Buses from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Buses from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Chiang Rai
Luang Prabang
Sat, Dec 20
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Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

LC
I really can't recommend this and would suggest using another tour provider. Got the slow boat from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. Pick-up was on time and the van was air conditioned. Everything before the border was fine. Smooth leaving Thailand but entering Laos was a nightmare. No guidance given throughout this, other than by a man who couldn't confirm his identity and honestly we thought we were being scammed. Had to pay visa fee and a tourist tax directly to him, not border officials which really did not seem right. The transfer was overbooked and me and my partner were crammed into the seat of a pick up with our main backpacks and day packs on top of us. We were provided a sandwich but there was no vegetarian or vegan option. Made it to the ferry point and we were the last group to get there out of all the other tour providers meaning we didn't and many others didn't get a seat on the actual boat as it was overbooked. Would I do it again? Yes the slow boat was crowded but had stunning views - but definitely not with this tour provider.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Nov 20, 2025
PK
The van picked up on time. Helped through the border crossing and getting to the slow boat pier. The slow boat was overbooked but the experience was amazing.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Oct 16, 2025
LG
The first part of the trip to the border was great and seamless - the sleeper bus however was very primitive with two people to a very hard bunk and the roads are very poor so you get shaken around a lot. Would not recommend if you’re a solo traveller. We did get there in good ish time though however I doubt I’ll do it again.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Jul 24, 2025
FR
Overall a good experience, but it’s not for everyone. For slow boat boarding, you need to be fit and have good balance — you'll walk across a wooden plank, and if it’s raining, it gets slippery. There were better and worse moments during the trip. From Chiang Rai to the border, everything was smooth and easy, though communication was lacking. After I contacted them, they told us pickup would be between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m., but the van arrived at 5:45. Border crossing was easy but very slow. The staff always made sure you were guaranteed your next ticket and connection. Visa management felt a bit sketchy. In total, you’ll need to pay a Laos entry fee of 20 Baht and a visa on arrival, which costs either $40 USD, 1,800 Baht, or 1.2 million Kip. My advice, based on current exchange rates, is that USD is much cheaper — try to exchange in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai the day before departing. After the border, the next bus takes you to the pier for the slow boat. At the pier, they give you a sandwich and offer a Laos SIM card for a good deal. The boat is crowded and the chairs are horrible — but you’ll survive. After 7 hours, you land in Pak Beng. Be smart and book a room in advance; it’s a very small but nice village. The boat on the next day is a million times better — comfy chairs, even tables, kind of like a floating train. Over two days on the river, you’ll see beautiful landscapes, though visibility can be poor when it rains. The river looks like chocolate and is full of floating plastic. Once you arrive in Luang Prabang, you’ll cross another plank to disembark. The pier is far from the city, close to the airport, and crowded with thirsty tuktuk drivers looking for prey — they charge 50,000 Kip per person. My advice is to set up a Loca app account (Laos’ version of Uber) in advance and skip the tuktuk. A Loca ride from the pier to the city costs around 140,000 Kip. Honestly, I think it’s way more fun than taking the train and cheaper than flying — but it’s slow and will test your patience and resilience. If you’re lucky, you’ll make friends during the trip, which is a great way to pass the time and socialize. Luang Prabang is truly beautiful.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Jun 30, 2025
RR
The transfer was from Thailand to laos, the part in chiang rai was very good, everything was on time, except the fact that we couldn't contact the provider to ensure that everything was ok, the problems started on the laos side, they charge 40 use, if you have older notes than they don't accept them and after you can change them in a very low rate, if you pay in baht or lak kip than they charge more money, there's a two day ride in a slow boat, each for about 7-8 hours, it's owful , it's not comfortable and there's not much space, stay one night in a small village and the next day continue to luang prabang for another 8 hours, than you take a took took to the city That journey is for the strong spirit and mind
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Jun 25, 2025
AG
First day on slowboat was great. The second day was a different boat with less seats which led to many people sitting on the floor. This made it hard to access the bathrooms and shop
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), May 4, 2025
HB
Everything smooth and on time. Guys helped at border crossing and we got free sandwiches before the boat.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Apr 21, 2025
ML
On the Thai side pretty smooth. After crossing into Laos and clearjng immigration, a lot less smooth.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Dec 12, 2024
RH
The 2 day slow boat was a real highlight of our trip. The boat was full but what we expected. The stay in Pak Bang was great, a small little town on the river that comes to life with the boat arrival. Note the you need USD 40 per person to cross the boarder. We had an issue being about to withdraw lao kip. USD wasn't available at all but they only accepted USD. The tour company helped but did charge a large commission.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Dec 9, 2024
MA
Very good experience, everything came on time and felt very organized. Only thing, remember to keep your boat ticket for both days or you will have to pay again on the second boat.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, JTTT Travel (JTTT Travel), Nov 13, 2024
4.4
69 customer reviews
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Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Bus Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
K Buddy
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
05:00
16:00
$40.73
  4.5
JTTT Travel
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
05:00
16:00
$42.92
  4.5
Yortdoy Travel
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat
08:00
17:00
$36.56
  4.3
Naluangs
Bus + Taxi + Sleeping Bus
12:00
07:30
$47.69
K Buddy
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus
13:00
07:00
$44.51
  4.2
Yortdoy Travel
Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus
13:30
08:00
$44.51
Naluangs
Taxi + Sleeping Bus
15:00
07:30
$36.31
  3.4

Facts about the bus from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Bus$44
Fastest Bus13h
Earliest Bus12:00 ص
Latest Bus6:30 م
Daily Bus Routes3
Distance1850 kilometers
Bus CompaniesK Buddy, Mekong Transfer, Naluang, Naluangs, Smart En Plus, Sombat Tour, Thai AirAsia, Yortdoy Travel

How to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by bus

Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang 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 Rai to Luang Prabang 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 Rai from Luang Prabang?

If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 1850 km between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang.

How long does it take to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by bus?

Buses normally need between 16h 30m and 16h 30m hours to get to Luang Prabang from Chiang Rai. 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, Mekong Transfer offers the fastest service. Mekong Transfer 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 Rai to Luang Prabang 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 Rai and Luang Prabang remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by Naluangs and costs USD 43.56. A Mekong Transfer's ticket will set you back USD 43.56 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.