Northern Thailand Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

Chiang Mai is a major tourist destination with many attractions within the city and surrounding areas on day trips. Well worth spending at least two or three days of vacation time. See Things To Do in Chiang Mai for the many major attractions to visit and day tour destinations outside of the city limits. Getting around is best done in tuk tuks within the city and songthaew taxi trucks when visiting mountainous destinations such as Wat Doi Suthep.

After Chiang Mai you can use the bus services to reach Chiang Rai which is about 200 km north and takes 3 hours through scenic and winding roads. There are no trains or direct flights but taking one of the large air-conditioned VIP "Green Bus"  services makes it a pleasant journey. Ensure you have booked a ticket that does actually end up at terminal 1 city center of Chiang Rai. Click the "Timetable" button for service times and prices.

 

Ensure you remain on the bus when arriving at terminal 2 on the outskirts of Chiang Rai city because it will continue onwards into the city center to terminal 1. Other services from terminal 2 depart for the longer journeys to other provinces.

Chiang Rai city is smaller than Chiang Mai but also has many attractions within the city and is a good home base for day tours to the Golden Triangle, Mae Sai and Doi Tung Royal Villa. It is also home to the famous and very popular White Temple located a short drive by taxi from the city center. See Things to do in Chiang Rai and don't forget to visit the Night Bazaar which has two entertainment sections, souvenir and clothing shops, restaurants and a large open eating area.

 

Sop Ruak is a small town on the banks of the Mekong River and is close to the borders of Thailand,  Laos and Myanmar which make up the "Golden Triangle". The larger town of Chiang Saen is a short drive south.

Visiting this area on a day tour from Chiang Rai is easy and best suited by using a local tour company or hiring a private taxi. In this way you can stop along the way to see other attractions. Bus services are available but you will need to time your visit well else get stuck and have to stay overnight or pay for an expensive taxi ride back. See Chiang Saen and Sop Ruak for photos and more details.

 

After visiting all the attractions around Chiang Rai, the quickest and most comfortable way back to Bangkok is by plane. There are several airlines that fly to Bangkok and it only takes less than an hour and a half. Arrival is either at the local Don Mueang Bangkok airport or Suvarnabhumi International Airport located east of Bangkok city center, depending which airline is taken. Select the "Timetable" button for details on flights.

 

 

 

The most comfortable way to travel between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai is by airconditioned bus services. The largest service providor is GreenBus. There are no train services between these cities. 
Air-conditioned bus services can be very cold and wearing warm clothing is recommended. The jouney takes about 3 hours or more through scenic countryside.
Ensure the bus you book has a toilet, but this is usually always the case except for the very cheap bus services on low class services. Take some food and drink because there is no stopping except to pick up and drop off people along the way at small towns, and only the possibility of a light snack provided.
Take your passport with you in the coach in case the bus is stopped at a checkpoint. Also take some form of quiet entertainment as there is typically no Wi-Fi available.

Chiang Mai's new Arcade Bus Terminal 3 is directly opposite the old terminal. See transport hubs in Chiang Mai.

In Chiang Rai there is the newly built bus terminal (Terminal 1) located in the centre of Chiang Rai city near the Night Bazaar. It can be still referred to as the "old" station. The other bus station (Terminal 2) is also a modern new building located on the outskirts of Chiang Rai city. Most buses from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai will stop at Terminal 2 on the outskirts of Chiang Rai and then continue on to Terminal 1 into the city center. Terminal 1 in the city provides local and provincial transport services while the larger terminal 2 on the outskirts of the city is for long distance services and transfers. There is songthaew (taxi truck) or tuktuk transport available between the two stations. See transport hubs in Chiang Rai.

Prices are direct from GreenBus as of late 2018. Purchases can be on the day at the station for cash, or up to 30 days in advance. Call centre, website and Mobile app bookings at least 4 hours before departure and paid within 2 hours of booking.

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Bus	Depart	Arrive	Duration	Type	Class	Price
GreenBus	07:15	10:50	3 hours 35 minutes	Express	1	166฿
GreenBus	08:15	11:25	3 hours 10 minutes	VIP	VIP	258฿
GreenBus	09:15	12:55	3 hours 40 minutes	Express	2	129฿
GreenBus	10:00	13:35	3 hours 35 minutes	Express	1	166฿
GreenBus	10:30	13:40	3 hours 10 minutes	VIP	VIP	258฿
GreenBus	11:00	14:35	3 hours 35 minutes	Express	1	166฿
GreenBus	12:15	15:25	3 hours 10 minutes	VIP	VIP	258฿
GreenBus	12:30	16:10	3 hours 40 minutes	Express	2	129฿
GreenBus	13:00	16:10	3 hours 10 minutes	VIP	VIP	258฿
GreenBus	14:15	17:50	3 hours 35 minutes	Express	1	166฿
GreenBus	15:00	18:35	3 hours 35 minutes	Express	1	166฿
GreenBus	15:45	18:55	3 hours 10 minutes	VIP	VIP	258฿
GreenBus	17:00	20:35	3 hours 35 minutes	Express	1	166฿
GreenBus	17:30	21:10	3 hours 40 minutes	Express	2	129฿
GreenBus	18:00	21:10	3 hours 10 minutes	VIP	VIP	258฿

 

Flight services from Chiang Rai go to Don Mueang Domestic Airport north of Bangkok city or Suvarnabhummi International Airport east of Bangkok city.

Prices are of late 2018, one way, approximate and times can change. Chiang Rai Airport is also called Mae Fah Luang International Airport.