Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Chiang Rai
Luang Prabang
Fri, Mar 6
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Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

MS
Maximilian S
The lost my lugage
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Shuttle Bus + Express Train 2nd Class Seat, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Mar 1, 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
CS
Chloe S
Could have done with a bit more communication, but overall a smooth experience
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Train, LaoLuang Travel (ບໍລິສັດທ່ອງທ່ຽວລາວຫຼວງ), Feb 26, 2026
EH
Emma H
Scary drive to the border, a very fast one handed drive whilst the driver was on his phone. Stopped to complete visa's for those that needed, and fill in some paperwork. Also given the chance to change some money (appalling exchange rate but we would need money for the over night stop). No-one to meet us or explain next step over the border. All other tour groups left. Eventually herded into 2 of the slowest, oldest buses to the pier to meet the slow boat.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Ferry Truck + Ferry, Mekong Transfer, Feb 22, 2026
LF
Luis F
All good. The only thing I saw could be better is the organization of they boat fron Pakbeng to Luan Prabang, we were at the last minute trying to make room for more and more people and in they end another boat departured too, so that second boat was only a few people there, while we on the first boat were really packed. I think makes more sense to distribute more evenly or plan ahead or estimate the amount of people they expect.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Shuttle Bus + Slow Boat, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Feb 14, 2026
KR
Kane R
A well organised transfer - I would highly recommend.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Train, Mekong Transfer, Feb 11, 2026
JN
Janette N
This boat is a local means of transportation, not a tourist activity. During the trip, many backpackers treated it like a party, occupying all the seats without considering local passengers. I saw women with small children forced to stay in the engine area due to lack of seats. I gave up my seat more than once and eventually had to travel there myself. An experience that raises important questions about respect and responsibility when traveling.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Ferry Truck + Ferry, Mekong Transfer, Feb 9, 2026
SD
Sandrine D
When you sit in the front of the boat the experience is much more enjoyable. About 200people in the boat, with ramen you can buy and water
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Ferry Truck + Ferry, Mekong Transfer, Feb 9, 2026
W
Wencke
They picked me up on time and cared about me. I‘m happy with every pickup!
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Ferry, So Good Airline Service and Travel, Feb 8, 2026
C
Camille
Hello, it was perfect ! The guide who helped us cross the border was so kind and funny, I loved him! He made the crossing super chill Everything went smoothly, thank you so much!
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Ferry, So Good Airline Service and Travel, Feb 5, 2026
4.4
156 customer reviews
5
51%
4
21%
3
19%
2
8%
1
1%

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Easyride Services
SUV 4pax
Any time
+8h 30m
€514.01
Bus
K Buddy
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
05:00
16:00
€34.84
  4.5
Van
Mekong Transfer
Van + Bus
05:30
23:30
€42.15
Bus
Yortdoy Travel
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
08:00
17:00
€31.28
  4.3
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
08:25
12:05
€196.50
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
08:50
15:15
€172.82
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
10:10
12:05
€214.50
Van
LaoLuang Travel
Van + Shuttle + Sleeping Bus
11:00
06:00
€36.72
  2.0
Bus
Naluangs
Bus + Taxi + Sleeping Bus
12:00
07:30
€40.79
Flight
Nok Air
Economy
12:30
15:15
€110.00
Flight
Nok Air
Economy
12:55
14:05
€122.50
Bus
Yortdoy Travel
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus
13:30
08:00
€38.08
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
13:50
12:05
€284.00
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
14:25
12:20
€144.00
Flight
Thai Lion Air
Economy
14:50
14:05
€121.40
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
15:25
12:05
€138.71
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
16:05
15:15
€160.50
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
16:25
12:20
€120.00
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
17:55
14:05
€107.50
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
18:15
15:15
€162.00

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 Ferry+van 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 EUR 684.94. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus+ferry+van as a bus+ferry+van ticket costs as low as EUR 38.92.

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 1585 miles (2549 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 51 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 K Buddy (เค บัดดี้): travelling by bus+ferry+van expect to pay as low as EUR 38.92 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 EUR 684.94.

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

  • Bus tickets - EUR 37.26 to EUR 38.08;
  • Bus+taxi+Ferry price: EUR 38.92. 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: EUR 38.92 - EUR 42.56. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • taxi+Ferry price: EUR 40.52. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • Ferry+Van price: EUR 40.79 - EUR 189.29. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 13:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
  • Bus+Van price: EUR 42.15 - EUR 47.59. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 13:30 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
  • Train+Van price: EUR 42.83 - EUR 53.03. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
  • Van price : EUR 47.32 - EUR 50.31;
  • Bus+taxi price: EUR 47.59. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • Bus+taxi+Van price: EUR 67.83 - EUR 69.87. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 00:00 Chiang Khong Town Transfer until 00:00 Chiang Khong Town Transfer
  • flight+Bus price: EUR 82.16. 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: EUR 147.87 - EUR 240.88. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 08:30 Chiang Rai Airport until 21:55 Chiang Rai Airport

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from EUR 556.71 to EUR 684.94.

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.

  • 12 by flight from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 08:30 Chiang Rai Airport until 21:55 Chiang Rai Airport
  • 9 by Ferry+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 13:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
  • 8 by Bus+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 13:30 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
  • Vans from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 7 departures a day.
  • 3 by Train+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
  • 2 by Bus+Ferry+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • 1 by Bus+taxi from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • 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 EUR 556.71.

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:

  • 15% chosen Bus+Ferry+Van
  • 15% chosen Bus+Van
  • 13% chosen Bus+taxi+Ferry
  • 12% decided to go for a bus.
  • 12% chosen taxi+Ferry
  • 11% chosen Ferry+Van
  • 10% opted for a van.
  • 4% chosen Bus+taxi
  • 4% chosen Train+Van
  • 1% Other

Facts about the transport from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport€38
Fastest Transport4h 50m
Earliest Departure12:00 오전
Latest Departure9:55 오후
Departures per day45
Distance2549 kilometers
Transport CompaniesEasyride Services, K Buddy, LaoLuang Travel, Mekong Transfer, Naluang, Naluangs, Smart En Plus, So Good Airline Service and Travel, Sombat Tour, Terminal Green Pai, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Trip Corner, Yortdoy Travel, Zhanzhao Tour