Take the night train No. 10 southbound or fly if you need to catch a connecting flight.
The distance from Chiang Mai to Bangkok is 693 km by road and 751 km by train. Flights take 65–85 minutes and cost from around 1,000 baht (US$30) if booked several weeks in advance. Alternatively, you can take an overnight train in 12–14 hours for 728–1,041 baht (US$22–31) in a second-class sleeper car, or take a bus to Mo Chit (travel time 9–12 hours, around 650–1,050 baht, bookable online). I would book the Special Express No. 10, which has the newest carriages on this route. It departs Chiang Mai at 6:20 pm and arrives in Bangkok at 6:30 am.
Check the current flight times and seat availability for flights from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on 12Go.
The catch is the arrival time. All three night trains reach Bangkok between 5:10 and 6:30 a.m., before you can check into a hotel, and two of them even before the MRT starts running. If you're flying from Don Mueang that day, get off at Don Mueang station 17 minutes earlier and walk to the terminal. Below you'll find all five trains with official fares, booking information, sleeper compartment amenities, daytime trains with scenic views, flight and bus connections, their respective stops in Bangkok, and tips for planning your journey.
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Key Facts (2026)
The route is 693 km by road and 751 km by rail.
A flight takes 65–85 minutes, a night train journey 12–14 hours, a day train journey about 10 hours, or a bus journey 9–12 hours. Most travelers fly or use the route as an overnight stop.
The sleeper train connection to be booked is No. 10, 18:20 to 06:30.
The newest CNR carriages feature power outlets and reading lights at every berth, as well as a dining car. Second-class berths cost 941 baht (upper deck) or 1,041 baht (lower deck), while first-class berths cost 1,453–1,653 baht per berth or 2,453 baht for a twin cabin for single occupancy.
The sleeper trains heading south arrive between 05:10 and 06:30.
Line 52 arrives at 5:10 AM, Line 14 at 5:55 AM, and Line 10 at 6:30 AM. The dark red line to Don Mueang starts running at 5:00 AM, but the blue MRT line under the station doesn't begin operating until around 6:00 AM.
The flight takes 65–85 minutes and costs about 1,000 Baht.
Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air fly to Don Mueang (DMK); Thai Airways, Thai VietJet, and Bangkok Airways fly to Suvarnabhumi (BKK). If you have a connecting flight abroad, choose an airline that will take you to your departure airport.
The bus trip to Mo Chit costs about 650–1050 Baht online.
Daytime buses depart from the Arcade Terminal in Chiang Mai starting at 7:30 a.m., while VIP and Gold class night buses depart between 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. All reach Mo Chit, the northern bus station in Bangkok, after 9–12 hours.
Tickets are available 90 days in advance (changed in April 2026).
The national railway company shortened the booking period from 180 to 90 days, so a page promising six months' notice is outdated. Lower berths on train number 10 are allocated first, at the earliest for November to February and Sunday nights.
All routes from Chiang Mai to Bangkok compared (2026)
Train fares are based on the official prices of the State Railways of Thailand (as of December 5, 2025) and have been converted at an exchange rate of 33.5 baht per US dollar. Booking platforms also charge a service fee. Bus fares are based on 12Go prices, including the service fee. Flights are generally booked two to four weeks in advance, not at the last minute and before baggage transfer.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Chiang Mai → Bangkok: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
bus
Flight
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Check the current bus and flight connections from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
12Go lists buses from Arcade to Mo Chit, as well as flights to both Bangkok airports, with live seat reservations and instant e-tickets in English. Train tickets are also available through the platform, however, the display board still shows last year's departure times. Therefore, please check the timetable below before booking.
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Which train to book (No. 10, No. 14, No. 52 or a daytime train)?
Five trains daily from Chiang Mai, three of them sleeper cars
Five trains run daily from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, consisting of two daytime trains and three sleeper trains. The Special Express No. 10 is particularly recommended. It travels southbound and uses the same Chiang National Railway (CNR) train as the northbound No. 9. Each sleeper berth is equipped with a power outlet and a reading light. There is also a dining car, an accessible car, and a separate car for women and small children. Departure is at 6:20 PM, allowing you to make the most of your last day in Chiang Mai. Arrival in Bangkok is at 6:30 AM.
