Bangkok Airport To Phuket (drive)

[BWFC]

Ok I know this has been covered in other posts but they are quite dated (2006). What is the best route to take? I'm planning on stopping over for the night in Ranong. Any suggestions of other/better stop over locations would be appreciated.

I would prefer the scenic route also, time is not really an issue.

I can't fly as need to move my car to my house there so that's not an option.

Thanks in advance.

[johnyb]

Ok I know this has been covered in other posts but they are quite dated (2006). What is the best route to take? I'm planning on stopping over for the night in Ranong. Any suggestions of other/better stop over locations would be appreciated.

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I would prefer the scenic route also, time is not really an issue.

I can't fly as need to move my car to my house there so that's not an option.

you get the best map on google maps

Thanks in advance.

[BWFC]

Ok I know this has been covered in other posts but they are quite dated (2006). What is the best route to take? I'm planning on stopping over for the night in Ranong. Any suggestions of other/better stop over locations would be appreciated.

[/size]

I would prefer the scenic route also, time is not really an issue.

[/size]

I can't fly as need to move my car to my house there so that's not an option.

you get the best map on google maps

Thanks in advance.

I have been looking at that and it gives me the route on highway 4 but have read on here the best and most scenic route is 41, anybody know?

[SpaceKadet]

I have not done Chumpon-Ranong, but heard it's quite nice route with hot springs near Wat TapoTharam worth visiting. There is a resort there as well.

My scenic route has been SuratThani-TakuaPa which cuts through the central mountain ridge of the peninsula with some spectacular scenery. This route is about 100km longer than through Ranong.

The fastest route to Phuket is SuratThani-Phanom-PhangNga which is around 1000km total BKK-Phuket, doable in around 10 hours including stops.

[SpaceKadet]

Route 41 is what I'm describing in the post above. It's a good and fast road, but not particularly exciting for the 200km between Chumpon and SuratThani. Nothing really happens until you turn to 401.

[Nowhereman60]

Once you get to Chumphon at the 500 km marker you will turn right at the light and follow the highway to Ranong. It is a very scenic route as you go through the mountains and just before Ranong do stop at the waterfalls at about the 590 km marker. Glad you have time because the road has a lots of curves and slow moving trucks. Taken this route many times as I used to living in Ranong.

[jombom]

I have not done Chumpon-Ranong, but heard it's quite nice route with hot springs near Wat TapoTharam worth visiting. There is a resort there as well.

My scenic route has been SuratThani-TakuaPa which cuts through the central mountain ridge of the peninsula with some spectacular scenery. This route is about 100km longer than through Ranong.

The fastest route to Phuket is SuratThani-Phanom-PhangNga which is around 1000km total BKK-Phuket, doable in around 10 hours including stops.

Yes, agree with this.

The Ranong route is quite slow (single lane each way, most of the time). It took me 10 hours from Hua Hin. It is not particularly scenic -- don't recall any sea views, as the vegitation blocks most views.

From the airport, I would head towards BKK, then take 9 to the south, onto 35 west, then 4 south as far as Chumporn, then 41 south towards Surat Thani, and take 44 south west before reaching Surat Thani. Then back on 4 to Phuket junction.

I hope you get some sleep on the plane, because a 10 hour drive in Thailand, is quite stressful.

[BWFC]

I have not done Chumpon-Ranong, but heard it's quite nice route with hot springs near Wat TapoTharam worth visiting. There is a resort there as well.

My scenic route has been SuratThani-TakuaPa which cuts through the central mountain ridge of the peninsula with some spectacular scenery. This route is about 100km longer than through Ranong.

The fastest route to Phuket is SuratThani-Phanom-PhangNga which is around 1000km total BKK-Phuket, doable in around 10 hours including stops.

Yes, agree with this.

The Ranong route is quite slow (single lane each way, most of the time). It took me 10 hours from Hua Hin. It is not particularly scenic -- don't recall any sea views, as the vegitation blocks most views.

From the airport, I would head towards BKK, then take 9 to the south, onto 35 west, then 4 south as far as Chumporn, then 41 south towards Surat Thani, and take 44 south west before reaching Surat Thani. Then back on 4 to Phuket junction.

I hope you get some sleep on the plane, because a 10 hour drive in Thailand, is quite stressful.

I arrive the day before and will stay at the airport hotel. I am planning on splitting the drive over 2 days so hopefully it will nt be too bad.

[onnut]

which ever way you go, its a great drive and I have done it 5-6 times. I usually take the same route as JomBom, like he says: From the airport, I would head towards BKK, then take 9 to the south, onto 35 west, then 4 south as far as Chumporn, then 41 south towards Surat Thani, and take 44 south west before reaching Surat Thani. Then back on 4 to Phuket junction.

drive safe and keep your eyes open wide.

good luck

[SpaceKadet]

I have not done Chumpon-Ranong, but heard it's quite nice route with hot springs near Wat TapoTharam worth visiting. There is a resort there as well.

My scenic route has been SuratThani-TakuaPa which cuts through the central mountain ridge of the peninsula with some spectacular scenery. This route is about 100km longer than through Ranong.

The fastest route to Phuket is SuratThani-Phanom-PhangNga which is around 1000km total BKK-Phuket, doable in around 10 hours including stops.

Yes, agree with this.

The Ranong route is quite slow (single lane each way, most of the time). It took me 10 hours from Hua Hin. It is not particularly scenic -- don't recall any sea views, as the vegitation blocks most views.

From the airport, I would head towards BKK, then take 9 to the south, onto 35 west, then 4 south as far as Chumporn, then 41 south towards Surat Thani, and take 44 south west before reaching Surat Thani. Then back on 4 to Phuket junction.

I hope you get some sleep on the plane, because a 10 hour drive in Thailand, is quite stressful.

I have not tried 44, could be faster, but then you spend longer on highway 4 to PangNga which is single lane each way and always seems to be crowded.

The most scenic part is on 401 between Phanom and TakuaPa. As far as I remember there is a small resort somewhere around KhlongPanom national park.

[JAS21]

Ok I know this has been covered in other posts but they are quite dated (2006). What is the best route to take? I'm planning on stopping over for the night in Ranong. Any suggestions of other/better stop over locations would be appreciated.

We just did that last week. Stopped on the way down at Chumphon and stayed at Novotel Beach whatever..booked it direct with Accord and about 1680baht. Nice hotel, the 9-hole golf course would be ok if they cut it more often. Chumphon is a nothing to me but the foodshop opposite the hotel is ok.

We then took Route 41 and then onto Route 44, but it’s about 50Kms longer than using Route 401 and then Route 415. We used Route 415 coming back and it was fine. Make sure that you stay on 415, the newish road, else Route 4 takes you around the mountain!

[jamesjdaly]

The road from the Chumphon turn off to Ranong town is scenic but a real death trap. Be extremely careful, especially on bends.

Personally I would stay on the main highway to after the Surat Thani turn off and forget the Ranong part of route 4 altogether.

[BWFC]

Thanks for all the advice Gents.

[hkt83100]

I am planning on splitting the drive over 2 days so hopefully it will nt be too bad.

I recommend to stay overnight at Prachuap Kiri Khan, the Prachuap Beach Hotel. Easy to find, just straight into town from the highway and turn right on the beach road. Decent seafood is available at "Plien Jai Restaurant", about 7 Minutes walk north on the promenade from the hotel.

(hxxp://prachuapbeach.com @ 11° 48' 4" N, 99° 47' 59" E)