Bangkok to Chiang Rai

The quick way and the easy way

The flight is the quick way: Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air fly from Don Mueang, and Thai VietJet and Thai Airways from Suvarnabhumi, 15 to 20 nonstop flights a day in all. The easy way is the same flight with your own van at arrivals.

The overnight bus is for one or two on a budget. Ask Tanner which airport suits your hotel.

The flight

The Bangkok to Chiang Rai flight is 80 to 95 minutes in the air (checked October 2026), with sample departures from about 6:30am to just before 7pm.

The airlines: Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air fly the most, from Don Mueang; Thai VietJet and Thai Airways fly from Suvarnabhumi. Bangkok Airways no longer flies the route.

The airport: Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai International, about 8 km from the centre, 15 to 20 minutes by car.

Take an early flight and you have the whole day up north. Ask Tanner to book the morning flight for the whole group.

Why there's no train yet

There's no Bangkok to Chiang Rai train yet. The new Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong line was just over half built in January 2026, with opening pencilled in for 2028.

The line: 323 km, branching off the northern line at Den Chai, with Thailand's longest rail tunnel, about 6.2 km at Ngao in Lampang.

Until then, the sleeper goes to Chiang Mai, then the Green Bus takes about 3.5 hours more, some 16 to 17 hours in all: see Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Or just fly, and ask Tanner to add Chiang Mai on the way back.

The overnight bus

Transport Co.'s government buses leave Mo Chit five times between 5:30pm and 8pm, about 11 hours to Terminal 1 in town. Private lines such as Bangkok Busline take 12 to 13 hours to Terminal 2, about 7 km south of town.

The Bangkok to Chiang Rai bus saves a hotel bill for one or two, and you arrive at dawn. For a group, it's a long ride and then a taxi from the bus station. See every route on Getting around Thailand, and ask Tanner to price the flight against the bus.

Why the group goes by private car

Fly from Don Mueang and your own van is waiting at arrivals, the bags loaded and the drinks cold. Nobody waits for a taxi in a small airport.

The van: a luxury van for up to 4, a party van for up to 10, or a coach for 20 and more.

Day trips: the same van runs the group up to the Golden Triangle and back.

Ask Tanner to set the flights and the van together.

What the tickets cost

Flights start from about US$60 one way and the overnight buses from about ฿720 (checked October 2026).

The bus is the one for a tight budget; the flight gives you the evening up north. Add the bags before you compare fares.

Fares climb in busy periods, so book the flights as soon as the dates are set.

Ask Tanner to lock in the flights early.

Bangkok to Chiang Rai in short

• What it is: Chiang Rai is Thailand's far-north city, gateway to the Golden Triangle. The fastest way there is the flight, 80 to 95 minutes, 15 to 20 a day.

• The cheapest is the overnight bus from Mo Chit, 11 to 13 hours.
• There's no train yet; the new line is due around 2028.
• Chiang Rai is about 780 km from Bangkok by road, about ten hours' driving.
• A group flies, with its own van waiting at arrivals.
• The airport is about 8 km from the centre, 15 to 20 minutes by car.

Checked October 2026.

What Chiang Rai is like after dark

Chiang Rai is small, friendly and easy to walk after dark: the Clock Tower show, dinner at the Night Bazaar, then a band on Jetyod Road until about 1am.

The free light show runs at 7, 8 and 9pm, about 10 minutes each, on a golden tower by the artist behind the White Temple. The 8pm show suits a dinner plan.

November to February suits most trips, with cool evenings up north. The Thai Meteorological Department puts the cool season at mid-October to mid-February (checked November 2026).

See Chiang Rai nightlife and Thailand in January, and ask Tanner which month suits your trip.