specifics.

songteo- blue buses without windows and without doors, with the inscription Phuket - Kata-Karon, or Phuket - Kamala, etc.

How to sit: There are no stops in Phuket. Stand anywhere and wave to a passing bus.

How to exit: if you know where to get off, press the special button. The driver is given a call and he stops. If you don't know, tell the driver where you are going.

Routes: songteos travel from any beach to the central festival and to Phuket Town, and back along the same path.

Time: from 7.00 to 17.00.

Price: from 30 baht.

How to go back: ask the driver or passengers. Most often, you need to come to where you left and cross the road, as we are going in the opposite direction.

Remember from which place you left, so as not to get lost and get off near your hotel or house.

It is the resort capital of Thailand. And it is also known that this is the most expensive resort in this country, from moving around the island to eating in a cafe. Next, I will describe how you can get around the island on a budget, as well as not be fooled by local taxi drivers.

The main thing on vacation is the mood. Remember, at local residents there is no winter, they have nowhere to hurry, they are carefree, like that dragonfly in Krylov's fable. This is their mentality. We, for the most part, like real ants, want everything, faster and immediately, especially since time is running out. Relax, enjoy every minute of rest, feel the local flavor and mood. Life for pleasure is the motto of the local population.

Phuket is an island with a length of 51 km from north to south and 21 km from west to east, so you can’t walk much here on foot. Some beaches, shops and attractions are nearby, but most of them are very far from each other. Given the mountainous terrain and tropical sun, hiking is even more difficult. Hitchhiking is not possible here. This will be written below. Therefore, the question of the mode of transport is acute. Let's start with the cheapest and go up.

Free transfer from companies

Firstly, many places of entertainment, clothing stores, souvenir shops, Thai cosmetics, leather goods, silk, jewelry, latex, shows and animal farms have a personal FREE transfer. If you need to go to the same area of ​​the city, then ... why not call and order a free taxi for yourself? :) For the sake of appearance, you can walk around the store, or maybe even buy something. An important feature is that no one will take you back, and you still have to spend money on the way home. Find phone numbers in local newspapers and websites. But when purchasing an excursion, you can count on a free transfer there and back.

Phuket public transport

Not many tourists know that Phuket has public transport that connects the capital of the island, Phuket Town, with all the beaches, as well as with the airport. This type of transportation is unique and is unlikely to suit people who want comfort and high speed of movement. But if you want to save money, take your time and want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of real Asia, then this type of transportation is for you.

Forget about the notion of public transport familiar to us. In Phuket, it is represented by converted trucks of various sizes (in Thai, song teu, two shops) without windows, doors and air conditioners. This is a transport for local residents, and is also popular with tourists.

Above is the bus route.

Cost and route of the bus

Classic songthaews in Phuket

Blue trucks run from one terminus in Phuket Town to another, on one of the beaches of the island. There are no fixed stops on the route, but there are stop buttons on demand. It is important that if you do not know where exactly to get off, ask the passengers or the driver in advance, otherwise you will slip past. The stop in Phuket Town is located in the old town, next to the city fish market on Ranong Rd, which is near the ring with a fountain.

fountain ring

By the way, often the driver does not drive directly to the final stop, but drops off passengers at this ring. Immediately, impudent taxi drivers surround you from all sides, who will take you to the bus station for only 100 baht, although it is right around the corner. Don't confuse the terminus of local song taews with bus terminal 2, where buses leave for other provinces and the airport. I will write about taxi drivers again, it deserves more than one paragraph. So, on Ranong Rd, there is a terminus for all buses running to the beaches. Each truck has a route written in English, although I came across a few with only Thai inscriptions. Feel free to approach and ask the driver where he is going, for the most part, they are nice people who know English.

