Nara Travel vs Phantip 1970
Compare Nara Travel and Phantip 1970 — routes, service areas, and coverage across Thailand. See where they overlap and where each operator goes its own way.
Operator A Nara Travel vs 
Operator B Phantip 1970 What travellers say: Nara Travel vs Phantip 1970
Both operators earn nearly identical average ratings around 4.25 from travellers, though Phantip 1970 draws from a vastly larger review base.
Nara Travel
Reviewers praise Nara Travel's comfortable main bus legs with reclining seats and USB ports, free meals or snacks often in Surat Thani, helpful drivers, and generally smooth on-time arrivals on ferry-plus-bus routes. Complaints centre on too many stops turning journeys longer, chaotic multi-leg transfers via cramped minivans, occasional wrong drop-off points, and meeting-point confusion. Book these journeys reliably through ThailandBoatTickets.com where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Phantip 1970
Phantip 1970 receives consistent praise for well-coordinated transfers, staff who often move early arrivals onto earlier departures, good value, and helpful service at key points like Surat Thani, with many noting on-time or early arrivals. Recurring issues include reckless or distracted drivers, poor communication at changeovers, overcrowded minivans, luggage surcharges, and variable ferry quality. Book these journeys reliably through ThailandBoatTickets.com where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Sentiment is comparably positive for both, with Nara's smaller sample highlighting bus comfort and meals while Phantip's volume underscores coordination strengths alongside driver and transfer frictions.
Pros & cons
Nara Travel Pros
- Comfortable main bus leg with reclining seats, USB-C outlets and blankets
- Free meals and snacks often included during stops
- Helpful, friendly drivers with good customer service
- Efficient connections with buses frequently waiting on ferry arrival
- On-time or early arrivals reported in many cases
Cons
- Too many unscheduled stops turning short trips long
- Chaotic transfers involving multiple shuttles and minivans
- Wrong or distant drop-off points requiring extra taxis
- Cramped and hot minivan legs as the weak point
- Boarding and meeting-point confusion at offices away from piers
Phantip 1970 Pros
- Smooth, well-organized transfers often using destination stickers
- On-time or early arrivals with flexibility for earlier departures
- Good value for money on multi-leg routes
- Helpful and friendly staff at offices and changeovers
- Comfortable Seatran ferries with AC, clean seats and onboard shop
Cons
- Reckless driving, speeding and phone use by some drivers
- Poor communication leaving passengers uninformed at transfer points
- Cramped and overpacked minivans with little legroom
- Luggage surcharges of 100-300 THB for larger suitcases
- Old, dirty or run-down Raja ferries and buses on some routes
Service areas at a glance
Based on currently active routes for each operator.
Both operators 13
Only Nara Travel 7
Only Phantip 1970 5
Routes & coverage compared
Both operators run head-to-head on routes including Khao Sok to Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Surat Thani; Koh Phangan to Bangkok, Khao Sok, Krabi and Phuket; Koh Samui to Bangkok, Khao Sok, Krabi and Phuket; plus Krabi and Phuket to Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, and Surat Thani to Khao Sok. Book these shared connections at ThailandBoatTickets.com where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is ready on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Nara Travel alone covers Bangkok departures to Ao Nang, Hat Yai, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, Koh Phaluai, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Phuket, Railay, Surat Thani and Trang, plus Khao Sok to Ao Nang, Koh Chang and Krabi, Koh Tao links, and routes to Trat and Koh Kood from multiple islands. Phantip 1970 alone runs Ao Nang to Koh Phangan, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Surat Thani; Donsak connections; Hat Yai to Donsak; Koh Phangan to Koh Tao, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Surat Thani Train Station and Trang; plus Phuket and Krabi to Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao, and Surat Thani Airport to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. ThailandBoatTickets.com is the best place to book either operator with VTA support on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Routes both operators run
Same departure and destination — true head-to-head options.
Price distribution
How ticket prices spread across each operator's routes (THB).
Nara Travel tickets usually fall between 1,180 THB–1,900 THB (median 1,370 THB), while Phantip 1970 between 530 THB–940 THB (median 770 THB). On the whole, Phantip 1970 offers the cheaper tickets.
Which should you pick?
Frequently asked questions
Nara Travel vs Phantip 1970