Facts about the van from George Town to Phuket
| Cheapest Van | $37 |
| Fastest Van | 11h |
| Earliest Van | 4:30 AM |
| Latest Van | 12:00 PM |
| Daily Van Routes | 6 |
| Distance | 3117 kilometers |
| Van Companies | KST Travel, Sri Trang, TransBaanTon |
Vans from George Town to Phuket
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George Town to Phuket Destination Reviews
AF
Anna FThe bus trip from Hat Yai to Phuket was horrible. We arrived 3.5 hours late, and both the driver and the staff member organizing the seats were very unfriendly. At times, it honestly felt like one of them might have been under the influence of something. Overall, a very unpleasant experience – I would not recommend this service.
George Town to Phuket, Van Van or Bus, New Asian Travel (New Asian Travel), Apr 6, 2026
A
Adriana I used the service to travel from Penang in Malaysia to Phuket in Thailand. As it was a long journey, I booked a direct bus in order to avoid being stranded somewhere in Thailand without a connecting journey due to delay. I booked the bus for 7.50, but received a Whatsapp very early that I should come to the pick up at 7.30 - not perfect, but as you should be at the pick-up location 1/2h before departure, I was gonna be there anyways. Now the van during this first part of the journey to Hat Yai was perfect: Clean, comfortable, spacious, with AC. We stopped along the way for toilet and food.
The bus driver wanted 20 Baht before crossing the border. I didn't have any Baht, as the trip description stated I needed to pay him 5 RM. I got that exchanged, but it was an annoying hassle which I could have prepared for with the knowledge beforehand.
Now after reaching Hat Yai the real drama began. Apparently the bus driver was not aware that I had booked an onward journey and wanted to drop me off at the bus station in Hat Yai. He didn't speak a word of English. I showed him my ticket showing Phuket as the end location, so he called his employer and drove me to an office of a travel agency while on the phone and filming the street with his phone. When we arrived a woman took a picture of my ticket and made a call. She then told me to go with the driver again who proceded to bring me to another travel agency which then handed me over to another driver with a different can who then took me to yet another travel agency where they told me that my bus to Phuket would be leaving in 15min and I could get some snacks while I wait. I needed to exchange money/find an ATM and a toilet on my own. When I returned a guy from the travel agency put me on one of the white and blue basically super cheap public busses going to Phuket. That is not the service I paid for. It would have been much cheaper just to buy a ticket for that bus upon arrival. Also this bus only did one stop for snacks and toilet once. I couldn't get any food due to not having Baht on me and them not accepting card payment where we stopped. I arrived after around 12 hours total journey time without having any proper meals during the whole day.
My ticket didn't show who was the bus operator. I never had any direct contact with "New Asian Travels", all buses I used were from different companies.
Really bad service.
To any travellers going to Phuket or Krabi from Penang: Take this bus only to Hat Yai, you will have an excellent service, everything after that is a tourism trap and an absolute rip-off.
George Town to Phuket, Van Van or Bus, New Asian Travel, Dec 11, 2025
George Town to Phuket Van Schedule
| Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TransBaanTon | Van + Van | 04:30 | 16:15 | $39.66 | |
TransBaanTon | Van + Bus | 04:30 | 16:15 | $39.66 | |
KST Travel | Van + Van | 05:00 | 19:00 | $33.05 | |
New Asian Travel | Van or Bus | 05:00 | 16:00 | $28.43 | |
New Asian Travel | Van or Bus | 08:00 | 19:00 | $30.90 | |
New Asian Travel | Van or Bus | 12:00 | 23:00 | $29.67 |
How to get from George Town to Phuket by Van
Van is a convenient option to get from George Town to Phuket. Van tickets are affordable, vans are generally do a faster job than buses, vans offer a good choice of departures.
Depending on the van type, each vehicle can accommodate between 12 and 15 passengers. Yet an evident drawback of travelling by van is limited space for the luggage. In most cases you will need to keep your bags, backpacks or suitcases under your seat or in the aisle. Thus van is not the best choice if you travel with huge luggage. F this is the case, consider buying a separate ticket for your bags or choose bus instead.
On certain routes, vans are your only choice of transportation as no buses, trains or flights are available between those destinations.
It is a popular question whether it is necessary to book van tickets in advance. Though some routes feature a lot of departures, we still highly recommend booking your seat especially if you are going to take one of the last vans of the day; travelling during weekends, public holidays or busy tourist seasons; are in a group of two or more and want to travel on the same van.
Here is the list of companies that run regular vans between George Town and Phuket and offer tickets for online booking.
How far is from George Town to Phuket?
Vans follow the same routes as buses do. Thus the driving distance between George Town and Phuket will be about 3117 km. Some vans do not take the shortest route to Phuket and make detours to pick up and drop off passengers en route. If this is the case, it will result in a longer travel time – you can see it when choosing your ticket.
How long does it take to get from George Town to Phuket by Van?
Most vans need from 11h to 14h hours to get from George Town to Phuket Note though that travel time depends greatly on traffic conditions. Traffic can be dense around the rush hour at both your departure point and destination. Weather conditions – e.g. heavy rain – often result in longer travel time, too.
Before booking your van tickets, check how long the trip with each operator takes as some vans follow longer routes to Phuket or make detours.
Also, it is important to know that van companies that accept online booking offer scheduled van departures; yet there are also some vans which depart only when full, and in certain cases the waiting period can be long. Thus choosing an operator that runs vans on a set schedule is always a better idea.
How much does it cost to get from George Town to Phuket by Van?
When using a van, the fare or ticket price for travelling from George Town to Phuket is pre-computed. This usually includes toll fees, gas and other overheads. But, it is recommended to read the details and ask for clarifications when this is not clear at the onset.
Pre-computed fares for vans can be expensive but unlike buses and trains; you would not need to buy a ticket for each passenger. For a big group of 12 or more people, this translates to huge savings compared to getting multiple taxis.
This makes it a cheap option for travelling when in groups. The van service will also not charge extra for bags and luggage, as long as it fits inside the van.
George Town to Phuket timetable
If you are a group, you can consolidate your schedules and use just one van. Check out above George Town to Phuket timetable for van services.
Best Rated Companies for this Route
Getting a van service for your group can offer extra space, comfort and convenience not found in other transport options. Unlike taxis or buses which have numerous trips per day, a van service is usually scheduled. But some van services do follow a scheduled departure time. Please check our listings for such services.
Having your entire group together for a long trip can add to the enjoyment. This can allow your group to discuss and even sing to your heart's content without fear of bothering others.
Just like taxis, the advantage of travelling by van is that you can ask the driver to stop by stores, supermarkets and other establishments. You can stop anywhere at any time since you are basically renting the van and not just paying for taxi fare. You can use this opportunity to take epic groupie pics at local landmarks and tourist spots.
Vans are especially useful when travelling with large and sensitive equipment like photography setups and large computers. Trunks and compartments might not be a safe holding area for fragile packages. Placing them inside the roomy and well-padded interior of van will make it more secure and safe.
Transportation from George Town to Phuket
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Buses$ 36.34
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Flights$ 167.62
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Vans$ 36.34
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Trains are not available
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Ferries are not available
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Taxis are not available