Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Destination Reviews

Jose

A lot of noisy and movement

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 21, 2025

Philippa

All good, turned up on time, comfy seats, snack and water given,

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 18, 2025

Dean J

Plenty of leg room

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 17, 2025

Michela A

Ottimo servizio puntuale.

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 16, 2025

Samitha K

Bus was cancelled. We were not notified and only found out once we were at the bi+us station.

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 14, 2025

Amrei F

The bus ride went very well, but the instruction to arrive 30 min before the trip was unnecessary. The bus arrived at the time it was said to leave and we just had to show the pdf ticket and board. No problems at all :)

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 11, 2025

Deb C

Great Experience

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 8, 2025

Eugenia P

Air conditioned, clean and comfortable van. Driver was polite and friendly and drove us safely to destination.

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Van, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Jul 8, 2025

Robert

Seat was broken back could not be adjusted so was uncomfortable

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus Express, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 7, 2025

Francesco S

Seat are pretty comfortable, trip was smooth, we had to change bus right at the beginning for some reason, so about 30 minute delay

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 5, 2025

4.4

4595 customer reviews

55%

30%

11%

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Taxi	Freedom Tour Taxi Service	Comfort 3pax	Any time	+3h	$94.21	3.7
Bus	GreenBus	VIP	06:00	09:20	$10.04	4.5
Bus	GreenBus	Express	06:30	10:15	$6.67	4.3
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	06:50	12:40	$107.47
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	07:10	12:40	$93.58
Bus	GreenBus	Express	07:30	11:15	$6.67	4.3
Bus	GreenBus	Express	08:00	14:35	$9.61	4.1
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	08:25	12:40	$129.47
Bus	GreenBus	Express	08:45	12:30	$8.19	4.3
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	09:10	15:00	$82.76
Bus	GreenBus	VIP	09:30	12:50	$12.73	4.5
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	09:50	15:00	$139.91
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	10:10	15:00	$109.02
Bus	GreenBus	Express	10:30	14:15	$6.67	4.3
Flight	Thai Vietjet	Economy	10:50	10:20	$294.30
Bus	GreenBus	Express	11:30	15:20	$6.39	4.1
Flight	Thai Vietjet	Economy	11:50	19:25	$129.37
Bus	GreenBus	Express	12:15	16:00	$6.67	4.3
Bus	GreenBus	Express	12:45	16:25	$8.19	4.3
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	13:05	17:20	$90.09

Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai both have rich art scenes, but they differ in scope and influence. Chiang Mai, as a larger city, offers a broader range of galleries, street art, and cultural events, making it a hub for contemporary and traditional Thai art. However, Chiang Rai has a unique artistic identity centered around visionary works like the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) and the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), which blend modern and traditional styles. Chiang Rai is also home to renowned artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and his legacy, which attracts art enthusiasts seeking a more focused experience. In summary, Chiang Mai is diverse and dynamic, while Chiang Rai offers a concentrated and distinctive artistic appeal for those seeking something more niche.

Chiang Rai supports Grab, which is widely used for transportation and food delivery services, offering convenience for both locals and tourists.
Uber no longer operates in Thailand, as Grab acquired Uber's Southeast Asian operations in 2018.
Aside from Grab, traditional transportation options like songthaews (shared trucks) and tuk-tuks remain common, especially for short trips.
Travelers should ensure internet connectivity or a local SIM card for using Grab effectively.

In summary, Grab is the go-to app for rides in Chiang Rai, complemented by traditional local transport methods.

Chiang Rai is considered a peaceful and affordable place to live, ideal for those seeking a slower pace of life. The city features cooler weather compared to other parts of Thailand, especially in winter, and offers easy access to nature, including mountains and rivers. While it has modern amenities such as hospitals, schools, and supermarkets, it lacks the urban hustle and nightlife of cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai. For expatriates, Chiang Rai offers a welcoming community, a low cost of living, and cultural charm, making it suitable for retirees or remote workers. However, those seeking bustling city life or a wide range of job opportunities may find it less ideal.

Transportation from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

Buses

$ 10.50
Flights

$ 65.64
Taxis

$ 29.65
Vans

$ 21.62
Trains are not available
Ferries are not available

Facts about the transport from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

Cheapest Transport	$11
Fastest Transport	2h 30m
Earliest Departure	7:00 AM
Latest Departure	10:20 PM
Departures per day	80
Distance	125 kilometers
Transport Companies	Andaman Shuttle, Aya Service, BangkokTaxi24, Easyride Services, Freedom Tour Taxi Service, Go2Trip, Gosafe Transport, GreenBus, Kim Transfers Thailand, Mekong Transfer, Naluangs, Smart En Plus, Smile On Transport, T Buddy Service Chiang Mai, Terminal Green Pai, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Thai Vietjet, Thailand Travel Taxi, Than Car Service, Torch, Yortdoy Travel

Popular Routes

From Chiang Mai

From Chiang Rai

Popular Routes in Thailand

How to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

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

Flight
Bus
Van
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 Flight 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 209.58. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 10.50.

How far is Chiang Mai from Chiang Rai?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Your trip will be a total of 78 miles (125 km). The flying distance is 78 miles (125 km).

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

The travel time from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 3 to 11 hours.

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

The cost of the trip from Chiang Mai 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 10.50 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 209.58.

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

Bus tickets - USD 10.50 to USD 15.04;
Van price : USD 21.62 - USD 25.95;
Bus+taxi price: USD 29.65. From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai starting from 09:30 Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 until 09:30 Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3
Bus+taxi+Van price: USD 33.98. From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai starting from 09:00 Tha Phae Gate until 09:00 Tha Phae Gate
flight price: USD 65.64 - USD 180.08. From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai starting from 07:10 Chiang Mai Airport until 22:20 Chiang Mai Airport

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 81.24 to USD 209.58.

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

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

25 by flight from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai starting from 07:10 Chiang Mai Airport until 22:20 Chiang Mai Airport
Buses start plying the route from 07:00 - you can also take a bus as late as 18:00. There are 11 available bus trips every day.
Vans from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai depart during the day - there are approximately 4 departures a 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?

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 81.24.

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 Mai to Chiang Rai. 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 Mai to Chiang Rai.

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 Mai to Chiang Rai

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

69% decided to go for a bus.
14% opted for a van.
10% chosen Bus+taxi+Van
7% decided to catch a taxi.