Buses from Pai to Chiang Mai

Buses from Pai to Chiang Mai

Pai
Chiang Mai
Sat, Aug 15
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2 Travelers
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Pai to Chiang Mai Destination Reviews

GD
Gloria D
The driver drove like a maniac. Way too hard. My kid had too pure. Dangerous as hell, so half way I got out and found another driver who drove responsible.
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), Aug 9, 2026
RW
Robert W
On time, in fact ahead of time arriving which always feels good. Seats are comfy and spacious enough for the short Chiang Mai to Pai route, I’m skinny 6ft.. Drivers were safe and fast
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), Aug 1, 2026
SR
Samantha R
Someone had thrown up on the seat next to me. They had tried to clean it but they still put a lady in it, she complained the seat was wet and when she went to put her seatbelt on she came in contact with the vomit which confirmed where the smell of the vomit was coming from. They promptly moved both of our seats. The driver then proceeded to drive very fast and unsafely through all the mountain turns, I didn’t feel well and I had even taken a travel sick tablet. Connecting the dots between the driver and the vomit
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), Jul 5, 2026
GV
Geertruida V
luggage everywhere. we sat on the back seats. not enough space for your legs because of the wheel and on the aisle side luggage piled up
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), May 20, 2026
LB
Lori B
12go has a sneaky way of charging you unwanted travel insurance by making you "uncheck" the option which is buried in the booking process. I did not see the unwanted fees until the payment was made.
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), Apr 10, 2026
DM
Danielle M
On Time, driver was smooth considering the road.
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), Mar 20, 2026
Gabrielė Š
All the way through the mountains I felt really badly. Every turn I felt like I was going to puke. The driver was driving very fast in turns
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), Feb 19, 2026
SC
Shazia C
Okay, now that I know better I woulf highly advise not using this app. It is so much better and more affordable to just purchase tickets from local vendors or directly from thr bus station. Knowing how much others paid for the exact same trip as us feels like robbery - 200 baht vs 1500 baht. If you have no other way of getting to your destination then fine but rather plan and book in advance using other methods. We were also delayed. The van was supposed to leave at 15:30 and we only left Pai after 16:00.
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan + Bus, Tara Tour and Travel (ธาราทัวร์แอนด์ทราเวล), Feb 15, 2026
IP
Irina P
It was ok. If you have the possibility to take a scooter, do that. The road is very windy and brutal and the driver goes quite fast. A woman on my bus had to throw up and asked him to stop but he just kept going and told her to use a bag. I also had to throw up when we took a quick stop for toilet break, despite me taking travel sickness medication beforehand.
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), Feb 13, 2026
FC
Flavia C
The website tricks you into buying insurance. Support was helpful and refunded but the problem it’s the reservation process.
Pai to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan, Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง), Feb 12, 2026
4.4
1709 customer reviews
5
56%
4
26%
3
12%
2
6%
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Pai to Chiang Mai Bus Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Prem Pracha
Minivan
07:00
10:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
08:00
11:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
09:00
12:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
10:00
13:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
11:00
14:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
11:30
15:25
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
12:00
15:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
13:00
16:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
14:00
17:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
15:00
18:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
16:00
19:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
17:00
20:55
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
17:30
21:25
$4.83
  4.3
Prem Pracha
Minivan
18:30
22:25
$4.83
  4.3

How to get from Pai to Chiang Mai by Bus

Taking a bus to get from Pai 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 Pai 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 Pai to Chiang Mai?

Traveling by bus, the distance from Pai 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 Pai to Chiang Mai by Bus?

The estimate travel time from Pai to Chiang Mai is about 3h 55m. Note that traveling by bus is slower compared to driving your own car or getting a taxi. Depending on the departure time congestion between Pai 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 Pai to Chiang Mai by Bus?

The ticket price from Pai 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.

Pai to Chiang Mai timetable

To help you plan your trip, here is the Pai 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 Pai to Chiang Mai

Facts about the bus from Pai to Chiang Mai

Cheapest Bus$10
Fastest Bus3h
Earliest Bus7:00 AM
Latest Bus5:30 PM
Daily Bus Routes19
Distance125 kilometers
Bus CompaniesNorth Ride Go, Prem Pracha, Tara Tour and Travel