You will not see timetables here, so remember. Buses start running at 6.00 am and end at 18.00, but remember that accuracy is not feature Thais. The last one leaves the beaches no later than 16.30. By the way, when getting on the bus at the final stop, clearly name where you need to go. I had a situation where the driver finished work and went home...with me! Then we laughed for a long time, and he generously and absolutely free of charge delivered me to the nearest bus stop. Travel time depends on the route and traffic in Phuket Town. Calculate your time correctly, otherwise you risk missing the last bus from the beach and heading back on an expensive tuk-tuk. The interval between buses is usually 30 to 45 minutes. To stop the bus on the route, just wave to the driver. He will definitely stop, because his earnings depend on you. The price for a one-way trip will not exceed 50 baht, sometimes the fare is written on the bus, sometimes not, ask the driver, I have never been overcharged for all the time.

Main song taew routes:

Phuket Town - Kata, Karon - Phuket Town.

Travel time one way is about 40 minutes. The final station at the municipality on Kata Beach, goes through Karon Beach. It is very convenient to ride from Kata to Karon and back. You can catch it along the entire length of the shopping street on Katya and along the beach on Karon to the very ring in the north. It is better not to take the last bus from Kata beach, as it is usually so full that it does not always enter the steep climb of the Kata - Chalong pass. The fare is 35 baht. The bus passes Wat Chalong, Sunday market in Phuket Town, near the Central Festival, the new Tesco Lotus Chalong store, Villa Market, Bird's Park and turn to Big Budda.

Phuket Town - Patong - Phuket Town

Travel time one way is about 50 minutes. Goes past Central Festival and MAKRO, descends the pass to Patong, moves south on one way and stops at the southernmost point coastline. Back you can sit on it throughout the entire coastline. Just wave your hand. The fare is about 40 baht.

Phuket Town - Rawai - Nai Harn - Phuket Town

Travel time is an hour and a half one way. It goes past the zoo to the Chalong ring and further to Rawai and Nai Harn. Rawai is a fishing beach not intended for swimming. But here, on the waterfront, is the largest fish market, and literally opposite the stalls with swarming living creatures, they will prepare purchases for you for a symbolic amount in any chosen way. Nai Harn Beach is one of the cleanest. This is a small bay, where there are usually fewer vacationers than on Katya and Karon. The final bus stop is located on the very shore, so it will not be difficult to find it. The fare is 40 baht.

Phuket Town - Chalong - Phuket Town

Travel time is 30 minutes one way. The cost is 35 baht. The terminus in Chalong is next to Villa Market. Chalong Bay is a port, various excursions to the islands leave from here, and there are also many dive centers. The beach is not suitable for swimming.

Phuket Town - Bang Tao - Surin - Kamala - Phuket Town

Travel time is at least one and a half hours one way. From Phuket Town, the bus goes north along Thep Krasattri. Walks past a Super Cheep store bus terminal No. 2, Big C. The beaches are clean, quite long, great views from a viewpoint on Kamala Beach. The final station on Kamala is located in residential area but you don't have to look for it. On the way back (to Phuket Town) the bus will make the same detour past southern point Kamala beach, where taxi drivers sit, and the school is located. You can also catch a bus along the beach line. To do this, just go out to the road and wave your hand. The cost will be 40 baht one way.

Phuket Town - Thalang - Kathu - Phuket Town

These are residential areas, there is no access to the beaches from here. Lives here mainly local population and foreigners who moved to Phuket on long term. Housing here is cheaper than in the tourist area, but the distance from the usual places of entertainment, the sea and shopping creates inconvenience for those who come for a short time.

Phuket Town - Sarasin Bridge - Phuket Town

This bus runs from Phuket Town to the most northern point islands, the Sarasin Bridge connecting Phuket with mainland Thailand. It is duplicated by many intercity routes passing through the bridge.

Walking around Phuket Town, you can see, in addition to blue buses, pink ones. These are city buses running on three routes, only within Phuket Town. They stop anywhere on demand, as well as on bus stops with a characteristic pink sign. The windshield shows the route number and serial number of the bus. The interval of movement is usually 10-15 minutes, the price is around 10 baht. Basically, local residents use this transport, but tourists will be interested in route 2. It goes past Bus Terminal 2 where the airport bus leaves and back, past Super Cheep, Big C and Robinson in Phuket Town.

