Bangkok to Chiang Mai: Flight, VIP Bus or Sleeper Train

Bangkok to Chiang Mai is 693 km by road and 751 km by rail, and the three ways to cover it differ more in time than in price. A flight takes 70 to 80 minutes in the air and 4 to 5 hours door to door, with fares of about 700 to 1,500 THB (~USD 21-45) when booked two to four weeks ahead. The VIP bus takes 9 to 11 hours and costs 650 to 1,050 THB (~USD 20-32). The sleeper train takes 12 to 14 hours and costs 771 to 1,041 THB (~USD 23-31) for a second-class air-conditioned berth. This guide puts them side by side so you can pick on time, money and how you want to arrive. Fares and times were checked on 9 October 2026; USD figures use 33.3 THB per USD, the latest dated rate found (16 September 2026).

Which is best: flight, bus or train?

Sources: tour-operator route guide updated 25 September 2026, train timetable and fare listings (2026), route-planner listings. Prices move with season, so treat every figure as a planning range and confirm at booking.

The short answer: fly if time matters, take the sleeper if you want a bed and a rail journey, take the bus if the lowest fare matters most. If you are still deciding whether Chiang Mai suits your trip at all, Bangkok vs Chiang Mai compares the two cities.

What does door to door really mean?

A 75-minute flight is not a 75-minute trip. The route guide counts 4 to 5 hours from leaving your Bangkok hotel to reaching your Chiang Mai accommodation once you add airport transfers, check-in, security and the ride into town. The sleeper and the bus have a different problem: the clock keeps running while you sleep, so the real cost is the next morning rather than the day.

Delays are part of the sleeper plan: the route guide says 30 to 60 minutes late is common, and a sleeper handbook (January 2026) says arrival usually falls between 07:30 and 09:00. Do not book a tight onward connection on the morning of arrival.

Flying from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

How long is the flight and how many flights are there?

Aggregator route pages put the average flight at about 1 hour 18 minutes, with a route planner giving 1 hour 14 minutes from Don Mueang. One fare site counted 1,062 flights a week on the route in April 2026, and another listing shows roughly 23 to 29 non-stop flights a day from Suvarnabhumi and 21 to 32 a day from Don Mueang. Those snapshots are undated or older, so use them only as a sign that you will not be short of options.

Which airlines fly Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

Aggregators list these airlines on the route: Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and Thai VietJet. The sources do not agree on the full list, so confirm the operating carrier when you book. The airports split by airline type:

• Don Mueang (DMK): the budget airlines, namely Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air.
• Suvarnabhumi (BKK): Thai Airways, Thai VietJet and Bangkok Airways.

Search both airports for your date, because the cheapest fare and the more convenient airport are often not the same flight. Don Mueang vs Suvarnabhumi explains how to choose between them.

How much does a flight cost?

The route guide quotes about 700 to 1,500 THB (~USD 21-45) one way, carry-on only, when booked two to four weeks ahead. Its own listing of fares from a booking site shows a wider spread: 1,377 to 2,185 THB (~USD 41-66) from Don Mueang and 1,660 to 6,290 THB (~USD 50-189) from Suvarnabhumi. Thai Airways’ own site showed one-way economy fares of about 4,700 THB (~USD 141) for late September through October 2026, with some dates at 5,250 to 5,555 THB (~USD 158-167). Skyscanner reports September as usually the cheapest month. The 700 to 1,500 THB range is for carry-on only, so price any checked bag separately.

How do you get from Chiang Mai airport to town?

Chiang Mai airport (CNX) is 10 to 15 minutes from the Old City or the Nimman area, and the route guide gives 150 to 250 THB (~USD 4.5-7.5) by Grab.

Taking the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Where does the train leave from?

Since 19 January 2023, every long-distance train, including the Chiang Mai sleepers, leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bang Sue, not Hua Lamphong. Northern line trains leave from platforms 1 and 2. Which Bangkok train station to use covers getting there, including the MRT Blue Line stop that links to the terminal by walkway. For the wider picture of Thai rail, see the Bangkok rail network explained.

Which trains run and when?

Fares for Nos. 9, 13, 109 and 7 are from the route guide (updated 25 September 2026); No. 51 fares are from a second timetable site, which lists the other trains within a few baht. First-class sleeper fares on the guide are 1,453 to 1,653 THB (~USD 44-50) on No. 9 and 1,253 to 1,453 THB (~USD 38-44) on No. 13. A third-class seat on No. 109 starts at 230 THB (~USD 6.9).

Which sleeper is better, No. 9 or No. 13?

A January 2026 sleeper handbook says No. 9 is the newer train, with sealed windows and very cold air conditioning, while No. 13 is older, bumpier and louder. No. 13 has a restaurant car, but the handbook calls the food overpriced and mediocre, so eat before boarding.

