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If you’re planning to travel from Krabi to Penang, we strongly recommend spending a little time researching and planning for this trip. Although Krabi is not too far from Penang (340 km in a straight line), and it is easily possible to do this journey in a single day, the journey is not as straightforward as you may expect. Taking a little time to plan and research your method of transport and the journey will help save you money, time, and stress later.
In this article, we are going to share our own experience of this journey to help you picture what it is like. We are also going to share information, including how to book prices and some of the challenges that you are likely to face on the journey. We will also help you weigh up your options to work out whether it is better to fly or to travel overland from Krabi to Penang.
Don’t forget to find an amazing place to stay in Penang. If you’re looking for a special and memorable stay check out these AMAZING Heritage Hotels in Georgetown. Alternatively, if you’re travelling on a budget then don’t miss these budget hotels in Georgetown. There are also plenty of stunning luxury hotels in Penang. You may be interested in these superlative 5 Star Hotels in Penang.
What is the best way to travel from Krabi to Penang?
1 Can you take a bus from Krabi to Penang?
Yes you can take a bus from Krabi to Penang? (or two buses to be precise) The cheapest and best way to travel from Krabi to Penang is to book a journey overland by bus. You can either book this journey online in advance or you can book with a local travel agent in Krabi. The exact price depends on who you book with. It is likely to be slightly cheaper if you book with a local tour operator in Krabi, and you’re willing to barter a little bit to get the best price. The main disadvantage of traveling from Krabi to Penang by bus is the long journey time. The bus journey can be quite tiring and challenging.
2 Can you fly from Krabi to Penang?
Yes. An alternative way to travel from Krabi to Penang is flying. There is an international airport situated in Krabi and an international airport situated in Penang. The cheapest airline on this route is AirAsia, and it is possible to find tickets for as little as £60 per person (roughly $80), plus additional fees. AirAsia is notorious for adding lots of extra fees. It is possible to avoid some of these fees by being savvy when you buy your ticket. For example, you can reject all of the additional options like meals, insurance, and seat selection. Some of the additional fees are unavoidable.
For example, if you’re traveling with large bags, expect to pay at least £30 (or $35) for a large backpack. Air Asia may also charge card processing fees when you book, which can be as much as £30 or $35. Total scam, right? So, the moral of the story is not to be tricked by apparently low ticket prices. Consider all of the add-ons and extra charges before you make a final decision.
TOP TIP: You may assume that flying is a lot quicker than traveling overland. On average, the flight time from Krabi to Penang takes around four or five hours. Remember you also need to consider journey time to the airport (around one hour), arriving at the airport at least three hours before your flight because it is an international route, and you also need to consider journey time from the airport when you arrive in Penang. The airport is situated on the south side of Penang Island in an area called Bayan Lepas, and it can take an hour or two to travel to the north of the Island.
Skyscanner – compare the cheapest flights from Krabi to Penang
3 Can you take a boat from Krabi to Penang?
Although you will see ferry trips advertised from Krabi to Penang, it is not possible to do this journey by ferry. Some websites may suggest that you can take a ferry from Krabi to Langkawi and then take a ferry from Langkawi to Penang; however, ferries are not currently running from Langkawi to Penang. Furthermore, we couldn’t find any options for direct ferries from Krabi to Langkawi, so we do not recommend trying to do this journey by ferry. If you do find up-to-date information suggesting that this journey is possible or you managed to do the journey by ferry yourself, we would love to hear from you. Please drop us a comment or an email so we can keep our information fresh and up-to-date.
4 Can you take the train from Krabi to Penang?
No. It is not possible to take a train directly from Krabi to Penang. BUT If you are determined to travel by train, you would need to take a bus from Krabi to Surat Thani (3 – 4 hours). You can then take a train from Surat Thani to Butterworth. From Butterworth (mainland), you can take a taxi or a ferry to Penang. We don’t recommend this journey. Firstly, it seems inefficient to travel all the way to Surat Thani just to get a train that doesn’t even take you to Penang Island. What’s more, the train is a night train that arrives in Surat Thani at some ungodly hour in the morning. So, this would not be a fun journey.
How long does it take to travel from Krabi to Penang overland?
The journey from Krabi to Penang overland is likely to take a minimum of 12 hours. However, if the border crossing is slow or if you run into heavy traffic during your journey, this could easily add a few more hours onto the total journey time. You are likely to be picked up around 5.30 – 6.30am and you will probably not arrive until at least 6pm.
How much does it cost to travel from Krabi to Penang by bus?
The cost of the journey from Krabi to Penang by bus depends on how you book. You may presume that paying more for your ticket means you will get a better or faster service. However, this is not the case. There is only one company that operates buses on this route, and you are likely to have a similar experience no matter how much you pay for your tickets. So, if you book with a local tour operator, we strongly recommend that you barter. The cheapest price we were quoted was 1,100 baht (£22 or $25). The highest price we were quoted was 1,500 baht per ticket (£30 or $35). If you book online in advance, it is likely to cost around £30 or $35 for this journey. Many bus booking platforms do not offer this route.
