How to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is one of the popular destinations in Thailand. With the unique culture, picturesque scenery, and perfect weather, I have been to Chiang Mai several times. Many tourists visit Bangkok, and then go up north to Chiang Mai. The distance between these two provinces is 700 kilometers, and there are 3 main public transportation options to choose to travel between these two provinces. In this post, I will share you how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Plane
This is the fastest option. It usually takes only about an hour to fly between these two provinces. Even if include the time to go to the airport and waiting time at the airport, this option still takes less time than the other options.
About the price, it is usually more expensive than the other options. But there are budget airlines that fly several times a day between these two provinces. You could get a cheap ticket that even cheaper than traveling by bus and train, especially if you book the ticket in advance. If you choose this option, check these airline websites: AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Smile.
Bus
With this option, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai it takes around 9-10 hours. In order to save your time, I do recommend you to take an overnight bus. The ticket costs around 600-900 baht depending on the company, the departure time, and the bus type. VIP bus is more expensive, but more comfortable.
For going north, you can buy a ticket and take a bus at Mo Chit or Bangkok Northern and Northeastern Bus Terminal which is not far from Mo Chit BTS Station. If you do not travel during Thailand long holidays, it is not necessary to book a ticket in advance. You can read here for the detail of when to book a bus ticket to travel around Thailand and how to book a ticket online.
Train
This is the slowest option. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, it takes around 12 hours or more! The fact that you should know before deciding to take the train is the Thai train is very old and delay is common. Some people (including me) choose the train because they want to experience Thai train. It is the option that you will have a chance to see countryside of Thailand. For me, it was not bad experience, but not so comfortable.
Same as bus, to save your time, an overnight train is recommended. The train ticket usually costs around 100-600 baht per seat, and 800-2,000 baht for a bunk bed depending on the time, type of seat, and type of train. You can see the schedule and check the price at The State Railway of Thailand Website.
****For me, travel by train and bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes too many hours. I do recommend you taking plane, even if you cannot find the cheap ticket price. ****
Hope this information helps. Enjoy travelling Thailand!
Have you ever been to Chiang Mai? Did you go there from Bangkok? How was your experience? Share it with me in the comment!
About Author
Wannee
I am Wannee. I am just an ordinary woman with an ordinary life living in Bangkok, Thailand.
I have flown on all three of the budget airlines listed here. They are quite cheap but be careful when booking as there are many “hidden” fees that you might not want so you need to remove those options. The train can be fun if you want to experieince the fun of train travel and you have the time. Booking a 2nd class A/C sleeper is nice. You leave in the early evening and arrive in the morning in Bangkok. You can order meals on the train and eat at your seat. In the evening, the staff will come and make up your bunk. Get a lower berth if possible. If you want to see the sights of the countryside then leave in the morning and arrive in the evening.
I went to Chiang Mai with A/C sleeper train once. It took very long time….. :S
We found an AirAsia flight that was much cheaper than an overnight train (I think by about half) so we flew to Chiang Mai and it was really easy and quick. I did book about three months ahead so would recommend booking as far ahead as possible. Agree with Jay’s comment – look out for heaps of hidden fees as you’re booking, especially on AirAsia. While you’re in Chiang Mai, I would highly recommend doing a cooking class. We did heaps of sightseeing and of course eating everywhere and we loved all of it but our favourite day was our half day cooking class. I wrote about my experience here: http://www.tripchow.com/look-like-thai-chef-in-three-hours/