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 | $40.01 | |
TransBaanTon | Van + Bus | 04:30 | 16:15 | $40.01 | |
KST Travel | Van + Van | 05:00 | 19:00 | $33.34 | |
New Asian Travel | Van or Bus | 05:00 | 16:00 | $28.27 | |
New Asian Travel | Van or Bus | 08:00 | 19:00 | $30.73 | |
New Asian Travel | Van or Bus | 12:00 | 23:00 | $29.50 |
How to get from George Town to Phuket by van
Vans are a faster alternative to buses; vans usually offer more scheduled departures than buses or other means of transport over the same route; vans may serve the routes not served by buses, trains, or flights. What other reasons do you need to opt for a van? Ah! Very often, they are much more affordable than any other means of transport. Van from George Town to Phuket departs regularly according to the schedule and is a decent option to get to your destination at a reasonable price. Now van tickets can be booked online what makes planning of your trip more convenient. Before you book your van ticket, remember to read other travellers’ reviews on your operator’s service to ensure it meets your expectations.
Currently the following operators can help you to travel from George Town to Phuket by van: .
How far is George Town from Phuket?
George Town sits 3117 km from Phuket.
How long does it take to get from George Town to Phuket by van?
Vans cover the distance between George Town and Phuket in 11h – 14h hours. Do note that though vans usually stick to their schedule, your journey can take longer if traffic is excessive or the weather is bad. The worst periods in the sense of violation of the timetable is long weekends, national holidays, school vacations and peak season. With roads stuck with traffic do expect delays. Stormy weather with heavy rains or snowfalls can also cause your arrival time to change. Yet in general you can rely on the timing declared by the operator.
The fastest service on this route is provided by New Asian Travel. KST Travel’s vans travel slower than others.
How much does it cost to get from George Town to Phuket by van?
Opposite to, say, buses, normally vans do not offer a great variety in the sense of ticket class hence the price of the ticket is the same for all seats in a van. Note that some seats offer more comfort during the ride. E.g. in some vans the passenger seat by the driver is also available. If you are lucky enough to get it, you may have more space and definitely a better view there. Similarly, in some vans seats in the back row may be a disappointment as they do not recline due to the trunk filled with travellers’ luggage.
To hop onto a van between George Town and Phuket expect to pay from USD 37.13 to USD 39.34. The more convenient the ride, the more you pay – either for extra space or for less stops enroute. TransBaanTon is the cheapest operator on the route while New Asian Travel is the most expensive one.
Travelling by van essentials
- Ensure to check carefully from where your van departs. In many cases vans are stationed not at the city main bus station but elsewhere. Individual van operators may have their own van stops located anywhere, and one and the same operator may sell tickets to their vans from different stops. If you are planning a bus-van connection, be sure you understand where to catch your van as it is easy to assume that vans leave from the same station where buses arrive. No, it is not necessarily so!
- There are different types of vans accommodating from 9 to 15 or more passengers. While on certain routes you have no alternative, on others you can choose. The rule of thumb – fewer seats mean more leg space and more comfort. As well as more money for your ticket. But this is probably the case when it is worth investing into your seat a bit more.
- Vans accommodating more passengers are often cramped and do not provide any additional space for your luggage. In many cases your ticket will include only one piece of luggage, often with limited weight. If you travel with huge suitcases or backpacks you may want – or even need – to buy an extra seat for your luggage. Before booking an extra seat for your luggage though do check with the operator if they allow it. If you did buy a separate seat for your luggage, and the driver during the way tries to pick up an extra passenger to put on a “vacant” seat, insist on right to use it as you paid for it.
- There are obviously no on board toilets in vans but if your journey lasts over two or three hours there will normally be one or more bathroom stop(s) enroute. During the bathroom stop, take a note of your van number plate when you get off. It will make it easier for you to find the van among similar vehicles and in an unhappy case (hypothetically!) of van leaving without you, you can at least report it to the operator.
- Van drivers are notorious for their driving style. Though many companies enforce strict speed limits on their vehicles they are often not observed. This is probably a major downside of van travel in some countries. Anyway, if speed limits are violated do not be shy to ask the driver to go slower. Normally there will be an information plate with the telephone numbers to call if your driver violates traffic rules – report each such case without hesitation. Also, do leave your review if not satisfied with the service to warn other travellers.
- It is compulsory to use belts for all the van passengers. Even if your driver does not insist on it, use the belt for your own safety. Belts are sometimes fixed behind your seat – do not hesitate to release them and use as they are intended to be used.
- Many vans do not have scheduled departures but depart when full. Sometimes waiting periods can be long, especially if you happen to come immediately after the previous van has departed or just in the end of the day when there are not so many passengers. Always make sure you understand whether your ticket is for a scheduled trip or otherwise. Normally operators who allow online booking of their tickets, provide scheduled service meaning your van will depart on time no matter how many passengers show up for the trip.
Transportation from George Town to Phuket
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Buses$ 36.14
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Flights$ 166.70
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Vans$ 36.14
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Trains are not available
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Ferries are not available
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Taxis are not available