- Where Chiang Mai Is Located in Relation to Bangkok
- Take a Flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (Cost Is 1,000 Baht / US$30)
- Take a Train to Chiang Mai (Cost at Night Is 880 Baht / US$25, Daytime Is 600 Baht / US$18)
- Chiang Mai by Bus (Cost Is 500 Baht / US$15)
- Deluxe Bus to Chiang Mai (Cost Is 800 Baht / US$23)
- Drive to Chiang Mai in a Car Rental from a Travel Agency (Cost Is from 500 Baht / US$15 Per Day)
- Useful Tips about Traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Thailand is a diverse country with climatic variations by region and season. A trip to Thailand without visiting its northern highlands, located around Chiang Mai, is never a complete visit to this amazing country. Chiang Mai, which is outstanding compared with other cities in Thailand due to its colorful Lanna Kingdom history and breathtaking lantern festival, is best to visit between November and February.
There are several ways for you to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. In this article, we will list a few of the best options to help you make a considered decision.
Where Chiang Mai Is Located in Relation to Bangkok
Bangkok is located centrally in Thailand in terms of latitude with the city of Chiang Mai, being 440 miles (708 kilometers) directly north. There are several ways to reach Chiang Mai from Bangkok with the quickest being a direct domestic flight.
Overland, the choices are rail and bus – primarily traveling overnight – or hiring a car, which may be the choice of some but is the least recommended for strangers to Thailand.
6-Day Bangkok and Chiang Mai Highlights Tour:
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My husband and I are planning a 3 week…
Alisa was a great listener to all the things we wanted to incorporate into our trip. We discussed everything throughly, and when I had questions, she had answers the next day. I really appreciate her responsiveness and detail with me. I feel like we are in the best hands with Alisa and Asia Highlights. More
, Mar 2024
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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Take a Flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (Cost Is 1,000 Baht / US$30)
The main advantage of flying between Bangkok and Chiang Mai is one of time although, ironically, the costs involved compare favorably with an overnight train. You will no sooner have taken off and had a coffee when the airplane's descent begins as flights take little more than an hour.
In these days of budget airlines and competition, you can get one-way flights for just under 1,000 baht, which is approximately US$30, and they are even cheaper when booked well in advance. You need to factor in the time it takes to get to the airport if you have been based in the heart of Bangkok. That time can vary dramatically depending on the time of day. Remember that, depending on your carrier, you may fly from either the main international airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, or Don Mueang International Airport, which is now used for budget airlines. Don't head to the wrong one because they are an hour's distance from each other.
Chiang Mai International Airport is only 3 km from central Chiang Mai.
Tip: You need to check your baggage allowance when flying because budget carriers are often stricter than full service airlines.
Pro:
- The quickest way to travel between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Cons:
- You need to double check which airport you are departing from so that you head to the correct one, otherwise you will miss your flight.
- When you fly, you will not see the countryside during your journey.
Take a Train to Chiang Mai (Cost at Night Is 880 Baht / US$25, Daytime Is 600 Baht / US$18)
Most trains to Chiang Mai travel overnight, offering a sleeper ticket price of about 880 baht (US$25). New Chinese-built sleepers are genuinely comfortable, and it is a chance to meet locals as you travel, which is one of the genuine experiences to learn more about the country while you travel. There are departures from Hua Lamphong at 18:00, 19:30, and 22:00. Hua Lamphong is in central Bangkok with links to the MRT (underground).
It is even cheaper to travel by day (600 baht / US$18) with the added advantage of being able to see more of the countryside. However, you will see the sunrise and the final stretch of countryside in the later stages of the overnight trip.
The daytime journeys depart at 08:30, taking 11 hours so you will arrive in the dark, and 13:45, arriving in Chiang Mai at 04:00.
Tip: You can book your tickets in advance having checked the schedules so that you can have exactly what you want for your journey. Third class offers wooden seats while first class offers air-conditioned bunks overnight.
Pros:
- A comfortable journey at night, saving the cost of a night's accommodation.
- A great way to meet other people.
- A limited chance to see the countryside after sunrise.
Con:
- You may prefer to see more of the countryside — if you do, take the daytime train.
