Buses from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Buses from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai
Sat, Aug 1
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2 Travelers
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Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai Destination Reviews

SA
Salam A
The bus was old and the seat was very uncomfortable
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 26, 2026
M
Mireia
The vehicle was really very comfortable and the operator was on time.
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 23, 2026
MH
Michael H
The VIP seats were great. Comfortable with Plenty of legroom, width and good recline. Trying to work out where the boarding is was terrible - needs much clearer sighs. The road however was awful. Lots of roadworks - they trying to finish a freeway, but it’s only about 40% complete and just in patches. Very bumpy, winding roads and very uncomfortable.
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 23, 2026
ML
Michel L
Very comfortable, great experience
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 21, 2026
VC
Vicente C
We arrived late due to the roadworks.
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 19, 2026
L
Li
The Car is old and not comfortable, It smells a bit niffy down there.
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 19, 2026
CC
Chiara C
The seats were quite confortabile, the ride was on time, the A/C wasn't too strong.
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 16, 2026
JM
Juan M
Fantástic day with the elephants, everything was ok. People of the you was brilliant. Thank you for all
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 10, 2026
TH
Tessine H
The bed on the top were not comfortable at all. We couldn't sleep on them
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 9, 2026
MK
Miroslav K
More then 40 min late and very poor cleanliness level of seats.
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 4, 2026
4.4
3830 customer reviews
5
57%
4
27%
3
11%
2
5%
1
0%

Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai Bus Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
GreenBus
Express
07:30
11:15
$8.51
  4.2
GreenBus
VIP
08:00
11:20
$12.90
  4.5
GreenBus
Express
08:30
12:15
$8.51
  4.2
GreenBus
Express
09:00
12:45
$7.91
  4.2
GreenBus
VIP
09:30
12:50
$12.30
  4.5
GreenBus
VIP
10:00
13:20
$12.90
  4.5
GreenBus
Express
10:25
13:55
$8.51
  4.2
GreenBus
VIP
10:45
14:05
$12.90
  4.5
GreenBus
Express
11:15
15:05
$6.18
  4.0
GreenBus
Express
11:45
15:30
$7.91
  4.3
GreenBus
Express
12:15
16:00
$7.91
  4.2
GreenBus
Express
12:45
16:30
$7.91
  4.2
GreenBus
Express Combo
13:10
16:10
$6.45
  4.0
GreenBus
Express
13:30
17:15
$8.51
  4.2
GreenBus
VIP
14:30
17:50
$12.30
  4.5
GreenBus
Express
15:00
18:45
$8.51
  4.2
GreenBus
Express
15:30
19:15
$7.91
  4.2
GreenBus
Express
16:00
19:45
$8.51
  4.2
GreenBus
Express
16:30
20:15
$7.91
  4.2
GreenBus
Express
17:00
20:45
$7.91
  4.2

How to get from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai by Bus

Taking a bus to get from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai is a safe, comfortable and less expensive alternative for traveling this route. To popular destinations, bus companies operate multiple trips per day, often round the clock at 30-60 minute intervals. To less traveled destinations, there may be only 1 scheduled trip a day. The most common bus types are non-air-conditioned, air-conditioned, and premium buses.

It is best to reserve your tickets at least a few days ahead of your travel date. Check our list of bus companies available for online booking offering Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai tickets. When traveling on weekends and holidays it is recommended to reserve tickets much earlier due to higher numbers of travelers, both vacation-makers and urban workers returning home to their provincial home.

How far is it from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai?

Traveling by bus, the distance from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai depends on the route taken. Most bus companies travel via expressways or tollways. This may not necessarily be the shortest route but it is the fastest one as normally there is less traffic and no traffic lights.

To get to certain island destinations which are not connected to the mainland by a bridge, buses board large car ferries. Passengers are usually asked to get off the bus, but there is no need to take your luggage from the bus. The travel distance from port to port is added to the total distance.

How long does it take to get from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai by Bus?

The estimate travel time from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai is about 3h 20m. Note that traveling by bus is slower compared to driving your own car or getting a taxi. Depending on the departure time congestion between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai may differ greatly There is usually more traffic between morning until afternoon during weekdays than during weekends.

Another important factor that may affect travel time is the type of bus. Premium or VIP buses are usually faster as they use motorways and call to fewer bus stations (if any) en route. Buses normally make short 10-30-minute breaks after a few hours of continuous travel to allow passengers use bathrooms, stock up on munchies and let bus attendants and the driver have rest.

Some premium buses have onboard toilets and the second driver. Nevertheless, usually they still make en route stops for a quick lunch or fuel refill.

How much does it cost to get from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai by Bus?

The ticket price from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai can vary depending on the type of buses you choose. For a less expensive ticket consider non-air-conditioned or ordinary buses. Premium or luxury buses are more expensive but you can expect more comfort and some additional services like phone charging ports, personal entertainment system screens and toilets.

Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai timetable

To help you plan your trip, here is the Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai timetable of bus departure and arrival times.

Best Rated Companies for this Route

Bus companies differ a lot in quality and service they provide. When choosing a bus company for you travels, do some basic research before you buy your tickets.

Safety is one of the most important aspects to consider. We also recommend you checking reviews on overall service quality of the bus companies serving this route.

Our service only partners with reliable and trustworthy bus companies. We do our best to provide your a choice of the best operators available on each route.

Transportation from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Facts about the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Cheapest Bus$11
Fastest Bus3h 20m
Earliest Bus7:30 ص
Latest Bus1:00 م
Daily Bus Routes16
Distance146 kilometers
Bus CompaniesGreenBus, Mekong Transfer, Yortdoy Travel