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Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are located in Northern Thailand and are two of my favourite cities in the country. Luckily, it’s super easy to travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai!
The easiest way to travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is by taking the bus. You can also take a private transfer, go on a day tour, or fly to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai. Although I don’t recommend flying. The two cities are very close, and taking the bus is more convenient (and less expensive) than flying.
Since it is so easy to travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bus, that’s what most people do. We’ll talk about it more later, but there are tons of buses each day that run between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. They’re quite busy, so you need to book your bus ticket in advance.
I’ll explain how to get your bus ticket in detail in the section talking about taking the bus to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, but I wanted to mention it up front as well just in case you don’t make it to that section of the post.
Chiang Rai is famous for it’s stunning temples. The White Temple is the most popular, but you also need to visit the Blue Temple.
I know there isn’t tons of things to do in Chiang Rai, but it’s 100% worth a visit. Especially since it’s so easy to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.
No trip to northern Thailand is complete without stopping in Chiang Rai, so let’s go over how to get there from Chiang Mai!
Table of Contents
Travelling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by Bus
As I mentioned earlier, I think taking the bus to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai is the best way to travel between the two cities.
It’s quick, has many departures per day, and is comfortable. I don’t know why, but the seats on buses in Asia are so large and comfortable. They’re way better than taking the bus in Europe, North America, or South America.
Installing an esim on your phone is a way easier way to get reliable internet access compared to buying a local sim in Thailand.
How Long Does the Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Take?
The two cities are 186km apart, and it takes between 3.5 and 4 hours for the bus to travel between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
It just depends on how busy the traffic is and the stops along the way. Most of the time the trip is closer to 3.5 hours than it is to 4 hours.
How Much Does the Bus Cost?
The cost of a bus ticket varies based on a number of different criteria.
There are three different buses that run between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai (all operated by the same company). They are: Greenbus, Greenbus Express, and Greenbus VIP. The Greenbus is the least expensive, followed by Greenbus Express, and Greenbus VIP is the most expensive.
It doesn’t really matter what bus you choose to take. They’re not that different so grab whatever one suits your time schedule the best.
The price also depends on where on the bus you sit. The first two rows of each bus are more expensive than the other seats. I think they’re more spacious, but I don’t think it’s worth paying more for a front seat unless you have motion sickness issues.
You can expect to pay between 250 Bhat and 450 Bhat for your bus ticket to Chiang Rai. That’s approximately $7USD to $13 USD.
Do You Need to Purchase Bus Tickets in Advance?
When I was figuring out how to travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, every blog I read said you can just show up at the bus station the day you want to travel and get a ticket for the next bus.
That was very, very wrong information. There are a lot of people who travel between these two cities- both tourists and locals-, and the buses are busy. I showed up at 8am hoping to get on the 8:45am bus, but the first bus that had available seats was for 1:45! I got one of the last tickets, and there was a long line of people waiting behind me to get tickets.
You absolutely should purchase your tickets in advance for the bus to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai. Especially if you’re only visiting Chiang Rai for one day and need to arrive at a certain time to see everything you want in the city.
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Where to Buy Tickets in Advance
Now that you know you need to purchase tickets in advance, you need to know where to purchase those tickets.
There are two ways you can purchase your bus tickets in advance: at the bus station or online through a third-party provider.
Purchasing tickets at the bus station is pretty straight forward. You just go to the bus station a day or two before you want to travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and purchase your ticket.
The downside to this is that the bus station isn’t walkable from the core part of Chiang Mai where all the tourists hang out. You’ll have to take a Grab to get there and back. Not only does that add to the price of the ticket, but it also eats into the time you have to explore Chiang Mai.
Purchasing tickets online through a third-party provider is easier but a little more expensive. Since you’re purchasing through a third-party provider, there is a bit of a mark up on the price of tickets.
But, in my opinion, purchasing tickets online is worth the small additional price for the convenience. Plus when you add in the cost of a Grab and the time it takes to get to and from the bus station to purchase tickets, it’s probably cheaper to purchase them through a third-party provider.
The most reliable third-party bus ticket provider in Southeast Asia is 12go. They’re honestly the only third-party company I trust to purchase bus or train tickets in Southeast Asia. They’re reputable and reliable. I’ve never had any issue using them.
Where Does the Bus Depart from in Chiang Mai?
The bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai departs from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3.
You’ll have to take a Grab to the bus terminal, and it takes between 10 and 20 minutes to get to the station depending on where you’re staying in Chiang Mai.
Where Does the Bus Arrive at in Chiang Rai?
The bus from arrives at the Chiang Rai Bus Terminal.
It’s right in the heart of Chiang Rai. You’ll likely be able to walk to your hotel in less than 10 minutes if you’re staying in the main touristy area and not across the river. You should definitely stay within walking distance of the bus station in Chiang Rai. It’s close to the night market and amazing restaurants.
Taking a Private Transfer from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Getting a private transfer to Chiang Rai isn’t the best option for everybody, but it can be a good option for larger groups or people on a time crunch.
You can select your pick up time, and a driver will arrive at your hotel and drive you directly to your hotel in Chiang Rai.
The selling feature for private transfers is you can customize your trip. If there is a place you want to stop and explore between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, you can arrange with your driver to stop there.
It gives you the ability to see more of Thailand than you would if you took the public bus.
I think a private transfer is best for three types of people:
- Someone who isn’t on a strict budget (we love convenience!)
- People with mobility issues or need to get out and stretch along the way
- People who want to stop and see something between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
If you’re able to split the cost three or more ways, then it doesn’t feel too expensive and can be within most people’s budgets.
A private transfer from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is definitely more expensive than taking the bus, but I know a lot of people are willing to pay more for the convenience of getting picked up and dropped off at their hotel.
I took my parents to Vietnam for a month, and they loved the convenience of taking private transfers between cities rather than the public bus. It’s hard to say no to convenience someitmes!
Taking a Guided Tour from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Booking a guided tour to Chiang Rai is the best way to see Chiang Rai if you only have a day to see the area.
Not only do you get to visit Chiang Rai and it’s famous temples, but you also get to explore parts of Chiang Rai province that are harder to get to with public transportation. You’d need to rent a scooter to get to some of the places the tour takes you.
The guided tour to Chiang Rai packs a punch, and it’s a long tour. You leave at 7am and get back to Chiang Mai around 9pm. You’ll be tired by the end of it, but it’s well worth it. I don’t think you should go to northern Thailand and not see Chiang Rai.
The guided tour takes you to six different attractions:
- Hot Springs
- White Temple
- Black House Museum or Mei Sai city
- Golden Triangle by boat
- Karen Hill Tribe
It’s impressive that they can pack so much into one day. You won’t get to spend tons of time at each location, but you’ll be able to get a taste of them. Seeing them is better than not seeing them.
I do think that spending a couple days in Chiang Rai is worthwhile, but I know not everybody has that type of time in their Thailand itinerary. If you only have time for a day trip to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, it’s still worth it in my opinion.
Flying from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have airports. You could fly from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, but I don’t recommend it.
It’s not the best use of your time or money.
It’s way more expensive than the bus and likely a similar price to a private transfer. Flying is time consuming, and there are rarely direct flights between the two cities. You normally have to fly to Bangkok then transfer to another flight to Chiang Rai.
It’s a headache that isn’t worth it so don’t fly to Chiang Rai. Take an overland method!
Driving from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Your final option is to drive to Chiang Rai.
I don’t recommend this option for tourists.
Driving in Thailand (or anywhere in Southeast Asia) isn’t easy. You have to know the local, unwritten rules of the road, and tourists don’t.
I truly believe that tourists driving make the roads more dangerous in Southeast Asia. I don’t recommend it unless you’ve spent a lot of time in the region, are very familiar with the local driving rules, and hopefully have had some sort of instruction on driving in the region.
So, while you can drive to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, I don’t recommend it. It’s better to take any other option on this list.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you figure out the best way to travel to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai.
There are lots of different ways to travel between the two cities. It’s up to you to figure out the best way based on your budget, travel needs, and how much time you have to explore Chiang Rai.
I personally like taking the bus, but I know a lot of people opt for a private transfer because of the convenience and relatively affordable price.
If you only have one day to explore Chiang Rai, taking a guided tour is your best option. You’ll see more and have a more relaxing time than trying to put together a day trip by yourself.
No matter how you choose to get to Chiang Rai, it’s well worth it. I loved Chiang Rai. It’s a beautiful and unique city. I don’t know anybody who has visited Chiang Rai who hasn’t loved it.
