Railay to Surat Thani by Minivan or Bus – Schedule & Prices.
Railay to Surat Thani: Best routes, schedules, and prices
Scenic Journey: Railay to Surat Thani by Bus and Minivan
Railay is a beautiful beach, but it has no roads. To get to Surat Thani, you need to take a boat first, then a minivan or bus. Traveling to Surat Thani by minivan is a popular choice, as it offers a faster and more comfortable ride compared to buses. Surat Thani is a transport hub with connections to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and other places.
Railay to Surat Thani Schedule and Pricing
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Minivan: Companies like Phichet Transport and Krabi Sea Pearl run minivans from Railay to Surat Thani. Prices start at $13, and travel time is about 4–5 hours.
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Longtail Boat + Minivan: Take a boat from Railay to Ao Nam Mao Pier, then a minivan to Surat Thani. The full trip costs between ฿386 and ฿1,252.
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Bus: Buses leave from Krabi to Surat Thani every four hours. Prices range from ฿310 to ฿480, and the journey takes about 3 hours.
Departure Details
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From Railay: Take a longtail boat from Railay East Pier to Ao Nam Mao Pier. Boats run every hour from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The ride takes 15 minutes and costs 100 THB.
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From Ao Nam Mao Pier: Take a minivan or bus to Surat Thani. Departure times may vary, so check in advance.
About Surat Thani
Surat Thani is an important transport city. Here’s what you’ll find:
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Surat Thani Airport (21 km from the city) with flights to Bangkok and other places.
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Surat Thani Train Station (16 km from the city), part of Thailand’s main railway line.
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Bus Terminals with buses to Bangkok, Phuket, and other destinations.
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Donsak Pier for ferries to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.
Check-in Instructions
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For the boat: Arrive at Railay East Pier 15 minutes before departure. Buy tickets at the pier.
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For the minivan or bus: Go to the minivan or bus station at Ao Nam Mao Pier. Booking in advance is best, especially in high season.
Important Travel Information
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Trip Duration: 3 to 5 hours, depending on transport and waiting times.
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Luggage: Keep bags safe, especially during the boat ride.
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Weather: Bad weather can delay boats. Check the forecast before you travel.
Conclusion
Getting from Railay to Surat Thani is easy, but it requires a combination of boat and land transport. Since Railay has no roads, the first step is always a short boat ride to Ao Nam Mao Pier. From there, you can continue your journey by minivan or bus, depending on your budget and schedule.
Minivans are the fastest option, taking about 4 to 5 hours, while buses from Krabi take a bit longer. To avoid delays, it’s best to book tickets in advance, especially during peak travel seasons. If you have a flight or ferry connection in Surat Thani, plan extra time for possible delays due to weather or traffic.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to print my ferry ticket or is mobile ok?
You don't need to print your ticket. Your boarding voucher is in your account: open Bookings, then View trip details, and click Download PDF. On the day of travel, show the QR code on it — on your phone is fine — to the ferry operator staff at the pier named on your ticket, and they will direct you to your boat.
If you'd prefer paper, print the PDF yourself.
What happens if my ferry is cancelled due to weather?
We are sorry when weather stops a sailing. Ferries usually run in rain; speedboats are more often stopped by rough seas.
If your trip is cancelled because of weather, your booking in Bookings shows a message once our team has confirmed the cancellation. You can then either move to the next available service with Change this booking, or cancel with Cancel & refund for a full refund.
If the sailing is running but you choose not to travel, the normal cancellation policy applies.
Why is my account locked?
We lock an account for a short time after several failed sign-in attempts in a row. It is an automatic safety measure: it stops someone else guessing your password, and it happens whether or not the person typing was you.
You do not need to contact us. The lock lifts on its own — see How long am I locked out for?
What is the difference between a locked and a blocked account?
Locked is automatic and temporary. It happens after repeated failed sign-in attempts and it lifts by itself — within a minute in most cases.
Blocked is a decision made by our team, and it does not lift on its own. If your account is blocked you will need to contact us; waiting will not change it, and neither will resetting your password.
If you are not sure which applies to you, get in touch and we will tell you.
How do I unlock my account now?
Wait, and try again. Every lock lifts on its own — a minute the first time, and never more than an hour however many attempts have failed. There is nothing to click and nobody to contact.
If you have forgotten your password, do not keep guessing: each wrong attempt makes the next wait longer. Use Forgot password instead. Resetting your password gets you straight back in.
My account locked but I never tried to sign in
Then someone else was trying to sign in as you, and the lock did its job — it stopped them.
Your account is safe: a lock means the attempts failed. Nobody got in. You do not have to do anything, and the lock will lift on its own.
We would still recommend two things:
- Change your password, especially if you use the same one on another website.
- Add an authenticator app in your account security settings, so a password alone is never enough to sign in as you.
If you get these repeatedly, contact us and we will look into it.
