How To Get To Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and lies in the far north of the country about 435 miles north of the capital Bangkok. If you are going to be in Thailand and plan on visiting Chiang Mai you have several ways to get there depending on your budget and time constraints.

By Airplane

The International Airport in Chiang Mai has flights daily to and from Bangkok as well as many other Asian cities. Obviously this will be the quickest way for you to get to and from Chiang Mai and there's little reason not to fly because air tickets are very reasonably priced in Thailand. Most times you can get a one way ticket to or from Bangkok for as little as 1500 baht or $50. Even flying from Chiang Mai to the southern islands in Thailand won't set you back more than $100 so why not save hours of your time and fly?

By Train

Traveling by train is fairly popular in Thailand and there are trains leaving from Bangkok several times a day enroute to Chiang Mai. It's possible to get several types of trains including sleeper trains, express trains and standard trains. Those who wish to travel by sleeper train (best option in my opinion) should book their tickets in advance as the trains can sell out, especially during any of the numerous Thai holidays. Depending on which type of train you take the trip will take anywhere from 11 to 15 hours. Contrast that with the 45 minute flight if you take a plane.

By Bus

Buses are also a very popular travel option in Thailand. From Bangkok you will find buses leaving from the Mo Chit bus station several times a day and the cost for and air conditioned 1st class bus ticket is about 500 baht or $17. The bus is also significantly faster than traveling by train, most buses can make the trip in about 9 hours, however the bus seats are also less comfortable than a sleeper train. Those staying in the Khao San Road area of Bangkok can easily find private bus companies leaving from Khao San Road, but caveat emptor. Many people have complained in the past that these private buses will often try to drop you at a guest house or hotel of their choosing when you arrive. As you might guess, most people are too tired to argue after the 9 hour trip and the bus drivers get a nice commission from the hotel.

To learn more about Chiang Mai and what to do once you arrive in Chiang Mai please visit the authors website.