The flight from Krabi to Chiang Mai takes 1 hour and 55 minutes. Thai AirAsia is the only airline that operates this route nonstop in the northbound direction. Daily direct flights depart Krabi (KBV) at 10:25 AM and 3:25 PM, with an evening flight on some days around 7:35 PM. Arrival in Chiang Mai (CNX) is approximately two hours later. Bangkok Airways only flies the route in the southbound direction, and all other airlines listed on booking portals require a layover in Bangkok.

Check the latest flight times and seat availability for Krabi → Chiang Mai on 12Go.

I would book the 10:25 a.m. flight. This allows for a relaxed morning to get from Ao Nang or Krabi Town to the airport and arrive in Chiang Mai in time for lunch. Continuing overland means either an overnight bus ride to Bangkok and from there a night train north, which takes about a day and a half, or a ticket for a 25-hour journey by van and bus from Ao Nang.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

This route ends in Chiang Mai. Search for hotels in Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai

  • Shangri-La Chiang MaiLuxury · 5 stars · 4.6 (4,289)
  • U Chiang Mai HotelMid-range · 4 stars · 4.8 (2,000)
  • Cross Chiang Mai Riverside · Budget · 3 stars · 4.8 (994)

    • Key facts

    Thai AirAsia flies nonstop; the flight time is approximately 1 hour 55 minutes.

    Flight FD3073 departs at 10:25 AM and arrives at 12:20 PM, while FD3077 departs at 3:25 PM and arrives at 5:25 PM. The Thai AirAsia schedule also shows flight FD3075 on some days, departing around 7:35 PM. Please check the flight times for your travel date before making any evening plans around your flight.

    Bangkok Airways does not fly this route northbound.

    The flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi is a simple southbound flight. Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, Thai VietJet, Thai Lion Air, and Nok Air all fly northbound via Bangkok airport.

    Ao Nang is a 35-40 minute drive from the airport.

    A taxi costs a fixed price of approximately 725 baht for a car and 790 baht for a minibus. The airport bus from Ao Nang (150 baht) runs hourly from approximately 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, but the journey can take up to 90 minutes including stops.

    The last airport bus from Koh Lanta departs around 4:00 PM.

    The minibuses run hourly from approximately 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM and cost about 380–540 baht. The journey takes 2 to 3 hours, so the 3:25 PM connection is only possible with an early minibus. A private car costs about 2,100–3,100 baht.

    Overland is a night bus and a night train.

    A brown coal tour bus from Krabi at 4:00–5:00 pm arrives at Bangkok's South Railway Station early the next morning, and sleeper car No. 9 departs from Krung Thep Aphiwat at 6:40 pm and travels to Chiang Mai at approximately 7:15 am.

    All routes from Krabi to Chiang Mai compared

    Flight times according to the Thai AirAsia flight schedule, displayed by flight.info and the 12Go live search for November 18, 2026. Bus and train schedules according to the Lignite Tour timetable and the State Railway timetable of December 5, 2025; same-day through bus from 12Go, 1,938 ฿ including fare.

    Check flights from Krabi to Chiang Mai

    12Go lists Thai AirAsia's direct flights alongside flights with a layover in Bangkok and tickets combining van and bus travel from Ao Nang. Sort by flight duration to find direct flights and compare prices directly from AirAsia before paying a reseller.

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    The nonstop flight north with Thai AirAsia

    Which of the two daily flights should one book?

    Thai AirAsia operates daily flights from Krabi to Chiang Mai using an A320. Flight FD3073 departs at 10:25 AM and arrives at 12:20 PM, while flight FD3077 departs at 3:25 PM and arrives at 5:25 PM. The schedule also includes an evening flight (FD3075) around 7:35 PM, but this was unavailable for booking on the dates I checked in mid-November. Therefore, I would consider it more of a bonus than a guaranteed option. No other airline offers nonstop service to the north. The Bangkok Airways flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi is a one-way flight; the return flight with Bangkok Airways connects to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

    I would book the 10:25 AM flight from Ao Nang, Krabi Town, or Railay. You'll leave the hotel around 8:00 AM, get through security in time, and land in Chiang Mai, leaving you with time for lunch in Khao Soi and an afternoon exploring the Old City. The 3:25 PM flight is perfect for a last morning on the beach or a day trip from Koh Lanta, landing at 5:25 PM, just in time for dinner in the Old City or strolling along the pedestrianized streets on Sundays.

