By train[edit]
East Asia: rail & bus services
There are no direct rail services to Phuket.
However, many trains leave from Bangkok's central station going south all the way to Singapore. The most comfortable are the sleeper trains (c. 685 baht for a berth in a 2nd class air-con car. Get off at Phun Phin railway station near Surat Thani and continue for another 5 hours by regular bus to Phuket. Do not buy the bus ticket until you actually see the bus and can make sure it is not standing room only as it picks up passengers at the popular Ko Samui ferry. If full, wait for the next one. See Surat Thani for more details.