Thailand has a comprehensive network of both non-airconditioned and air-conditioned coaches which covers the whole country. This is probably the cheapest, if not the quickest, way to travel between towns. This is especially true if use is made of the overnight services where food is provided at rest stops on longer journeys.
Non-air conditioned busses travel many routes but are not recommended unless you are a hardened traveller who wishes to experience life the way many of the locals do. Air-conditioned buses are generally newer and more comfortable, with VIP 24-seat buses available on many routes. Typically, the cost for these will be 600 baht (about 10 UK pounds) for a single journey either from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or to Phuket. The journey time is typically 10-12 hours for these routes and, while this is decreasing as road improvements are made, there are frequent breakdowns, accidents or general problems with the roads, especially in the rainy season, that can cause significant delays.
Advance booking is recommended on popular routes (e.g. Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui) and around the time of Thai festivals.
There are three major bus stations in Bangkok:
Ekami bus station (Sukhumvit Soi 40) for Pattaya and the South East
Northern bus station (Phahonyothin Road) for the North and Northeast (e.g.Chiang Mai and Udon Thani)
Southern bus station (Pinklao-Nakorn Chai Sri Road) for the South (e.g. Phuket and Koh Samui)
Note that coach services which serve Koh Samui will generally include the cost of the ferry crossing to the Island within the ticket price, although this may mean changing coach at Surat Thani.
Updated 3rd May 1999