CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Distance between Bangkok and Chiang Mai
  

• How to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok (video manual)

• Flights Bangkok-Chiang Mai – prices and buying tips
  

• In Chiang Mai from Bangkok by train – travel features
  

• Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai – schedule and fares
  

• A trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in a rental car
  

Distance between Bangkok and Chiang Mai

The direct distance between Bangkok and the city of Chiang Mai is about 580 kilometers (for convert to miles, you must divide by 1.6). Absolute value in this case is not easy, because the capital of Thailand is one of the largest cities in Asia and occupies a very large area. Therefore, the distance between the center of Chiang Mai and the northern part of Bangkok is 570 kilometers, and if measured to the southern tip of the country’s capital, the distance will approach 600 kilometers. Given that there is no direct highway between the cities, the distance increases by more than 100 kilometers: up to 688 kilometers (when traveling on the road with paid sections) or up to 708 kilometers (by free road). As a result, traveling by bus or car will take you from 8.5 to 11 hours.

If we talk about the distance between airports, then it is much easier to measure it. For example, if you fly to Chiang Mai from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is located to the east of Bangkok, the direct distance is 593 km. And if your departure from the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand will be from the airport of Don Mueang (which is located to the north of Bangkok) the distance will naturally be less and will be 565 km. Of course, aircraft routes also do not pass strictly along the line with a minimum distance, but in any case the distance from Don Mueang will be smaller. More details about flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and back – in the next section of this article.

The road from Bangkok to Chiang Mai goes to the north through the picturesque western provinces

How to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai from 19 USD

For those who prefer to watch a video rather than read an article. Below on the page you can watch a short video manual on how you can quickly and easily find train tickets, buses and flights (from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and not only). What films can you use during such a search and how the ticket is paid.

Flights Bangkok-Chiang Mai – prices and buying tips

Flight to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is the fastest and most comfortable way to overcome the distance between these cities. Almost an ideal way of moving between cities for those who value time on vacation and are not ready for long night trips by bus or train. And taking into account the possibility of using low-cost airlines, it is also a relatively inexpensive way. For domestic flights in Asia it is better to use the local vehicle search engine in Asia  – farang.12go.asia. The average cost of the flight from the airport of Don Mueang is 1000 – 1200 baht ($28-33), which is comparable to the price of a VIP class bus between cities. The flight duration is from 1 to 1.5 hours (usually 1 hour and 15 minutes). Just in case, you can check the price of Bangkok-Chiang Mai in my favorite search mashine – Jetradar, where sometimes you can find an option for 700-800 THB.

If you want to choose the main airport of Suvarnabhumi as a starting point in Bangkok, then you can expect a flight of almost the same duration, but the cost of air tickets to Chiang Mai will be much higher – from 1,700 THB ($ 48) and above, up to 4,500 baht . Therefore, if you want to save money, it’s easier to use the free shuttle bus from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang Bangkok Airport and fly cheap, especially since local low-cost airlines usually allow free baggage allowance. How easy and inexpensive to get to the former main airport of Thailand from different parts of the city you can find on the page “Don Mueang Airport of Bangkok”.

Thai Lion Air is one of the low-cost airlines that flies from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

As with most other case with local airfares, the cost of air tickets immediately in both directions does not lead to any significant benefit, and sometimes even more expensive than two separate tickets. Therefore, taking into account the large number of flights between cities (which is 30-40 flights daily) – you do not need to worry about the availability of air tickets for your dates in advance: places will almost always be. The only exception is the days of the Thai New Year and the Loi Krathong holiday in Thailand. To guarantee to fly these days and at the right time to Chiang Mai from Bangkok or vice versa, it is better to buy air tickets in advance. It also makes sense to take care of an early purchase on sale days, when air tickets for domestic flights can be purchased from 3 to 10 USD.

