Facts about the bus from Chiang Mai to Phuket
| Cheapest Bus | $91 |
| Fastest Bus | 1d 40m |
| Earliest Bus | 3:00 PM |
| Latest Bus | 6:00 PM |
| Daily Bus Routes | 0 |
| Distance | 1435 kilometers |
| Bus Companies | GreenBus, Thai Railways, Transport Co |
Buses from Chiang Mai to Phuket
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Chiang Mai to Phuket Destination Reviews
D
Dyasia The attendeant was very rude and arrogant. I felt as if she treated me less then because i was not Thai. She gave me a sign to not play sound of my phone and or put my feet on the chair in front of me. As well as not speaking on the phone. She did not show any other passengers this and i swear eveyone was either watching tiktoks or answering phone calls. It made me super uncomfortable. On top of that she continued to roll her eyes at me when i did not understand her.
Chiang Mai to Phuket, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Dec 18, 2025
EY
Elizabeth YGreat trip! Honestly traveling for 25 hour on this bus definitely didn’t feel like it, felt shorter honestly. The bus attendant did her best to let me know the plan in English which I more than appreciate❤️. Great trip 2 meals included. I recommend brining extra water with you since they give you two small bottles. You also get like a cookie snack with first water and like a hygiene face towel with the second. For food they drop you at like like a food court with a coupon that you exchange for food. There was lots of food to pick from you get two dishes to pick to eat and rice. I’m vegetarian and was tiered so didn’t bother to ask and only picked one that looked like it didn’t have meat but they had 15+dishes which likely a few more could of been meat free. Only small thing was at the end of the trip the AC dripped on me a few times but honestly it was just me that this happened to and a weird quirk. They hand out a blanket about 10-15 min into the ride which is sealed in a plastic bag with a note saying it’s been disinfected. As others mentioned it can be cold to prevent condensation. I was wearing long pants, a long sleeve, and had a fleece. Honestly at first I was hot and took off the coat but as soon as the sun went down I realized yes it can be cold and definitely had on my layers with the blanket to be comfortable (I do run cold though lol). You can adjust the ac so it’s not directly blowing on you. They stop a few time for you to stretch your legs you have about 10min for these stops and 20min for food stops. They do stop at many check points and gas stations for routine things which can be expected. Coming into Phuket we had a police checkpoint and had to show passports so make sure you have yours! While personally was a great trip, I found I was more obsessed at observing out the window than sleeping but definitely very manageable to sleep on the bus! Recommend an eye mask since food is at 11pm and 6am definitely may knock out when it’s light out, if you don’t have a neck pillow like me no worries bc the seats have a built in adjustable neck support which was great! (If your picky you might still want neck pillow but honestly this was best invention I have seen in any form of transport!) Hope this helps! The trip it self said it was around 70usd but this app charged like 96 usd. Recommend paying at bus station if you can to save a bit but again it might not guantee your trip (just option to consider)! Wish you luck on your travels hope this helps!
Chiang Mai to Phuket, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 22, 2025
JW
Jade WHonestly really not that bad. If you compare it to having a 24 hour travel day from country to country, back to back flights and layovers. It’s no different except you get to get comfy on one mode of transport. You stop twice and food is included. Not the greatest but hey it will do. Bring entertainment and snacks and some sleeping aids and you’ll be fine. £50 can’t complain. That’s travel, food and technically accommodation lol. Not a bad option if you’ve left flying too late.
Chiang Mai to Phuket, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jan 27, 2025
MK
Mafone KIt was a very Nice trop. We stopped Two times to eat. We had blankets and the sits were very confortable. The only bad point si that, the bus conductor makes all the announces in thai, so we can’t understand nothing. And we where two hours late but i think is due to the really bad weather.
Chiang Mai to Phuket, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 30, 2024
AS
Anna SOne of the most comfortable bus rides I had in Asia. Seats are extremely comfortable and the ride felt quite quick. We also arrived 2h early. In contrast to what another comment said, there was a USB charging outlet by ny seat. They're not lying about the temperature though. It was extreme even for this part of the world and the blankets thy gave us didn't help much. I'd recommend wearing layers
Chiang Mai to Phuket, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jan 27, 2024
MZ
Melody ZWe were woken up at 5:30 for breakfast while we had dinner at 23 the night before, everything else was good and fine!
This review was autotranslated
Chiang Mai to Phuket, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Dec 16, 2023
S
Shania A long drive but I slept for the most part. Stopped 3 or 4 times in total and 2 meals are included. You get a blanket which is nice. Seats go pretty far back and are comfortable. There is also a usb-port for charging your phone. 24 hours are over before you know it.
Chiang Mai to Phuket, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Nov 30, 2022
EM
Ellis MWhen we first thought about getting a bus from Chiang Mai all the way to Phuket the 24+ hour journey sounded pretty bad. But overall the bus was pretty comfy. The seats reclined pretty far back with a leg rest Aswell. There was also a toilet on board. The Bus stopped off a few times along the way. At service stations and bus terminals And included in the price we got 2 meals. If you’re not against time then for the price I would say this is a pretty good alternative to flying.
Chiang Mai to Phuket, Bus VIP, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)), Jul 28, 2022
Chiang Mai to Phuket Bus Schedule
| Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GreenBus | VIP | 15:00 | 15:40 | $87.03 |
Transportation from Chiang Mai to Phuket
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Trains$ 1,014.11
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Buses$ 90.22
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Flights$ 175.36
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Taxis$ 619.34
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Ferries are not available
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Vans are not available
Popular Routes
Popular Routes in Thailand
How to get from Chiang Mai to Phuket by bus
Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Chiang Mai to Phuket 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 Chiang Mai to Phuket 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 Chiang Mai from Phuket?
If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 1435 km between Chiang Mai and Phuket.
How long does it take to get from Chiang Mai to Phuket by bus?
Buses normally need between 1d 40m and 1d 40m hours to get to Phuket from Chiang Mai. 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, GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)) offers the fastest service. GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)) 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 Chiang Mai to Phuket 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 Chiang Mai and Phuket remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว)) and costs USD 90.22. A GreenBus (กรีนบัส (รถเขียว))'s ticket will set you back USD 90.22 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.