Travel from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang

There are two ways to travel from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang:

• By bus.
• By taking a flight from Chiang Mai Airport to Luang Prabang.

Travel by bus costs approximately 30% of the cost of flying from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, but takes 19 hours longer.

Bus Times from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang

There is a single daily bus service provided by Naga Travel which you can book online.

• The journey by bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is scheduled to take 20 hours.

Flights from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang

Laos Airlines operates four flights a week from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang.

• Return flights from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sunday at 13:50.

Buy Tickets from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang

Use the Search Box to find your tickets from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang.

Chiang Mai Bus Station

Bus services to Luang Prabang depart from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2. Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2 is located to the East of the Ping River and more than walking distance from the main areas of Chiang Mai Town popular with foreign visitors. If you are staying in Chiang Mai then it is likely that you will need to take a taxi or tuk-tuk from your hotel or guest house to the bus station. The fare in a tuk-tuk to the bus station should be 80 to 100 THB from most points in the centre of Chiang Mai.

• Tha Pae Gate to Bus Terminal 2: 3.4 km
• Chiang Mai Railway station to Bus Terminal 2: 2.3 km
• Chiang Mai Night Bazaar to Bus Terminal 2: 3.2 km

Location of Chiang Mai Bus Station

Arrival by bus in  Luang Prabang

The Naga Travel service from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang terminates at a stop near to the Southern Bus Terminal to the South of Luang Prabang town centre.

A ticket on a local bus from the Southern Bus Terminal to Luang Prabang town centre cost 3,000 to 5,000 Laos Kip (12 to 20 THB) and a tuk-tuk will charge 10,000 to 20,000 Laos Kip (40 to 80 THB). If you take a tuk-tuk anyway in Laos be sure to agree the price in advance before set off to avoid arguments later on.

Location of Luang Prabang Southern Bus Terminal

Arrival by Air in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang Airport is 6.0 km to the North East of Luang Prabang town centre. The best way to travel from the airport to Luang Prabang town centre is to go to the taxi desk in the airport terminal and arrange a ride. Taxis currently charge 50,000 Laos Kip (around 205 THB) and if you try to arrange your own tuk-tuk the best deal you will get is also likely to be 50,000 Kip.

Location of Luang Prabang Airport