Chiang Mai to Khao San

Find my accommodation

Finding the best routes for you — almost ready!

High Demand!

Trips from Chiang Mai to Bangkok are selling out quickly on these dates, secure your seat.

Chiang Mai to Khao San Destination Reviews

Soobassini

Great experience

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Bus Express, Bangkok Busline (บางกอกบัสไลน์), Jul 25, 2026

Kelly R

Comfortable spacious seats, AC, snack water and meal voucher provided. Ideal environment for a long ride.

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Bus Express, Bangkok Busline (บางกอกบัสไลน์), Jul 25, 2026

Ida S

The bus was so cold that I got sick, even when using the blanket provided (and made it almost impossible to fall asleep). Otherwise the trip was good, but that level of discomfort destroyed the whole experience.

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Bus Super VIP Bus, Sritawong Tour (Sritawong Tour), Jul 22, 2026

Seng T

Smooth

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Bus Super VIP Bus, Sritawong Tour (Sritawong Tour), Jul 21, 2026

Stephen P

12go were great. When I booked the train they were quick to communicate that it had sold out and found tickets on another train instead. Overall the ride was efficient and on time. The issue I had was the train cabin was quite old and the aircon was stuck on cold - this made it uncomfortable in the cabin. Make sure you take lots of layers. The bed was relatively comfy though.

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Train #14 1st Class Sleeper, Thai Railways (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย), Jul 21, 2026

Michelle C

Very nice. Fun.

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Train #10 1st Class Sleeper, Thai Railways (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย), Jul 20, 2026

Dennis

Extremely out dated.

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Train #52 2nd Class Sleeper AC, Thai Railway (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย), Jul 15, 2026

Stephan T

We took the night train. The train is very bumpy and it is hard to sleep because of the bumpiness and also because of the AC which makes it a bit cold. Besides that it is ok. O recommend not to eat and risk going to the toilet during the trip. Peeing on the toilet was ok.

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Train #14 2nd Class Sleeper AC, Thai Railway (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย), Jul 12, 2026

Jack G

The 2nd class beds are brilliant. Comfortable, with a western toilet, and all have curtains and plug sockets. Meals can also be purchased onboard

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Train #14 2nd Class Sleeper AC, Thai Railway (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย), Jul 10, 2026

Nicholas C

The cabin on the train was exceptionally cold with no way of controlling the temperature. It was a very long and cold journey with children.

Chiang Mai to Khao San, Train #14 1st Class Sleeper, Thai Railways (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย), Jul 10, 2026

4.4

9169 customer reviews

49%

31%

14%

How to get from Chiang Mai to Khao San

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

Bus
Train
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 Train 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 396.07. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 8.33.

How far is Chiang Mai from Khao San?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Chiang Mai to Khao San. Your trip will be a total of 280 miles (450 km). The flying distance is 280 miles (450 km).

How long does it take to get from Chiang Mai to Khao San?

The travel time from Chiang Mai to Khao San can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 9 to 15 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Chiang Mai to Khao San?

The cost of the trip from Chiang Mai to Khao San varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Thai Railway (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย): travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 8.33 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 396.07.

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

Train tickets - USD 8.33 to USD 57.82;
Bus tickets - USD 19.37 to USD 30.23;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 237.97 to USD 396.07.

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

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

Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 26 trains per day.
Buses start plying the route from 07:30 - you can also take a bus as late as 21:30. There are 21 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 Bangkok any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Chiang Mai to Bangkok 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 Bangkok. 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 237.97.

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

Trains

Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.

If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks..

The most popular transport from Chiang Mai to Khao San

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

55% users enjoyed a train ride.
44% decided to go for a bus.
1% Other

Transportation from Chiang Mai to Khao San

Trains

$ 8.33
Buses

$ 19.37
Taxis

$ 237.97
Ferries are not available
Flights are not available
Vans are not available

Facts about the transport from Chiang Mai to Khao San

Cheapest Transport	$9
Fastest Transport	9h
Earliest Departure	6:30 AM
Latest Departure	9:30 PM
Departures per day	55
Distance	450 kilometers
Transport Companies	Bangkok Busline, BangkokTaxi24, Glassflower, Smart En Plus, Sombat Tour, Thai Railway, Thai Railways, Transport Co