The distance from Chiang Mai to Phuket is approximately 1,520 km, which is roughly the length of the country. Therefore, a direct flight is the best option for almost all travelers. Thai AirAsia and Thai VietJet operate flights on this route about six times daily between 6:25 a.m. and 9:25 p.m., and on some days, Bangkok Airways also offers flights. The flight time is between 2 and 2 hours and 10 minutes. So, the journey from your accommodation in the Old City to Patong takes about four and a half hours.
Check the current flight times and seat availability for flights from Chiang Mai to Phuket on 12Go.
A flight with a layover in Bangkok takes at least four hours and usually almost the entire day. I would therefore only book it if all direct flights are fully booked. Alternatively, a GreenBus travels the entire route from the Arcade Terminal in Chiang Mai in approximately 24 hours and 40 minutes. My preferred travel option would be taking the night train No. 10 to Don Mueang, which stops directly at the airport at 6:13 a.m., and then flying to Phuket the following morning. There is no direct train connection to Phuket.
Where to stay in Phuket
This route ends in Phuket. Search for hotels in Phuket for your travel dates or narrow your search to the region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.
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My recommendations in every price category in Phuket
Key facts
The distance is approximately 1,520 km by road and 1,190 km by plane.
The OSRM route from Chiang Mai's Old City to Phuket Town is 1,522 km long and the journey takes approximately 19 hours without breaks. Therefore, nobody recommends this route unless you have a compelling reason to explore the area.
Approximately six nonstop flights per day, 2 hours in the air.
Thai AirAsia flies at approximately 06:25, 11:40, 13:00, and 21:25, while Thai VietJet flies at 10:50 and 16:15. Bangkok Airways offers an additional flight at 14:35 on some weekdays. Flight times may vary by a few minutes from day to day.
From door to door it takes about four and a half hours.
Chiang Mai Airport is 10–15 minutes from the Old City and Nimman; the flight takes 2 hours, and Patong is about a 50-minute drive from Phuket Airport. With a layover in Bangkok, the journey takes almost a full day.
There is no train connection to Phuket.
The fastest train connection is the night train No. 10 from Chiang Mai at 6:20 pm, arriving at Don Mueang station at 6:13 am, followed by a covered walkway to the airport and a flight south. The entire journey by train and bus via Surat Thani takes approximately 42 hours.
One direct bus per day, almost 25 hours
GreenBus departs from Chiang Mai 3 (Arcade) bus station at 3:00 PM and arrives at Phuket 2 bus station the following afternoon around 3:40 PM. Tickets are available from 12Go for approximately 3,650 Baht.
The journey from Phuket Airport to Patong costs 100 Baht by bus or 800 Baht by car.
The Smart Bus runs every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM and takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach Patong. At the ticket counter, a car ride to Patong costs 800 Baht, and to Karon or Kata, 1,000 Baht.
All routes from Chiang Mai to Phuket compared
Flight times are taken from 12Go's flight search for the period from November 2026 to January 2027. The prices shown correspond to 12Go's schedules and the prices displayed there for direct flights booked several weeks in advance. Flights at the end of December, in January, and during Songkran are more expensive. Train fares correspond to the prices of the State Railway as of December 5, 2025, and bus fares correspond to the prices of the respective operators (Transport Co. Express 783฿, Phun Phin Bus 370฿). The GreenBus price corresponds to the 12Go price, including fees.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Chiang Mai → Phuket: 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.
Find out more about the GreenBus and flights from Chiang Mai to Phuket.
12Go offers direct flights and a direct connection with the GreenBus, including an instant e-ticket in English. The flight schedule includes connections via Bangkok, so please check the stated flight time of approximately 2 hours before booking.
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Direct flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket in 2 hours
On some days, Thai AirAsia, Thai VietJet and Bangkok Airways fly.
Three airlines offer direct flights from Chiang Mai (CNX) to Phuket (HKT). Thai AirAsia offers the most flights, typically at 6:25 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 9:25 p.m. Thai VietJet flies at 10:50 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Bangkok Airways offers a flight at 2:35 p.m., arriving at 4:40 p.m., but only on certain days of the week. This flight is also offered under Thai Airways flight numbers. There are four to seven direct flights per week, depending on the day of the week, approximately 40 per week, with a flight time of 2 to 2 hours and 10 minutes. Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, and Thai Airways also appear in search results, but all of these routes require a layover in Bangkok.
I would book the 6:25 a.m. flight. It lands at 8:30 a.m., and you'll arrive at a beach on the west coast around 10:00 a.m., leaving you with the entire first day free. The 10:50 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. flights are a convenient midday time and allow for check-in in the afternoon. The 9:25 p.m. flight lands at 11:25 p.m., just before the last Smart Bus at 11:30 p.m. For this flight, I would therefore recommend renting a car.