How to Get to or from Phuket Airport Cheaply

There are a lot of taxi drivers who want to cash in on visitors at any airport, and Phuket is no exception. The price tag for such a trip will not be humane at all, so we are looking for more affordable alternatives.

One bus route to the airport and back goes directly from Patong. This bus appeared relatively recently, few people know about it, but its convenience is beyond doubt. This is an air-conditioned bus with fixed termini and the fare is 120 baht. The final stop is located next to the JungCeylon shopping center.

The other departs from Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket Town. The cost is different, depending on the distance from 25 to 90 baht. The first departs from the airport at 6.30, from the bus station at 8.00. It is better to buy a ticket in advance, as the first and last flights they may no longer exist.

Airport Express

You can also take a taxi from the airport according to the meter, this is the only direction with this type of payment. Be sure to check that the driver turned on the meter before starting the trip. And don't forget, the airport tax is 100 baht on top of the amount. Below is the price list for the services of such a taxi.

Click to enlarge

And finally, hotels often provide their guests with taxi services with the possibility of booking via the Internet. Let us know your flight details and the taxi driver will arrive at the time of arrival and take you to the hotel without any problems. This option is reliable, but at the same time one of the most expensive.

Moto taxi. I'll ride with the wind.

Moto taxi on the island is nothing more than a Thai driving a motorbike at your complete disposal. This method of transportation is relevant in a situation where you are no more than 2 people, without special baggage, but it's not too far for you to go. There are usually no fixed stops. Drivers either sit under the roofs of public transport stops or ride on the roads. You can easily recognize them by their burnt vests in red, orange or blue.

Thai motorbikers

Often they honk as they pass leisurely strolling tourists, drawing attention and offering their services. This is a fairly safe method of transportation, the driver always gives out a helmet, drives slowly, plus this is still a Thai with driving experience from childhood. The cost varies, for example, I drove from the Chalong ring to Nai Harn for 80 baht. I was offered back for 100, but I bargained for the same amount. That's why bargaining works here. The driver I came across is quite nice, even talked in terrible English a little.

Phuket prices for motorcycle taxis

Taxi, tuk-tuk. Or taxi drivers are the same everywhere.

The taxi service in Phuket is represented by converted small trucks of various colors, the so-called tuk-tuks, and ordinary taxis. In the back of tuk-tuks there are benches for sitting, music speakers, and color music. Each driver tunes his tuk-tuk as best he can.

It just so happened that, in most cases, not very intelligent and educated people are engaged in private transportation, to put it mildly. Phuket is no exception. But then the taxi drivers went further. Having united, this, one might say, "mafia" dictates its prices. Everywhere. On the beach, at the mall, in Phuket Town, at the airport, prices will be equally high. A ride from one beach to the next will cost at least 200 baht, across the beach - 400 baht, Central Festival - 500 baht, airport at least 1000 baht. Bargaining does not always help bring down the price of a trip. Taxi drivers stand their ground tightly, knowing that no one will be lucky cheaper. That's why they don't hitchhike here. No one in their right mind would take a tourist in their car, as the consequences can be sad. Taxi drivers in Phuket can be quite aggressive when they defend their rights to transportation. Sometimes you can run into rudeness just picking up friends from the hotel in your personal car. On the Internet, the theme of the taxi driver "mafia" in Phuket is constantly updated with new episodes. In 1994 they tried to let public bus between Karon and Patong. The route drivers were beaten and forced to refuse. In 2013, taxi drivers took to organized rallies against the provision of transportation services by Russian travel agencies. Some travel agencies have closed. In November 2013, taxi drivers attacked the car of an Irish consul who wanted to pick up her friends from a hotel in Karon. There are reports that organized groups taxi drivers blocked the minibus of one of the travel companies with tourists at one of the hotels. The tuk tukers want complete monopoly and personal price dictation. And this is happening gradually. Local residents and expats living here are boycotting tuk-tuks, deliberately not using their services. But tourists do not always have the opportunity to move around the island in a different way. Therefore, a few rules.

