Buses from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Buses from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Bangkok
Chiang Mai
Sun, Aug 9
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Bangkok to Chiang Mai Destination Reviews

HW
Htet W
For me the physical ticket was Bhat 850 ticket which I exchange at the counter that I purchased was 1200 Bhat so that was the big disappointment.The seats are just normal.Only different thing was the vip buffet which was served almost cold food half of the trip.My experience was bad.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Super VIP Bus, Sritawong Tour (Sritawong Tour), Aug 6, 2026
PS
Pyae S
Good leg space and enough to store hand carriers, The only downside is not comfortable to sleep through the night.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, Bangkok Busline (บางกอกบัสไลน์), Aug 3, 2026
M
Marta
They should do more stops. Just one in 11 hours of journey Is a bit heavy
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, Sritawong Tour (Sritawong Tour), Jul 30, 2026
YY
Yaron Y
העצירה למשך 40 דקות שלמות אחרי 3 שעות נסיעה היתה ארוכה מדיי ומיותרת בעיניי. מדוע היה צריך להדליק במהלכה את כל אורות "חדר הניתוח" שבאוטובוס ולא לאפשר לי להרדם? למה אי אפשר לעצור עם אורות כבויים? באופן כללי הנסיעה לא היתה נוחה, המושבים היו צפופים מדיי והיה לי מאוד קשה להרדם. The 40-minute stop after a 3-hour ride was too long and unnecessary in my opinion. Why did they have to turn on all the lights in the "operating room" on the bus and not allow me to fall asleep? Why can't they stop with the lights off? In general, the ride was uncomfortable, the seats were too crowded and it was very difficult for me to fall asleep.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Super VIP, Sritawong Tour (Sritawong Tour), Jul 30, 2026
FG
Frederic G
Placed by a ma'am as we couldn't select our own placed. I mean come on. First come first served... Recorded voice repeated 3 times at every stops. It was a night drive! No toilet paper in the bathroom and apparently no lock. The drive was nice and smooth and the staff was fine luggage and socially wise, so at least, the main elements were there.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, Tara Tour and Travel (ธาราทัวร์แอนด์ทราเวล), Jul 28, 2026
YL
Yoann L
There were a lot of cockroaches in the seats, and it smelled of urine in the bus
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Super VIP, Sritawong Tour (Sritawong Tour), Jul 27, 2026
SB
Simeon B
Very good. They are always reachable on Whatsapp. Everything fine. Unfortunately no wifi in the bus. That's the only thing I was missing, cause I don't have SIM-Card yet.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Minivan + Bus, Tara Tour and Travel (ธาราทัวร์แอนด์ทราเวล), Jul 22, 2026
KJ
Karen J
Well organised and on time. Great amount of space.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Super VIP Bus, Sritawong Tour (Sritawong Tour), Jul 21, 2026
JP
Julie P
The bus was way too cold and not enough blankets. It arrived at the destination at 530am. Not 830am. Leaving now stranded.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus VIP, Budsarakham Tour (บุษราคัมทัวร์), Jul 21, 2026
SK
Siobhain K
We took the overnight bus to Chiang Mai, and overall it was good value for money, but definitely a case of getting what you pay for. Ticket collection was straightforward, the bus was easy to find, and the station itself was clean, air-conditioned, and had useful facilities like a 7-Eleven and places to grab food before departure. As soon as we boarded, we were given complimentary bottled water and snacks, which was a nice touch. Unfortunately, we were seated in the very back row, which made for an extremely bouncy ride. If you’re around 6ft tall, don’t expect much comfort or legroom—it was difficult to get any decent sleep. The attendant also kept my ticket after boarding, so when we stopped for a meal break, I couldn’t claim the food voucher that other passengers were using. I didn’t use the onboard toilet, so I can’t comment on that. We arrived in Chiang Mai absolutely shattered after a restless night, but considering how inexpensive the ticket was, it delivered exactly what we paid for. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind sacrificing comfort to save money, it’s a perfectly reasonable option.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bus Super VIP Bus, Sritawong Tour (Sritawong Tour), Jul 20, 2026
4.4
7858 customer reviews
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Bangkok to Chiang Mai Bus Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Bangkok Busline
Intercity
06:00
16:30
$17.94
  4.5
Sritawong Tour
Express
07:00
17:55
$16.34
  3.9
Transport Co
Standard
07:25
00:46
$17.94
  4.5
Sombat Tour
Express 44
08:00
18:30
$17.94
  4.3
Nakhonchai Air
Gold Class
08:30
18:38
$20.93
  4.4
Sombat Tour
Express 44
09:00
19:30
$20.93
  4.3
Viriya Tour
Intercity
09:50
20:00
$17.94
  3.8
Nakhonchai Air
First Class
10:15
20:26
$27.91
  4.7
Sritawong Tour
Express
12:00
22:55
$16.34
  3.9
Sombat Tour
Express 44
13:00
23:30
$20.93
  4.3
Bangkok Busline
Intercity
14:00
00:30
$17.94
  4.5
Sritawong Tour
Express
15:00
01:55
$20.93
  3.9
Bangkok Busline
Intercity
16:00
02:30
$17.94
  4.5
Nakhonchai Air
First Class
17:30
03:15
$27.91
  4.6
Sritawong Tour
Express
18:00
04:55
$20.93
  3.9
Budsarakham Tour
Express
18:30
06:45
$20.93
  4.1
Bangkok Busline
Intercity
18:50
05:20
$17.94
  4.5
Sombat Tour
VIP 24
19:15
08:15
$34.50
Bangkok Busline
Intercity
19:35
06:05
$17.94
  4.5
Bangkok Busline
VIP 24
19:55
05:55
$27.91
  4.5

How to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus

Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus may not be the fastest way of travel, yet many travellers prefer to rely on the bus on this route; with easy online booking and tickets of different classes for all tastes and budgets available, the bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai a conscious and budget-friendly option.

