Best way to get a direct transfer from Surat Thani to Khao Sok (Thailand)?

Hi everyone,

I’m heading to Thailand in February 2025 with my family (my partner and two kids), and we’ll be spending a few days in Khao Sok.

I plan to fly into Surat Thani Airport from Bangkok, but I haven’t booked the flight yet because I can’t find clear, up-to-date info on transportation between the airport and Khao Sok village (we’re staying at Green Mountain View).

If possible, I’d love to find a direct transfer that doesn’t require going through Surat Thani city.

The site https://12go.asia/ has a lot of options, but I’ll admit it’s pretty confusing—especially since I’m not sure which arrival time to pick:



Then there’s a mix of taxi and minivan offers, some with schedules, some without, and some that don’t even match the destination I chose. It’s all a bit overwhelming!

I’ve also read that Phantip Travel offers cheap transfers, but their website doesn’t list Khao Sok as a destination when you select Surat Thani Airport.

Basically, I just want to play it safe—book the right flight with a schedule that makes it easy to get to Khao Sok without any hassle...

Has anyone had a recent experience like this? Thanks so much!

If no one answers, just know that you can calmly play the competition between different taxis at the airport. You should be able to find one for around 2000 baht, a bit more if you need a larger vehicle.

Hi there, I did this trip in 2023 but in the opposite direction (Khao Sok to Surat Airport) by minivan. I think it should work the same way the other way around. You’ll need to look for a bus or van at Surat Thani Airport heading toward Phuket—there are plenty of them. Try to arrive at the airport in the morning so you don’t get stuck. Ask the driver to drop you off at Khao Sok. Just a heads-up: they’ll stop on the main road about 1 km from Khao Sok, and you’ll have to walk that last bit to your hotel. There’s a taxi at the stop, but they’ll charge you an outrageous price. When leaving Khao Sok, all the local hotels can book transfers for you.

Thanks for your replies. Arriving in the morning... yeah, I guess that makes things easier, but flight prices are way higher (double or even more!). Someone mentioned using "Grab"; it seems reliable, but what do you think?

Flying taxis aren’t an option for this route just yet—though some regular taxis might as well be thieves. 🙂

Depending on where you are, download the Grab or Bolt app. But if you arrive somewhere with a bunch of taxis waiting for customers, try to play them against each other—or at least make sure *they* don’t play *you*.

Grab and Bolt seem reliable, but I’ve never tried them for a long distance. I just checked Phantip Travel. I see they have frequent shuttles between Surat Thani Airport and their city office in Surat for 100 THB per person. Then they have minivans to Khao Sok almost every hour for 300 THB, with drop-off on the main road about 1 km from Khao Sok, as I mentioned. Seems like a good option and really affordable too.

Note that for minivans, you pay for an extra seat for your luggage. They often had the bad habit of driving like maniacs, with drivers who weren’t always entirely with it. Mind you, I’m just saying that—we took them several times and always arrived in one piece. And relieved to get out of them. If you get the chance, let us know if things have improved?

Thanks for your replies, I think I’ll just relax a bit and see how things go once I’m there! I get the feeling there are plenty of options and you can figure it out on the spot. Thanks so much! !

Once you've made the transfer from Surat Thani to Khao Sok, feel free to share a quick recap of your experience to help out fellow travelers. 🤪😀

No worries Ostine, I’m counting on it! 😊

Hi, I made this trip in July, there were three of us, and no problem—there were taxis waiting at the exit with signs. The advertised price was 1,800 baht, and I negotiated it down to 1,600 baht. The taxi was perfect—it drops you right at your hotel

Awesome, thanks Stéphane, that’s reassuring. I hope taxis can take 4 passengers without any issue (one person in the front seat).

A big taxi, then 😉 Unless you don’t have any luggage.

I don’t know if you’ve found a solution to your problem yet, but have you checked with your hotel in Khao Sok to see if they can arrange the transfer for you? Lots of hotels in Khao Lak offer this transfer for guests arriving at Phuket airport.