Bangkok to Chiang Rai

Both Bangkok airports have Chiang Rai flights, and the right one is the one you're already near. Don Mueang has the most, on Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air, and it's the natural choice from Khao San, the Old Town or anywhere north of the center. Suvarnabhumi has Thai VietJet and Thai Airways, and it's the one to use if you're connecting from a long-haul flight, because you won't need to cross the city between airports.

Fares on a November date were mostly $60 to $80 one way on AirAsia, Lion and VietJet, and $90 to $120 on Thai Airways, so compare the total once you add a bag. Bangkok Airways doesn't fly the route any more, whatever its old deals page says.

Chiang Rai's airport, Mae Fah Luang, is about 8 km from the town center. Taxis wait at the counter in arrivals and Grab works, about ฿150–200 and 15 to 20 minutes to the hotels around the Night Bazaar and the clock tower.

Every bus to Chiang Rai leaves from Mo Chit 2, Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal in Chatuchak, apart from Nakhonchai Air, which uses its own Bangkok station. The government line, Transport Co., runs five evening buses between 17:30 and 20:00 for about ฿720 to ฿840 and is the quicker one, about 11 hours to Chiang Rai's Terminal 1, the old bus station beside the Night Bazaar. The private lines, Bangkok Busline, Budsarakam, Kasemthara and others, run through the day and evening for about ฿780 to ฿1,070 and take about 13 hours to Terminal 2, 7 km south of town on the highway, where a songthaew or Grab takes you in.

On an evening bus you arrive at dawn, which saves a night's hotel but costs a night's sleep. Nakhonchai Air's Gold Class, about ฿1,070 from its own Bangkok station, is the premium option.

No railway reaches Chiang Rai yet. The new line from Den Chai to Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong was about 60% built in early 2026 and is due to open around 2028. Until then the rail answer is the overnight sleeper to Chiang Mai, then the Green Bus on to Chiang Rai.

The sleepers leave Krung Thep Aphiwat in the evening and reach Chiang Mai the next morning, and a second-class berth is ฿940 to ฿1,200. From Chiang Mai's Bus Terminal 3, Green Bus runs 13 times a day between 07:00 and 18:00 for ฿260 to ฿400, about three and three-quarter hours to Chiang Rai. It's the slowest way to make the trip and the best if Chiang Mai is on your list anyway. Our Bangkok to Chiang Mai guide has every train, and our Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai guide every bus.

Flying back, the first flights leave Chiang Rai at about 08:30 and the last at about 21:00, to both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, the same 15 to 20 a day. Fares on a November date started at about $35 to $50 one way. Allow 20 minutes and ฿150–200 by Grab to the airport.

By bus, Transport Co. leaves Terminal 1 in town at 16:30 and reaches Mo Chit in about 11 hours, and Bangkok Busline leaves Terminal 2 at 10:30, 13:00 and 18:30. Coming back via Chiang Mai, the Green Bus has to leave Chiang Rai by about 13:30 to make the evening sleepers to Bangkok.