Asia Overland Routes: Bus, Train and Ferry Compared

How do you choose between bus, train and boat on an Asian route?

Start with where you will sleep at each end, then compare the whole journey: hotel to station, the ride, and station to hotel. Trains suit city-centre trips, buses and vans go further and more often, and fast boats serve the islands. Prefer daytime road travel, and check the operator, not just the fare.

This page gathers the 31 routes TravelShifu covers across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, India and Turkey. Each row gives the lowest one-way fares and daily departures listed on 12Go’s route page when we checked, and links to our guide where we have written one. 12Go is an affiliate partner: we may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.

Prefer daytime road travel: the UK Foreign Office says bus crashes in Vietnam are more likely at night (FCDO Vietnam) and that travel after dark in Cambodia significantly increases the risk of accidents (FCDO Cambodia).

What are the main overland routes in Indonesia?

Bali’s fast boats to the Gilis, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Lombok and Java’s rail line between Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta are the core routes. Flights cover the long hops, such as Bali to Labuan Bajo for Komodo. Boats depend on the sea, so leave slack before any flight.

Bali to Gili Islands: Fast boats leave Padang Bai, Serangan and Amed for Gili Trawangan, and most continue to Meno, Air or Bangsal on Lombok. Padang Bai is the shortest crossing; flying to Lombok means a road transfer and a short boat as well.

Bali to Nusa Penida: Fast boats from Sanur take 30 to 45 minutes, according to Indonesia’s tourism ministry, and boats also sail from Kusamba and Padang Bai. Ask which Nusa Penida harbour you land at so your driver meets you there.

Bali to Nusa Lembongan: Fast boats from Sanur are the usual way across. Lembongan sits beside Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan, so the same boat checks apply: harbour, check-in time and the sea on the day.

Bali to Lombok: Fly from Denpasar to Lombok International for the south coast, take a fast boat for the north-west and the Gilis, or use the slow public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar if you have a vehicle or plenty of time.

Bali to Labuan Bajo (Komodo): Fly from Denpasar to Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, the base for Komodo National Park boat trips. 12Go lists only flights on this route.

Jakarta to Bandung: Whoosh high-speed trains run from Halim to Padalarang and Tegalluar, KAI’s conventional trains run from Gambir into central Bandung, and “travel” shuttles run pool to pool on the toll road. Compare from your actual addresses.

Jakarta to Yogyakarta: Executive trains from Gambir reach Yogyakarta station, near Malioboro, in about six hours. Flying to YIA saves time only if you start near Soekarno–Hatta, because YIA sits well west of the city.

Bandung to Yogyakarta: KAI trains take most of a day between Bandung and Yogyakarta, which is why our Java itinerary gives the leg a whole travel day. Overnight buses are the fallback when trains sell out.

What are the main overland routes in Malaysia?

These routes run down Malaysia’s west coast: coaches and the ETS train link Kuala Lumpur with Penang, and coaches, trains and flights link it with Singapore across the Johor border. Langkawi is reached by flight or by ferry from Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah, not from Penang.

Kuala Lumpur to Singapore: The direct coach takes about five hours plus border queues; the train needs a change at JB Sentral for the Shuttle Tebrau; flying suits travellers already near the airport.

Kuala Lumpur to Penang: The ETS train runs from KL Sentral to Butterworth on the mainland, where the ferry crosses to George Town. Coaches from TBS reach the island itself, and flights land at Penang International near Bayan Lepas.

Penang to Langkawi: 12Go lists only flights on this pair, which matches the Langkawi Development Authority: it names no Penang passenger ferry. By sea, Langkawi’s ferries leave from Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah.

What are the main overland routes in Thailand?

Bangkok is the hub: trains, buses and flights run north to Chiang Mai and south to Surat Thani, buses and flights reach Krabi, and boats take over for the islands. Between the Gulf islands, ferries link Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao; on the Andaman side, boats run from Phuket to Phi Phi.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai: Long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, including the overnight sleepers; flights from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi are the fastest option. Take the train for the journey, the plane for the time.

Bangkok to Surat Thani: Surat Thani is the gateway to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, not usually the destination. Trains and buses arrive overnight, and joint tickets add the bus and boat to the islands.

Koh Samui to Koh Phangan: Boats cross in under an hour, with Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery and Songserm among the operators 12Go lists. Check whether you land at Thong Sala or Haad Rin, which are on opposite sides of Koh Phangan.

Koh Samui to Koh Tao: Thailand’s tourism authority names Lomprayah and Seatran Discovery as operators to Koh Tao via Samui. Most boats call at Koh Phangan on the way to Mae Haad pier.

Phuket to Phi Phi: Ferries leave Rassada Pier near Phuket Town for Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. The national park puts passenger boats at 1.5 to 2 hours; speedboats are quicker.

Bangkok to Krabi: Fly from Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi, or take an overnight bus. Krabi has no railway, so a “train” ticket means a train to Surat Thani and a bus on from there.

