A programme with several stops is only as smooth as the legs between them, and Thailand now has two more ground options. Since 9 September 2026, the state coach operator, The Transport Co. Ltd. (BKS), has run an overnight coach from Bangkok to Thap Lamu pier in Phang Nga and a daily bus from Udon Thani to Vientiane in Laos that calls at Udon Thani International Airport. Our Thailand team sets out every timing in its briefing on the new BKS routes. This note looks at where the two routes sit in a wider itinerary.
Why the Legs Between Stops Matter
Every internal flight in a programme brings an airport check-in, a baggage allowance and a transfer at each end. For a small party, a scheduled coach can replace that chain with a single seat, and an overnight departure also removes a hotel night. The trade-off is time on the road, so the choice depends on who is travelling.
Bangkok to the Andaman Piers
The coach leaves Bangkok's Mo Chit 2 terminal at 18:35 and Thap Lamu pier at 17:00, once a day each way. It covers 797 kilometres in 24-seat first-class VIP coaches, calling at towns including Hua Hin, Ranong and Khao Lak. Thap Lamu is the main pier for the Similan and Surin islands, but the boat is a separate booking. Both marine parks close from 15 May each year, and their reopening is reported for mid-October, so confirm the first operating day before you sell an early-season date.
Udon Thani Airport to Vientiane
The second route runs 87 kilometres in 40-seat air-conditioned second-class buses. It leaves Udon Thani Bus Terminal 1 at 09:00, calls at the airport at 09:30 and reaches Vientiane at noon. The return leaves Vientiane at 14:00 and reaches the airport at 16:30.
The airport call is what makes it useful: a client landing in Udon Thani in the morning can be in the Lao capital the same day. Laos is not one of our four destinations, but a Thailand and Laos twin-centre is now simpler to route. Each passenger needs a valid passport and must meet Laos's entry rules, and coming back means a fresh entry into Thailand under the rules for their nationality.
Coach, Private Vehicle or Flight?
A scheduled coach suits budget-minded FITs, small parties and divers heading for Khao Lak, where the Andaman coach stops before the pier. Premium clients and larger groups are still better served by a private vehicle that leaves when they are ready and carries their luggage without a shared hold. BKS also plans routes from Loei to Luang Prabang and from Bangkok to Phuket via Phuket airport, with no start date announced.
Planning Notes
Treat both routes as new: reconfirm the timings before ticketing and hold a fallback in case a departure is full or changed. An overnight coach delivers tired passengers, so book the first hotel night from arrival or arrange an early check-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the new BKS coach routes start?
On 9 September 2026. Further routes to Luang Prabang and Phuket are planned, with no start date announced.
Does the Andaman coach include the boat to the Similan Islands?
No. The coach ends at Thap Lamu pier and the boat is booked separately. The parks reopen in mid-October, according to reports.
Can clients reach Vientiane on the day they land in Udon Thani?
Yes, if they land in the morning. The bus calls at Udon Thani airport at 09:30 and reaches Vientiane at noon.
Is a coach right for a group?
For small, budget-minded parties it can be. Larger and premium groups are usually better served by a private vehicle.
Where Explera Fits
We plan the legs between stops as carefully as the stops themselves, in all four destinations.
Write to b2b@expleradmc.com or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341). Explera Thailand holds TAT licence No. 14/05119.
