Thailand Home > Travel and Transport > Provincial Bus Travel
Provincial Bus Travel in Thailand
Often quicker than travel by train, domestic bus travel allows easy access to every part of Thailand , with bus travel being the transportation of choice by most people. Bus travel allows access to parts of Thailand where the railway does not go, such as the smaller towns and many provinces in Thailand and even major tourist destinations such as Krabi and Phuket.
Every town in Thailand has a bus terminal where you can purchase bus tickets usually on the day but during Thai national holidays it is advised to buy some days in advance. Buses depart usually every hour from early morning, around 6:00 am to late at night, around 10:00 pm depending on the route. Long distance bus routes leave in the morning on late evening for the convenience of arrival times, and with popular Thailand destinations buses may leave as often as every half and hour.
For overnight journeys and long distance travel the bus will stop off at one main area where you can get out and stretch your legs for 30 minutes, or use the toilet (usually a charge of 3 baht is applied). There is a toilet onboard these buses but they can be a bit tight and cramped and you may prefer to wait. At these stops you can also grab a quick bite to eat and you'll find a selection of simple rice dishes and noodles available here as well as shops to stock up on snacks.
For long distance Thailand bus travel you can choose between air conditioned and non air conditioned buses, though for bus travel between the smaller provinces you may find only non conditioned buses are available. All large items of luggage should be placed in the luggage compartment under the bus seating area, though you can take hand luggage onboard.
There is a range of prices for Thailand 's domestic bus travel, depending on how comfortable you wish to make your journey. The higher cost tickets are for the VIP and first class bus services which have more comfortable seats and more legroom than the basic government buses; these will also provide some snacks though it is generally just a small box of cookies and nothing too special. In Thailand all bus travel companies including the government supply some water for their passengers, and again on the VIP and first class buses you will often get the options for coke or fruit juice as well. On all overnight bus journeys blankets are provided and it is worthwhile to take some warm clothes on board as the air conditioned buses can get cold at night.
Many of Thailand 's private bus companies offer VIP services with the bus picking you up outside their main offices though they will often pass through the bus terminals as well. For those travelling to island destinations by bus you can purchase both bus and boat tickets combined at travel agents for ease of travel.
|