Chiang Mai to Pai: Minivans run through the day from Chiang Mai’s Arcade bus terminal over a mountain road known for its hundreds of bends. A private car lets you stop when you need to; a rented motorbike is the risky option.

What are the main overland routes in Vietnam?

Hanoi is the starting point for the north: buses and limousine vans to Sapa and Ninh Binh, and road transfers to Ha Long Bay. The North–South railway, sleeper buses and frequent flights link Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Da Nang. Prefer daytime road travel where you can.

Hanoi to Sapa: Buses and limousine vans run straight to Sapa town on the expressway through the day and night. The train goes to Lao Cai, about 35 km short, so it needs a road transfer up the mountain.

Hanoi to Ninh Binh: Limousine vans and buses take about two hours and many pick up in the Old Quarter; trains run from Hanoi station to Ninh Binh station. Trang An and Tam Coc are a short ride from town either way.

Hanoi to Ha Long: Most visitors go by road, about two and a half hours according to Vietnam’s tourism board, and many cruises include the transfer. Check yours before buying a separate ticket.

Hanoi to Da Nang: North–South trains take most of a day or a night along the coast, sleeper buses are the cheapest, and flights are the quick option. Hoi An needs a further transfer from Da Nang either way.

Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang: Flying is far quicker; trains and sleeper buses take most of a day or a night. Compare door to door, including the ride to Tan Son Nhat and on to Hoi An.

What are the main overland routes in Cambodia?

Buses and minivans link Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in about six hours, and flights take under an hour but use airports well outside both cities. Thailand’s land border with Cambodia has been closed since June 2025, so from Bangkok you fly. We will update this when it reopens.

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: Buses and minivans take five to six hours on National Road 6 and run day and night. Flights are short, but Siem Reap’s new airport is a long way out of town.

Bangkok to Siem Reap: Fly. Thailand closed its land border with Cambodia in June 2025, and the UK Foreign Office says crossings remain suspended, so the Aranyaprathet–Poipet bus route is not running for travellers.

What are the main overland routes in Philippines?

In Palawan, shared vans and buses run from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, and a fast ferry links Coron and El Nido, usually once a day on 12Go’s listing. Sea conditions can cancel the ferry, so keep a spare day before onward flights from either end.

Puerto Princesa to El Nido: Shared vans and buses run north from Puerto Princesa, many collecting at the airport; it is the long road most visitors take. Flying to El Nido’s own small airport costs far more.

Coron to El Nido: A single daily fast ferry links Coron and El Nido on 12Go’s listing, so it sells out in peak season and rough seas can cancel it. Leave a buffer before any onward flight.

What are the main overland routes in India?

Delhi’s routes to Agra and Jaipur make up the Golden Triangle, and trains are the default on both. Further south, Konkan Railway trains, overnight buses and flights link Mumbai with Goa. Check the station or airport against your hotel: Goa has more than one of each.

Delhi to Agra: Express trains from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt beat flying on this short corridor; buses and cars use the Yamuna Expressway.

Delhi to Jaipur: Trains and buses cover the Golden Triangle’s Delhi–Jaipur leg; flying is short but adds two airport transfers.

Mumbai to Goa: Konkan Railway trains run down the coast to Madgaon and Thivim, buses run overnight, and flights land at Dabolim or Mopa. Pick the station or airport by the beach you are staying on.

What are the main overland routes in Turkey?

Istanbul to Cappadocia is the classic Turkish overland trip: overnight coaches run to Nevşehir and Göreme, and flights reach Kapadokya Airport near Nevşehir or Kayseri, with shuttles to the cave-hotel villages. No train runs to Göreme or Nevşehir, so it is fly or ride.

Istanbul to Cappadocia: Fly to Nevşehir Kapadokya or Kayseri and take a shuttle to Göreme, or ride an overnight coach. There is no train to Cappadocia itself.

Where do these fares and departure counts come from?

From 12Go’s own route pages, read on the date shown: the lowest one-way adult fare it listed for each mode and its count of departures a day. We leave out 12Go’s distance figures, which are wrong on several routes, and taxi prices. Fares older than four months stop showing automatically.

On 25 October 2026, 12Go gave both Jakarta–Yogyakarta and Bangkok–Chiang Mai a distance of 992 km, so we print no distances from it. Its “fastest” figure mixes flights with road travel, so we show fares by mode instead.

A listed fare is not a promise: fares change daily, can include 12Go’s booking fee and may sit above the operator’s own price. In our 16 October 2026 check of Indonesian trains, 12Go was 16–18% dearer than KAI’s own site for the same seats (Indonesia train guide). Compare the final total, including fees and transfers, before you pay.

Should you book through 12Go or with the operator?

Use 12Go when you want one English-language checkout across operators, with a ticket that names the operator and a support desk if plans change. Compare the final total with the operator’s own price where one exists, because 12Go’s fee varies by route. Our full comparison explains when each wins.

Read 12Go vs direct booking for the full comparison. 12Go is a TravelShifu affiliate partner; the facts on this page come from its public listings, and we flag where it falls short, such as the Bangkok–Siem Reap buses it still listed while the border was closed.