In Chiang Mai from Bangkok by train – travel features

A very popular way to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is by rail. Daily from Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok on the route to Chiang Mai several trains are sent, each of which includes several types of wagons. As you can see with the help of the already mentioned search of transport in Asia, the option with the train practically does not allow to save, because the price of the trip starts from 780 baht, and the most popular trains can cost more than flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. And at the same time the specified price for seats in railway carriage of the 2nd class (the first class is even more expensive). In addition, you may notice that the duration of the trip is from 11 hours (day trains with seats) to 14 hours and above (night sleeping cars). And if you know about the constant late arrival of Thai trains, then you must understand that the trip can be longer for a few more hours.

Thus, the train for a trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai can be advised only for those who like to travel by train (and there are many such people) or those who do not like long bus trips (after all the train is safer and more comfortable, especially at night). Also the option with the train is perfect for those people who are not particularly in a hurry and want to sleep in the trip without spending money on a hotel the night of the trip. Finally, the train can be a good alternative for those who are afraid of air transport. For this category of travellers, by the way, I advise to get acquainted with the information on the page “How to overcome the fear of flying on airplanes”. As a rule, during the train trip you will be offered a “dry ration” included in the price of the ticket (usually rolls, cookies, juice or water), so with such a long trip it is better to buy a little food, that will not be spoiled without a refrigerator.

The cost of traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train and the types of wagons (picture clickable)

I want to recall that a trip in wagons that are equipped with air conditioning (marked with AC in the results table) can cause discomfort for fans of heat, because they cool the air very effectively. Perhaps it is better to buy a ticket for the Bangkok-Chiang Mai train or back to the carriage, which is cooled by conventional fans (in the English version it is marked as fan – see a screenshot). If you are a girl and do not want to fall in the same wagon with Thai men or men from other countries, you have the opportunity to choose a special wagon for women – Ladies Only or Female Wagon. Direct distance from the railway station in Chiang Mai to the central (historic) quarter of this city is about 2.5 km, so if you have not only a good travel backpack, but a suitcase, it is better to use inexpensive local transport.

Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai – schedule and fares

A bus ride to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is also very popular, because this is the cheapest public transport between these cities. So, you can easily buy a ticket for the regular bus Bangkok-Chiang Mai at a price of 530 THB (or $15). Every day more than 10 bus routes to Chiang Mai leave from Bangkok. Therefore, you have the opportunity to choose between day and night buses, as well as between regular seats and VIP seats. Since more comfortable VIP seats are more expensive than regular ones for just $3, I recommend that you buy these places. Travel time is from 9.5 to 11 hours, so it’s better to spend them on wide comfortable seats with good leg support, with your own multimedia system and a socket for charging your mobile gadgets.

The timetable and online booking of Bangkok – Chiang Mai or Chiang Mai – Bangkok bus tickets can also be made using farang.12go.asia (English version, but you can choose a different language, too). When you view the schedule and prices, pay attention to the departure point of the bus from Bangkok. As you can see, most buses leave from the Northern bus terminal in Bangkok (Morchit Bus Terminal or Chatuchak bus terminal). However, below in the table you can find buses of the Sombat Tour company that go to Chiang Mai from a small private bus station in the northern part of the city, which is somewhat harder to reach than to the big bus station (unless you use a Bangkok taxi, which is very cheap).

Location of the Northern Bus Station Chatuchak and the Sombat Tour Station in Bangkok

In any case, I recommend choosing the options based on your personal preferences for the time of departure and arrival, the duration of the bus trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the bus class and its cost. Since bus services to Chiang Mai from Bangkok are performed by several transport companies, I advise you to read reviews of real passengers who have made a similar trip earlier. Also you can see the rating of the bus companies directly on the page with the search results of the bus Bangkok-Chiang Mai for the date you need. The rating is also based on the feedback of passengers and allows you to save your time on reading reviews, many of which in other languages. As with the train, night buses to Chiang Mai from Bangkok allow you to save your time on vacation and money for hotel accommodation.

A trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in a rental car

Despite the long distance, many travelers travel to Chiang Mai from the country’s capital by car, which can be rented at Bangkok airport or directly in this city. For car booking in Thailand and instant comparison of prices and rental conditions in all offices, it is best to use the international broker Rentalcars. The roads in Thailand are of good quality, and the traffic is not too intense, especially when you are away from the capital. At the same time, during a trip to Chiang Mai, you can see interesting views are opened on the nature of Thailand, which you can admire at the every stop according to your desire. Using a rented car for a trip, you can get to know much more about the culture of the country and the life of small towns on the route. You do not need to move along high-speed roads, because in Thailand there are almost always quieter and picturesque roads of local importance, going in the right direction for you.

Alternatively, you can rent a car directly in Chiang Mai (at the airport or city center). In this case, you do not need to spend 8-10 hours on a long self-relocation in the country, but you can move on a rented car on the most beautiful roads in this region of Thailand. For example, to make an exciting trip to the northern city of Pai, which  connects with Chiang Mai one of the most beautiful roads in the country, which almost never goes in a straight line. In general, there you can choose between several options, but the most interesting is the western road, which is slightly longer (about 170 km), but the most picturesque. The mountains nature are simply amazing, and the road itself has more than 770 turns, while the condition of the roadway is excellent, and traffic is minimal.

Dawn on the scenic mountain road from Chiang Mai to Pai – over 750 turns!

Detailed instructions for renting a car in Thailand and practical advice on using the service Rentalcars – on the page “Car rental Phuket – fares, advices, best places”. In Chiang Mai, everything is the same, except that a rental office with a zero deductible is more difficult to find. On the other hand, in the north and the traffic is not as active as in Phuket, and drunk tourists, who manage a car or motobike, it’s difficult to meet here, and in fact they are the main potential source of problems in Phuket. In the vicinity of Chiang Mai, there are many interesting attractions, which are also convenient for getting on a rented car. For example, you can make an excursion to the majestic White Temple, which is simply amazing with its beauty and is located next to the neighboring city of Chiang Rai.

I hope, after reading this article, you have no doubt that it’s quite easy to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok and it can be done inexpensively. And the route schedule and cost of transport Bangkok-Chiang Mai will help you more competently plan your trip to the north of Thailand. Pleasant trips!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Features of the road between Chiang Mai and Pai

• From Chiang Mai to Pai and back by minibus

• Location of the bus terminal in Chiang Mai

• Location of bus station in Pai

• How to get to Pai from Chiang Mai in rented transport

Features of the road between Chiang Mai and Pai

The direct distance between Pai and Chiang Mai is about 85 kilometers, but the distance along the shortest road between the city centers is about 150 km. This is due to the fact that the highway number 1095 is one of the most winding roads in the world. For example, between the cities of Chiang Mai and Pai, you must overcome 762 turns (on the road, even the corresponding pointer is there). At the same time mountain serpentines make up only half of the route, and in the remaining part it is an ordinary Thai route, along which it is possible to move at a speed of up to 100 km / h. Therefore, all those who want to quickly get to Pai from Chiang Mai, should understand that the road in any case will take about three hours, and sometimes more.

A large number of turns on the road from Chiang Mai to Pai is accompanied by frequent ascent and descent. All this not only slows down the movement, but also makes such a trip not very comfortable for people with weak vestibular apparatuses. If you can be are shaken in a car, on a bus or boat, it is better to take a special pill beforehand from motion sickness in advance. Then the road will bring you only positive emotions, because in many places there are special observation platforms, from which an unforgettable view of the green mountains opens. And even a simple bus ride will allow you from the window to admire the bright nature of northern Thailand and the picturesque mountains.

