Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Chiang Rai
Luang Prabang
Sat, Apr 19
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Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Van
LaoLuang Travel
Van + Shuttle + Sleeping Bus
01:00
18:00
$33.50
Bus
K Buddy
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
05:00
16:00
$39.91
  4.6
Van
Yortdoy Travel
Taxi + Minivan
05:30
05:00
$41.69
Bus
Yortdoy Travel
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
08:00
17:00
$34.25
  4.0
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
08:25
15:45
$404.14
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
08:50
15:35
$196.35
  5.0
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
09:10
15:35
$225.70
  5.0
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
09:55
14:05
$135.03
  5.0
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
10:15
12:20
$226.00
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
10:50
16:00
$414.12
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
11:15
12:20
$208.65
Bus
Naluangs
Bus + Taxi + Sleeping Bus
12:00
07:30
$44.67
Bus
K Buddy
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus
13:00
07:00
$41.69
  4.5
Bus
Yortdoy Travel
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus
13:30
08:00
$41.69
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
14:25
12:20
$169.08
Bus
Naluangs
Taxi + Sleeping Bus
15:00
07:30
$34.01
  3.4
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
15:20
12:20
$318.22
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
15:45
12:20
$326.48
Flight
Thai Vietjet
Economy
16:20
14:15
$489.32
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
18:45
09:30
$196.81
  5.0

Transportation from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Facts about the transport from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport$39
Fastest Transport5h 5m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure6:30 PM
Departures per day14
Distance1800 kilometers
Transport CompaniesFirstplan Transport Services, JTTT Travel, K Buddy, LaoLuang Travel, Mekong Transfer, Naluang, Naluangs, Smart En Plus, Sombat Tour, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Yortdoy Travel

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

BD
On time, straightforward, gets you there in 12 hours which goes really quick. Would definitely opt for this option if you don’t want to do the slow boat.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Standard, Mekong Transfer, Mar 15, 2025
BS
Bus dropped us in complete wrong location (10km) away from drop off point on 12Go asi
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Sleeper Bus, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Mar 4, 2025
MH
The transfers from our hotel in Chiang Rai to the border were good and the people kept us informed. However, the immigration process at the border is a nightmare; takes forever and every step seems to cost more and more money. We have mixed reviews on the slow boat itself. You are crammed on with about 200 other people, with very little leg room. It’s a cool experience, and great views going down the river, but the novelty of the boat itself wears off by the end of the first day, and the second day is just a struggle.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Ferry Truck + Ferry, Mekong Transfer, Feb 26, 2025
ML
On the Thai side pretty smooth. After crossing into Laos and clearjng immigration, a lot less smooth.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Dec 12, 2024
RH
The 2 day slow boat was a real highlight of our trip. The boat was full but what we expected. The stay in Pak Bang was great, a small little town on the river that comes to life with the boat arrival. Note the you need USD 40 per person to cross the boarder. We had an issue being about to withdraw lao kip. USD wasn't available at all but they only accepted USD. The tour company helped but did charge a large commission.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Dec 9, 2024
MA
Very good experience, everything came on time and felt very organized. Only thing, remember to keep your boat ticket for both days or you will have to pay again on the second boat.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, JTTT Travel (JTTT Travel), Nov 13, 2024
SW
Smooth journey with K Buddy, minibus was comfortable and better quality than many in Thailand, process was easy with their help
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Oct 20, 2024
MH
K Buddy was excellent. Good communication, and an excellent driver in a clean vehicle. He had everything in place for a smooth trip and border crossing.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Oct 11, 2024
M
Great experience travelling on the 2 day slowboat from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. All connections went smoothly and there was great communication from our driver all the way through until we arrived in Luang Prabang. The company doesnt advertise that you get a free sandwich when you arrive at the slowboat on day one. A nice touch. By far the cheapest option for this trip we could find and it was as smooth and simple as possible. 100% recommend.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), May 14, 2024
JM
All transport was provided by K Buddy from our Chiang Rai hotel to the Luang Prabang pier. Pick-up was on time. Good option to take away some stress while travelling.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Apr 30, 2024
4.4
59 customer reviews
5
60%
4
15%
3
17%
2
8%
1
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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
  • 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+ferry+van ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A flight ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 195.75. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus+taxi+ferry as a bus+taxi+ferry ticket costs as low as USD 44.37.

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 1119 miles (1800 km). The flying distance is 2686 miles (4321 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 6 to 36 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+taxi+ferry expect to pay as low as USD 44.37 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a flight - a one-way flight ticket can cost as much as USD 195.75.

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

  • Bus tickets - USD 38.71 to USD 38.71;
  • Bus+taxi+Ferry price: USD 44.37 - USD 50.33. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • taxi+Ferry price: USD 44.37. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer
  • Bus+taxi price: USD 46.16. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 13:00 Chiang Rai Transfer
  • Bus+Van price: USD 46.16. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer until 13:30 Chiang Rai Transfer
  • Ferry+Van price: USD 49.14. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer
  • Van price : USD 50.63 - USD 64.03;
  • Bus+Ferry+Van price: USD 69.69. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer
  • Bus+taxi+Van price: USD 74.27 - USD 76.51. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 00:00 Chiang Khong until 00:00 Chiang Khong
  • flight+Bus price: USD 89.97. 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 170.58 - USD 195.75. From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 09:00 Chiang Rai Airport until 09:00 Chiang Rai Airport

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 376.72 to USD 539.47.

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 flight from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 09:00 Chiang Rai Airport until 09:00 Chiang Rai Airport
  • 3 by Bus+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer until 13:30 Chiang Rai Transfer
  • 2 by Bus+taxi from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 13:00 Chiang Rai Transfer
  • 2 by Bus+taxi+Ferry from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
  • Vans from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 2 departures a day.
  • 1 by Bus+Ferry+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer
  • 1 by Ferry+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Transfer

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 376.72.

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:

  • 20% chosen Bus+taxi+Ferry
  • 20% chosen Bus+Van
  • 19% chosen Bus+taxi
  • 19% chosen taxi+Ferry
  • 7% decided to go for a bus.
  • 5% chosen Ferry+Van
  • 5% opted for a van.
  • 1% Other