    Krabi → Chiang Mai direct flights

    Flight times are taken from the Thai AirAsia flight schedule on flight.info and the 12Go live search for November 18, 2026, which listed flights FD3073 and FD3077. Flight schedules change seasonally, so please check your ticket.

    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.

  • #2 Anantara Chiang Mai Resort 4.7 (2,377 reviews) A luxurious riverside resort in the heart of Chiang Mai, blending colonial elegance with Thai heritage. Check prices
  • #4 Meliá Chiang Mai 4.7 (2,054 reviews) A premium hotel on Charoen Prathet Road with elegant rooms, a spa, and a rooftop bar with city views. Check prices
  • #5 Mad Monkey Chiang Mai 4.8 (1,595 reviews) A sociable party hostel in the center of Chiang Mai with a pool, bar, organized events, and a lively backpacker scene. Check prices

    • Getting to Krabi Airport in time

    From Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Railay and Koh Lanta

    Ao Nang Airport is 28 km away, a 35-40 minute drive. A taxi costs approximately 725 baht for a car or 790 baht for a minivan. You can book a car with hotel pick-up at your preferred time through 12Go for around 600-700 baht. The airport bus costs 150 baht from Ao Nang and 90 baht from Krabi Town and runs hourly from approximately 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The journey from Ao Nang, including stops, can take up to 90 minutes. Krabi Town is 12 km away and can be reached in about 20 minutes. From Railay, you first take a longtail boat to Ao Nang (100 baht, 10-15 minutes) and then allow an additional half hour for the boat trip.

    From Koh Lanta, hotel shuttles run hourly to the airport between approximately 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The journey costs around 380–540 baht and takes 2–3 hours. For the 3:25 PM flight, a morning shuttle is recommended. For the 10:25 AM flight, you will need either a private car (approximately 2,100–3,100 baht, about a two-hour drive) at dawn or an overnight stay in Krabi, which I would recommend. Our guidebook for the Koh Lanta–Krabi route lists all the shuttle buses and boats.

    If direct flights are fully booked, change planes in Bangkok

    There are approximately 18 direct flights daily from Krabi to Bangkok (flight time: 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 35 minutes). Flights to Don Mueang are offered by Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, and Nok Air, while flights to Suvarnabhumi are operated by Thai VietJet, Bangkok Airways, and Thai Airways. Flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai take approximately 70 to 80 minutes. Book both legs of your journey on a single ticket with the same airline so that any delays to the first flight are their responsibility. Allow at least five hours for the total travel time. If you plan to spend a night in Bangkok anyway, you can also book two separate one-way tickets on different days.

    Overland journey from Krabi to Chiang Mai

    Krabi is not connected to the rail network, so the journey is overland via Bangkok. Lignite Tour night buses depart from the Talat Kao Terminal in Krabi at 4:00 PM (779 Baht), 4:30 PM (796 Baht), and 5:00 PM (VIP 24, 1,170 Baht). Transport Co. buses start at approximately 707 Baht. You will arrive at Bangkok's South Railway Station early the following morning, 12 to 14 hours later. Spend the day in Bangkok and then take the 6:40 PM Night Train No. 9 from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Chiang Mai. You will arrive in Chiang Mai around 7:15 AM. A seat in upper second class costs 941 Baht, and a seat in lower first class costs 1,041 Baht. The journey takes about one and a half days and costs approximately 1,700–2,200 Baht, including two nights' accommodation.

