Step 2 of 5 · On the road, leg by leg
Buses, trains and ferries in one place
Getting around Asia is more than getting from A to B. The night train down Vietnam, the ferry to Koh Tao, the sleeper bus to Chiang Mai: being on the road is part of the trip. Sorting it is the annoying bit, especially at a counter where nobody speaks your language. On 12Go you book nearly all of it in one place.
- Bus, train and boat in the same overview
- Ticket by email straight on your phone
- 5 countries Thailand to the Philippines
- 3 days ahead enough for most routes
Everything that drives, sails and flies
You put in where you leave from and where you are going, and you see what runs that day. Not everything runs on every route, and that difference is exactly what you see at a glance.
- Buses From short rides to sleeper buses with a proper berth for the night. On routes without a railway this is often your only option, and usually the cheapest one too.
- Trains Including the night trains in Thailand and Vietnam, with a choice of sleeper class. Comfier than the bus: you can walk about, the beds are wider and you get thrown around less.
- Ferries and speedboats The crossing to the islands, often combined with the bus to the pier. One ticket from your hostel to the beach, instead of three separate ones.
- Transfers A private car or a shared minivan from the airport to your hostel. Nice to have when you land at night or do not know the language yet.
- Domestic flights On long routes the plane is listed right alongside. So you see at a glance whether those twelve hours on a bus are really worth thirty euros to you.
- Combined tickets Bus plus boat, train plus transfer: on the popular backpacker routes it is all tied together. Saves you a headache at every change.
What you pay per country
Ballpark prices for the ride you take most in each country, the same ones as on our country pages. A long-distance night bus or night train costs more, an hour's hop a lot less.
| Country | What you usually take | Ballpark price | Daily budget | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | bus ride | €8 | €30 | Nov to Feb |
| Laos | bus ride | €8 | €25 | Nov to Feb |
| Vietnam | sleeper bus | €10 | €25 | Nov to Apr |
| Cambodia | bus ride | €8 | €25 | Nov to Feb |
| Philippines | boat trip | €10 | €35 | Dec to Feb |
Expect more in high season and around holidays, and less if you take the local bus instead of the tourist bus. A night ride costs more than a day ride, but it saves you a night's accommodation.
Night bus or night train?
The classic backpacker call: you sleep on the move and save a night's accommodation. You just sleep a lot better on one than on the other.
- The night train comfier, a bit pricier
Pick this if you want to arrive rested
Almost always the nicer option. You can walk about, there is a toilet you can actually find, the beds are wider and you get thrown around less. In Thailand and Vietnam they run on exactly the routes you were doing as a backpacker anyway.
- Sleeper class with a real bed and a curtain
- You can get up and walk around on the way
- Runs to a fixed timetable, so your planning holds
- Heads up: popular night trains sell out days ahead
- The night bus cheaper, goes everywhere
Pick this where there is no railway
Usually cheaper, and it runs on routes no train reaches: in Laos and on a lot of Vietnamese routes that is simply most of them. Going by bus? Pick a spot in the middle, where you feel the bends and the potholes least.
- Sleeper buses with a berth instead of a seat
- Runs where there are no rails
- Often a few euros cheaper than the train
- Heads up: lower berths in the middle sleep quietest
Whichever you pick: do not plan a connecting flight straight after a night ride. Travel times in Asia are an estimate, not a promise.
Six things that save you hassle
On paper you can sort all of it at the counter, and sometimes that is a few euros cheaper. In practice it costs you half a morning of searching.
- Book popular routes in time In high season and around holidays, night trains and ferries to small islands fill up fast. Three days ahead is usually enough.
- Check the departure point Big cities have several bus stations and piers, sometimes kilometres apart. Look on your ticket where you need to be and find that address before you get in a taxi.
- Allow for delays Traffic, weather and a flat tyre are part of the deal. Do not plan a connecting flight straight after a long bus ride, and count on an hour of slack.
- Keep your ticket offline Download it or screenshot it the moment you have it. On the road you often have no signal, and that is exactly when the conductor wants to see it.
- Keep your valuables on you Your big backpack goes in the hold, your passport, phone and money do not. Bring a small bag you keep on your lap or under your head.
- Take a jumper on the bus Sounds mad when it is thirty degrees outside, but the air con on Asian night buses is set to polar expedition by default. A jumper and long trousers are the difference between sleeping and lying awake.
One more thing
Why book through 12Go?
One platform for nearly all transport in Asia, so you do not have to hunt through five websites. You compare prices, travel times and operators side by side, you pay safely online and your ticket is straight in your inbox. It covers dozens of popular backpacker destinations and is just as handy for an hour's ride as for a twelve-hour night train.
Can I just sort buses and trains on the spot?
Often, yes, and at the counter it is sometimes a few euros cheaper. It does cost you half a morning of searching, though, and on night trains, popular routes and ferries to the islands you risk waiting a day. We book the long legs ahead and the short hops on the spot.
Which is comfier: the night bus or the night train?
The train, almost always. You can walk about, the beds are wider and you get thrown around less. The night bus is usually cheaper and runs on routes without a railway. Going by bus? Pick a spot in the middle: that is where you feel the bends and the potholes least.
How far ahead should I book my transport?
For an ordinary daytime bus you often do not need to book anything in advance. For night trains, ferries to small islands and anything in high season, three days ahead is a safe margin. Around local holidays like Songkran and Tet the whole country is on the move: book a week earlier then.
What if my bus or boat does not show up?
It rarely happens, but it happens. Contact 12Go through the details in your booking email; they sort it out with the operator. Leaving from a small station or a jetty? Be there half an hour early and ask around on the spot whether everything is running.
Are night buses safe?
Generally, yes; millions of travellers take them every week. Keep your valuables on you instead of in the hold, stay alert at stops and preferably book an operator with plenty of recent reviews. You see those on 12Go next to every ride.
Sort the next step right away
Route first, bookings second
Booking is a lot easier once you know which way you are heading. Our destination pages have the route through each country, how long to stay and roughly what it costs.
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