Remember that they smile at you only while you agree to everything. Try not to argue in raised tones, not to wave your arms, not to swear (they have long known our extensive swear words). There will always be more of them, and the police, even the tourist police, do not really like to interfere in such discussions. It can even come to a fight, the majority knows the elementary techniques of Thai boxing. Don't ruin your vacation. You do not like this taxi driver, impudent, behaving provocatively, smile and go to another, since there are a lot of them here.

If agreed, repeat to him the cost of the trip and the specific place where you should go several times. Make sure that you understand each other, otherwise the taxi driver will nod at you, smile, bring you where it is not clear and will demand money. And you have to pay, whatever one may say. It is best to write the cost of the trip in the calculator and show the business card of the place where you are going.

How more people will be with you, the cheaper and calmer the trip will be. Therefore, do not hesitate to team up with other tourists if you are traveling on the same route.

All this looks rather frightening, but you should not think that it is like this everywhere here. For all the time in Phuket, and this is almost half a year, I have not encountered either rudeness or deceit from the taxi brethren. No need to conflict, no need to swear, just a smile and a good mood! IN Lately The media are trying to raise the image of taxi drivers. Many laudatory articles appeared in the local press about tuk-tukers, about how they begin to conclude official transport agreements with hotels, return money and personal belongings forgotten by tourists, help in the capture of lawbreakers ... For everyone, the experience of communicating with local taxi drivers is unique , let yours be only positive.

Car rental, motorbikes

If you know how to drive a motorcycle or a car, then the problem of transport in Phuket will be solved for you in the cheapest and most logical way - take vehicle for hire! Motorbike rental per day usually does not exceed 250 baht, car and motorbike rental offices are quite common and you can easily find them.

If you have more than 6 people, then you can rent a minibus with a driver, especially if the trip is long. Often in tourist areas transport companies providing such services are located. They often change their location, so just read the signs carefully, you will definitely find one. The price of the issue will depend on the destination and the number of people.

Whatever mode of transportation you choose, let your vacation in paradise Phuket bring you only joy and positive emotions!

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In general, the beaches of Patong and Karon are next to each other, but still the distance between these beaches is about 4 km. True, if you measure the distance from the center of one beach to the center of another beach, then it will be about 10 km.

Tuk-tuk from Patong to Karon

Transfer Patong - Karon

1. Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
2. Advance booking
3. The car will drive to the right place
4. The price is fixed, no need to bargain with the driver
5. Cheats on the part of the driver are excluded

In general, if your finances are very limited and you do not know exactly when you will go to Karon or Patong, then it is better to use a tuk-tuk. If you have no problems with money, and you know exactly when you need to go on a trip, then you can order a transfer in a comfortable car.
By the way, unlike a tuk-tuk, the transfer does not rise in price at night. At least a transfer from Kiwi Taxi, which you can book using the form below.

Bus Patong - Karon

Everyone relax in Phuket, it is worth knowing that in addition to quite high prices, there is another significant drawback - this is a poorly developed transport.

The first group is the so-called tuk-tuk taxis and motos. In general, a tuk-tuk is a car with two benches and a covered body, the most comfortable arrangement of benches for people is across. There are a lot of them near the beaches. But the prices are shocking! Despite the short distances, you will have to pay a considerable amount for the trip! Tuktukers practically do not trade, they only endlessly show their mini-stands with prices, like everything is fixed, if you don’t want, you can not go. In order not to get into an unpleasant situation, negotiate the price several times before the trip, and also repeat the price several times in order to make sure that you are understood. In the most severe cases, you can even fix the price in writing.

Tuktukers speak very little English, even worse if you are not going to famous place, let's say, into the unfamiliar and exotic. In these cases, a map or a navigator helps out a lot - this is generally good. So at least you can show the driver where you want to go. And then some even do not know “right”, “left” in English.

