Facts about the van from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
| Cheapest Van | €15 |
| Fastest Van | 3h 30m |
| Earliest Van | 9:00 AM |
| Latest Van | 2:30 PM |
| Daily Van Routes | 7 |
| Distance | 125 kilometers |
| Van Companies | Aya Service, K Buddy, Terminal Green Pai, Yortdoy Travel |
Vans from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Finding the best routes for you — almost ready!
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Destination Reviews
D
Dorian At First the driver showed up late which resulted in us departing 20-30 minutes late. Second, he took a 15 minute rest stop after an hour of driving at 10:30. Then when we arrived to Chiang Rai he stopped at the White Temple for 30 minutes. The description of the ride on 12go said a 3:30 minute travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. We arrived at 1:40, 1 hour and 10 minutes late, and the drop off was not at Terminal 2 as mentioned in the booking description, it was at the mall in Chiang Rai. The Ride itself was a little rocky and you could feel that the driver tried to make up for lost time.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Dec 19, 2025
AS
Anurag SThey took 400 TBH extra from me. Even when I showed them about the policy of the bags which shows 20 kg an 1 cabin bag. But they said it's not about weight but about dimension. Which was never mentioned in the condition while booking the tickets. This is just a loot and misguiding to the innocent people.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Dec 19, 2025
SW
Sven WDrivers meet somewhere to reorganice minivans and we were dangerously overloaded with lugage stuffed over peoples head. He drove like a lunatic with overloaded van and the suspension almost gave up. Speeding like a formula 1 pilot and almost hit 3 cars. Will never book a ride again with 12 go asia.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Dec 18, 2025
UF
Ulrike FTher driver drove into the parking lot at the White Temple, got out, and said there would be a half-hour break. Then he disappeared. That's completely unacceptable. We and others then ordered a taxi. I can't say when the driver finally left. I become no answere of my complaint
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Dec 16, 2025
MP
Mary PThe 12Go service was excellent, and the drive was fine. But with ten minutes remaining in our journey, our driver suddenly stopped at a rest spot near the white temple for “about thirty minutes” so we could “take a little break.” I’m all for breaks, but that makes more sense in the middle of the journey than at the end. It was very clearly motivated by something else, and it added unnecessary time to our trip which had us arriving 45 minutes past the stated arrival time.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Dec 16, 2025
AS
Avi SThe driver could have been a little more careful.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Dec 11, 2025
CR
Christopher RDouble the number of people booked for the one coach that turned up late. We then waited for another coach to take the others. Everyone eventually got there but doesnt give you confidence
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Dec 10, 2025
NS
Nahuel SEverything was good. The only thing, we stopped at Wat Rong Kuhn for 30 minutes for lunch when we were 10 minutes aways from the terminal. We saw no point for waiting there so we took a taxi to the hotel.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, Terminal Green Pai (Terminal Green Pai), Dec 7, 2025
DL
Diana LVery comfortable and kind
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Minivan, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Dec 7, 2025
DF
Derek FThe driver was very professional. Had a great personality, was skilled in driving aggressively without any discomfort. I usually experience motion sickness sitting in the back, which I did not on this trip. We stopped once about an hour from Chiang Rai where we
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Van Standard, Aya Service (Aya Service), Dec 3, 2025
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Van Schedule
| Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Go2Trip Group Booking | SUV 3pax | 07:30 | 12:30 | €176.48 | |
Yortdoy Travel | Van | 09:00 | 13:00 | €14.93 | |
Aya Service | Standard | 09:00 | 12:30 | €13.58 | |
Terminal Green Pai | Minivan | 09:00 | 13:30 | €16.29 | |
Yortdoy Travel | Van | 09:00 | 13:00 | €21.72 | |
Terminal Green Pai | Minivan | 09:00 | 13:30 | €19.01 | |
Mekong Transfer | Van + Bus | 09:00 | 12:45 | €16.29 | |
Mekong Transfer | Van | 09:00 | 12:30 | €14.53 | |
Terminal Green Pai | Minivan | 09:00 | 15:30 | €19.01 | |
Terminal Green Pai | Minivan | 09:00 | 15:30 | €24.44 |
Transportation from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
-
Buses€ 9.77
-
Flights€ 159.89
-
Taxis€ 26.06
-
Vans€ 14.93
-
Trains are not available
-
Ferries are not available
Popular Routes
Popular Routes in Thailand
How to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by Van
Van is a convenient option to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Van tickets are affordable, vans are generally do a faster job than buses, vans offer a good choice of departures.
Depending on the van type, each vehicle can accommodate between 12 and 15 passengers. Yet an evident drawback of travelling by van is limited space for the luggage. In most cases you will need to keep your bags, backpacks or suitcases under your seat or in the aisle. Thus van is not the best choice if you travel with huge luggage. F this is the case, consider buying a separate ticket for your bags or choose bus instead.
On certain routes, vans are your only choice of transportation as no buses, trains or flights are available between those destinations.
It is a popular question whether it is necessary to book van tickets in advance. Though some routes feature a lot of departures, we still highly recommend booking your seat especially if you are going to take one of the last vans of the day; travelling during weekends, public holidays or busy tourist seasons; are in a group of two or more and want to travel on the same van.
Here is the list of companies that run regular vans between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and offer tickets for online booking.
How far is from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?
Vans follow the same routes as buses do. Thus the driving distance between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai will be about 125 km. Some vans do not take the shortest route to Chiang Rai and make detours to pick up and drop off passengers en route. If this is the case, it will result in a longer travel time – you can see it when choosing your ticket.
How long does it take to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by Van?
Most vans need from 3h 30m to 4h 30m hours to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Note though that travel time depends greatly on traffic conditions. Traffic can be dense around the rush hour at both your departure point and destination. Weather conditions – e.g. heavy rain – often result in longer travel time, too.
Before booking your van tickets, check how long the trip with each operator takes as some vans follow longer routes to Chiang Rai or make detours.
Also, it is important to know that van companies that accept online booking offer scheduled van departures; yet there are also some vans which depart only when full, and in certain cases the waiting period can be long. Thus choosing an operator that runs vans on a set schedule is always a better idea.
How much does it cost to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by Van?
When using a van, the fare or ticket price for travelling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is pre-computed. This usually includes toll fees, gas and other overheads. But, it is recommended to read the details and ask for clarifications when this is not clear at the onset.
Pre-computed fares for vans can be expensive but unlike buses and trains; you would not need to buy a ticket for each passenger. For a big group of 12 or more people, this translates to huge savings compared to getting multiple taxis.
This makes it a cheap option for travelling when in groups. The van service will also not charge extra for bags and luggage, as long as it fits inside the van.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai timetable
If you are a group, you can consolidate your schedules and use just one van. Check out above Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai timetable for van services.
Best Rated Companies for this Route
Getting a van service for your group can offer extra space, comfort and convenience not found in other transport options. Unlike taxis or buses which have numerous trips per day, a van service is usually scheduled. But some van services do follow a scheduled departure time. Please check our listings for such services.
Having your entire group together for a long trip can add to the enjoyment. This can allow your group to discuss and even sing to your heart's content without fear of bothering others.
Just like taxis, the advantage of travelling by van is that you can ask the driver to stop by stores, supermarkets and other establishments. You can stop anywhere at any time since you are basically renting the van and not just paying for taxi fare. You can use this opportunity to take epic groupie pics at local landmarks and tourist spots.
Vans are especially useful when travelling with large and sensitive equipment like photography setups and large computers. Trunks and compartments might not be a safe holding area for fragile packages. Placing them inside the roomy and well-padded interior of van will make it more secure and safe.