How to Get from Bangkok to Chiang Rai: Flight, Bus or Private Car

The quickest way to get from Bangkok to Chiang Rai is a direct flight: about 1 hour 25 minutes, with 18 nonstop departures a day and fares from about THB 2,100 on 12Go. On a budget, the overnight bus from Mochit takes about 12 to 14 hours and starts at THB 788.

There is no train to Chiang Rai, and a private car costs from THB 8,625 per vehicle for a long day on the road.

For most visitors the real choice is simple: fly from Don Mueang, or sleep on a VIP bus.

The detail everyone misses: Bangkok buses do not stop in the center of Chiang Rai.

They pull into Bus Terminal 2, about 7 km south of town on Phahonyothin Road, so plan a songthaew, taxi or Grab for the last stretch to the clock tower and the night bazaar.

Bangkok to Chiang Rai timetable

Here are the regular departures 12Go lists between Bangkok and Chiang Rai, with the lowest fares in baht. Tap any route to see live seats and book.

1. Fly, the one I would book

Five airlines fly nonstop to Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI).

From Don Mueang, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air share the route, while Thai Airways and Thai Vietjet fly from Suvarnabhumi.

For a Monday in November, 12Go showed 18 direct flights between 06:30 and 19:50.

The cheapest seats started around THB 2,091 to 2,200 on the budget airlines, and Thai Airways cost about THB 6,500.

The budget fares usually include a 7 kg cabin bag only. Add checked luggage when you book, because it costs more at the airport counter.

Double-check which Bangkok airport your ticket uses, since Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi are on opposite sides of Bangkok. Our Don Mueang Airport guide explains how to get there.

My verdict: once you add a taxi to the bus station and a night on the road, a budget flight often costs only a little more than the VIP bus and saves a full day.

2. Overnight bus from Mochit, cheapest and surprisingly comfy

Almost every bus to Chiang Rai leaves from Mochit, the Bangkok Bus Terminal in Chatuchak. Most depart between 16:30 and 20:30 and arrive between 06:00 and 07:30 the next morning.

Nakhonchai Air also runs two buses from its own Bangkok station, from 19:01.

The most comfortable choice is a VIP 20 or Gold Class coach, with wide reclining seats, and a blanket and snack are usually included.

Where to catch it

Mochit sits on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, a short taxi ride from BTS Mo Chit or MRT Chatuchak Park.

The terminal is huge, so arrive 30 to 45 minutes early and look for your operator’s counter on the ticket floor.

Check where your bus ends before you book.

Some tickets end in Mae Sai, Mae Chan or Chiang Saen instead of Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2, so check the arrival stop.

Bookaway sells the same Mochit buses from about US$26, including the Sombat VIP 20 for about US$44, if you prefer paying in dollars.

My verdict: the best value on this route, and you save a night of accommodation. Pick VIP 20 or Gold Class and you will actually sleep.

3. Daytime bus, for the scenery

A few buses leave in the morning.

BKK Busline runs an express at 09:30 from Mochit that reaches Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2 around 22:10, for THB 1,008.

Budsarakham Tour also runs buses from Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, which is handy if you are staying near Don Mueang or Rangsit.

They arrive at Terminal 2 after about 12 hours.

My verdict: only worth it if you cannot sleep on buses. You lose a full day, and you arrive late at night.

4. Train to Chiang Mai, then a bus to Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai has no railway station yet, so a train trip means two legs.

Take the overnight sleeper from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Chiang Mai, then a bus for the last 3 hours or so.

The sleeper and its berth prices are covered in our Bangkok to Chiang Mai guide.

From Chiang Mai, 12Go lists 13 VIP and express buses a day to Chiang Rai between 07:00 and 18:00, from THB 271.

My verdict: a lovely trip if you want a night or two in Chiang Mai anyway. As a straight transfer, it is slower and pricier than the direct bus.

5. Private car or van, best for families

A private driver picks you up at your Bangkok hotel and drops you at your door in Chiang Rai.

The drive takes about 10 hours 30 minutes to 12 hours, so most people leave early in the morning.

Transfers from Don Mueang start at THB 8,625 and from Suvarnabhumi at about THB 9,200, so you can land and leave without going into the city.

My verdict: for four people with luggage, or with stops at Ayutthaya or Sukhothai along the way, a car makes sense.

For two, a flight is far cheaper.

6. Rental car, if you want the North at your own pace

Highway 1 runs most of the way north via Nakhon Sawan, Tak and Lampang, then on to Phayao and Chiang Rai.

Plan at least 10 hours of driving, ideally split over two days.

A car is great for the Golden Triangle, Doi Mae Salong and the tea hills. You need your license plus an International Driving Permit, and Thailand drives on the left.

Compare rental cars in Bangkok before you go.

My verdict: a better idea once you are up north. Many travelers fly to Chiang Rai and rent a car at the airport instead.

Bring a warm layer on the night bus. The air conditioning runs cold all night, and early mornings in the northern hills are cool from November to February.