Check the timetable before you book your ticket and read other travellers’ reviews to choose the trip that suits you best. Note that there may be several bus terminals at your departure or arrival point – always double-check where you are leaving from and arriving to. It may prove crucial if you have connecting trips.

Here is the list of operators serving the route: .

How far is Bangkok from Chiang Mai?

If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 868 km between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

How long does it take to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus?

Buses normally need between 8h 40m and 17h 21m hours to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok. Note that the travel time is for your reference only and can depend on different factors such as traffic and weather conditions. Heavy rainfalls almost inevitably make the trip longer due to poor visibility or floods. Road and surface repairs which happen quite often, result in detours and longer travel times. Major national holidays, long weekends, or peak season periods may cause delays both in departures and arrivals – plan accordingly to avoid disappointment, especially if you have further connections and a tight schedule.

On this route, Budsarakham Tour (บุษราคัมทัวร์) offers the fastest service. Transport Co (บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด) buses usually take the longest time to complete the journey.

Remember, though, that tickets offering the shortest travel time are normally the most expensive ones. Yet it pays to spend a bit more to ensure your bus goes direct without additional stops and uses highways instead of local roads.

How much does it cost to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus?

The price of your bus ticket will depend not only on the distance you need to cover but on the class of your coach. E.g. expect to shell out more for VIP or sleeper buses while ordinary buses though being the cheapest option, often are a compromise on comfort and travel time. Of course, they do their job, too, and can be the only option if you hop on/off in the middle of the route.

Anyway, travelling by bus between Bangkok and Chiang Mai remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by Transport Co (บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด) and costs USD 20.69. A Tour with Thai (ที ดับบลิว ที ทัวร์วิทไทย)'s ticket will set you back USD 20.69 on average.

Travelling by bus essentials

  • If you are planning to travel during the high season, weekends, or national holidays, booking your bus tickets in advance is highly recommended. The demand is at its highest, yet very often, the number of coaches serving the route remains the same. The earlier you reserve your seat, the better. On some routes, you need to secure your ticket more than a month in advance; on others, a couple-of-days advanced booking is enough. During such periods, try to book online beforehand whenever possible, as showing up at the bus station without a ticket may result in many-hours of waiting in the queue or leave you downright stranded.
  • VIP, 1st, Gold, and similar bus tickets are the most expensive option, but they provide a higher level of comfort. Normally the price of such tickets will include wide soft reclining seats, blankets, water and snacks or lunch, and sometimes some toiletries. Upper-class buses travel faster, make fewer stops during the route, and normally provide more spacious seating to their passengers and a better travel experience.
  • Not all buses have an on-board toilet, but generally, for all trips longer than three hours, all operators schedule a bathroom and/or a lunch stop. While operators definitely do their best to keep on-board toilets clean, the smell may be an issue sometimes. For longer trips, booking a seat a bit farther from the toilet may be a good idea. Also, using bathroom stops for your toilet needs is always better than trying to find your balance in an on-board toilet on the run.
  • If you travel by an air-con bus, make sure to pack layers. A hoodie, a warm scarf, or a beanie hat may prove a good idea. Air-conditioning on buses tends to be excessive, and running nose and sore throats abound after even not the longest bus rides.
  • Always use the security belts even if your bus ride attendant or driver does not insist on it. Your safety comes first – for you, for sure. All buses normally are equipped with security belts, but they may be fixed behind your seat. Take time to find the belt and fix it appropriately.
  • To avoid being disturbed by overhead lights, switched on during stops even at night, and too loud music or sound from the on-board entertainment system, have earplugs and a sleeping mask at hand.
  • As a courtesy to other passengers, avoid using strong perfumes or smelly foods. Some foods like cheeses or durians are forbidden to take on-board – check in advance. Alcohol is also prohibited on the majority of buses.
  • Note that if the bus requires refuelling en-route, passengers will be asked to get off the bus. Operators are not allowed to refuel with passengers on board due to safety reasons. Usually, it takes from 5 to 10 minutes and is often combined with a toilet/lunch stop.
  • If not stated otherwise in your tickets, arrive at the bus station 20-30 minutes before departure. It will give you enough time to find the departure platform and check-in. For international trips, you may need more time for check-in and border formalities.

Transportation from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Facts about the bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Cheapest Bus$21
Fastest Bus8h 40m
Earliest Bus6:00 AM
Latest Bus9:30 PM
Daily Bus Routes54
Distance868 kilometers
Bus CompaniesBangkok Busline, Budsarakham Tour, Cherdchai Tour North, Kittikarn Tour, Montanatip, Nakhonchai Air, Sritawong Tour, Tara Tour and Travel, Tour with Thai, Transport Co, Viriya Tour