For those planning on doing a tour of Thailand it is often useful to do some research into travel routes. The Khao Lak to Pattaya route is a little more difficult than others in Thailand as the 2 destinations are not joined by rail links or tourist bus links.
The journey from Khao Lak to Pattaya by road takes about 18 hours. The distance is 560 Km. It takes about 2 hours in a vehicle to get to Phuket and then on another vehicle it takes 16 hours to make it to Pattaya. Currently there is only 1 journey that can be booked online in advance.
Use this link to study travel details and book online
This route involves taking a taxi with PGS either in a 3 seat Toyota Camry or 9 seat Toyota Commuter. You can leave at your convenience but you have to arrive at Phuket Number 2 Bus Terminal before 17.00. At 17.00 Pattaya Sawadee Tour bus departs for Pattaya. It arrives the following morning in Pattaya at 8.50.
The PGS taxi link in the 3 seater vehicle is about 400 Thai Baht more expensive than taking the mini bus 9 seater option.
As of February 2016 the journey price is either 3,198 Thai Baht or 3,598 Thai Baht.
Map Showing Location of Phuket Bus Terminal 2
On Arrival
The Pattaya Sawasdee Tour bus disembarks passengers at its depot at Pattaya Sai 3 Alley, just off North Pattaya Road which is one of the main thoroughfares of the city. See the map below.
We recommend booking Pattaya accommodation in advance as you are going to be tired after a night on a bus and probably in no mood for getting round the city looking for suitable hotel.
By Air
If time is more an issue than cost than of course the quickest way to get from Khao Lak to Pattaya is to get an airplane from Phuket to Bangkok and then minibus or taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya. Bangkok Airways has 1 flight a day direct from Phuket to Pattaya that takes 1 hour 40 minutes.