Special train No. 14 departs at 5:05 PM with older sleeper cars and arrives at 5:55 AM. It is 170–200 baht cheaper per berth than train No. 10, yet still offers first class and a dining car, and serves as an alternative if train No. 10 is fully booked. On a trip in June 2026, it departed on time, and the conductor woke the passengers at 5:15 AM. Express train No. 52 is the early sleeper train (3:30 PM to 5:10 AM) with air-conditioned second-class berths (728–798 baht) and seats with fans. It arrives at a time when almost everything in Bangkok is closed, negating any savings.
The daytime trains are the air-conditioned diesel multiple unit No. 8 at 7:30 a.m., arriving at 5:40 p.m. (2nd class sleeper seats only, 558 baht), and the express train No. 102 at 6:25 a.m. with ventilated seats and open windows, arriving in Bangkok at 8:05 p.m. for 388 baht in 2nd class or 230 baht in 3rd class. My tip: Take train No. 10 (sleeper seats on the lower level) and book it as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. If it's fully booked, take train No. 14 instead of No. 52. A daytime train is only worthwhile if the scenery is particularly important to you – and on this route, it can be quite lovely.
Train timetable and prices Chiang Mai → Bangkok (2026)
The journey times and prices are taken from the Thai State Railways timetable of December 5, 2025, published in Richard Barrow's Thai Train Guide, and cross-checked with data from thailandtrains.com and 12Go's live search. According to Barrow's station table, sleeper berths on trains 10 and 14 to Krung Thep Aphiwat cost approximately 3 baht less than the listed price (938 baht / 1,038 baht on train 10). The integrated 12Go timetable and some guidebooks still show pre-December departure times (train 10 at 6:00 PM, train 8 at 8:50 AM). In case of discrepancies, you should therefore rely on the information from D-Ticket. Sleeper trains often arrive 15–45 minutes late.
How the night train south is
An improvised sleeping place, waking up at 5:15 am and the plain outside in the first light of dawn.
The air-conditioned second class is highly recommended, even on the southern journey. Two facing seats convert into separate upper and lower berths with curtains. The train staff prepares the berths with fresh bedding one to two hours after departure. In carriage 10, each berth has its own power outlet and reading light. The lower berth is wider, has a window, and costs 100 baht more – a worthwhile upgrade. The upper berth is located directly under the air conditioning unit and is very cold. The lights stay on all night in second class, so pack a sleep mask and earplugs. First class consists of a lockable two-berth cabin with a sink and access to a hot-water shower at the end of the carriage. Cabins are booked separately by gender unless you book the entire compartment (2,453 baht in carriage 10, 1,953 baht in carriage 14). Couples or solo travelers who value privacy should therefore book an entire compartment.
The first few hours of the journey south are the most beautiful part. Train No. 10 winds its way through the hills from Chiang Mai towards Lampang at dusk. A hot Thai dinner is available in the dining car (around 190 baht in June 2026 on Train No. 14) if you haven't brought food from a 7-Eleven at the station. None of this is included in the ticket price. The train crosses the central plains overnight, and the day starts early. The train attendants fold up the berths 30–45 minutes before Bangkok, so you'll have to get up with your luggage at 5:15 a.m. on Train No. 14, whether you like it or not.
Book on the SRT's D-Ticket website, at the station ticket counter, or via 12Go. The latter is a paid service but offers a simple payment process and instant e-tickets. All trains on this list run the entire route from Chiang Mai, so all five can be booked 90 days in advance (the state railway abolished the previous 180-day booking window in April 2026). For travel from November to February, during festival weeks, and on Sunday evenings, it is recommended to book two to four weeks in advance.
Book cabin number 10, lower berth, second class. Only book first class if you require a shower and a lockable door, or if you are a couple and prefer not to share a cabin with strangers.
The South sleeping car in second and first class
Three journeys from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, filmed by other travelers, on the older bus No. 14 and the newer bus No. 10. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press "Play".
Take train number 8 or express train number 102 for the views.