    12Go also offers a through ticket. The Nitiphong Phai Boon Transport van picks up passengers in Ao Nang at 3:00 PM, connects them with a bus heading north, and arrives at Chiang Mai Bus Station 3 (Arcade) the following day at 4:00 PM – after approximately 25 hours. The trip costs 1,938 baht including the booking fee. My research revealed only one review, so I would recommend this option more as a last resort for travelers who are already on the road, rather than as a first-time travel plan.

    My rule: I take the direct flight at 10:25 a.m. as soon as the travel dates are confirmed. If that one is fully booked, I take the one at 3:25 p.m. I only fly via Bangkok if both flights are fully booked, and even then, only with a single ticket.

    Are you traveling north? Plan your trip to Chiang Mai.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions about the route from Krabi to Chiang Mai.

    Yes, with Thai AirAsia, the only airline that flies the route nonstop northbound. Flight FD3073 departs at 10:25 AM and FD3077 at 3:25 PM, with a flight time of approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes. On some days, there is also an evening flight around 7:35 PM. Bangkok Airways only flies the route southbound.

    Approximately 1 hour 55 minutes nonstop. A flight with a layover in Bangkok takes five hours or more.

    There is no train connection from Krabi. Take a night bus to Bangkok (Lignite Tour, departing between 4:00 and 5:00 PM from Krabi bus station, 12 to 14 hours) and then the night train No. 9 at 6:40 PM from Krung Thep Aphiwat. Arrival in Chiang Mai is around 7:15 AM. Alternatively, you can take a minibus to Phun Phin railway station in Surat Thani and from there take a night train to Bangkok. From there, take a train north.

    A through ticket. The Nitiphong Phai Boon Transport minibus departs Ao Nang at 3:00 PM and connects with a bus that arrives at Chiang Mai 3 bus station at 4:00 PM the following day (approximately 25 hours travel time). The fare is 1,938 baht (via 12Go). Alternatively, there is a night bus to Bangkok and from there a night train north.

    You should arrive at the airport approximately two hours before departure by taxi or pre-booked rental car (travel time: 35–40 minutes). Allow three hours for the airport bus (150 baht), as the journey, including stops, can take up to 90 minutes. For the 10:25 a.m. flight, this means you should leave Ao Nang by car around 8:00 a.m.

    They offer distinct experiences, and most trips combine both. Krabi captivates with its limestone cliffs, railay, and island-hopping boat trips. Chiang Mai beckons with temples, its old town, cooking classes, and the cool mountain air from November to February. For trips lasting at least a week, it's recommended to start in one of the two destinations and then take the 1 hour 55 minute nonstop flight to the other.

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    Further from Chiang Mai

    The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.

  • Chiang Mai – Bangkok: Fastest flight, 1 hr 05–25 min (+ airport time) | Cheapest flight: Rapid No. 102, seat with fan, $7–12 | Compare all 6 options
  • Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai: Fastest minivan (approx. 3 hours), cheapest green bus (express class, 260–290 ฿). Compare all 4 options.
  • Chiang Mai – Koh Samui: Cheapest daytime connection: Train + sleeper car + bus and ferry, approx. 1,850–2,000 Baht at the station, 3,023 Baht as a 12Go ticket. Compare all 5 options.
  • Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang: Fastest direct flight with Lao Airlines, approx. 50 minutes. Cheapest option: Van + train Laos–China, approx. US$25–35 from Huay Xai. Compare all 6 options.
  • Chiang Mai Pai (Fastest connection). Other vans from the Old City, approx. 3–4 hours (Cheapest connection). Prempracha minivan, approx. 150–220 ฿ at the counter, 270–355 ฿ online. Compare all 6 options.
  • Chiang Mai – Phuket: Fastest direct flight, 2–2 hours 10 minutes flight time, approx. 4.5 hours door-to-door. Cheapest connection: Sleeper car to Bangkok + night bus, approx. 1,725–1,825 Baht. Compare all 6 options.

    • Return journey? From Chiang Mai to Krabi – All 7 routes from Chiang Mai

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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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