A typical landscape when traveling from Chiang Mai to Pye along serpentine

One of the features of traveling to Pai is the lack of direct transport to this city from the popular resort areas of the country, with the exception of the city of Chiang Mai. And even if you found an excursion from Bangkok or Pattaya to Pai, you have to make a transfer to Chiang Mai. The route that connects Pai and Chiang Mai is often called Chiang Mai-Mahongshon (a city on the border of Thailand and Myanmar). At the same time, the town of Pai is located approximately in the middle of the route, so that regular buses can be passing, and it is often impossible to buy tickets for them in a few days. But there are routes directly from Chiang Mai to Pai and back, because this small town enjoys increasing popularity with foreign tourists. By the way, on the page From Bangkok to Chiang Mai – transport, schedule and fares! you can find out how you can get to Chiang Mai from the capital of Thailand and back.

From Chiang Mai to Pai and back by minibus

The easiest way to purchase tickets for minibuses between Chiang Mai and Pai is to use the service of transport in Asia. The link will open the English version of the service and the Chiang Mai-Pai route. To see the timetable of the minibus company Prem Prach and the cost of the trip for your date, change it in the search bar (at the top of the page). There you can choose the number of passengers you need. During the high season (autumn-winter), 10-12 minibuses are sent daily between cities. In this case, the first minibus departs from Chiang Mai at dawn, and the last – before sunset (most of the way will be done in the dark). Also you may notice that the timetable shows the time on the road for more than 4 hours (usually 4 hours and 20 minutes). In reality, a minibus overcomes the distance between cities faster, in about 3.5 hours (with a sanitary stop in the middle of the route lasting 10-15 minutes).

But the travel time can really be more than 4 hours during the rainy season, when due to a large number of turns, descents and ascents, the speed of the minibus drops, because it is unsafe to drive quickly in the mountains on a wet road. Although even on bright sunny days on the road 1095 there are many sections where minibus moves at a speed of 20-30 km / h and can not accelerate faster. If you are looking for a minibus schedule from Pai City to Chiang Mai, you can see them on this direct link to the route. There you can buy a ticket online, which can be relevant during the high season. The cost of minivans at the beginning of 2018 is 195 THB or 6 USD per person. Because of the fact that on the way back, slopes prevail, i. The minibus is moving downward rather than climbing the mountains, the return trip from Pai to Chiang Mai usually takes less time.

Location of the bus terminal in Chiang Mai

The minibuses of Prem Pracha company between Chiang Mai and Pai depart and arrive in places convenient for tourists – in the area of ​​the central bus stations (although in the case of the city of Pai this definition may not be entirely appropriate). If you purchased an online ticket and want to quickly find a landing to the desired minibus, you need a new bus station in Chiangmai – Chiangmai Arcade Bus Station. It is located across the street from the Chiangmai Bus Terminal 3 to Soi Kaeo Nawarat 5. You can see the location of the bus station on the city map by clicking on the departure point on the search page (in the figure below is marked with a yellow marker). Get here from anywhere in Chiang Mai will not be difficult on local transport.

Clicking on the point of departure (in the figure marked in yellow) you can see it on the map

The bus terminal is large, so to save time on finding the point of landing in a minibus, follow the far part of the bus terminal. The entrance to the transport company’s office is located outside the building, in the area between the bus platforms No. 12 and No. 13. As a rule, there are always branded red-white minibuses nearby, and the office itself is marked by a large signboard Prempracha Transport (red logo and black letters on a white background). Landing on the minibus Chiang Mai – Pai is carried out from the platform number 13. If you purchased a ticket for a minibus online, you need to show the printout in the office. At the same time in ofice you can get give a ticket of the usual type, which must be presented during the landing in a minibus.

Ticket office of Prempracha in Chiang Mai Bus Terminal

Since the direction is popular, you can find other local bus companies that also deliver passengers from Chiang Mai to Pai. The prices for the trip will be almost similar, and if you do not want to purchase a ticket for a minibus or a large bus in advance, you can, if you have free time, to research prices and choose the option you like. Travel time will also be comparable due to a difficult route, and a trip on a large bus can take even more time. Currently, you can purchase tickets for the Chiang Mai-Pai bus and for back way online only in the manner described above. In any case, during the trip from Chiang Mai to Pai and back, use seat belts in a minibus and hold tight on the corners of the road.