Despite all this, it is better not to arrange conflicts; in Thailand, nothing can be solved by scandals. The best way out is to smile, even if the price does not suit you, and they don’t want to lower it in any way. Then again you smile and turn around to look for another vehicle. If the prices for a tuk-tuk scare you, but you don’t know how to drive a motorbike, it’s unlikely holidays in Phuket will be comfortable for you.

Another transport in Phuket is a taxi in the form of private traders, there are no specialized services. There are also minibuses - they are always waiting in Chalong, the prices are awful.

If desired, you can hire a taxi for the whole day. But! If you want a taxi according to the meter, you can't stop it just like that. Only as a transfer from the airport. You can also ride a taxi - a transfer, the so-called limousine - service. Will come out a little more expensive than a taxi- meter.

Taxi stands at the airport can be found in the arrivals area.

The next type of transport is a motto tuk-tuk, which is a taxi driver on a moped, dressed in a special vest, most often red. It is not so expensive to ride a motto tuk-tuk, but it can hardly be called a cheap trip. Negotiate the price in advance! Motto taxis can be hailed on the road by nodding or waving to a passing motto taxi driver. They can also be found at shopping centers, near grocery stores 7-Eleven networks and at points that look like bus stops. But keep in mind that it is easier to bring down the price with a tuktuker stopped on the road than with one who is standing at shopping centers.

A significant drawback is that basically moto taxi drivers are concentrated in the areas of Chalong, Patong and Phuket, and they practically do not happen in other places.

As for public transport... buses in Phuket are, of course, cheap, but there are very few of them. They rarely go, and spend a lot of time on the road. It will be quite convenient to travel from terminal to terminal, but if you need to take a bus along its route, then this is already more difficult. The fact is that there is a bell on the bus that you have to press in order for the driver to stop the bus. And for this you need to know where you need to get off.

Locals willingly suggest where you can get on the bus near the beach, and sometimes they will help you catch it.

Sometimes bus drivers take on the role of taxi drivers and offer to take a ride in Right place, but this will obviously not be the price of a trip to public transport.

In general, the bus network in Phuket is very poorly developed, and taxis are expensive. So it's not clear what to do emergency situations or at night.

For the sake of interest, we took numbers from several taxi drivers who assured that they would come to any place day or night. But, alas, none of them could get through at night.

If you want to be mobile and independent, you can rent a motorbike or a car.

These are either local companies like Phuket New Car Rent, Pure Car Rent, etc. Or branches of international companies, such as Avis. To rent a car you will need: a passport and its photocopy, international driver license-original and photocopy, deposit in the amount of approximately $ 300, or they will take a copy from your credit card. After you return the car and pay the rent, everything will be given to you.

Be sure to check that the car is insured, and remember to drive on the left. Be aware of the so-called "franchise", which is included in all car insurance. It provides compensation for damage at the expense of the tenant within a certain amount.

One of the most common modes of transport on the island is a motorbike. There are a lot of points where you can rent it in Phuket. Most rental locations in about beach areas, but the cost here is higher than in other points. The cheapest way to rent a motorbike is in non-tourist places, for example, in the direction of Phuket Town.

In order not to be disappointed in the future, before taking a bike, try it as a test drive, as a rule, renters are not against it. Also, keep in mind that a bike with a high mileage can fail you at any moment, so determine for yourself in advance that a motorbike with a range of more than 20,000 km is not your option.

Inspect the bike very well, it is better to photograph each scratch and show it to the lessor, so that later you do not have to prove that this was not your doing.

To rent a bike you need:

A deposit may be required, which can be documents (passport, driver's license) or money.

Whether you have rights, no one will ask, however, in Thailand, driving a bike without a license (category A) can result in a fine.

It should be remembered:

A motorbike is a means of increased danger, if you have no experience in driving a motorcycle, then it is better to refuse to rent a motorbike. Take care of yourself and your loved ones, because a fall from a bike can cost your life;

If you fell while traveling on a motorbike, then your injuries are not covered by travel insurance;

The fine for riding without a helmet in Thailand is hefty, so don't forget this simple remedy;

All scratches and damage to the motorbike are paid by the tenant. If your bike is stolen or damaged beyond repair, you will have to pay the full cost of a new bike. All details of payment must be specified in the lease agreement.