Kids need to pay for a ticket if they have their own seat. You will generally need to pay for seats for 3 years and older. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t scrimp on seats. We strongly recommend you book sufficient space for your family. This journey is an endurance at the best of times!
How do you book bus tickets to travel from Krabi to Penang?
The best way to book tickets to travel from Krabi to Penang is to book with a local tour operator in Krabi. There are lots of small tour companies offering trips, tours, and transport. They are generally open throughout the day and late into the evening. Just turn up and speak to them about the journey. You can barter for the best possible price and also ask any questions you need.
Once you are ready to commit and purchase your ticket, you will need to pay the tour operator directly, and they will take details such as your hotel contact details. They will also give you a pick-up time (usually around 5.30 am – 6.30 am). They will also give you a receipt for your booking. It can feel a little bit strange handing over a lot of money and just being given a casual scribble receipt; however, this is very normal in the area. Don’t worry; the system works fine.
If you are looking for the best price to operate in Krabi, we highly recommend Vaveewa Travel and Carrent. They have a small office located close to the long boat taxi service on Landmark Beach Ao Nang 123 Moo 3, T-Ao Nang A.Muang, Krabi, 81180. WhatsApp +66612544700 krabitourcar@gmail.com.
If possible, we recommend booking your trip a couple of days in advance. This is a relatively quiet route, so you don’t generally need to worry about tickets booking out.
Krabi to Penang Overland – What is the journey like?
1 Hotel pick up
If you travel overland from Krabi to Penang, you should be given a free hotel pickup. They will normally arrive around 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., and the hotel pickups are generally very punctual. The hotel pickup will meet you at the reception of your hotel, and they will help you load your bags into the minibus. If the minibus is empty, we recommend sitting towards the front where there is more space, and you are less likely to be affected by travel sickness.
There is plenty of space on the minibus for large backpacks and small valuable bags. The minibus itself is not particularly comfortable, but it does the job. Most minibus drivers will include several stops, and they will probably take the first stop in Krabi so you can buy some food and drinks for the journey.
2 Krabi to Hat Yai
The journey from Krabi to Hat Yai is very slow, and your driver may stop to pick locals up and run other errands along the way. The journey from Krabi to Hat Yai is around 280 km, and this section of the journey takes around 5 or 6 hours depending on the traffic and on your driver.
3 Connect to your bus (or taxi!)
Once you are in Hat Yai, your driver will stop, and you will be shown where to wait for the bus, which will take you all of the way to Georgetown in Penang. This part of the journey is unreliable, and travelers have a wide range of different experiences for the second leg of this journey.
When we did this journey, we got lucky. We were directed towards a taxi driver who took us all of the way from Hat Yai to Komtar in Penang (this is where buses should drop you off too). The journey from Hat Yai to the Malaysian border is around 60 km and takes roughly 1 hour.
4 Cross the border in to Malaysia
Once you reach the Malaysian border, you will need to start by visiting the Thailand immigration department, where you will obtain an exit stamp. The Thailand immigration is relatively efficient and well-staffed, and you shouldn’t need to wait too long at this point. We were able to leave our large bags in the car with our taxi driver, and we took our valuable bags with us.
After we exited Thailand, we returned to the taxi and drove to the Malaysian immigration arrivals department. This is actually a roadside checkpoint where they will look at your passport and give you an entry stamp. As UK citizens, we were given a visa-free 90-day stamp. The whole process at the border took around 30 minutes, and we were back on the road for the final leg of the journey.
5 Travel from the border to Penang (same vehicle)
The journey from the Malaysian border to Penang is around 156 km and can take 3 – 4 hours depending on traffic. This leg of the journey can be particularly slow. There is a main highway (AH2). The slowest and busiest part of the journey is normally the last leg as you enter Butterworth and then Cross Penang Bridge 1. This can take an hour or more in bad traffic.
6 Grab a bus or taxi to your accommodation
Whether you are arriving by bus or taxi, you should be dropped off at Komtar in Georgetown. This is one of the main transport hubs in Penang. From here, you can easily arrange taxis to your accommodation. Alternatively, Penang has a very reliable and efficient public transport system, and it is very easy to get local buses from Komtar. If you are staying in Georgetown, you may also be able to walk to your accommodation from Komtar.
Depending on your time of arrival, you can also find plenty of local food around Konta, and you can find several mobile phone shops selling Malaysian SIM cards. We recommend Digi SIM cards for the best data packages and prices.
The Grab Taxi App is widely use in Malaysia for affordable and convenient taxi rides. Find our more about using Grab in Malaysia.
