Chiang Mai Airport (CNX) to Chiang Rai (CEI)

Chiang Mai Airport (CNX) to Chiang Rai (CEI)

Chiang Mai Airport
Chiang Rai
Mon, May 25
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Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai Destination Reviews

DM
Dennis M
Communication was great and was a fast and easy transfer process
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Van Van, So Good Airline Service and Travel, May 20, 2026
DO
Dominique O
Language barrier with Driver but it’s to be expected. Picked up on time and Got us to our destination. However he drove aggressively fast, dangerous at times passing multiple vehicles during our entire long ride. Worried he may endanger many more passengers in the future into a car accident. He would pass aggressively almost had so many close calls with oncoming traffic passing double yellow lines at an unsafe speed. We value safe driving to get to our final destination than being aggressively fast where we feared for our lives. Unsettling ride that’s for sure. We are just thankful we arrived alive after the ride.
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Van Van, So Good Airline Service and Travel, May 17, 2026
VP
Véronique P
On time, confortable.
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), May 17, 2026
SP
Sabina P
Very easy travel from Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai. Everything pretty clear and uncomplicated. Price fair, pretty much same as Book directly at the bus station.
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), May 12, 2026
MV
Marija V
Van was late and that wouldn't be the problem if they just let me know before I had to call them after 40 minutes of wait. Also, we get to stop by the White Temple and I wasn't aware of that, I thought it was direct transport. The confort was satisfactory and I got from point A to the point B. I would recommend the agency just I would suggest them to be a bit open and clear about things.
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Van Standard, Aya Service (Aya Service), May 10, 2026
CG
Carla G
Punctual, fast and the AC was working too well
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Apr 29, 2026
SS
Sarah S
Bus was on time, staff friendly and helpful and spoke english. Seats were very comfy and free water provided! Trip was pretty much the length of time that’s stated
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Apr 28, 2026
TF
Thomas F
I unfortunately got stuck in the back seat of the minivan basically in the boot next to the luggage. Im 6ft4 I could not stretch my legs and was in a lot of pain 😂 There are other seats with a lot more room so if you get picked up early get those seats first! We got picked up in a nice car but then dropped at a petrol station for 30 mins where we waited for the minivan. Got to chiang rai after about 5 hours in total since leaving chiang mai. If I was in a better seat it would have been fine I reckon.
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Van VIP Minivan, Pai Friendly Tour, Apr 28, 2026
JH
Jessy H
Not satisfied with the ride, service, or communication.
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Apr 26, 2026
AN
Ayelen N
From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, everything was great—it took 3:45 hours.
Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Apr 24, 2026
4.4
6357 customer reviews
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Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
06:20
14:20
$103.20
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
06:50
12:40
$193.21
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
07:10
12:40
$88.19
Flight
Nok Air
Economy
07:55
09:35
$109.00
Flight
Nok Air
Economy
08:15
15:00
$84.65
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
09:05
19:25
$66.09
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
09:25
07:55
$119.05
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
09:45
15:50
$198.66
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
10:05
15:35
$95.85
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
10:25
15:35
$193.21
Flight
Thai Lion Air
Economy
10:50
18:40
$67.83
Flight
Nok Air
Economy
11:10
18:15
$64.36
Flight
Thai Lion Air
Economy
11:40
18:35
$103.78
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
12:00
17:20
$199.95
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
12:20
17:45
$196.58
Flight
Thai Lion Air
Economy
12:40
09:35
$59.14
Flight
Thai Lion Air
Economy
13:05
18:35
$103.43
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
13:25
17:45
$216.80
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
13:50
19:25
$92.18
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
14:10
19:25
$148.24

How to get from Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai

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

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Taxi. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Taxi 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 237.52. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 8.30.

How far is Chiang Mai Airport from Chiang Rai?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai. Your trip will be a total of 94 miles (150 km). The flying distance is 94 miles (150 km).

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

The travel time from Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 3 to 6 hours.

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

The cost of the trip from Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)): travelling by bus expect to pay as low as USD 8.30 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 237.52.

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

  • Bus tickets - USD 8.30 to USD 14.06;
  • Plane tickets - USD 109.95 to USD 109.95;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 131.39 to USD 237.52.

How many trips per day are there between Chiang Mai Airport and Chiang Rai?

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

  • Buses start plying the route from 07:00 - you can also take a bus as late as 18:00. There are 19 available bus trips every day.
  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Flights

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. While it’s often the most expensive option, tool, occasionally you can grab promotional tickets for more or less the price of a train or a ferry ticket. Normally, the minimum you need to pay for a Plane ticket is USD 109.95.

Things to remember before boarding a plane:

  • It’s recommended to book a ticket in advance and check-in online. This way, you can save over 2 hours at the airport, and if your seat selection is on a first come first served basis you will have more options to choose from.
  • Getting through security checks may take some time - it’s recommended to get to the airport at least 1.5 hours in advance.

Airlines flying from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

Thai AirAsia (แอร์เอเชีย)

Buses

Taking a bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai 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 Mai to Chiang Rai. 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 131.39.

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

The most popular transport from Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai? 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:

  • 95% decided to go for a bus.
  • 5% decided to catch a taxi.

Transportation from Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai

Facts about the transport from Chiang Mai Airport to Chiang Rai

Cheapest Transport$9
Fastest Transport3h
Earliest Departure7:00 AM
Latest Departure6:00 PM
Departures per day48
Distance150 kilometers
Transport CompaniesJed Yord, Smart En Plus, Thai AirAsia