Travel from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai

You have three options for travelling by public transport from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai:

• Bus: there is a direct service from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai.
• Plane: travel by train or bus to Udon Thani and fly to Chiang Mai from there.
• Train: travel by train via Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai.

Option 1: Travel by bus from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai

This service is operated by the Orsuksa Tour Company and the price includes a snack and a meal at a roadside restaurant.

• The journey by bus from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai is scheduled to take 11 hours 30 minutes.

Buy Tickets from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai

Use the Search Box to find your tickets from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai.

To book flights from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai use the drop down list to change the starting point to Udon Thani and click to find your ticket. To buy train tickets from Nong Khai to Chaing Mai you need to make two separate bookings: one from Nong Khai to Ayutthaya and another from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai.

Option 2: Fly from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai

Nok Air operates flights from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai.

• Trains from Nong Khai to Udon Thani depart at 07:00, 12:55, 18:15, 18:30 and 19:10.
• The journey by train is scheduled to take from 35 to 46 minutes and tickets cost between 25 THB and 575 THB per person depending upon which train you take and what seat type you select.
• Udon Thani train station is 7.0 km from Udon Thani Airport and you will need to take a taxi to get there.

Option 3: Travel by train from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai

Travel by train from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai is a two stage journey.

Stage 1: Train to Ayutthaya

There are 4 direct train services a day travelling Southward on Thailand’s North Eastern train line departing at 07:00, 18:15, 18:30 and 19:10. The journey takes between 8 hours 33 minutes and 9 hours 17 minutes depending upon which train you take.

Stage 2: Train to Chiang Mai

Ayutthaya is the connection point between Thailand North Eastern train line and the Northern train line. There are 5 direct train services a day travelling up to Chiang Mai departing from Ayutthaya at 09:48, 15:19, 19:45, 21:07 and 23:36. The fastest of these trains is scheduled to complete the journey in 9 hours 42 minutes and the slowest of the 5 daily train services completes the journey in 12 hours 46 minutes.

Nong Khai Bus Station

Bus services to Chiang Mai depart from Nong Khai’s main bus station which is in the town centre.

Chiang Mai Bus Station

Direct bus services from Nong Khai terminate at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2. Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2 is 3.4 km from Chiang Mai’s Old Town. From the bus station a shared taxi or tuk-tuk to the Old Town or the popular riverside should cost between 60 and 100 THB.

Travel from Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is an interesting destination in its own right, but if you have time you should also consider making the journey by minivan from Chiang Mai to mountain town of Pai.

Minivan services from Chiang Mai depart frequently throughout the day from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2. The journey by minivan takes around 4 hours costs 195 THB booked online. The scenery on route is great although be aware that the road from Chiang Mai to Pai is very steep in places and the road has many turns in it to reduce the gradient. Many people get car sick during the journey. The journey, however, is well worth worth it. Pai is a great relaxed small town with some brilliant things to visit in the nearby area. A popular activity in Pai is to rent an automatic motorbike and travel a circuit around the surrounding area taking in fantastic view points such as the Yun Lai Viewpoint, visiting the hot springs and ascending to the top of the newly constructed Temple on the Hill. Pai Town is a lively place in the evening with some great restaurants and bars, a bohemian atmosphere and some very good value for money small resorts dotted around the edge of the town.