Chanthaburi - Bus Services

[Atmos]

Chanthaburi bus station is the local 'hub' offering transport north eg Sa Kaeo (Highway #317) and beyond, or Sukhumvit #3 south to Trat/Koh Chang, and north-west to Rayong/Pattaya or to Bangkok.

Link to Maps of Eastern Thailand thread

Recently we took the bus Chanthaburi to Suvarnabhumi Airport

Cost 197 baht per adult, and this included a bottle of water, a light snack, fruit juice (and on the return trip at night - a pillow and blanket)

Takes 3 hrs 15min, which includes one scheduled 15 min stop about half-way

Apart from that stop, about 5 other stops to collect/drop-off passengers

Bus doesn't go into the airport, but drops you at the station 10min away to connect with free shuttle to airport, and it continues on to Bangkok.

Note this bus does not go via Rayong, Pattaya etc, but cuts across from Klaeng on #344

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Will update with info on other services in the area.

Hoping this thread can remain as an info resource for travelers.

See also: Pong Nam Ron Immigration Office thread for travel option on getting to PNR which is the Chanthaburi area immigration office, about 40km north of the city.

Edited August 23, 2011 by Atmos

[afarang]

Actually ,a very interesting bus trip from Chan., is to Buriram, on route number 522. Now ,they run 2nd class air cons. It is a long way but goes through some interesting country. Goes via Arun., Up onto the Isarn Plateau, Take a bit of time and you can end up in Khon Kaen, Udon, Nong Khai, on to Vientiane.The 522 stops in Isarn at Nong Din Daeng, Lahansai, Nang Rong and terminates at Buriram .

Edited August 23, 2011 by afarang

[Atmos]

My partner's hometown is in Sa Kaeo province, no shortage of buses or minivans for us heading north, every hour from 5.30am, we have the option of minivan to Khao Chakan and tuktuk from there, or else bus to Sa Kaeo town and local bus from there. Last time I took the 6am minivan, at that hour was mainly schoolteachers heading off to work - a long day for them one had a 1 1/2 hour commute to/from her school each day.

Buses leave from Sa Kaeo in many directions, another 'hub'. Often we go that way either to or from the airport if we want to include a stop-off at the farm for a couple of days, then bus to Chachoengsao and 40min minivan from there. For morning flights it involves a night at Chachoengsao, Grand Royal Plaza has seen better days (not so 'grand' now) but is fine for 600b/night.

Sa Kaeo is also on the rail line Bangkok - Aranyaprathet, there are two trains per day - on my 'to do' list one day.

All part of the adventure.

[afarang]

Interesting train trip. I have done it many times, in the '70's and 80's ,before much of the area industrialised. WAs a gentle ,slow, very cheap 3rd class train.Went once in the late 90's , amazing changes. Couldn't believe the development. Nice trip., indeed