Booking a few weeks in advance typically costs between 1,800 and 3,600 baht (one way) without baggage. Budget airlines charge less for checked baggage online than at the airport. Late December, January, and during Songkran are the most expensive months, and direct flights are the first to sell out. Connections via Bangkok then become more attractive. Check flight durations before booking. The fastest connections take around 4 hours, but many take between 6 and 15 hours. A connection with a layover at Don Mueang and departure from Suvarnabhumi Airport means you'll have to travel through Bangkok with your luggage.
Chiang Mai Airport is a 10-15 minute walk from the Old City and Nimman. A taxi ride costs a flat rate of 160 baht, while Grab costs approximately 150-250 baht. Airlines request that passengers arrive at the airport 90 minutes before their domestic flight. Therefore, for the 6:25 a.m. flight, you should leave your hotel around 4:30 a.m.
Direct flights from Chiang Mai to Phuket
Browse 12Go's flight search for nine dates between November 4, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Thai AirAsia changes departure times on some days (e.g., 7:50 a.m. and 5:55 p.m. on a Tuesday) and offers fewer flights on some Saturdays, so please check the departure time on your ticket.
My planned overland journey: an overnight trip to Don Mueang and a flight south.
One night in a bunk, without a hotel, the airport at the end of the platform.
Thailand's railway doesn't go all the way to Phuket, and there's no train connection between Chiang Mai and the south that bypasses Bangkok. If you'd like to see northern Thailand from a train window, the Night Train No. 10 is recommended. It departs Chiang Mai at 6:20 p.m. and uses the newest carriages on the line. It arrives at Don Mueang Station at 6:13 a.m., 17 minutes before Bangkok. Get off there. A covered walkway connects the station to Don Mueang Airport. From there, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air offer flights to Phuket throughout the morning, with journey times ranging from 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes.
A second-class seat on train number 10 costs 941 baht (upper class) or 1,041 baht (lower class). Bookings can be made 90 days in advance. Trains on this route are often delayed by 30 to 60 minutes. Therefore, I recommend booking a flight departing around 9:30 a.m. instead of the first one. This way, you'll arrive in Phuket around noon, 18 to 20 hours after leaving Chiang Mai, and will have spent the night in a bed instead of a hotel. The Chiang Mai–Bangkok travel guide lists all trains, fares, and recommended sleeping accommodations.
Traveling the entire route overland takes considerably longer. You can take train number 10 to Krung Thep Aphiwat, spend the day in Bangkok, and then take the Mo Chit Transport Co. bus in the evening at 4:45 PM, 5:25 PM, or 6:00 PM (express bus 783 baht, 12–14 hours to Phuket 2 bus station). The total travel time is 36 to 38 hours. Alternatively, you can take the train and catch express train number 83 southbound at 6:50 PM. You will arrive at Phun Phin station in Surat Thani at 4:58 AM and from there take the bus to Phuket at 6:40 AM. The journey takes about 6 hours and costs 370 baht. You will arrive on the third day around 12:40 PM, approximately 42 hours after your departure from Chiang Mai. The cost for a second-class bus ticket is approximately 2,000–2,300 baht. If Bangkok or Khao Sok are already on your itinerary, it's a nice trip. However, it's not suitable as a detour to the beach.
Book train number 10 to Don Mueang and a morning flight from Don Mueang to Phuket on the same day. Do not book the flight before 9:30 a.m. in case the train is delayed.
The best-rated hotels in Phuket
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Phuket. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.
The GreenBus direct bus departs from Arcade in approximately 25 hours.
One bus per day, and why I would take it just for the journey itself.
There is only one bus that travels the entire route. The GreenBus departs at 3:00 PM from Chiang Mai 3 Bus Station (Arcade Terminal, approximately 3 km east of the Old City) and arrives at Phuket 2 Bus Station, north of Phuket Town, the following afternoon around 3:40 PM. The scheduled journey time is 24 hours and 40 minutes. Tickets are available from 12Go for approximately 3,650 baht. Older offers list departure times of 12:30 PM or 4:00 PM and prices between 1,600 and 1,900 baht. Therefore, if you purchase tickets at the Arcade Terminal, check the departure time at the ticket counter.
That's more than most direct flights cost, and it's for twelve times the distance. One passenger who traveled in January 2026 wrote on 12Go that while the bus had a toilet and meal vouchers for dinner and breakfast, the night was interrupted by stops and early mornings, and he wouldn't repeat the trip. I would only take the bus if you can't fly or if you really want to experience the overland journey itself. The Phuket 2 bus station is in Phuket Town, so Patong or Kata are another 30 to 60 minutes away by taxi or Grab.