Location of bus station in Pai

Since the population of the city of Pai is about 2500 people, and the number of bus routes is limited, there can not be a classical large bus terminal in the city. Therefore, most transport companies bring passengers to their corporate offices. The company Prempracha Transport, whose office is located in the central part of Pai city, is also an exception. It is located at Rural Road Mae Hong Son 4024, Wiang Tai, Mae Hong Son 58130. In fact, this is a small square near which the company’s ticket office is located. Find this small bus station is not difficult, because it is located on the local Walking Street. Nearby there are a large number of bars, cafes, a night market, inexpensive guesthouses and a 7Eleven store.

Ticket office of Prempracha Transport Co in Pai

A good landmark is the company’s indexes of the transport company, made in red and white. On the same information boards, located on both sides of the site with buses, it says “Pai Bus Station”, so finding a place is not difficult. Opposite the ticket office there is a small kiosk of Kasikorn Bank with an ATM. To hide from the sun or rain on this mini bus station is almost nowhere, so it’s better to spend time before landing in a minibus to Chiang Mai in one of the local bars or inexpensive cafes with Thai food.

How to get to Pai from Chiang Mai in rented transport

Despite the low cost of traveling by minibus from Chiang Mai to Pai, many travelers prefer to use a rented car or motorbike for a trip between cities. Connectedly this is with their desire to get the maximum degree of freedom in the journey and visit all the main attractions in the vicinity of Pai (waterfalls, hot springs, mountain viewpoints, strawberry farms, etc.). After all, even during a trip on a winding road to Pai there are very beautiful places where many would like to stay for a while (make a beautiful photo or video).

You can find small bus station in Pai in Walking Street area

Since renting a car in Pai is not very good, it’s better to rent a car in Chiang Mai, using the Rentalcars service to find the best price, where you can find all rental offices in the city and you can rent a car at the best price (you conclude a rental agreement on your native language). As a rule, the widest offer of cars for rent is presented at the airport of Chiang Mai. There and the lowest prices, sometimes 1.5 times lower than renting a similar car in the city center. Therefore, if you want to rent a car online in Chiang Mai cheap, it is better to do it at the airport, even if you came to Chiang Mai by train or bus. The trip to the airport will not be too tiring and expensive, because the international airport of Chiang Mai is located within the city – just three kilometers from the center.

While driving on the road №1095, observe the speed limit and try to drive on the left side of the road, without leaving on the oncoming lane (especially at corners). And to more easily cope with long lifts and descents, it is better to rent a car with an automatic transmission. Also, it will not be superfluous to fill the fuel tank with as much fuel as you need for a trip to Pai and back, as well as trips to natural attractions in the vicinity of Pai. Well, of course, it is better, with other things being equal, to choose rental offices with a minimum level of deductibles (for more details, see the “Car rental Phuket – fares, advices, best places” page).

As for renting a motorbike in Chiang Mai, then this also has no problems. Like everywhere in Thailand, there are a lot of motorbike rental offices in the city. The cost is about 150 baht (5 USD) per day and above. As I repeatedly advised, try to find an office in which you do not need use your passport like a deposit. Especially if you want to go on motorbike from Chiang Mai to Pai (without a passport, settling in a hotel may be impossible). There is a possibility to rent motobike in Chiang Mai online. The cost also starts from 5 USD per day, and the original passport is not required. In addition, you can often cancel your reservation without penalty for 48 hours before the date of rental (for example, if a trip to Pai or even to Chiang Mai for any reason was canceled).

If for you the most important thing in the trip is comfort and safety, you can order a taxi transfer from Chiang Mai to Pai. The option is not the most budgetary, but if you travel not alone and with a lot of things, you can comfortably get directly from Chiang Mai airport to your hotel in Pai city or order a similar transfer in the opposite direction and get from Pai to the airport doors in Chiang Mai . I wish you pleasant and safe trips!

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