You can choose a few options for inter-city travel in Thailand: minivans, buses, trains, and domestic flights. Buses and trains in Thailand are common for long routes like Bangkok to Hat Yai, or you can easily find big buses for more popular routes like Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai.
As for the shorter routes that take less than 4 (four) hours like Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak, traveling by minivans is more common. Among many routes available for minivans, Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin is one of them.
While the route is quite popular for tourists, it seems like not that many people travel to Hua Hin from Kanchanaburi, so the demand is not very high for them to make the bus available for this route. In this post, I'm going to share some insights about traveling by minivan from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin, from the bus options, schedule, and the overall review of my experience of taking the Kanchanaburi-Hua Hin bus.
My partner and I decided to stay overnight in Kanchanaburi at the last minute we planned our trip to Thailand, so after some consideration we agreed to take the bus from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin instead of taking the train from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok.
While we booked all of our accommodations in advance, we basically winged everything when it came to transportation in Thailand. And that's what we did when we bought the ticket for the minivan from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin.
The issue is that on our last night in Kanchanaburi, we actually went to Kanchanaburi bus terminal to book the ticket for the next day. The issue is that we couldn't find the ticket online, even on the 12Go website so we just wanted to make sure that the route was available then. However, the ticket counter was closed, so we ended up just having dinner at the cafe nearby.
Bus Schedule From Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin
Kanchanaburi bus terminal.
Although we returned to our accommodation in Kanchanaburi empty-handed, the decision to go to the bus terminal then was quite helpful since we got to ask about the bus availability the next day. We met staff at the bus terminal who told us to come back the next day and buy a go-show ticket at around 9 AM.
While he didn't know for sure about the schedule for the bus from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin, he said that the bus with that route usually departs at around 9 or 10 AM. So we kept it in mind, and we checked out from Tara Raft Guesthouse at 8 AM the next day.
Although we returned to our accommodation in Kanchanaburi empty-handed, the decision to go to the bus terminal then was quite helpful since we got to ask about the bus availability the next day. We met staff at the bus terminal who told us to come back the next day and buy a go-show ticket at around 9 AM.
While he didn't know for sure about the schedule for the bus from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin, he said that the bus with that route usually departs at around 9 or 10 AM. So we kept it in mind, and we checked out from Tara Raft Guesthouse at 8 AM the next day.
As we checked, it seems like they do have daily bus departure from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin starting from 6 AM. The minivan departs from Kanchanaburi every 1.5 hour, with the last departure at 4.30 PM.
Where to Buy a Bus Ticket From Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin
While typically you can book the bus ticket online via booking apps like 12Go, you may face some glitches as it happened when we were in Kanchanaburi looking to buy a bus ticket to Hua Hin.
When it happened, you can always buy a go-show ticket at Kanchanaburi bus terminal. Each ticket counter has a number, and they offer tickets for different routes. For the minivan from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin, you can book or buy the ticket at counter number A7.
As of February 2023, the bus ticket from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin costs 220 THB (around $6 USD) per person, so we paid 440 THB for two pax in total. We took the minivan from Kanchanaburi at 10.30 AM, and we departed a bit later than scheduled.
The layout of the minivan and everything was pretty much the same as the one we took from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak. And they occasionally stopped to pick up a new passenger too, although it wasn't as frequent as the latter.
Review: Traveling by Bus From Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin
In this section, I'm going to share my experience of traveling from Kanchanaburi bus terminal to Hua Hin, including recommendations of where to eat close to the bus station in Kanchanaburi and my verdict of traveling by minibus from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin. So, here we go!
Where to Eat Near Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal
We arrived at Kanchanaburi bus terminal at around 8.30 AM, and when we went to the ticket counter, they said that their next departure was at 10.30 AM so we had a couple of hours to wait for the next bus.
Bus station in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
The good news is that there are so many eateries that you can find around the bus station in Kanchanaburi. Whether you want to grab some snacks at some available kiosks in the terminal building, or you can also go outside and you'll never run out of options around the bus station.
One of the biggest bakeries in Kanchanaburi, Srifah Bakery, is located next to the bus terminal so you can walk for barely 3 minutes to grab something to eat. As my boyfriend and I had dinner at Rin Rin Cafe on the previous night, we checked there to see if it was open but it wasn't when we waited for our bus.