From Phuket Airport to your beach
Fixed fares are based on Phuket Airport Limousine's zone tables. A taxi ride to Patong costs 600–700 baht according to the meter, plus a 100 baht airport surcharge; Grab quotes approximately 750–950 baht. The Smart Bus departs from Exit 3 of the domestic terminal at 8:15 a.m., then every 30 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., as well as at 10:40 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. (timetable effective from January 16, 2026). The airport bus to Phuket Town runs approximately hourly from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Phuket Airport (HKT) → Patong
Landing at 9:25 PM or with the family
A flight from Chiang Mai lands at the domestic terminal, just a short walk from the Smart bus stop at Exit 3. The bus ride to Patong costs 100 baht and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. A car costs 800 baht at the fixed-price counter. If you arrive on the late flight at 11:25 PM, a car booked through 12Go (a sedan for three people starting at approximately 950 baht) will be waiting for you with your name on it, as the last bus departs at 11:30 PM.
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Return journey from Phuket to Chiang Mai
Approximately five direct flights to the north, mostly in the morning
Flights to the north mainly depart in the morning: Thai VietJet around 8:15 a.m. and 1:25 p.m., and Thai AirAsia around 9:00 a.m., 10:40 a.m., and 6:55 p.m. Therefore, leave Patong approximately two and a half hours before your flight. The Phuket to Chiang Mai travel guide includes all departure times, bus and train connections via Bangkok, and the recommended departure time from each beach.
Landing in Phuket or still planning your trip to the north?
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about traveling from Chiang Mai to Phuket.
Fly nonstop. Thai AirAsia and Thai VietJet offer approximately six daily flights from Chiang Mai Airport to Phuket Airport (flight time: 2 to 2 hours 10 minutes). Bangkok Airways also offers flights on some days. Traveling by land takes 18 to 20 hours via the No. 10 night train to Don Mueang and a subsequent flight south, approximately 24 hours 40 minutes via the direct GreenBus, and 36 to 42 hours via trains and buses through Bangkok.
Yes. Thai AirAsia (usually at 06:25, 11:40, 13:00 and 21:25), Thai VietJet (10:50 and 16:15) and Bangkok Airways (sometimes at 14:35) fly nonstop, a total of about 40 times per week. Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and Thai Airways also offer the route, but with a layover in Bangkok.
The journey takes between 2 hours and 2 hours and 10 minutes nonstop. From your hotel in the old town to Patong, you should allow approximately four and a half hours, including the short drive to Chiang Mai Airport, check-in, and the 50-minute drive from Phuket Airport.
The route is approximately 1,520 km (945 miles) by road and approximately 1,190 km (740 miles) by air. Driving without breaks takes about 19 hours, which is why almost everyone flies.
A direct flight typically costs between 1,800 and 3,600 baht each way when booked several weeks in advance (excluding baggage). Prices are higher at the end of December, in January, and during Songkran, as direct flights sell out quickly. For cheaper fares, check the flight duration, as it likely includes a layover in Bangkok.
No. Phuket has no railway network, and every train journey south goes via Bangkok. The fastest connection is the night train No. 10 from Chiang Mai at 6:20 pm, arriving at Don Mueang station at 6:13 am. From there, you can fly from the nearby Don Mueang Airport. The entire journey by train and bus via Surat Thani takes approximately 42 hours.
A bus runs daily. GreenBus departs from Chiang Mai 3 (Arcade) bus station at 3:00 PM and arrives at Phuket 2 bus station the following day around 3:40 PM. The fare is approximately 3,650 Baht (according to 12Go). Alternatively, you can change buses in Bangkok, take a night bus to Mo Chit, and from there an evening bus to Phuket.
Direct flights should generally be booked several weeks in advance, taking travel time into account. The cheapest overland option is to take the night train to Bangkok and then a night bus south. Fares are around 1,725–1,825 baht, but the journey takes 36 to 38 hours, and a day in Bangkok, including meals and a day room, quickly offsets the additional costs.
Direct. The nonstop flight takes 2 hours, the fastest connection via Bangkok about 4 hours, but many flights take 6 to 15 hours. A layover is only worthwhile if all nonstop flights are fully booked on your desired date. In this case, choose a flight that departs from and arrives at the same airport in Bangkok.
The Smart Bus costs 100 Baht and runs every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (as well as at 8:15 AM, 10:40 PM, and 11:30 PM). The journey to Patong takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. By car, the journey takes about 50 minutes. The fixed fare is 800 Baht, with a metered taxi including airport surcharge it's 700–800 Baht, and with Grab it's approximately 750–950 Baht.
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Onward journey from Phuket
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? Phuket to Chiang Mai – All 13 routes from Phuket
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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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