From Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang - Book Transport Tickets from THB 1,550

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

Nicolas R

High quality of the vans. The drivers are atencious and the trip was been organized.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Train, Mekong Transfer, Dec 6, 2025

Lauren C

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

Adrian

I has 1 simple question to ask and you told me to phone the tour operator direct to get an answer. You are taking a commission for doing nothing.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Ferry Truck + Ferry, Mekong Transfer, Nov 15, 2025

Iva B

The part in Thailand was an absolute pleasure! The driver was super nice and on time. The car was very good as well. The service at the borders was a bit confusing but okay. Just once of the travelling companions didn’t get her train QR code at the borehole so she couldn’t continue and had to stay over at the train station village for another day! So be careful to get the QR code at the border. However, the part in Laos is where the “fun” starts. We thought that the van part is done and we’ll be taken to a train, but no! You’ll get another van for about 4,5h. You’d think, no problem I’ll just work, watch film, read a book, scroll insta or whatever.. on the way. Just forget it, the only thing you’ll do the whole way is to hold hard on to something and to pray to god that you’ll survive and reach your destination in one piece! And it absolutely doesn’t matter if you are an atheist! 🤣 Ok I’m a little bit exaggerating but honestly only very little.. it was the scariest ride I have experienced in my entire life and I have been travelling Asia for a couple of months already 😅 I very much doubt that the driver has a driver’s license (or he is Thai and is used to driving left ) and I’m sure he has no clue about something as a safety of his passengers 😅 so so so many risks he took while overtaking another vehicle and I’m not even talking about his speed! You’re just flying from side to side during his crazy flight. He was insane! It definitely was an experience I will never forget but I doubt I will ever take this ride again 😄 There was no toilet stop during the 4h drive! We had to request one after 3h as it was unbearable anymore. PS: if you are experiencing just a little bit of a motion sickness, I advise you to take a pill before this trip! Once we arrived to the train station, the driver kicked us out and that was it! No explanation, no instructions, nothing. And there was super mess! There were vans picking and dropping people everywhere, a few hundred of people waiting in front of the station, total mess and we didn’t know what to do or what time the train leaves 🙈 (one of our travelling companions didn’t get her train ticket and there was not a single person to help her! If that happens to you, just call the company you booked the trip from, they will sort it out for you as nobody else can) Once we managed to get through the security (3x small 250mil water was ok and we didn’t try larger container and small kitchen knife was ok as well) the train was nice, comfortable and on time.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Shuttle Bus + Express Train 2nd Class Seat, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Oct 30, 2025

Felix F

Chiang Rai > Luang Prabang. Bus + Train. Everything worked fine.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Shuttle Bus + Express Train 2nd Class Seat, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Oct 27, 2025

Vincent O

In Thailand everything went smooth. We were helped with filling out the paperwork needed for crossing the border. We were one of the first to actually cross the border and it was very helpful we already filled in our paperwork. Across the border we were picked up and with a van and it was a very bumpy 4 hour drive to the train station with 1 stop. We arrived at the train station 1 hour early and everything went smooth.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Train, Mekong Transfer, Oct 26, 2025

Pallabi K

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

Sarah

Uh, the transfers itself was easy and going through the border. If you don’t book with a friend you will be put with a random person in a twin sized bed. I’d recommend bringing a pillow case for the pillow they provide… bring layers it gets VERY cold. Even if you don’t normally get cold you will. Also bring food or your own soup (they have hot water) because the stop they make not many options. Also no bathroom on bus. And roads are as terrible as they say but bring some gravel and sleeping pill and you’re all good.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Sleeper Bus, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Sep 26, 2025

Aoife M

Transfer to the border was great, staff were helpful and it was organised. The bus then to the train station was awful. It was 5 hours (which 12Go had not said) on dirt tracks. Our driver stopped multiple times. The train however was fine, it was 2.5 hrs and on schedule.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Shuttle Bus + Express Train 2nd Class Seat, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Sep 11, 2025

גצ

גיתית צ

Everything worked perfectly and smoothly, by far the best option to cross from Chiang Rai to Luang prabang. This was after all the agencies said they couldn't find a trip that was this short, so i was very surprised to find it in 12go.

