There are three ways to travel by public transport from Bangkok to Chiang Rai:
- Option 1: Take a bus direct from Bangkok to Chiang Rai.
- Option 2: Take a train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and then a bus to Chiang Rai.
- Option 3: Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Rai.
The cheapest of the three ways to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Rai is to take a direct bus.
Bus Times from Bangkok to Chiang Rai
There are currently 8 direct bus services a day from Bangkok to Chiang Rai available to book online.
| Bangkok | Chiang Rai | Ticket | Service | Company |
| 07:20 | 19:40 | 894 THB | Express 42 | Sombat Tour |
| 17:20 | 04:00 | 850 THB | Express 42 | Sombat Tour |
| 17:30 | 06:33 | 712 THB | VIP 31 | Transport Co |
| 18:50 | 05:30 | 850 THB | Express 40 | Sombat Tour |
| 19:16 | 07:05 | 863 THB | Gold Class | Nakhonchai Air |
| 19:30 | 08:51 | 725 THB | VIP 31 | Transport Co |
| 19:45 | 06:45 | 728 THB | Express 42 | Sombat Tour |
| 19:55 | 07:44 | 863 THB | Gold Class | Nakhonchai Air |
- The journey by bus from Bangkok to Chiang Rai is scheduled to take between 11 and 13 hours depending upon which service you take.
Buy Tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Rai
Use the Search Box below to buy your tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Rai.
- Check availability for flights from Bangkok to Chiang Rai.
Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal
Most bus services to Chiang Rai depart from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal.
Chiang Rai Bus Station
Public bus services from Bangkok to Chiang Rai terminate at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2.
About Wat Huay Pla Kang
Wat Huay Pla Kang is a Buddhist temple located 12.7 km by road from Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2. The best known feature of Wat Huay Pla Kang is the 23 metres high white statue of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin, who features heavily in Buddhist temples in Vietnam, such as the Son Tra Linh Ung Pagoda on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang, but less often in Thai Buddhist temples. You can ascend to a viewing platform in the head of the statue in a lift for a fee of 40 THB per person. Entrance to the rest of the temple in free.
Wat Huay Pla Kang in Chiang RaiWat Huay Pla Kang in Chiang Rai also features a 9 storey pagoda and a very ornate viharn, or ordination hall, which is covered in white render and has similarities in style to Wat Rong Khun, which is Chiang Rai’s famous white temple. If everything at the temple looks very new it’s because construction of the viharn and the statue of the Guan Yin were only completed in 2017. The temple is only just beginning to make it onto the standard ‘tourist trail’ for Chiang Rai so now is good time to visit before it gets invaded by tour groups.