However, if you got a chance to travel from Kanchanaburi bus station and you're looking for a place to eat in the afternoon to night, I'd highly recommend this Rin Rin Cafe. A Japanese-themed cafe with the best Thai tea that I've ever had so far!
What You Need to Know About Traveling by Minivan From Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin
The minivan from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin is no different than the one we took from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak, although it seems like organizing the bags in the trunk took some time before the bus departure since most passengers brought their suitcases and big bags for the trip.
The bus journey itself wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. It took around 3 hours from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin, and we arrived at around 1.30 PM. The departure was quite smooth, but there are some things you need to consider before traveling to Hua Hin from Kanchanaburi by bus.
Traveling by Minivan From Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin
Don't expect luxury if you decide to take the minivan from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin. However, they provide all the basics from air conditioners to keep you comfortable to enough space for your bags in the trunk.
The only downside is probably the leg space if you're tall, as I imagine traveling by bus from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin isn't the best option for tall people. I'm only 158 cms, and the leg space already felt a little bit cramped for me. Not to mention if the trunk is full that sometimes people carry their box or bag on their coach as well.
However, traveling by minivan from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin is worth it if you're looking for the cheapest option for this route. It's relatively fast, and the bus ticket is barely even $10 USD per pax!
Where to Stop in Hua Hin When Traveling by Bus From Kanchanaburi
The driver will ask you where you want to stop. Most passengers will stop at either Hua Hin train station or Green Market. The latter is the big mall in Hua Hin city center, and this is the location you need to pay attention to, especially if you plan to travel by bus from or to Hua Hin.
We've learned it the hard way when we headed back to Bangkok from Hua Hin, and we booked a Grab car to Hua Hin bus station only to get lost until the driver realized that we were actually going back to Bangkok and she directed us to go to Green Market instead.
So, if you're planning to travel to Hua Hin and you stay somewhere close to the beach, Green Market is the best place to stop if you travel from Kanchanaburi by bus. From Green Market, you can either book a Grab car or grab some tuk-tuk to take you to your accommodation.
Minivan from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin in Thailand.
FAQs About Traveling From Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin
As usual, in this section I'm going to list some of the frequently asked questions about traveling from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin. So, what do you need to know about traveling this route? Here we go!
How far is Kanchanaburi from Hua Hin?
The distance between Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin is around 150 kilometers. Most likely, you will get to Hua Hin faster as it takes approximately 2 (two) hours if you take a private transfer instead of commuting with a minivan from Kanchanaburi.
How do you get to Hua Hin?
Most people usually travel to Hua Hin from Bangkok, either by a private transfer like taxi or taking a bus from Chatuchak or South Terminal in Bangkok. Our decision to travel to Hua Hin from Kanchanaburi was adjusted as we decided to stay overnight in Kanchanaburi instead of making it a day trip from Bangkok.
Is Hua Hin open to tourists?
Hua Hin and Thailand in general are pretty much open for tourists now. No need to pre-register yourself before your arrival, and they don't check your certificate of vaccination upon arrival either!
Conclusion
The bus route from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin may not be as popular as Bangkok to Hua Hin, but it's definitely an excellent alternative if you want to make the best out of your chance to explore the most of the Death Railway in Thailand and end it with vacation vibes around the beach.
Although taking a minivan is not the most comfortable way to travel in Thailand, it provides basic comfort and the bus ticket is quite affordable too compared to the other inter-city travel in the country.
If you plan to travel from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin, avoid taking a big suitcase with you since the space in the trunk of the minivan is limited. Other than that, taking a bus from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin is definitely one of the easiest ways to travel around Thailand.
So, did you ever travel from and to Kanchanaburi by bus before? Or have you ever taken the same route from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin? Let me know your experience in the comment, and cheerio! 🙂
Marya The BeauTraveler
I am the founder and main editor at The BeauTraveler. I spent 4 years working in the aviation industry but ironically got to travel more right after quitting the industry in 2015. Born and raised in Indonesia, I started working remotely in 2017, and while I stay at home most of the time, I also regularly spend 2-3 months living a semi-digital nomad life elsewhere every year.
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