Phuket is very beautiful island, on which the set interesting places and very different beaches, so you should not be limited to the area that surrounds the chosen hotel. In order to be able to move freely around the island, you need to rent a motorbike (or car) or deal with public transport, which is not so easy to do.

The public transport system in Phuket is rather poorly developed, sometimes it gives tourists a lot of trouble.

Buses in Phuket

Buses in Phuket Town are converted pink trucks. They have three routes (they are marked on the map) that are of more interest to locals than tourists. The route number is indicated on the windshield on the left side. Each route has special stops, which are marked with pink signs, but this does not mean that the bus cannot be "caught" at a stop. The fare is 10 baht.

Songthaews

This is the name of transport in Phuket that runs between Phuket Town and different beaches of the island. In appearance, these can be various blue buses and trucks, on the windshield of which (or above it) the name of the final stop of this route is written. Intermediate stops - on request, in order for the bus to stop, you need to give a sound signal to the driver (special bells are provided for this in public transport).

Songthaews depart from the local bus station (local bus station), i.e. from the parking lot on Ranong Road. The fare is fixed from 25 to 40 baht (there is a single price on the route, it does not change depending on the distance traveled by the passenger). Songthaevs run approximately every 30 minutes in the directions: Patong, Kata - Karon, Rawai - Naiharn, Panwa Cape - Aquarium, Central Festival Shopping Center - Big C Shopping Center - Kathu, Surin - Kamala, Chalong, daily from 6-00 to 18-00. This means that at 18-00 songthaews arrive in Phuket Town, i.е. the last departure from the beach is around 16-30.

Airport bus

The bus departs from the main bus station in Phuket Town approximately every two and a half hours. The first departure from the Airport is at 06:30, from the city at 8:00. The exact timetable can be found on the official website of the route. Ticket prices vary depending on the distance and range from 25 to 90 baht.

Knock Knock

If everything is very clear with how to get to Phuket Town and the airport, then the situation is somewhat more complicated with moving to other beaches. There is no public transport that would connect on the island. Therefore, even to the neighboring beach you need to go through Phuket Town (such a trip will take about 3 hours one way). You can avoid this by using the services of private carriers. For example, taking a tuk-tuk. A tut-tuk in Phuket is a small four-wheeled van (usually red). The cost of the trip will be around 200 baht for 10 km. It is worth agreeing on the price in advance and be sure to make sure that mutual understanding has been reached (otherwise, a rather unpleasant situation may arise).

If a lot of movement around the island is planned during the day, then it will most likely be profitable to rent a tuk-tuk for the day. The rental price starts from 200 baht per hour (depending on the number of rental hours).

Taxi

Taxi drivers in Phuket do not use meters (the only exception is the route to the airport), so the price must be agreed with the driver before the start of the trip. The cost of the trip starts from 50 baht, the cost of renting a taxi for the whole day (8 hours) from 1000 baht.

Mototaxi

Motorcycle taxi services are often used by Thais. For one person, it is much cheaper than a regular taxi or tuk-tuk. Another advantage is speed, a motorcycle taxi arrives much faster than usual, especially if there are traffic jams on the roads. The main drawback is insecurity, many taxi drivers drive very carelessly and often get into minor accidents. It is recommended to use Phuket licensed transport, i.e. only those motorcycle taxis whose drivers are dressed in bright vests with numbers.

Motorbike or car rental

Before renting a car or motorbike, you should soberly assess the traffic situation in Thailand. First, the country has left-hand traffic. Secondly, tourists regularly forget about this (both those who are driving and those who boldly cross the road after looking in the other direction). Thirdly, in the event of an accident, the foreigner will always be to blame.

After weighing all the pros and cons of driving in Phuket, you can rent a vehicle. Cars are rented at the airport, which is convenient, but will cost more than renting in the city. When discussing the price, you should bargain, the longer the rental period, the lower the price per day. The standard price for renting a motorbike is from 150 baht per day, cars from 600 baht.