The Phuket International Airport is located on the northern side of Phuket Island, 20 miles (30km) from Phuket city centre and 36 miles (57km) from Phang Nga town. Thailand’s second-busiest airport (in terms of passenger throughput), Phuket International Airport receives regular flights from Bangkok and multiple other provincial capitals throughout the country. International flights connect with multiple destinations abroad including Beijing, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei. 

Airlines operating at Phuket International Airport include AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, China Airlines, Dragonair, Jetstar Airways, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways International. Additional discount domestic airlines include One-Two-Go and Nok Air.

A key player in Thailand’s tourism scene, the international airport at Phuket is equipped to cater for a high volume of passengers with modern, comfortable amenities. Facilities include restaurants, duty-free outlets, handicraft boutiques, an airport bar and widely-available banking and currency exchange facilities. 

From the airport, most tourists hire a taxi for the onward journey to Phang Nga city centre. There are also public buses which travel the 36 miles (57km) between the airport and the city. 

It is quite convenient to reach Phang Nga from several other cities throughout Thailand. The Thai network of railways does not provide direct access to the city, though rail passengers can disembark in Surat Thani and continue to Phang Nga via an additional two-hour bus ride. Several daily trains are scheduled between Surat Thani and Bangkok.

Perhaps more straightforward is the regular bus route from Bangkok direct to Phang Nga. Buses can be booked in a variety of classes, ranging from comfortable, air-conditioned coaches to smaller, often crowded buses outfitted with fans. These buses depart from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (Phone: +66 43 4341199).

It is also possible to arrive at Phang Nga bay via a ferry from neighbouring Krabi or Phuket. There are several privately-operated routes between Phang Nga and the Similan islands, along with numerous other routes to island destinations in Phang Nga bay or further out in the open sea of the Andaman. Phang Nga’s Tha Dan pier is located five miles south of the city centre. Star Cruises operates a commercial cruise liner that visits Phuket from Singapore.

Once on the ground in Phang Nga, local transportation to and from various sightseeing destinations is easily arranged. Songtaew, red pickup trucks that shuttle run fixed or chartered routes, can be hailed from anywhere in the city centre. When chartering a songtaew, be sure to agree on a price first. Conversely, fixed-route songtaew feature fixed prices that are inexpensive.

Tuk-tuk are more prevalent in Phuket, though you will see a few in Phang Nga. These three-wheeled motor taxis run on compressed fuel and negotiated prices that are slightly higher than that of songtaew. Able to weave in and out of traffic, tuk-tuk offer the fastest point-to-point transportation over relatively short distances.     

Metered taxis are also available from Phuket or Krabi, though they are decidedly less common in Phang Nga. Tourists may also encounter motorcycle taxis outside of the Phang Nga bus station.

In many ways, renting a car is the most reliable way of getting around the province, as many of the temples and national parks are situated in the outlying mountains and forests of the province. A hire car can be obtained from the airport, and it is usually possible to hire a chauffeur at a very competitive price. The latter option is especially attractive for tourists who haven’t had a chance to acclimate themselves to the aggressive spirit of driving on Thai motorways.