Phuket to Khao Sok: Bus or Transfer?
I am an overthinker, and when I was planning to get lost inside an ancient jungle like Khao Sok, I did overthink. Much more than I should have. Why should I overthink when Asia itself is so well designed for travellers, that everything is super easy, more than other regions around the world? But I was new to Asia, and I did not rent a car or a scooter.
Phuket Bus Station, useful place to be.
“So, how do I get there?” I asked myself. Then I did the intelligent thing to do: ask a local. My Muay Thai instructor, to be more exact, and he was like, “Oh, that’s here around the corner. Don’t worry, do this and that and you arrive.” I obviously trusted him because he was my sensei. You should always trust your sensei. (I know we’re not in Japan, but you get me.) Anyways… let’s explain how to get there by bus. Simple, easy, much more easier than I expected. Steal my unusual 3-day Khao Sok itinerary.
In A Rush? Phuket To Khao Sok
★★★ Bus — Buy your bus ticket
★★★ Tour route — Go with a tour
★★ Private transfer — Book the easy option
★★ Staying in Khao Sok — Browse stays
Quick version: bus if you want cheap and simple, tour if you want the journey arranged, private transfer if your patience has already left Thailand before you have.
How Long Does Phuket to Khao Sok Take?
We don’t need a full page for this, do we? I like bushes, but I don’t like to go around them. Through them is always better.
From Phuket bus station to Khao Sok village, it takes around 4 hours. Not bad at all. The only thing that will add some time up will be the how long it takes you to go from your location to the bus station and from the bus station in Khao Sok to your accommodation. That’s it. I strongly recommend using the Grab app. I went with a backpack, so a moto taxi were my best friend anywhere I went.
Phuket traffic is like my brain, a bit crazy. Get to the bus station with time, not on time, quite before. Just in case. And good Lord… book your bus with time. Don’t arrive at the bus station and expect you’re the only one with plans.
Getting to Khao Sok
We have two ways to get there, and you should choose depending on what your itinerary looks like. Some travellers are based in Phuket, and Khao Sok for it’s a few days away from the noise (Phuket is very noisy). Others are going to stop there and then continue north, which means you will be heavy in terms of luggage. So, how to get there will be slightly different.
Jungle trail accessible from Khao Sok Village.
For Phuket-Based Travellers
Do not overcomplicate this. It’s very easy. You book a Grab motorbike to the bus station, you arrive, show your pre-booked bus ticket, get on the bus, and 4 hours later you will be in the jungle.
Sounds simple because it’s very simple.
If you are staying in the village, do not stay far from the park entrance. Browse the village stays near it.
For Travellers Going Up North
If I was going to travel north with all my bags… the bus would still be possible, of course, but it becomes a bit of a headache. I recommend a direct transfer to Khao Sok village if you start your Khao Sok itinerary from there, like I did. You can read my 3-day itinerary in Khao Sok, where I break the “the lake is everything” rule.
KHAO SOK TOURS
Jungle Tours From the Village
Three village pickup options I’d compare first for price, timing and what they actually include.
Village pickup
Best value pick
Check tourLake & jungle
Good all-rounder
Check tourMore complete
For less faff
Check tourCheck pickup location, park fees and what is actually included before booking. Tour descriptions enjoy hiding tiny chaos in the details.
Arriving in Khao Sok Village
When I arrived, the bus left me in the middle of the road. Just like that. There was a shop, and that’s it. Many Thai locals were offering scooter rides to accommodations; there were some taxi drivers and some lost backpackers. I wonder if they were just wondering, “Is this the jungle?”
It looked like any other road in Thailand. There is so much green everywhere in the country that I was asking myself if maybe Thailand was just a massive rainforest with cities scattered around randomly.
One road, plenty of food, jungle waiting at the end.
I did not want to rent a scooter because I wanted to walk and because I underestimated the distance. My accommodation was by the entrance of Khao Sok National Park, which meant that I had to walk straight. Just go straight, can’t be that far.
It was far. It took me around an hour, but I had a good walk. I spotted one monkey and different hotels, from luxury to backpacker energy. The more I walked through it, the more jungle-ish everything became. The village was the best part of my 3-day Khao Sok itinerary.
Where to Stay in Khao Sok?
I arrived in the village first because, for me, Khao Sok is jungle first, lake after. There are plenty of accommodations in Khao Sok Village and also in the famous lake. Which one is the best?
That depends. For me, best means a place run by locals, as much sustainable as possible, beautiful but not luxurious. I do not stay in hostels because I believe I am too old for that and I won’t enjoy it.
So, Was It Really That Easy?
So, that’s it. Phuket to Khao Sok was one of those things I spent much more time thinking about than actually doing. Book the bus, get yourself to the station, sit down for around 4 hours, and suddenly you are standing on a road surrounded by jungle. Do not overcomplicate it like I did.
My advice? Arrive in the village first, stay by the river, walk around and let Khao Sok slowly become jungle before you disappear into the lake. Jungle first, lake after. Always.