Ten hours through hills, teak plantations and rice paddies, in daylight
On the night train, you experience the most beautiful sections of the Northern Line in darkness on the northbound journey and partly in daylight on the southbound journey. The daytime trains offer a comprehensive overview. The first three hours alone from Chiang Mai are reason enough to take a night train. The route leads through the forest up to the Khun Tan Tunnel, then down through Lampang and the teak forest region towards Uttaradit, before the landscape gives way to rice paddies for the long journey to Ayutthaya.
Train No. 8 offers the most comfortable way to travel. It's a 1990s Daewoo railcar with reclining seats in second class and air conditioning. It departs Chiang Mai at 7:30 a.m. for Bangkok (Krung Thep Aphiwat) and arrives at 5:40 p.m. The fare is 558 baht. The slower, cheaper, and more photogenic alternative is express train No. 102, departing at 6:25 a.m. It has fan-cooled carriages and windows that open. Fares are 388 baht in second class and 230 baht in third class. It arrives at 8:05 p.m. Bring plenty of food and drink for the No. 102 train.
The best-rated hotels in Bangkok
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Bangkok. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.
Flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in 65–85 minutes
Match your Bangkok airport to what you plan to do next.
Chiang Mai Airport (CNX) is only 10–15 minutes from the Old City and Nimman (approximately 150–250 baht via Grab), making it one of the most easily accessible airports in the country. Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air fly to Don Mueang (DMK), while Thai Airways, Thai VietJet, and Bangkok Airways fly to Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Flights depart between approximately 6:30 a.m. and late evening, with a flight time of 65–85 minutes. When booking two to four weeks in advance, prices are around 1,000–1,500 baht (US$30–45) without baggage. Last-minute bookings and flights during the weeks around Songkran, Yi Peng, and New Year can double or triple the price.
The most important rule for traveling to the south is to choose the same airport you'll be flying out of. If your international return flight departs from Suvarnabhumi, book Thai Airways, VietJet, or Bangkok Airways and save yourself the 45- to 90-minute transfer across the city from Don Mueang. Allow three to four hours between landing and your international departure, and more if you have to change airports. With only hand luggage, the flight is often as cheap as a first-class seat, and you'll have the evening free. That's why most travelers take the train there and fly back.
From Chiang Mai to Bangkok by bus from Arcade to Mo Chit
Night buses for fully booked train nights
All buses in Bangkok depart from the Arcade Terminal in northeast Chiang Mai and arrive at Mo Chit, the northern bus station. Daytime departures begin at 7:30 a.m., while the most popular night buses run between 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sombat Tour and Nakhonchai Air offer premium VIP and Gold Class buses with 20–32 reclining seats, a blanket, and a snack box. The state-owned transport company and several private companies offer express buses in the next lower category. 12Go charges approximately 650–1,050 baht for all journeys, including fees, and the trip takes 9–12 hours.
The night bus is usually one to two hours faster than the sleeper train, but offers less comfort as the seats are only partially reclining and the air conditioning only works in cold mode. It's a good alternative if lines 10 and 14 are fully booked. Mo Chit is not connected to the Skytrain network. Expect to pay 60–100 baht for a taxi to Mo Chit BTS station or Chatuchak Park MRT station, or take a Grab directly to your hotel.
What to do if the sleeper train reaches Bangkok at dawn?
Krung Thep Aphiwat, Don Mueang Station and a hotel that won't let you in yet
All trains from Chiang Mai terminate at Krung Thep Aphiwat, the large Bang Sue Terminal 8 km north of Siam, which has replaced Hua Lamphong for long-distance trains. The MRT Blue Line runs directly below it and starts operating around 6:00 AM. You can therefore catch the Line 10, arriving at 6:30 AM, before the morning rush hour. The journey to Sukhumvit takes about 25 minutes, and to Silom 20 minutes. For Line 14 (5:55 AM), you'll have a short wait; for Line 52 (5:10 AM), you can take a taxi from the taxi rank on the ground floor or grab a coffee. The SRT Dark Red Line on the upper level starts operating at 5:00 AM.
If you are flying from Don Mueang, do not travel to the final stop. All trains stop at Don Mueang 17 minutes earlier (Line 10 at 6:13 AM, Line 14 at 5:38 AM, Line 52 at 4:53 AM). The station is connected to the airport terminal by a covered walkway. This allows you to purchase a hotel room and airport transfer with a single ticket, provided your flight departs late morning or later.
