Getting Around Surin
How to Arrive and How to Explore

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Before we dig in, here's the big picture. Surin sits roughly 420–450 km from Bangkok depending on the route — about 6 hours and change if you drive yourself. If you'd rather not drive, there are three main options: train, bus, and flight (into Buriram or Ubon Ratchathani, then a transfer). Within the province, downtown Surin is small and easy to wander on foot for food and sightseeing, but the standout sights — the Ban Ta Klang elephant village and the Khmer temples — are outside town and in different directions. That's where you need to plan your wheels carefully.

Getting to Surin by train — the southern Isan line drops you downtown

The train is a favorite for many people because Surin railway station is right in the middle of town — step off and you can walk straight to food and lodging, no transfer into the center like you'd need from the airport or some bus terminals. Surin sits on the northeastern line (the southern Isan line), Bangkok–Ubon Ratchathani. Trains from Bangkok depart Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station (a few services still leave from Hua Lamphong), passing Nakhon Ratchasima and Buriram before reaching Surin.

• Travel time — around 7–9 hours depending on the service. Rapid and special express trains are much faster than ordinary ones; the fastest services do it in just over 6 hours.
• Fares — from around 100-something THB for a 3rd-class seat on an ordinary train, up to several hundred or even over a thousand THB for a 1st–2nd-class air-conditioned sleeper berth on a special express.
• Overnight service — there's a sleeper that leaves in the evening and reaches Surin in the morning, saving you a night's accommodation and getting you up ready to explore. It's a backpacker favorite.
• Booking tickets — book ahead on the SRT D-Ticket app, the State Railway website, or at the station. During long weekends and the late-year elephant festival, sleeper berths sell out fast, so book early.

Getting to Surin by bus / minivan — from Mo Chit 2

The bus is another convenient option, with departures throughout the day. Buses leave from Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), cover roughly 420–430 km in about 6–8 hours, and arrive at the Surin provincial bus terminal (BKS Surin), which is in town. From there you can grab a songthaew or motorcycle taxi into the center.

• Operators — BKS 999 (Transport Co.), Nakhonchai Air, Chetchai Tour, and Sawasdee Surin all run the Bangkok–Surin route regularly.
• Fares — tickets start around 360–430 THB for air-conditioned coaches; classes (Mo.1Kho / Mo.4Ko) differ in price depending on the seat and the level of bus.
• Departure times — there are morning runs (around 06:00–12:00) and overnight runs (around 18:00–24:00); the overnight ones reach Surin in the morning, much like the sleeper train.
• Booking tickets — book online in advance through the operator's website or a bus-ticket app, where you can pick your seat. Book early during festival periods.

Getting to Surin by plane — fly into Buriram and transfer

Surin has no commercial airport of its own, so if you want to fly in fast you'll land at a nearby airport and transfer. The most popular option is Buriram Airport (Buriram–Satuek), since it's closest to Surin. The other is Ubon Ratchathani Airport, which has more flights but is farther away.

• Into Buriram — Buriram Airport is about 70–90 km from downtown Surin, roughly a 1–1.5 hour transfer. Many people rent a car right at Buriram Airport and drive on from there — the most convenient choice if you plan to explore outside town.
• Into Ubon Ratchathani — more and more frequent flights, but it's about 150 km from Surin, a roughly 2–2.5 hour transfer. A good fallback if Buriram tickets are sold out or pricier.
• Transfer from the airport — rental cars, taxis, and minivans with drivers are all available. Agree on the price before you commit; if you're in a group, chartering a minivan works out better.

Distances from Bangkok and Buriram

• Bangkok → Surin — about 420–450 km depending on the route, roughly 6 hours and change driving yourself, passing Nakhon Ratchasima and Buriram. Take Route 24 (Chok Chai–Det Udom) or go through Korat city and continue on Route 226.
• Buriram → Surin — about 50 km, roughly 1 hour, via Highway 226. The two provinces are next to each other and easy to pair up — many people see the Phanom Rung temple in Buriram and then carry on to Surin.
• Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) → Surin — about 190 km, roughly 2.5–3 hours; a good rest stop or transfer point.
• Ubon Ratchathani → Surin — about 150 km, roughly 2–2.5 hours, to the east.

Getting around the province — a rental car is the answer

Here's the part to be honest about: Surin's standout sights are outside town and in different directions, and public transport doesn't reach them conveniently. The easiest way to manage it is to have your own wheels — whether you rent a car and drive yourself or charter a vehicle with a driver. In town there are songthaews, motorcycle taxis, and motorbike-taxi stands for short hops, but to be taken out to Ban Ta Klang or the temples you'll need to negotiate a charter by the trip or by the day.

How to reach the Ban Ta Klang elephant village

The Ban Ta Klang elephant village (the Elephant Study Center) is in Krapho subdistrict, Tha Tum district, north of town, about 58–60 km away — roughly a 1-hour drive. Take Highway 214 (Surin–Roi Et) north, then turn left into Ban Krapho and continue on a paved road for another 20-something km, with signs along the way. The elephant show runs twice a day, at 10:00 and 14:00, so plan your departure to make the round you want to see.

• Drive yourself — the most convenient. Just search Google Maps for "Elephant Study Center Ban Ta Klang" and fill up on fuel before you go, since gas stations are far apart along the way.
• Charter a car/minivan — tell the driver which show round you want so they get you there in time and wait to bring you back; agree on the price by the trip or by the day first.
• No private vehicle — this is tough, as there's no direct public transport into the village. The best bet is to charter a car from town for the round trip.

How to reach the Khmer temples — Sikhoraphum and others

Prasat Sikhoraphum is the easiest and closest Khmer temple to reach. It's in Sikhoraphum district, east of town, about 34 km away — roughly a 40-minute drive via Highway 226 (Surin–Sikhoraphum). The temple sits right by Wat Ban Prasat and is easy to find, open around 08:00–16:30. Other temples on the Khmer trail, like the Ta Muen temple group, are right on the southern border — farther away and partly reached by side roads, so you'll need a private vehicle and extra time.

• Sikhoraphum — closest and easiest, a 40-minute drive from town. There are also trains and buses passing through Sikhoraphum district, but once you get off you'll need a short onward ride to the temple itself.
• Ta Muen temple group — right on the Cambodian border to the south, dozens of km from town. You'll need a private vehicle, and you should check the border situation and opening hours before you go.
• Pair it with Buriram — if you love Khmer temples, stop at Phanom Rung and Mueang Tam in Buriram on your way in or out. The two provinces are about 50 km apart.

Travel plans by style — pick the one that's you

To make it easier to picture, we've laid out 3 travel plans by traveler style, from leaving home to reaching the sights. Pick the one closest to your trip and adjust from there.