Chiang Rai has no railway links yet is easily reached by bus. The perennially comfortable Green Bus services take around 2 hours 30 minutes to make the journey from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai also has direct buses from Bangkok and locations in Isarn such as Udon Thani and Khon Kaen.
Lampang, Lamphun and Sukhothai are within easy range of Chiang Mai. The first two towns are on the main railway line linking Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The nearest mainline rail station to Sukhothai is at Phitsanoluk.
There are plenty of local buses between all of these towns. Visitors will find they can quickly be riding in a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Lampang or walking in the footsteps of the Sukhothai kings among stately 800-year-old ruins.
Exploring Northern Thailand by bus
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Although Chiang Mai is Northern Thailand’s biggest and best known city, there are plenty of other towns in the locality which offer their own unique attractions and ambience. Chiang Rai is noted for its Buddhist temples, night bazaar and Boomerang Adventure Park. It is convenient for trips to the majestic White Temple and the Myanmar border crossing at Mae Sai.