How to go from Krabi International Airport to Ao Nang - By bus, Grab and taxi

Krabi Airport is the main international airport in Krabi Province, and the starting point for many Thai adventures in destinations like Ao Nang and onwards towards islands like Koh Lanta. If you’re heading to Ao Nang, you need to work out how best to get from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang based on your group size, budget, baggage and other factors.

This guide has you covered with all you need to know about travel from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang beach by bus, Grab, taxi and hire car. We’ll also talk about the Wise card, a handy tool to have to save as you spend in THB and 40+ currencies.

Can I go to Ao Nang directly from Krabi Airport?

So - how to get from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang most directly and with the least hassle? The key routes from Krabi on to Ao Nang are all by road. You can pick up an airport transfer from Krabi to Ao Nang by taxi, pre-booked car, Grab or bus. Or you can hire a car yourself - which may be an ideal solution if you’re touring within the area and want the flexibility of moving around as you please.

Here’s a summary of the key options available to go from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang.

Krabi to Ao Nang distance

The Krabi Airport to Ao Nang distance is about 26 kilometres by road. This drive can take about 45 minutes, although at peak times you may experience a bit of congestion which can slow you down.

How to go to Ao Nang from Krabi Airport?

The best way to go to Ao Nang from Krabi Airport will depend a lot on your personal preferences, the amount of luggage you’re carrying, the size of the group, and where exactly you need to be dropped off.

Getting a taxi from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang, either at the airport or by pre-booking a service, is convenient and quick - but can be more costly than other methods like Grab or bus.

The bus is pretty slow in comparison, but offers cheap ticket prices if you’re budget conscious. Check the drop off options are close to your hotel, so you’ll know there’s not too far to walk at the other end of your trip.

Finally, hiring a car is the ultimate flexibility - but the most costly options of all. Let’s explore.

Krabi Airport to Ao Nang by Airport transfer bus

There’s a shuttle bus running from Krabi airport to various destinations including Ao Nang. It’s signed within the airport, and runs from outside Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. Tickets for the standard service, operated by Pichet Transport Co, are usually about 150 THB - around 20 MYR. You can buy your tickets in the airport on arrival.

There are also private services which are more expensive and which can be booked online through third party websites.

If you choose to take the Pichet Transport Co shuttle, be aware that the buses wait until they’re full to depart. This means that although they run all day, you may still experience a wait before you get on the move. Tell the driver where you need to be dropped off when you enter the bus - the drive time is usually at least 60 minutes, but depends on the number of individual stops the driver needs to make.

Call the company for more information if you need to - or ask in the airport:

Pichet Transport Co - 082-4682426

Krabi Airport to Ao Nang by Grab

If you’d prefer to travel by private car from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang you can choose to use a ride hailing service like Grab. Grab lets you book various different car sizes, and decide on your exact drop off location - so there’s no need to walk with your baggage. Once you’ve booked your ride in the Grab app, there are instructions given to show you exactly where to meet your driver. This may not be right outside the airport, so do follow the instructions carefully, and message your driver if you’re unsure where to go.

Grab isn’t as popular in Krabi as it is in some other places - so you might find it’s trickier to get a Grab than you expect. As an alternative you can also take a taxi from the airport, or pre-book a ride with a different service. More on that next.

Krabi Airport to Ao Nang by Taxi

You can go from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang by taxi in a couple of ways. Firstly, there are taxis lined up in ranks outside Terminal 1 and 2, which you can simply approach when you arrive. Fares should be fixed, so you should not be asked to haggle. Get help from airport staff if you’re not sure which taxis to get into, or if you think the pricing is inconsistent.

Secondly, and for a bit more reassurance, Krabi airport suggests you book a private transfer with Welcome Pickups. This means you’ll set the price in advance and when you arrive your driver will be waiting for you, with a name board, outside of the arrivals area. The driver will wait even if your flight is delayed, so you know you won’t be left hanging around in the airport.

You can book Welcome Pickups conveniently through the Krabi airport website. Pricing will depend on the time, date, party size and amount of luggage. To give an idea though, at the time of research a small car to a central Ao Nang location would be about 85 MYR while a minivan was about 110 MYR. The price you end up paying will depend on the details of your trip, but if you prefer the reassurance of knowing you’ve got everything sorted in advance, this can be a good option.

The final choice to explore if you need flexibility during your trip, is to hire a car yourself. In the airport you can hire vehicles from companies including³:

• Avis
• Budget
• Europcar
• Hertz
• Sixt

Again here the pricing depends on the car you choose, the length of hire and other factors. At the time of research, for a 3 day trip you’d pay just over 300 MYR for a small car, or up to about 650 MYR for a large 7 seater.

Travel from Ao Nang to Krabi Airport

The trip from Ao Nang back to Krabi airport should work in the same way as your initial journey. If you intend to travel by bus, ask the driver when he drops you off how the pick up locations work for the return. You can also ask your hotel to help you arrange your pick up, if the service passes close by.

If you’re taking a taxi or a Grab it’s worth asking your hotel about how long the trip to the airport will take given the time of day you need to leave. You don’t want to arrive at the airport stressed and late, wiping out all of the relaxation benefits of your break!

Pay for transport, food, and shopping with the Wise card to maximise your MYR to THB conversions

During your trip to Thailand, you’ll need smart and cheap ways to make your money go further. Meet the Wise card.

You can open your Wise account online or in the Wise app to order your physical Wise card in the app for a low, one-time fee of 13.70 MYR, and receive it in about 5 working days. You’ll also get instant access to virtual Wise cards for use with Apple Pay or Google Pay. You’ll be able to add money in MYR and either convert right away to THB for spending, or let the card do the conversions for you.

In either case you get the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees. Plus, for those times when only cash will do, you can make some free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR in Thailand to get your baht for absolutely no Wise fees.

Get instant transaction notifications to your phone as you spend, top up your Wise account easily on the go, and manage your card in a few taps. No hassle, just simple, safe, and low cost spending in Thailand and 150+ other countries.

💳 Get your Wise card today

1. Welcome Pickups
2. Grab Thailand
3. Krabi car rental