Travelling Around Thailand by Bus: Routes, Booking Tips and Advice

Thailand is a large country, with journeys from Bangkok to its northern or southernmost cities taking well over ten hours. While many visitors choose to fly, those on a longer holiday—or anyone living in the Land of Smiles—may prefer the slower, cheaper and often more interesting option of travelling by bus. Here's what you need to know before setting off.

Bangkok Buses

Surprisingly, Bangkok is the only Thai city with a large, organised public bus network similar to those found in many Western cities. Travelling around the capital can be a slow business, but ideal for those with lots of time who want to see new places as they travel. 

There is a designated website that lists all the routes and provides information, and the Viabus App, providing real-time information (hyperlink) for many services.

Other Thai Cities

Other cities have fleets of songthaews - adapted pickup trucks, featuring a roof and two rows of bench seating in the back – or minibus services that carry passengers along the routes. It is not easy to get information about the routes or times. Services often operate on an informal timetable, so buses and songthaews usually arrive when they arrive rather than at fixed published times.

Mo Chit (Chatuchak) Bus Terminal

Journeys from Bangkok

The Main Terminals

Bangkok has three main bus stations. Ekkamai Bus Terminal, which has its own BTS sky train station nearby on Sukhumvit Road, serves buses and minibuses heading to the eastern Thai provinces and a few other spots closer to Bangkok. It serves the likes of Pattaya and other seaside towns, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.

The Southern Bus Terminal – also called Sai Tai Mai- is for, as the name suggests, southern destinations as well as those to the west of the capital, like Kanchanburi and Hua Hin. Long-distance services to the south, such as Hat Yai, Surat Thani, and Krabi, set off from there. This is where I caught my bus to Phuket. The terminal is a long way west of the city and needs a taxi or local bus service to get there.

While many journeys are long and often overnight, paying a little extra for a VIP coach makes the experience much more comfortable. These feature reclining seats and often include a food voucher or a meal. I would recommend such a journey if you have enough spare time.

Mo Chit Bus Station - sometimes called Chatuchak - is located on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road in Bangkok's Chatuchak District, near Queen Sirikit Park. This is the main departure point for northern Thailand destinations like Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. It also serves the northeast region of Isan and its cities like Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani.

Those wishing to travel around Isan might wish to choose Sanguanchai Ubon, whose service from Ubon to Nong Khai, calling at Sisaket, Surin, Roi Et, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, is extremely useful. My friends and I have used this operator several times and found it reliable, comfortable and excellent value.

Nakhon Chai Air - First Class

Alternatives

While the three terminals mentioned carry the bulk of passengers, there are other options with operators providing services leaving from elsewhere. Speaking from experience, Nakhon Chai Air is an excellent alternative, with some of their coaches being the height of luxury.

My mate Steve and I took the Gold Class from their depot near Mo Chit to Buriram and were astonished at what we received for the fare of around 500 THB (£11) for the 6-hour journey. Like most services, there was a complimentary bottle of water. We were given a food voucher for the 30-minute break. 

However, the highlight was during the journey. Our seats even included built-in massage functions, and the small LCD screen showed movies and other entertainment.

For anyone arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport and wanting to head straight to Pattaya, Jomtien or Hua Hin, there is a superb service available when booking at the office on Level 1 at the terminal. The fares for Pattaya and neighbouring Jomtien are around 150 THB, while the price for the seaside city further afield is 350 THB. The destinations have a service nearly every hour.

Alongside the ticket counter at the airport are other options, such as the services to Koh Chang and Koh Kood.

The Small Bus to Kanchanaburi

Minibus and Smaller Bus Services

Mo Chit also has a dedicated minibus station across the road, and underneath the highway from the bus depot. It offers services to lots of towns and cities within 3 hours away. It has lots of shops for provisions before setting off and an information point where staff show you to the ticket desks you require. The Thai Olt website provides excellent pointers.

How to Book Journeys?

Apart from the links throughout this article, several websites can help. If I’m honest, there isn’t one that covers everything. It means that research and checking out individual sites and even asking questions on local Facebook groups is required, although it is always wise to double-and triple-check.

I ask my wife to telephone the bus terminal of the town where I want to go to find out what time the last buses return to avoid being stranded. Whenever I visit somewhere new and have some spare time, I often pop into the local bus station and photograph destination boards and ticket offices and later use the Google Translate tool if they are written in Thai. It might sound a little obsessive, but it gives me plenty of future travel ideas and removes a lot of uncertainty when planning trips.

Bus Online Ticket is as good as any website I’ve found apart from those of the operators. Others that promise to offer x number of options often don’t scratch the surface and can be extremely frustrating to use. 

Another site I have bookmarked is the Bus Station Guides section of Thailand Travel Guide. I like that it covers many provincial destinations not found elsewhere, and lists the terminal's facilities, its location, ticket desks, and main destinations. 

Bangkok to Chiang Mai Bus

Advice Before Travelling

My best tip is to take water, as while some is given free, it’s always wise to remain hydrated. Pack some tissues. Long-distance buses have a tiny bathroom, but they might be short of essentials. The same can be true when stopping along the way. I would take some snacks such as energy bars, something to read, and forms of entertainment. 

Be aware that not all buses have charging points. Taking a power bank is a good idea. Keep a light jacket or hoodie close to hand. Thai coaches are often heavily air-conditioned, especially on overnight services. Every traveller learns this eventually! If you want to sleep, you might like to pack some ear defenders or eye coverings.

My View

Travelling by bus around Thailand isn't always the quickest way to reach your destination, but it can become part of the adventure. It's inexpensive, offers a chance to enjoy the changing scenery, and overnight journeys can even save the cost of a hotel room. If you aren't in a rush, I'd thoroughly recommend giving it a try.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bangkok bus station should I use?

Mo Chit – Northern Thailand and Isan
Ekkamai – Pattaya, Rayong, Trat and eastern Thailand
Sai Tai Mai – Southern and western Thailand

Can tourists book bus tickets online?

Yes. Many operators allow online booking through their own websites, while booking portals such as Bus Online Ticket list services from numerous companies. It's still worth checking the operator's own website, as not every route appears on comparison sites.

Are overnight buses comfortable?

VIP coaches usually have wider reclining seats, blankets, refreshments and scheduled comfort breaks. They're well worth paying a little extra for on longer journeys.

Is travelling by bus in Thailand safe?

In my experience, yes. I have travelled extensively by bus throughout Thailand without problems. As with any form of travel, keep valuables with you, remain aware of your surroundings, and use reputable operators where possible.

Thanks for reading.

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