Step by step: the overnight bus to Chiang Rai

1. Book your seat on 12Go a few days ahead, especially for Friday nights and Thai holidays.
2. Get to Mochit by taxi or Grab, or ride the BTS to Mo Chit and take a short taxi from there.
3. Find your operator on the ticket floor and swap your e-ticket for a paper ticket if asked.
4. Load your bag into the hold and keep valuables and a warm layer with you.
5. Get off at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2, unless your ticket says otherwise. Many buses continue to Mae Sai.
6. Take a songthaew, taxi or Grab for the 7 km into town, around the clock tower and the night bazaar.

What it costs for 1, 2 or 4 people

For one or two people, the bus or a budget flight wins easily.

For four, a private MPV costs about THB 2,560 per person, close to the price of four flight tickets.

Which option should you choose?

• Short on time: a morning flight from Don Mueang.
• On a tight budget: the Transport Co bus from Mochit.
• Want to sleep well and save a hotel night: Sombat VIP 20 or Nakhonchai Air Gold Class.
• Family or group of four: compare a private MPV with four budget flights.
• Want Chiang Mai too: the sleeper train north, then the bus to Chiang Rai.
• Planning road trips up north: fly, then rent a car at Chiang Rai Airport.

Arriving in Chiang Rai

Bangkok buses arrive at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2, on Phahonyothin Road about 7 km south of the center.

The old Terminal 1 is right in town next to the night bazaar, and mostly serves local and regional routes.

• City center and clock tower: about 7 km from Terminal 2, a shared songthaew to Terminal 1 for around THB 20 per person in the daytime, or a taxi or Grab.
• Night bazaar: right next to Terminal 1 in town.
• White Temple (Wat Rong Khun): about 13 km south of the center, so it is closer to Terminal 2 than to town.
• Chiang Rai Airport: about 10 km north of the center, reached by taxi or Grab.

In town, tuk-tuks and Grab cars are the easy way around, and short tuk-tuk hops in the center usually cost around THB 60 to 80.

The airport shuttle bus stopped running in 2024, so arrange a taxi, Grab or hotel pickup when you fly in.

Chiang Rai: things to do and where to stay

Chiang Rai is calmer and greener than Chiang Mai, with a compact center you can walk in an hour.

Evenings revolve around the gold clock tower, the night bazaar and the Saturday walking street.

The big draws lie just outside town: the White Temple to the south, the Black House museum to the north, and the Golden Triangle on the Mekong, about an hour’s drive away.

See the tours section below for day trips.

Which area to stay in

• Clock tower and night bazaar: walkable, lively and budget-friendly, close to Bus Terminal 1.
• Mae Kok River: resorts on the river about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown, quieter and greener.
• Golden Triangle and Chiang Saen: luxury jungle resorts on the Mekong, about an hour north.
• The hills: tea plantations and mountain retreats around Doi Mae Salong, roughly an hour or more away.

Best luxury hotels in and around Chiang Rai

• Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort: 159 rooms on the Mae Kok River, with rooms from 53 square meters and a short drive to the Blue Temple.
• The Legend Chiang Rai: a Lanna-style riverside resort with 76 rooms and riverfront pool villas.
• Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort: 61 rooms and suites on a bamboo-forest hillside above the Mekong, next to an elephant foundation.
• Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle: an all-inclusive jungle camp of 16 tents near Chiang Saen, about 90 minutes from Chiang Rai, with a two-night minimum.

The Golden Triangle resorts are far from every bus terminal and about an hour from the airport, so a private transfer or the resort’s own pickup is the easiest way to arrive.

Practical tips before you go

Carry small cash. Songthaews, tuk-tuks and night bazaar stalls prefer baht, and drivers rarely have change for big notes.

Be careful on public Wi-Fi. Bus terminals, airports and guesthouse networks are open to everyone. A VPN such as ExpressVPN keeps your bookings and banking private.

Book ahead for the cool season. From November to February, flights and VIP buses fill up, and Thai holidays are even busier.

Planning the loop? Many travelers go Bangkok to Chiang Rai, then down to Chiang Mai, and back with our Chiang Mai to Bangkok guide.

Our Bangkok public transport guide covers the BTS ride to Mo Chit, and the Suvarnabhumi Airport guide helps if you fly from BKK.

Tours from Chiang Rai

The White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House day tour, the Golden Triangle with a Mekong boat ride, and hill tribe treks are the classics.

Frequently asked questions

Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: flight, bus and private car fares from 12Go’s and Bookaway’s live listings and the 12Go timetable; bus terminal, airport and attraction details from local travel guides; hotel facts from hotel guides and listings.

• About the Author
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Tim Kroeger( Expert in Luxury Hotel Reviews & Tourism in Bangkok )

Tim Kroeger is a luxury wellness travel specialist, founder of Universal Traveller, and creator of The Restorative Index, a performance-based framework for evaluating wellness hotels. After 15+ years across 110+ countries, he shifted from destination-chasing to travel recovery. Based in Bangkok, he reviews luxury wellness hotels and spas on tim-kroeger.com through a performance lens, combining firsthand testing with expert insights.

www.tim-kroeger.com/

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