Take the green bus from Terminal 1
The route from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai is the same as Route 118 in reverse, a 182 km journey that takes between 3 hours 20 minutes and 3 hours 45 minutes by car. Again, the Green Bus is the best option: it departs 13 times daily between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm from Bus Station 1 in downtown Chiang Rai. Fares range from 260 to 290 baht in express class and from 360 to 400 baht in VIP class. The bus arrives at Bus Station 3, the Arcade in Chiang Mai. The only downside is the bus station itself.
Check the current flight times and seat availability for flights from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai on 12Go.
Chiang Rai has two bus stations: the green bus to Chiang Mai departs from the old train station next to the night bazaar, and the long-distance bus station 7 km south is the starting point for connections to Bangkok. For other routes, minivans (approx. 520–780 baht) and private cars (1,950–3,000 baht) are available. A car is the only way to visit the White Temple on the return journey without a separate excursion. There are no train connections or direct flights. Below you will find all departures with details of the class and price, explanations of the terminal, information on the Arcade and how to get to the Old City from there, as well as connecting services to Bangkok and Pai.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
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Key Facts (2026)
Boarding at Terminal 1, city center
The green bus to Chiang Mai departs from Chiang Rai Bus Station 1, the old train station, just a five-minute walk from the night bazaar. Bus Station 2, 7 km south on the expressway, is the main bus station for Bangkok and the south. Some buses to Chiang Mai stop there as a secondary destination; none originate there.
There are 13 departures per day, 07:30–18:00.
Seven express and six VIP lines. First departure 7:30 a.m., last 6:00 p.m., arrival at the Arcade around 9:20 p.m. In December and January, booking one day in advance is recommended, as the VIP lines fill up quickly in the afternoon.
Fares are 260–290 Baht in the express area and 360–400 Baht in the VIP area.
Prices at the ticket counter in Terminal 1 are on the lower end, while booking portals are on the higher end (12Go offered tickets for 271–380 baht on September 26, 2026). Minivans cost approximately 520–780 baht per seat, and a car costs 1,950–3,000 baht for the entire vehicle.
The journey takes 3 hours 20 minutes in VIP class and 3 hours 45 minutes in Express class.
About halfway along the route, a 15- to 30-minute rest stop at the Mae Kachan hot springs is recommended. The drive from door to door takes approximately 3 hours.
Arrival at the arcade (Terminal 3)
Approximately 3 km northeast of the old town. Take a Grab (100–150 Baht) to Tha Phae Gate or Nimman, or a shared taxi (songthaew) for 30–50 Baht per person. The airport is 20–25 minutes away by Grab (150–200 Baht).
No train, no direct flight
Chiang Rai airport flies to Bangkok, not Chiang Mai, and there is no train connection to Chiang Rai. All flights shown on booking portals have a layover in Bangkok and take 5 to 7 hours door-to-door.
All routes from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai compared (2026)
Prices were compared on September 26, 2026, with current 12Go fares (271–380 Baht in both classes) and the operator's counter prices. The lower price range corresponds to the counter in Terminal 1, the higher to the online price. During peak season, booking one day in advance is recommended, and even earlier during festival season.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Chiang Rai → Chiang Mai: 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
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 flight times and seat availability from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai.
12Go displays the Green Bus classes and the vans side-by-side, including seat reservations and e-tickets in English. Foreign cards are accepted. This is a reliable way to secure a VIP seat on afternoons in December, when departures from Chiang Rai are often sold out before the ticket office even opens.
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All departures of Green Bus buses from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai (2026)
The 13 departures bookable via 12Go on September 26, 2026, with the arrival times specified by the provider (3:20 a.m. VIP, 3:45 a.m. Express), are available. Other providers list additional connections (10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. VIP, as well as 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Express). Therefore, if you require a specific departure time, please check the available flights listed above first.
Which bus station in Chiang Rai? The trap that costs people an hour
Terminal 1 is located in the city center; Terminal 2 is for Bangkok.
Chiang Rai's two bus terminals are 7 km apart and have names that give the impression they are interchangeable. Terminal 1 is the old train station in the city center, a short walk from the Night Bazaar and the Clock Tower. The Green Bus to Chiang Mai departs from here, as do local buses to the White Temple, Mae Sai, and Chiang Khong. Terminal 2 is the long-distance bus terminal on the highway to the south and offers connections to Bangkok, Phitsanulok, and the night buses. Some buses to Chiang Mai stop there after departing from Terminal 1, but if a driver simply says "the bus station," they will often take you to Terminal 2 by default. Therefore, ask specifically for Terminal 1, the old train station.
Tickets are available at the Terminal 1 ticket counter (Green Bus has its own counter), on the Green Bus website or app, or via 12Go if you wish to reserve your seat from abroad. Please arrive at the platform 30 minutes before departure; 20 kg of luggage is transported free of charge in the hold. If your hotel is located outside the airport grounds or on the Bangkok side, a shared taxi (songthaew) between the two terminals is available for a small fee and runs throughout the day. The first bus to Chiang Mai in the morning still departs from Terminal 1.
