How to Get From Surat Thani Railway Station to Khao Sok: Bus, Minivan & Transfer Guide
From the overnight train to the Khao Sok jungle
The overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani is a popular way to reach Khao Sok. You sleep on the train and arrive in the morning, ready to continue to the jungle.
Surat Thani Railway Station is in Phun Phin, outside Surat Thani town. From there, you can take a minivan, a bus or a private taxi to Khao Sok village. You can also go straight to Cheow Lan Lake. This guide covers every option with prices in baht, departure times and tips for Malaysian travellers.
- Train fares on the timetable site are in US dollars. North-Vietnam.com's Bangkok to Surat Thani timetable (updated October 2026) only lists US dollar fares. I've used Visit Thailand Today's baht station prices instead.
- Minivan prices differ slightly. Thailandee and Backpackers Thailand list ฿300 from the station. Khao Sok Jungle Hostel (May 2026) says about ฿250.
- Bus prices conflict. Khao Sok Jungle Hostel says ฿120 to ฿150 from Talad Kaset bus station. Backpackers Thailand, Visit Thailand Today and GoAsia say ฿280.
- Taxi prices vary a lot. Backpackers Thailand says about ฿1,700 per car. Khao Sok Jungle Hostel says about ฿2,000. GoAsia says ฿1,340 to ฿4,290 depending on the vehicle.
- Departure times differ between sources. Thailandee, Backpackers Thailand and North-Vietnam.com give different timetables. Some minivans may wait until full. Check with the operator on the day.
- Some guides don't say whether buses leave from the station or from town. I've only listed station departures where a source clearly says so.
Quick comparison
| Option | Price | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phantip minivan or bus from the station | ฿250 to ฿300 per person | About 2 to 2.5 hours | Most travellers |
| Songthaew to Talad Kaset, then public bus | Bus ฿120 to ฿280, plus songthaew | About 2.5 to 3 hours | Tight budgets |
| Private taxi | ฿1,700 to ฿2,000 per car | About 1.5 hours | Groups and families |
| Bus to Cheow Lan Lake | ฿287 to ฿641 per person | About 1.5 hours | Going straight to a raft house |
Taking the train to Surat Thani
Book a sleeper berth so you arrive rested
North-Vietnam.com lists these morning arrivals from Bangkok on overnight trains:
| Train | Leaves Bangkok | Arrives Surat Thani |
|---|---|---|
| EX85 | 19:50 | 06:23 |
| RP173 | 20:10 | 06:46 |
| RP167 | 20:30 | 07:16 |
| SP39 | 22:50 | 07:50 |
Fares (Visit Thailand Today, station prices):
- 3rd class: ฿250
- 2nd-class air-con sleeper: about ฿700 to ฿900
- 1st-class sleeper: about ฿1,300 to ฿1,500
Khao Sok Jungle Hostel recommends a sleeper berth so you arrive rested. It says overnight trains usually arrive between 07:00 and 08:00.
Option 1: Phantip minivan or bus from the station (easiest)
Minivans to Khao Sok leave from the station car park
Phantip runs minivans and air-conditioned buses straight from the station to Khao Sok.
Where to catch it: Khao Sok Jungle Hostel says shared vans leave from the parking area just outside the station. Thailand Trains says the Phantip Travel office is in the car park in front of the station.
Price:
- Thailandee: ฿300 for the Phantip bus or minivan
- Backpackers Thailand: ฿300
- Khao Sok Jungle Hostel: about ฿250
Departures from the station (Thailandee):
- Phantip air-con bus: 07:00 and 09:30, about 2.5 hours
- Minivan: every 2 hours from 08:00 to 16:00, about 2 hours
Drop-off: The Khao Sok van station in Khlong Sok village, near the park entrance.
Good to know:
- Backpackers Thailand says minivan luggage is limited to one hand-carry bag and one suitcase under 20 inches.
- Backpackers Thailand advises against buying tickets at the Khao Sok van station. They're overpriced compared with booking online.
Option 2: songthaew + public bus (cheapest)
Take a songthaew to Talad Kaset bus station
Step 1Take a songthaew from the station to Talad Kaset bus station in Surat Thani town. Khao Sok Jungle Hostel says it takes about 20 minutes.
Step 2Take a bus heading west towards Takua Pa or Phuket. Ask the driver to stop at Khao Sok on Route 401.
Price: ฿120 to ฿150 (Khao Sok Jungle Hostel) or ฿280 (Backpackers Thailand, Visit Thailand Today and GoAsia)
Departures: Khao Sok Jungle Hostel says buses run roughly hourly from early morning to late afternoon. GoAsia lists express departures at 06:40, 09:40 and 14:00, taking about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Good to know: Backpackers Thailand says 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport buses also leave from the train station itself, at ฿280.
Option 3: private taxi
A private taxi takes about 1.5 hours
- Backpackers Thailand: about ฿1,700 per car
- Khao Sok Jungle Hostel: about ฿2,000 per car
- GoAsia: ฿1,340 to ฿4,290, depending on the vehicle
- Time: About 1.5 hours
Good to know: Split between 3 or 4 people, a taxi costs about ฿450 to ฿700 each. That's not much more than the minivan. You also go straight to your hotel.
Option 4: straight to Cheow Lan Lake
Buses from the station stop near Ratchaprapha Dam Pier
If you're heading straight to a floating raft house, you can skip Khao Sok village. Thailand Trains lists these buses from the car park in front of the station to a car park near Ratchaprapha Dam Pier:
| Operator | Leaves station | Arrives near the pier | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A and T Travel | 06:45 | 08:00 | ฿641 |
| Ramon Transport | 08:30 | 10:00 | ฿287 |
| Ramon Transport | 11:30 | 13:00 | ฿287 |
Viagotour, which runs lake day tours, also offers an 08:30 transfer from the train station. It reaches the lake at about 10:30.
Sample morning plan
06:46Arrive on train RP173.
07:00Catch the Phantip bus from the station car park.
About 09:30Arrive in Khao Sok village. Drop your bags and have breakfast.
AfternoonHike from park HQ to Wing Hin or Bang Hua Rat waterfall.
Which option should you choose?
- Easiest: Phantip minivan or bus from the station car park
- Cheapest: songthaew to Talad Kaset, then a public bus
- Groups of 3 or 4: private taxi
- Going straight to a raft house: Ramon Transport bus to Cheow Lan Lake
Tips for Malaysian travellers
- Book a sleeper berth on the overnight train.
- Pick a train that arrives before 08:00 so you can catch the early buses.
- Pack light for the minivan.
- Have breakfast before leaving or buy snacks at the station. MileHacker says halal food is rarely available in Khao Sok.
- Book ahead from November to April, when vans fill up.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Taking a train that arrives in the afternoon and missing the last minivan.
- Buying tickets at the Khao Sok van station for your return trip instead of booking ahead.
- Bringing a large suitcase on the shared minivan.
- Going to the Talad Kaset bus station when your bus actually leaves from the train station.
Sourced from Thailandee Buses from Surat Thani to Khao Sok, Khao Sok Jungle Hostel Surat Thani to Khao Sok, Backpackers Thailand Surat Thani to Khao Sok, GoAsia Surat Thani to Khao Sok, North-Vietnam.com Bangkok to Surat Thani Train, North-Vietnam.com Surat Thani to Khao Sok, Thailand Trains Surat Thani Station to Cheow Lan Lake, Visit Thailand Today Koh Samui to Bangkok, Visit Thailand Today Khao Sok Guide, Viagotour Khao Sok Lake One Day Tour and MileHacker Restaurants in Khao Sok.