8-Day Northern Thailand Discovery:
Chiang Mai by Bus (Cost Is 500 Baht / US$15)
The overnight bus to Chiang Mai generally takes about 9 hours while a daytime alternative takes 3 hours longer with several breaks along the way. There are numerous carriers with prices ranging from just over 500 baht (US$15) to 820 baht (US$23) for VIP buses, which are detailed below.
As the cheapest way to travel to Chiang Mai from Bangkok, the buses tend to be crowded and the least comfortable alternative for the trip. There are numerous collection points depending upon which company you book with and there are regular departures 24/7.
You may be prone to scams and thefts on what are often described as tourist buses, even to the extent that someone will get into the luggage hold during the trip and steal from your luggage.
Tip: Keep your valuables with you at all times, such as your wallet, passport, tickets, camera, and smartphone. All luggage in the hold should be securely locked.
Pro:
- This is the cheapest way to travel.
Cons:
- The buses will always be busy and are often noisy.
- Beware of pickpockets and scams.
Deluxe Bus to Chiang Mai (Cost Is 800 Baht / US$23)
VIP buses leave from Mo Chit Station, which is a short distance from the MRT stop at Chatuchak Park. At about 800 baht (US$23), deluxe buses are good value with dinner and breakfast included as well as juices and water.
These buses, which depart at 21:00, are double-deckers with comfortable reclining seats and, because of the cost, are rarely more than half full. To that extent, they are more relaxing than the equivalent trip by train.
Tip: Book in advance at any agency within Bangkok but be certain that it is the VIP bus you are reserving rather than the standard tourist bus.
Pros:
- There should be space to relax because the VIP buses are rarely full.
- The deluxe buses have reclining seats.
- There are refreshments on board as you travel.
Cons:
- There is a limited chance to see the countryside when traveling overnight.
- There is the possibility of making an incorrect booking with a limited chance to change it once you are at the bus station.
4-Day Best of Chiang Mai Tour:
Drive to Chiang Mai in a Car Rental from a Travel Agency (Cost Is from 500 Baht / US$15 Per Day)
If you are really brave, then you can rent a car to give you complete independence but that is about the only advantage. It makes little sense to drive in such a crowded city as Bangkok. Although the traffic is far less hectic outside the capital, you would have to get out to the open roads first. In any event, drivers tend to be far less predictable than they are back home, and you do not want an accident and all the implications that follow while enjoying a holiday.
Tip: Think very seriously about any real benefits of traveling this way.
Pro:
- You have more independence but at what cost?
Cons:
- Local traffic conditions.
- Unfamiliarity with the roads.
Useful Tips about Traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
1. Bangkok is a huge city, which is sometimes overwhelming. Unless you are familiar with it, you may be more comfortable seeking the most convenient form of transport rather than worrying too much about the price.
2. Air travel gets you quickly from one place to another and reaching an airport from your hotel is a simple exercise, especially when assistance from your hotel's tour desk is usually provided.
3. Tourist buses are popular because of their cost but have little else to recommend them other than they are heading to your next destination.
4. VIP/deluxe buses are much better because you are likely to have far more room and the chance to relax. Take care when booking, though, because travelers are offered VIP when, in fact, the bus is purely a tourist one.
5. Trains are generally comfortable although the food can be expensive and the beer can be warm.
Travel to Chiang Mai from Bangkok with Us
If you book a tour, you can forget about any need to make your own travel arrangements. It will all be handled for you and you will get peace of mind when receiving confirmation from us that everything is in place before you leave home.
In addition to the transport, you will benefit from the services of a company that understands the best way to plan an itinerary and includes the highlights of each destination. Help and advice is given to you free without any obligation until you make a booking, which is the best decision of all to make.
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Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.
moreOur guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!
moreOur China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.
moreShe was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,
moreOur tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.
moreHe picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreOur day trip to Hangzhou was phenomenal. Derek, our guide, was impeccable. By far the best guide we have had so far. He is extremely knowledgeable about the country’s history and geography and was always excited to share his insights.
moreXian es encantadora, el hotel Eastern house boutique muy buena elección por parte de la agencia, los desayunos muy completos para complacer todo tipo de gusto, lo recomiendo 100%, el itinerario fue muy acertado fueron 2 días en la ciudad xian, compartimos con la guía Susana, la atención, la amabilidad y sobre todo su profesionalismo fue lo que marcó la diferencia, sus detalles, estaba siempre en el lugar y momento correcto para hacer de xian un lugar inolvidable.
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