🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
A lot of people assume Phuket and Krabi have to be two separate trips. In reality the two provinces connect really smoothly — about 160 km by road, roughly 2.5–3 hours in a car. But if you want more fun and a bit of sea on the way, take the ferry across the bay instead: it takes about the same time but you get island views the whole route. This plan starts in Phuket first, since flying into Phuket airport is more convenient, then wraps up in Krabi so you can fly home from Krabi airport without doubling back.
Trip overview: 4 days and how to get around
The rough shape is: day one in Phuket town (old quarter + Promthep Cape), day two a morning ferry across to Krabi and into Ao Nang, day three out to the Separated Sea and Railay, and day four a stop at Tiger Cave or Emerald Pool before flying out. If you only have 3 days, just drop day four.
- Fly in: Phuket airport (HKT) — several direct flights a day from Bangkok
- Cross province: ferry from Rassada Pier (Phuket) → Klong Jilad Pier (Krabi), about 2 hours · fare around 900 THB/person · morning departures from 08:30 through midday
- Fly out: Krabi airport (KBV) — flights back to Bangkok and onward connections, so no driving back to Phuket
- By road instead: if you'd rather not take the boat, a minivan or rental car runs Phuket–Krabi in 2.5–3 hours via Phang Nga
Book ferry tickets ahead
There are only a handful of cross-province ferry runs a day, and in high season (Nov–Apr) they fill up fast. Book online ahead or buy at the pier early in the morning. During the monsoon (May–Oct) the seas can get rough on some days and a run may be cancelled, so check the weather before your travel day.
Book the activities in your Phuket trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Day 1 — Phuket Old Town + Promthep Cape
No need to rush to the beach on day one — take in Phuket town first. You can walk the whole old quarter in half a day. The Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Thalang Road have all turned into cafes, galleries and restaurants now, so wander around shooting the street art, then close out the day with sunset at Promthep Cape.
Old town, local food, sunset
The Big Buddha has reopened
The Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill is open again for visitors to pay respects and take in the view, since 3 March 2026, after closing for repairs following the 2024 landslide. It's open daily 09:00–18:00, so if you have a free morning on day one you can squeeze in a trip up — the view over Chalong and Kata bays is gorgeous.
Day 2 — Ferry across to Krabi and into Ao Nang
Today is the crossing day. Sort your bags out in the morning and head to Rassada Pier — most ferries to Krabi leave from morning through midday and take about 2 hours to reach Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi. From the pier it's another 20–30 minutes by road into Ao Nang, which makes a good base for catching boats out to the islands the next day.
Cross the Andaman, settle into Ao Nang
Day 3 — Four Islands, Separated Sea + Railay
Krabi's headline day. The Four Islands tour takes a longtail boat from Ao Nang around Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Koh Tup and Phra Nang Cave at Railay. At low tide a sandbar links the islands together — what's known as the Separated Sea. A half-day longtail tour starts around 895 THB/person, while a full-day speedboat runs a bit more, including snorkeling gear and a boxed lunch.
Four Islands, Separated Sea, Railay Beach
Longtail boat or speedboat
Longtails are cheaper and have more local character, but they're slow and rock with the waves. Speedboats are fast and dry and can hit several spots in a day, but cost more. For an easy half-day around the nearby islands, a longtail is plenty. If you want to go further out to Hong Island, a full-day speedboat is the better use of your time.
Day 4 — Tiger Cave / Emerald Pool before flying out
On the last day you swap the sea for some land sightseeing before flying out of Krabi airport. There are two routes to pick from depending on your energy and flight time. The temple-and-view option is Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) — about 1,260 steps up to a view over Krabi from the hilltop, no entry fee but genuinely tiring. The nature option is the Emerald Pool and the Khlong Thom hot springs, clear emerald-green water in the middle of the forest.
Land landmarks, then head home
Rough budget per person
These numbers assume an easygoing trip, nothing too fancy — the core costs you can't really avoid. What you spend on accommodation depends on the level of hotel you pick.
- Phuket–Krabi ferry: about 900 THB/person one way
- Half-day longtail Four Islands tour: from around 895 THB/person (a full-day speedboat costs more)
- Emerald Pool: around 400 THB foreigner park entry + about 200 THB for the hot spring (Tiger Cave Temple has no entry fee)
- Food: street and market meals 60–150 THB · southern or seafood restaurants 250–500 THB a meal
- Town transport / pier transfers: budget 150–300 THB per trip
When to go
The Andaman side has clear wet and dry seasons. The clear-water, best-sea window is Nov–Apr, when every ferry runs and the island tours are fully open. From May to Oct it's monsoon — frequent rain, rough waves, and on some days the cross-province ferries and island tours get cancelled. If you have to go in the rainy season, keep a backup land plan (old town, temples, Emerald Pool) and check the forecast every morning.
See full hotels and a complete Phuket travel guide before planning your cross-province trip
See the Phuket guide →