By plane
Happy Air (http://www.happyair.co.th) launched a new service in August 2010 after a three year hiatus in flights to and from Korat. Flights between Korat and Chiang Mai operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And flights between Korat and the capital operate on every day of the week.Flights to Phuket, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin and Luang Prabang in Laos are reported to be starting up in September or October 2010.
By car
There are three routes to take from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima.
First Route:
Take Highway No. 1 Phahonyothin passing Don Muang Airport, Wang Noi and Nong Khae till you arrive at the Saraburi interchange. At Saraburi, turn right along Highway No. 2 Mittraphap Highway which finally leads to Nakhon Ratchasima. The total distance of this route is 259 kilometers.Second Route:
This alternative route is a little longer in distance but passes some interesting places. Take Highway No. 304 via Min Buri, Chachoengsao, Phanom Sarakham, Kabin Buri, Wang Nam Khiao and Pak Thong Chai to Nakhon Ratchasima. The total distance is 273 kilometers.Third Route:
Take Highway No. 305 passing Thanyaburi, Ongkharak to Nakhon Nayok. From Nakhon Nayok, turn right on to Highway No. 33 to Kabin Buri and then turn left along Highway No. 304 passing Wang Nam Khiao and Pak Thong Chai to Nakhon Ratchasima.
By bus
There are two main bus stations in Korat. The new bus station is the larger of the two and is just to the north of the city centre, beyond Big C on the Korat to Khon Kaen stretch of Mittraphap Road. The old bus station is within the city centre on Burin Road between Suranaree Road and Mittraphap.
So, assuming you are in Bangkok, just head to Morchit Northern/Northeastern Bus Terminal. No need to consult a timetable: buses leave Bangkok for Korat several times an hour 24 hours a day. Go to the top floor of the terminal building and buy your ticket at window 40, 49, 50, 52 or 53.
Window 40 and 49 - Ratchasima Tour. Direct 24 hour service. Window 40 for the old bus station and window 49 for the new bus station.Window 50 - Suranaree Air. Tickets for services to either station are sold at the same window. Confusingly, there are two windows #50 at Morchit 50 and 50à¸. The one you need is on the left of the two.Windows 52 and 53 - Air Korat Pattana. Window 52 for buses to the new bus station and window 53 for buses to the old bus station. It's been known for the vendor to just sell a ticket for the next departing service. If you really want to go to the old bus station "bok kor sor gow" make sure you do buy your ticket from the vendor at window 53 and that your ticket has the number 1 on it somewhere. This denotes the old bus station whereas a 2 denotes the new.
After you have purchased your ticket the vendor will point to a number on the ticket. This is the bay you must go to to catch your bus. Overhead signs will guide you there - just like following a gate number at an airport. For more details and pictures see the following article.
For a description of how to travel from Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok see the following article.
As of June 2012, the price was 220 baht, one-way from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima. The buses follow 'First Route' described above.
Other cities which run buses direct to Korat include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Sai, Nakhon Sawan Pattaya, Chonburi, Chantaburi, Rayong, Lopburi, Hua Hin, Hat Yai, Phuket and just about every provincial capital in Isaan. If you are coming from Cambodia, there are buses from the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border crossing. And, if you're entering from Laos, there are a couple of buses a day between Korat and Vientiane launched in December 2009. If you're entering from Laos at the Savannakhet border crossing then you can get a bus direct from Mukdahan to Korat. All these services terminate and originate at the new bus station. The old bus station is used for some Bangkok services and shorter local routes to places such as Pak Chong and Pak Thong Chai.
If you've arrived at the new bus station all the usual Thai means of transport are available for you to get to where you want to go. Tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis and meter taxis see Get around are in abundance in the bus station. To get a songthaew back towards the city centre take the number 15 purple and white which waits on the road between the two main terminal buildings at the new bus station.Tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis also wait at the smaller old bus station but meter taxis don't. The old bus station is walking distance from many hotels.
By train
Trains leave from Bangkok Railway Station Huamlamphong daily and can take anything from four to six hours depending on what type of train you catch. Twelve trains a day leave Bangkok for Korat. The times are 5:45, 6:40, 10:05, 11:40, 15:20, 18:30, 18:55, 20:00, 20:30, 21:50, 22:25 and 23:40. Fares are very reasonable for the 264 km journey. The cheapest ticket on the cheapest train is around 50 baht. There are two stations in Nakhon Ratchasima. The main station is on Mukmontri Road about two kms from the city centre. Tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis at the front of the station will take you to the Yamo area for around sixty and forty baht respectively. Catch songataews 1 or 14 opposite the station to also convey you toward the city centre.
The other station - Thanon Chira - is more centrally located. It is just to the south of the previously described old city see 'Orientation'. Tickets from Bangkok are just a couple of baht extra to go to Thanon Chira instead of the main station, and if you're heading for the city centre it is well worth getting off here.