My wife reckons that there's a DIRECT bus service now from Phuket to Phitsanulok, ie without transiting through Bangkok. Other than this 'hearsay', she has no more details.

Anyone know of this service, and where to get more details? Thanks.

At the bus station in Phuket Town, i do not know about your destination

but you can go to Burriram direct from Phuket and there are other

direct services as well

Like to Chiang Mai, but they'll probably take the nr.1 highway, thus not passing through Phitsanulok.