Everyone else has the same problem with check-in. Hotels in Bangkok rarely allow guests into their rooms before 2:00 PM, so it's advisable to either book the previous night (some hotels offer early check-in, others a day rate) or leave your luggage at reception and spend the morning near the MRT station. The Chatuchak Weekend Market is just one stop away and opens at 9:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays; Lumphini Park is ideal for a dawn stroll; and Wat Pho opens at 8:00 AM.
Are you flying from Don Mueang on the same day? Get off at Don Mueang station, not the final station. Are you flying from Suvarnabhumi? Go to Krung Thep Aphiwat and take the MRT to Phetchaburi to connect to the Airport Rail Link, or take a taxi.
Break up your journey in Lampang, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai or Ayutthaya
Three stopovers that are worth an overnight stay on the way down.
The daytime trains make the Northern Line a slow route south, stopping every few hours. A peculiarity regarding booking: SRT only sells segments of the route within a shorter timeframe than the entire journey. Less than 25% of the train route can be booked one day in advance, 25–59% 30 days in advance, and 60% or more the full 90 days. From Chiang Mai, this means: tickets for Lampang are available on the spot, for Phitsanulok 30 days in advance, and for Ayutthaya 90 days in advance.
Lampang (109 km, approx. 2 hours)
The first stop in the south, which most travelers skip. Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is the most beautiful Lanna temple in the north; horse-drawn carriages still operate in the town, and the old teakwood merchants' quarter along the Wang River is as peaceful as Chiang Mai has been for a long time. Bus number 8 arrives in Lampang Luang at 9:27 a.m., giving you the whole day to explore.
Phitsanulok and Sukhothai (362 km, approx. 6 hours)
Phitsanulok is located halfway between Sukhothai and Sukhothai and is the starting point for excursions to the city. Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat houses the Phra Buddha Chinnarat, a bronze statue considered by many Thais to be the most beautiful in the country. The night market along the Nan River is a good place for dinner. Bus number 8 arrives at 1:16 pm. Sukhothai is not connected to the railway network, so take one of the buses that run approximately hourly from the bus station in Phitsanulok (about an hour's journey) and plan for two nights to explore the historical park.
Ayutthaya (680 km, approx. 9 hours)
The ancient Siamese capital is the last stop before Bangkok and can be reached from Krung Thep Aphiwat in an hour by one of the approximately 16 daily trains. Therefore, it's more suitable as a final overnight stop than as a detour. Train number 8 arrives at 4:48 p.m., in time for a sunset visit to Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Information about the ferry and temple tickets can be found in the "Bangkok–Ayutthaya" guidebook.
From Bangkok north to Chiang Mai
The mirror trains leave Bangkok a little later.
Northbound sleeper trains are No. 9 at 6:40 PM (the CNR train, which requires booking), No. 13 at 8:05 PM, and No. 51 at 10:30 PM, all departing from Krung Thep Aphiwat station. There is also the daytime train No. 7 at 7:30 AM and the budget express train No. 109 at 2:15 PM. Fares are the same as for southbound trains, and bookings are made within the same 90-day period. The Bangkok–Chiang Mai travel guide includes all northbound trains, detailed information on sleeper berths, and information on stopovers in the opposite direction.
Bangkok → Chiang Mai: Departure times you can book now
Check the current bus and flight connections from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
The same live display board from 12Go for the journey north, with the Mo Chit night buses and flights from both Bangkok airports, as well as instant e-tickets.
Trip booked? Plan your graduation in Bangkok.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the route from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
If you have time in the evening, take the night train No. 10. It departs Chiang Mai at 6:20 p.m., arrives in Bangkok at 6:30 a.m., saves you a hotel night, and costs 941–1,041 baht (approximately US$30) for a second-class sleeper berth. If you have a connecting flight or no time to lose, fly. The flight time to Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi is 65–85 minutes and costs approximately 1,000 baht. The VIP night bus to Mo Chit offers an alternative for nights when the trains are fully booked.