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Van Van + Shuttle Bus + Express Train 2nd Class Seat, Yortdoy Travel (ยอดดอย ทราเวล), Sep 8, 2025

4.4

116 customer reviews

53%

19%

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Taxi	Easyride Services	SUV 4pax	Any time	+8h 30m	$600.89
Bus	K Buddy	Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat	05:00	16:00	$40.73	4.5
Van	Mekong Transfer	Van + Bus	05:30	23:30	$49.28
Bus	Yortdoy Travel	Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat	08:00	17:00	$36.56	4.3
Flight	Thai Vietjet	Economy	08:25	12:05	$230.87
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	08:50	15:15	$201.95
Flight	Thai Airways	Economy	10:10	12:05	$252.01
Van	LaoLuang Travel	Van + Shuttle + Sleeping Bus	11:00	06:00	$42.92	2.0
Bus	Naluangs	Bus + Taxi + Sleeping Bus	12:00	07:30	$47.69
Flight	Nok Air	Economy	12:30	15:15	$129.24
Flight	Nok Air	Economy	12:55	14:05	$143.92
Bus	Yortdoy Travel	Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus	13:30	08:00	$44.51
Flight	Thai Airways	Economy	13:50	12:05	$333.67
Flight	Thai Airways	Economy	14:25	12:20	$169.18
Flight	Thai Lion Air	Economy	14:50	14:05	$142.63
Flight	Thai Vietjet	Economy	15:25	12:05	$162.97
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	16:05	15:15	$188.57
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	16:25	12:20	$140.99
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	17:55	14:05	$126.30
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	18:15	15:15	$190.33

Facts about the transport from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport	$44
Fastest Transport	5h 10m
Earliest Departure	12:00 AM
Latest Departure	9:15 PM
Departures per day	21
Distance	1850 kilometers
Transport Companies	Easyride Services, K Buddy, Mekong Transfer, Naluang, Naluangs, Smart En Plus, Sombat Tour, Terminal Green Pai, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Trip Corner, Yortdoy Travel

Popular Routes

How to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

Travelling between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang is possible by Flight, bus, ferry, train, van and taxi. Flight guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Bus+ferry+van is the slowest option.

The most expensive ticket will cost you USD 800.71 if you go by taxi; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a bus+taxi which will set you back mere USD 49.28.

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

It can take you anywhere between 6 and 37 hours to travel between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang depending on the means of transport you choose.

Flight is the fastest way to travel between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang. Flight will bring you to your destination in 5h 10m. Bus+ferry+van does a much slower job and take about 1d 13h to reach Luang Prabang.

How much does it cost to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang?

Travelling between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang can be as cheap as USD 49.28 if you opt for a K Buddy (เค บัดดี้) bus+taxi and as expensive as USD 800.71 if you buy a Easyride Services taxi ticket.

Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.

How many trips per day are there between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang ?

12 by flight from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 08:45 Chiang Rai Airport until 21:15 Chiang Rai Airport
2 by Bus+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 13:30 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
2 by Ferry+Van from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
1 by Bus+taxi from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 13:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 13:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer
1 from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer until 05:00 Chiang Rai Town Transfer
3 from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang starting from 00:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer until 00:00 Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer

Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang.

What mode of transportation is the best one for my route?

Bus

Travelling from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.

Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.

They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.

Companies operating bus routes between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang

Mekong Transfer, Naluangs

Taxi

Some travellers consider taxi to be the most convenient form of overland transport thanks to flexible departure times, a possibility to choose the size of the car you need, and a hassle-free door-to-door service.

Things to remember: If you are planning to make detours during your trip, discuss it with your driver or service provider in advance as it may affect the price.

Companies offering charters between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang

Easyride Services

Van

Vans are a great alternative - or, in many cases - your only option - if you need to travel overland within one and the same province or neighbouring provinces or states. Vans ply the roads between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang, too.

Things to remember: When travelling by van with huge luggage buying a separate seat for your suitcase or backpack is a good idea. Do not expect there is a roomy luggage compartment in a van - there is actually none and your fellow passengers are unlikely to appreciate your luggage stuck under their feet, alas.

Companies operating vans between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang

Mekong Transfer

What is the most popular transport to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang?

There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with taxi+Ferry remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.

Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route

17% chosen taxi+Ferry
16% chosen Bus+taxi
16% chosen Bus+taxi+Ferry
16% chosen Bus+Van
12% opted for a bus
7% chosen Ferry+Van
7% took a van
3% chosen Bus+Ferry+Van
3% chosen Train+Van
1% Other

Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang