How to Get Around Thailand in 2026
Book flights and long-distance transport on 12Go Asia, use Grab for local trips, and pre-book your airport transfer before you land. It is much easier than people expect.
Getting around Thailand is much easier than most people expect. Once you know the basics you will be moving around this country like a pro.
I have been living in Phuket and travelling across Thailand for a while now, and these are the five things I always tell people before they arrive.
✈️ Flights between cities
For long distances, domestic flights are your best friend. Airlines like AirAsia, Bangkok Airways and Nok Air fly between the major hubs, and if you book in advance the prices are genuinely low.
Bangkok to Phuket, Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bangkok to Koh Samui. These routes run multiple times a day and a one-way ticket booked a few weeks ahead can cost very little.
I always search on 12Go Asia because it pulls together every airline and every route in one place. No hunting across five different booking sites.
🚂 Trains and buses for scenic routes
For shorter distances, or when you actually want to enjoy the journey, the trains and buses are brilliant.
The overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is one of the best travel experiences in the whole country. You board in the evening, wake up in the mountains, and skip a night of accommodation at the same time. I always recommend it to first-time visitors.
Buses cover routes the trains do not reach, and for a lot of journeys they are faster. Both can be booked on 12Go Asia alongside flights and ferries so you can compare everything before you commit.
⛵ Ferries to the islands
Thailand's islands are some of the most beautiful places on earth, and the ferry network that connects them is affordable, reliable and easy to navigate once you know where to book.
Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, Phuket to Krabi. All of these routes run daily and the crossings are part of the experience.
For speedboat tours and island day trips, I book through GetYourGuide. The range of options is huge and you can filter by destination, activity type and budget.
🛺 Grab for local transport
Once you are at your destination, forget about haggling with tuk tuk drivers. Download Grab.
Grab is Southeast Asia's answer to Uber. Fixed price upfront, route tracked, driver rated. It works in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and most tourist areas across the country. I use it every single day here in Phuket. It saves time, saves arguments, and makes travelling solo feel completely stress-free.
🚐 Pre-book your airport transfer
The very first thing you need when you land in Thailand is a transfer from the airport to your hotel. Do not try to sort this on arrival when you are tired and disorientated.
Pre-book before you fly. A professional driver will be waiting for you the moment you walk through arrivals, name on a sign, fixed price already paid.
I recommend Welcome Pickups for private transfers. They operate across Thailand's main airports and the booking process takes about two minutes.
📱 Before you land: two things to sort
None of these apps and platforms work without data on your phone. Before you travel, get an eSIM sorted. Airalo offers affordable Thailand and Asia-wide plans that activate the second your plane lands. Takes less than ten minutes to set up at home.
Also get a Wise card in your wallet. Every time you pay for transport, food or accommodation in Thailand you save money on bank fees. Both are free to set up and both will pay for themselves within your first day.
Join the free community
Planning a trip to Thailand or already on the ground? Come and join the free Solo Travel Thailand community at Skool. Real travellers, honest tips, no fluff.
Happy Travels! ✈️🇹🇭