Special train No. 10 (6:20 PM to 6:30 AM) uses the newest CNR sleeping cars, equipped with a power outlet and reading light at each berth, a dining car, an accessible car, and a car for women and children. Train No. 14 (5:05 PM to 5:55 AM) is the replacement train with older rolling stock and is 170–200 baht cheaper. Train No. 52 (3:30 PM to 5:10 AM) departs too early to be worthwhile. During the day, the air-conditioned daytime train No. 8 runs at 7:30 AM, and the inexpensive express train No. 102 departs at 6:25 AM.
The official fares for 2026 on train number 10 are 941 baht for an upper berth and 1,041 baht for a lower berth in 2nd class with air conditioning, and 1,453–1,653 baht per berth in 1st class or 2,453 baht for a twin cabin for single occupancy. On train number 14, berths cost 771–841 baht in 2nd class and 1,253–1,453 baht in 1st class, and on train number 52, berths in 2nd class are available for 728–798 baht. Booking portals such as 12Go charge a service fee.
The three night trains take 12 hours and 10 minutes (train number 10), 12 hours and 50 minutes (train number 14), and 13 hours and 40 minutes (train number 52), respectively. Daytime train number 8 takes 10 hours and 10 minutes, and express train number 102 takes 13 hours and 40 minutes. Sleeping cars frequently arrive 15–45 minutes late.
Buses No. 52 at 5:10 a.m., No. 14 at 5:55 a.m., and No. 10 at 6:30 a.m. all stop at Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) and 17 minutes earlier at Don Mueang. The MRT Blue Line runs under the station from approximately 6:00 a.m., and the Dark Red Line to Don Mueang from 5:00 a.m.
Take the train if you have time in the evening and no early morning commitments in Bangkok. A sleeper car replaces a hotel stay and makes for a more memorable journey. Fly if you have a connecting flight abroad, want to avoid early mornings, or prefer to spend your last evening in Chiang Mai. The flight takes 65–85 minutes and, with hand luggage, often costs about the same as a sleeper car compartment.
Yes, if you're happy arriving at dawn. You board at 6:20 p.m., sleep in a proper compartment with a curtain, and save a hotel night. The disadvantages are getting up at 5:15 a.m., the light being on all night in second class, the train noise, and a Bangkok hotel that won't check you in until the afternoon. For this reason, many travelers take the train north and fly back.
Flight time is 65–85 minutes. From a hotel in Chiang Mai to one in Bangkok, you should allow four to five hours, including airport layovers at both ends.
Yes. All trains from Chiang Mai stop at Don Mueang Station before Krung Thep Aphiwat Airport (train number 10 at 6:13 AM, train number 14 at 5:38 AM, train number 52 at 4:53 AM). A covered pedestrian walkway connects the station to the airport. This connection is convenient for flights departing from late morning onwards.
Yes. It's a train with attendants in every carriage. In second class, the lights stay on all night, and carriage number 10 has a separate area for women and small children. Keep your passport, mobile phone, and money in a small bag in your compartment and store your larger bag under the lower seat.
There is no luxury train on the regular timetable. The highest level of comfort is offered by a first-class cabin in carriage number 10, a lockable two-berth compartment with a sink and hot water shower at the end of the carriage. The price is 2,453 baht if you book the entire cabin.
Tickets are available 90 days in advance (the national railway reduced the lead time from 180 days in April 2026). For the months of November to February, festival weeks, and Sunday nights, booking two to four weeks in advance is recommended, as the lower berths on train number 10 are usually the first to be booked. Outside of these periods, a few days' notice is generally sufficient.
693 km (431 miles) by road and 751 km by train. This is equivalent to a 65–85 minute flight, 12–14 hours in a sleeper car, about 10 hours by daytime train, or 9–12 hours by bus.
Yes, during the day from 7:30 am and at night between 4:30 pm and 9:30 pm, from the Arcade Terminal in Chiang Mai to Mo Chit, the northern bus station in Bangkok. The journey takes approximately 9–12 hours and costs around 650–1,050 baht (bookable online). Sombat Tour and Nakhonchai Air offer the most comfortable VIP coaches.
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Continue your journey from Bangkok
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? Bangkok to Chiang Mai – All 27 routes from Bangkok
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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