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[damian]

About to embark on a road trip from Bangkok to Phuket. Which way do you think is best; Highway 4 all the way (Via Ranong) or Highways 4, 41, 401 and 415 (Via Phang-Nga) in terms of:

Road quality;
Time; and
Interest/Scenery.

Cheers

[stevenl]

damian, on 2008-02-26 10:09:15, said:

About to embark on a road trip from Bangkok to Phuket. Which way do you think is best; Highway 4 all the way (Via Ranong) or Highways 4, 41, 401 and 415 (Via Phang-Nga) in terms of:

Road quality;
Time; and
Interest/Scenery.

Cheers

Road quality and time: Phang Nga, scenery: Raong, although on the Phang Nga part there are some impressive rock formations. When I do this trip in the interest of speed I always do this at night, so can not admire the surroundings.

[LivinLOS]

Phang Nga is much quicker IMO..

Dont take the first surat turning on the Krabi road either (unless your drive really slow on open roads) as about 20kms on theres a ruler straight dual carriageway thats safe to drive at pace along..

[LivinginKata]

Scenery - exit right at Chumpon, and go via Ranang.

Speed/safety - straight past Surat Thani (don't take the Phang-nga right exit), go on another 20 km and take the Krabi road. Ruler straight & high speed for about 150 kms (only one gas station that's hard to find, so gas up at Surat area, then right to Phang-nga, and onto Phuket.)

[Kan Win]

damian, on 2008-02-26 10:09:15, said:

About to embark on a road trip from Bangkok to Phuket. Which way do you think is best; Highway 4 all the way (Via Ranong) or Highways 4, 41, 401 and 415 (Via Phang-Nga) in terms of:

Road quality;
Time; and
Interest/Scenery.

Cheers

LivinLOS, on 2008-02-26 12:41:27, said:

Phang Nga is much quicker IMO..

Don't take the first Surat turning on to the Krabi road either (unless your drive really slow on open roads) as about 20kms on theres a ruler straight dual carriageway thats safe to drive at pace along..

Good post "LivinLOS"

This is the No. 44 Road that joins the Krabi - Phuket road.

Drove that one this month 130-150 kms per hour, nice and "Scenery" near the end of this road. Only problem fill your tank up near Surat as there is not petrol station on "No. 44 Road".

Kan Win

LivinginKata, on 2008-02-26 13:17:53, said:

Scenery - exit right at Chumpon, and go via Ranang.






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Speed/safety - straight past Surat Thani (don't take the Phang-nga right exit), go on another 20 km and take the Krabi road. Ruler straight & high speed for about 150 kms (only one gas station that's hard to find, so gas up at Surat area, then right to Phang-nga, and onto Phuket.)

Quote

Road quality; "Via Ranong" been up and down once, not for me, thank you.
Time; too long fighting all the tarffic, but for an over-night "stop-over" in Ranong and visit the 3 or 4 waterfalls along the road









and the "Hot Springs", then great, do it.

Ranong Mountain View





You could then along this road pass Khao Lak 100 kms north of Phuket.........

May I also add "LivinginKata"

As mentioned above No. 44 Road "Speed/safety" with "Interest/Scenery" once you near the Krabi - Phuket T-Junction and then towards Phuket.

Having said all that with your help "LivinLOS" and "LivinginKata" I have travelled the 415 many a time and found it easy to drive along before 3.30 pm as school is out about that time so care should be taken during week days.

To the OP

Road quality;
Time; and
Interest/Scenery.

Should you have time in hand do all of them, I did.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[damian]

Thanks to all for the great info.

We leave tomorrow and will take the Krabi road option.

We will be living in Phuket so I reckon we will have plenty of opportunities to see the other areas over time.

Again thanks for the info.

[LivinLOS]

The Krabi road (either the 44 or the 415 options) still take you through some very nice scenery in the Phang Nga region with large limestone rock formations.. Its not an unpleasant drive either way IMO.

[stevenl]

Quote

Dont take the first surat turning on the Krabi road either (unless your drive really slow on open roads)

So the one not to take is the exit to the left with the gasoline station just on the corner?

[LivinLOS]

Yes I go past that.. Its a winding slower road most of which is just 2 lane..

I tend to drive fast only where the road allows and the 44 is a ruler straight 4 lane road where its pretty safe to whiz along at 150+ kind of speeds.. visibility for miles and almost no traffic.

It feels quite a long way past but its been a time saver every time.. I guess its a further 20 - 25kms to the 44..

[stevenl]

Thanks.

Quite often when I go there I drive at night, and don't mind taking the 2-lane road, I can still drive 110-120 almost continously.

But I think one of these days I will be there at a not so good time, so will give the 'new road' a go.

Edited by stevenl, 2008-03-01 18:13:45.