Upper or lower berth?

Second-class air-conditioned berths are open plan, with attendants converting the seats into beds around 20:00. Lower berths are wider and have a window; upper berths are narrower and have no window. The handbook recommends the lower berth, and the route guide shows a lower costs 70 to 100 THB (~USD 2-3) more on Nos. 9, 13 and 109. What to pack, according to the handbook: socks and a hoodie for the strong air conditioning, earplugs, an eye mask, and a small padlock, with valuables kept in a daypack.

How do you book the train?

The booking window was cut from 180 to 90 days in April 2026, according to the route guide. Channels:

• SRT D-Ticket: the official site, with no booking fee, though a handbook warns it can reject foreign cards. Search for “Krung Thep Aphiwat” rather than “Bangkok”.
• 12Go: adds a fee of 150 to 200 THB (~USD 4.5-6), according to the handbook,.
• The station: the route guide lists it as a booking channel. Sleepers sell out, especially in the December to February peak and around Thai holidays.

What about the day train?

No. 7 leaves at 07:30 and reaches Chiang Mai at 17:50, about 10 hours 20 minutes, at 558 THB (~USD 17) for a second-class air-conditioned seat. Daylight travel suits stopovers: Ayutthaya is 71 km and about an hour, Lopburi 133 km, and Phitsanulok 389 km.

Taking the VIP bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Where do the buses leave from?

Buses leave from Mo Chit, the Northern Bus Terminal. Overnight VIP and first-class departures run from 18:30 to 21:30. The route guide says Nakhonchai Air leaves from its own terminal beside Mo Chit. The closest rail stops are Mo Chit BTS and Chatuchak Park MRT, but sources agree you still need a taxi, motorbike taxi or city bus, as walking takes at least 15 to 20 minutes on poor pavements. A route planner estimates a taxi from Nana BTS at about 9 minutes and 110 to 130 THB (~USD 3.3-3.9).

What do the bus classes cost?

The route guide gives these ranges:

• VIP or first class: 650 to 1,050 THB (~USD 20-32) in total, with premium operators Sombat Tour and Nakhonchai Air at about 850 to 1,050 THB (~USD 26-32).
• Standard and express: 530 to 850 THB (~USD 16-26) on 40-seat coaches; the cheapest express window seat is about 530 THB (~USD 16).

A route planner lists Nakhonchai Air Gold Class at 700 to 850 THB and First Class at 950 to 1,200 THB, which sits a little above the guide. Duration is 9 to 11 hours by the guide; the same guide’s booking table shows as little as 8 h 55 min and as much as 17 h 21 min on some listings, so read the individual departure.

Is the bus worth it over the train?

A premium VIP seat at 850 to 1,050 THB costs more than a second-class sleeper berth on No. 13 (771 to 841 THB). The bus advantages are shorter time, 9 to 11 hours against 12 to 14, and frequent departures. The train gives you a flat bed. If you want the cheapest fare, a standard express seat at about 530 THB undercuts every sleeper berth listed here.

How do you get into Chiang Mai on arrival?

Buses arrive at the Arcade terminal, 3 km east of the Old City, and the route guide gives 100 to 150 THB (~USD 3-4.5) by Grab or songthaew. From the station, a sleeper handbook says a red songthaew to the Old City is about 40 to 50 THB (~USD 1.2-1.5) per person, Grab or Bolt about 80 to 120 THB (~USD 2.4-3.6), and tuk-tuk offers of 200 to 300 THB are best avoided.

Which should you choose?

• Short on time, or visiting for a long weekend: fly. The trip fits inside a day and you keep your evening.
• Saving a hotel night and watching cost: the bus, standard or VIP, depending on how much you value a reclining seat.
• Want a bed and to arrive in the morning: the sleeper, No. 9 for the newer carriage or No. 13 for the cheaper fare. Book early in the December to February peak.
• Want to see the countryside or stop on the way: the day train, No. 7.
• Going on from Chiang Mai to the rest of the region: see Bangkok as a base for Southeast Asia travel.

FAQ

Is there a high-speed train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

No. The route guide states there is no high-speed rail to Chiang Mai and none is planned or funded.

How far is Bangkok from Chiang Mai?

693 km by road, 751 km by rail and 581 km in a straight line, according to the route guide.

How much is the cheapest way?

A standard express bus seat at about 530 THB (~USD 16) or a third-class seat on No. 109 from about 230 THB (~USD 6.9), compared with about 700 THB (~USD 21) for the cheapest flights.

How early should you book?

Flights are quoted at their lowest two to four weeks ahead. For the sleeper, book as soon as the window opens, since sleepers sell out in peak season.

Do you need a visa?

Entry rules depend on your passport and change. Check the official Thai e-visa site or your nearest Thai embassy before you travel.