Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Chiang Rai
Luang Prabang
Mon, Aug 17
+ Add return
2 Travelers
Finding the best routes for you — almost ready!
Sort by
Filters
Departure time
Transport type
Departure station
Arrival station
Booking Facilities
Price
Arrival time
Operators
 
 
 
 
 

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

D
Domenico
Highly recommend! No better way to get inside Laos from Thailand than this!
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Minivan + Slow Boat, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Aug 11, 2026
LR
Lois R
Driver was on time and helpful, and staff at the border were so helpful in getting our VISA application ready. We even got to skip the queue at the Laos border. The slow boat itself was lovely - a great way to travel
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Minivan + Slow Boat, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Aug 4, 2026
OW
Olaf W
A long ride on a very bumpy way. De driver stopped at a terrible toiletblock.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Train, Mekong Transfer, Jul 27, 2026
SO
Sarah O
Everything ran smoothly and to time, staff helped at boarder with visa/arrival card and were very friendly. We had to change our tickets to the day after and staff ensured this happened with no extra charge.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Train, Mekong Transfer, Jul 12, 2026
NL
Niamh L
The Thai side of the transfer was perfect no complaints at all. However, the Laos transfer was awful. The driver was rude and drove about 100 miles an hour down these dirt roads and was overtaking on blind corners. I’ve been travelling SEA for 3 months and it was the worst driving I have experienced. No toilet breaks either. Dreadful.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Shuttle Bus + Express Train 2nd Class Seat, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Jul 10, 2026
L
Laura
From the beginning communication was great. JJ helped me with what I needed. The slow boat was more than I expected, the views where indescribable. Pure beauty. The boat had a couple of spare seats so the journey ess was comfortable and smooth. I would come back just to do the boat again.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Ferry, So Good Airline Service and Travel, Jun 26, 2026
ET
Eva T
Communication was great!
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Ferry, So Good Airline Service and Travel, Jun 23, 2026
ZK
Zuzanna K
Great company! The journey was really well organised and the staff helped with everything, including the visa process.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Train, Mekong Transfer, Jun 20, 2026
RH
Ruth H
Clear instructions and prompt pick up
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Ferry Truck + Ferry, Mekong Transfer, Apr 4, 2026
LE
Lucas E
The transfer between the different bus is well organised. They are used to do it. Just one problem about the train. They didn't book our train ticket in advance, then it was fully book and we had to take the next train and we arrive 3 hours later. It's happening, but they didn't warn us earlier, they informed us at the border in Laos, so to late to find any other option. Exept this problem, everything was ok, and we recommend.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Train, Mekong Transfer, Feb 27, 2026
4.4
184 customer reviews
5
53%
4
21%
3
19%
2
7%
1
0%

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Easyride Services
SUV 4pax
Any time
+8h 30m
$569.61
Bus
K Buddy
Van + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
05:00
16:00
$38.61
  4.5
Van
Mekong Transfer
Van + Bus
05:30
23:30
$46.71
Bus
Yortdoy Travel
Van + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
08:00
17:00
$34.66
  4.3
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
08:25
12:05
$226.54
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
08:50
15:15
$201.95
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
10:10
12:05
$247.29
Van
LaoLuang Travel
Van + Shuttle + Sleeping Bus
11:00
06:00
$40.69
  2.0
Bus
Naluangs
Bus + Van + Sleeping Bus
12:00
07:30
$45.21
Flight
Nok Air
Economy
12:30
15:15
$126.82
Flight
Nok Air
Economy
12:55
14:05
$141.23
Bus
Yortdoy Travel
Van + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus
13:30
08:00
$42.19
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
13:50
12:05
$327.42
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
14:25
12:20
$166.01
Flight
Thai Lion Air
Economy
14:50
14:05
$139.96
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
15:25
12:05
$159.91
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
16:05
15:15
$185.04
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
16:25
12:20
$138.34
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
17:55
14:05
$123.93
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
18:15
15:15
$186.77

How to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

When you want to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Ferry
  • Train
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Flight. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Bus+taxi+ferry ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 911.19. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 41.30.

How far is Chiang Rai from Luang Prabang?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. Your trip will be a total of 1088 miles (1750 km). The flying distance is 2554 miles (4109 km).

How long does it take to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang?

The travel time from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 5 to 35 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang?

The cost of the trip from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Naluangs: travelling by bus expect to pay as low as USD 41.30 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 911.19.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang:

  • Bus tickets - USD 41.29 to USD 41.29;
  • Bus+taxi+Ferry price: USD 43.13. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • Bus+Ferry+Van price: USD 43.73. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 08:00 Chiang Khong Transfer until 08:00 Chiang Khong Transfer
  • Ferry+Van price: USD 43.73 - USD 245.93. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 06:00 Chiang Khong Transfer until 07:30 Chiang Khong Transfer
  • Bus+Van price: USD 52.44. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 15:30 Chiang Khong Transfer until 15:30 Chiang Khong Transfer
  • Van price : USD 56.06;
  • Bus+taxi price: USD 56.51. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • Train+Van price: USD 64.04. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
  • Bus+taxi+Van price: USD 75.16 - USD 77.43. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 00:00 Chiang Khong Town Transfer until 00:00 Chiang Khong Town Transfer
  • flight+Bus price: USD 91.05. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 18:30 Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2 until 18:30 Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2
  • flight price: USD 163.86 - USD 266.93. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 08:30 Chiang Rai Airport until 21:55 Chiang Rai Airport
  • taxi+Ferry price: USD 1,048.81. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 00:00 Chiang Rai Speed Boat Pick Up Point until 00:00 Chiang Rai Speed Boat Pick Up Point

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 682.45 to USD 911.20.

How many trips per day are there between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • 3 by Ferry+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 06:00 Chiang Khong Transfer until 07:30 Chiang Khong Transfer
  • Buses start plying the route from 15:00 - you can also take a bus as late as 15:00. There are 1 available bus trips every day.
  • 1 by Bus+Ferry+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 08:00 Chiang Khong Transfer until 08:00 Chiang Khong Transfer
  • 1 by Bus+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 15:30 Chiang Khong Transfer until 15:30 Chiang Khong Transfer
  • Vans from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 1 departures a day.
  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 682.45.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.

Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang.

Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..

The most popular transport from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 16% chosen Bus+taxi+Ferry
  • 16% chosen Ferry+Van
  • 14% chosen Bus+Van
  • 14% chosen taxi+Ferry
  • 14% opted for a van.
  • 6% chosen Bus+taxi
  • 6% chosen Bus+Ferry+Van
  • 6% chosen Train+Van
  • 4% decided to go for a bus.
  • 1% Other

Facts about the transport from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport$42
Fastest Transport4h 50m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure9:55 PM
Departures per day9
Distance1750 kilometers
Transport CompaniesFirstplan Transport Services, K Buddy, Mekong Transfer, Naluang, Naluangs, Smart En Plus, Sombat Tour, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Yortdoy Travel