The best-rated hotels in Chiang Mai
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Chiang Mai. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.
Arrival in Chiang Mai at the Arcade and onward travel into the city
Terminal 3 is located 3 km from the old town.
Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 is located in the Arcade complex on the expressway northeast of the Old City, about 3 km from Tha Phae Gate. The Grab pick-up point is in front of the terminal. The ride to the Old City or Nimman costs 100–150 baht. The red songthaews parked in front of the terminal cost 30–50 baht per person if sharing, and more for a private ride. Allow 20–25 minutes to get to the airport (150–200 baht with Grab) and a full 5 hours between your departure from Chiang Rai and your return flight from Chiang Mai, as the 3-hour 45-minute express bus ride, plus travel through the city and check-in, will take up a whole afternoon.
For onward travel on the same day, night trains to Bangkok depart from Chiang Mai railway station, 3.7 km east of the old city, at 5:05 pm (train no. 14) and 6:20 pm (train no. 10, the modern train). You should therefore leave Chiang Rai by 12:00 pm for the 5:05 pm train or by 1:30 pm for the 6:20 pm train. Minivans to Pai depart hourly until approximately 5:30 pm directly from Terminal 2 (also at the Arcade). If you take a bus that arrives by 3:00 pm, you can be in Pai in time for dinner. However, note that minivans are usually fully booked between 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
The White Temple on the way out
It is located on your street, 13 km from the city.
Wat Rong Khun is located on Route 118 on the southern edge of Chiang Rai, making it directly on the route. The Green Bus passes by without stopping. A private car will stay as long as you like (an hour is plenty if the temple opens at 8:00 AM, before the tour buses from Chiang Mai arrive) and then continue south. For two or three people sharing a taxi (1,950–3,000 baht), this is a good way to include a temple visit in a travel day. If you're on a budget, travel the evening before or take the local bus at 6:15 AM or 7:10 AM from Platform 8 at Terminal 1 (20–25 baht, 20–30 minutes return trip on the same route) and then transfer to the Green Bus to Chiang Mai at midday. This way, you'll have visited the temple and your luggage will still be at your hotel.
Booked your trip? Plan both your arrival and departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the connection between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
The Green Bus departs 13 times daily from Terminal 1 in Chiang Rai city center between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm. The journey takes 3 hours 20 minutes (VIP) or 3 hours 45 minutes (Express). Fares range from 260 to 290 baht (Express) and 360 to 400 baht (VIP). The bus arrives at Terminal 3 (Arcade) in Chiang Mai. For the remainder of the journey, minivans (approximately 520–780 baht) and private cars (1,950–3,000 baht) are available.
Terminal 1, the old train station in the city center, is just a short walk from the night bazaar. Terminal 2, 7 km south on the expressway, is the main bus station for Bangkok. Some buses from Chiang Mai stop there as a second stop, but none depart from there. A driver who can be reached simply by saying "bus station" will often take you to Terminal 2.
The journey takes 3 hours and 20 minutes in the VIP section and 3 hours and 45 minutes in the express section. The route follows the multi-lane Route 118 with a rest stop approximately halfway. Private cars require about 3 hours for the entire door-to-door journey.
Prices for Green Bus Express range from 260 to 290 baht, while VIP tickets cost between 360 and 400 baht. Prices are generally lower at the ticket counter in Terminal 1, but higher on booking websites. A seat in a minivan costs approximately 520–780 baht, and a private car 1,950–3,000 baht.
The last departure bookable via 12Go is the VIP train at 6:00 PM, arriving at the Arcade around 9:20 PM; some resellers also offer an express train at 6:30 PM. Neither train connects with the overnight trains to Bangkok departing Chiang Mai at 5:05 PM and 6:20 PM. To catch a train, you must take a bus leaving Chiang Rai by noon for the 5:05 PM train or by 1:30 PM for the 6:20 PM train.
Neither. Chiang Rai isn't connected to the rail network, and Chiang Rai airport flies to Bangkok, not Chiang Mai. Therefore, all flights shown on booking portals have a layover in Bangkok and take 5 to 7 hours door-to-door. The bus is faster and costs only a tenth of the price.
Taking a Grab from the pick-up point outside the terminal to Tha Phae Gate or Nimman costs 100–150 baht (15–20 minutes). Shared taxis (songthaews) on the access road will take you to the airport for 30–50 baht per person. The airport is a 20–25 minute walk across the city and can be reached by Grab for 150–200 baht.
Accessible only by car. You can stop at Wat Rong Khun on the southern outskirts of the city and continue on to Chiang Mai. The Green Bus passes by without stopping. If you want to save money, it's best to take the local bus from platform 8 at Terminal 1 for 20–25 baht first thing in the morning (6:15 or 7:10 am), visit the temple when it opens, and then transfer to the Green Bus heading south at midday.
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Further from Chiang Mai
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai – All 7 routes from Chiang Mai
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