Flying is the quickest way from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, from either Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi. On the ground, an overnight coach from Mo Chit 2 takes about 11 to 13 hours, and there is no train to Chiang Rai: rail fans take the sleeper to Chiang Mai and a three-to-four-hour bus from there.
Chiang Rai is in the far north, beyond Chiang Mai, and the railway has never reached it. A new line is being built and is due in 2028, but until then the choice is between a short flight, a long bus ride and a two-part trip via Chiang Mai. This page compares the three for the Bangkok–Chiang Rai leg only. For the city itself, see our Chiang Rai guide.
| Option | Leaves from | Time (approx.) | Price (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | Don Mueang (DMK) or Suvarnabhumi (BKK) | Short flight, plus check-in and airport transfers | Varies by airline and date |
| Overnight coach | Mo Chit 2 bus terminal | About 11–13 hours | ฿722–905, by class and company (search for 20 Oct 2026) |
| Train + bus | Krung Thep Aphiwat, change at Chiang Mai | Overnight train, then about 3 h 20 min – 3 h 45 min by Greenbus | Train fare by class, plus ฿218–339 for the bus |
| Train all the way | Not possible | New line due 2028 | – |
Flying to Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai Airport
Chiang Rai's airport, Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai International Airport (code CEI), is run by Airports of Thailand (AOT). AOT's airline page for the airport lists ticket offices for Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet, plus AirAsia Berhad from Malaysia (checked October 2026). That is a good sign that several carriers compete on the Bangkok route, but airlines change their schedules by season, so look up the current flights before you plan around one.
Which Bangkok airport you leave from depends on the airline. As a rough rule, low-cost carriers mainly fly from Don Mueang and full-service airlines from Suvarnabhumi, but always check the code on your ticket. Thai AirAsia is a special case: since 1 October 2026 it flies from both airports, but from Suvarnabhumi only to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi, so a Thai AirAsia flight to Chiang Rai leaves from Don Mueang. Our explainer on Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang helps you choose, and our guide to domestic flights covers baggage limits on the cheap fares.
Fly if you have a week or two in Thailand. The bus takes a whole night, and a train-and-bus trip takes most of a day, so compare the fare with what that time is worth to you.
Landing at Suvarnabhumi? Look for a Chiang Rai flight from the same airport first. Crossing Bangkok to Don Mueang by road can take well over an hour in traffic, and two separate tickets do not protect you if the first flight is late.
The overnight coach from Mo Chit 2
Coaches to Chiang Rai leave from the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), better known as Mo Chit 2, in the north of the city near Krung Thep Aphiwat station. We searched the BusX e-ticket platform (busticket.in.th) for Tuesday 20 October 2026: it listed 15 departures from Mo Chit 2 to Chiang Rai, one in the morning, five in the afternoon and nine in the evening. Five were run by the state bus company, Transport Co. (BKS), and the rest by private companies, among them Bangkok Bus Line, Thai Bus Tour, Budsarakham Tour, Choetchai Tour and Kasemthara Tour.
| Departs Mo Chit 2 | Arrives Chiang Rai | Class shown | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | 22:10 | First class (Bangkok Bus Line) | ฿776 |
| 18:00 | 05:00 | First class (Thai Bus Tour) | ฿738 |
| 18:40 | 07:00 | VIP (Kasemthara Tour) | ฿776 |
| 19:40 | 08:00 | Business class (Budsarakham Tour) | ฿842 |
| 20:30 | 07:30 | Business class (Bangkok Bus Line) | ฿861 |
The sample above shows the pattern: about 11 to 13 hours on the road and fares from 722 to 905 baht on that date. BKS's own departures that day ran from 17:30 to 20:00 at 722 to 842 baht. Every listed bus ended at Chiang Rai's Bus Terminal 2, on the edge of town, not at the central Terminal 1, so budget for a taxi or Grab at the end. Fares and times change with the season, so search for your own date.
Class names vary by company. "First class" is a standard air-conditioned coach with more seats per row; "business" and "VIP" coaches have fewer, wider seats that recline further, which matters on an overnight trip. Our guide to long-distance buses in Thailand explains the classes, the terminals and how to keep your bags safe at night. For an independent overview of booking coaches across the country, our sister site viamo.net has a guide to coaches in Thailand.
By train to Chiang Mai, then the bus
There is no train to Chiang Rai, so the rail route is in two parts. First take a long-distance train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Chiang Mai; our article on Bangkok to Chiang Mai covers that leg, and the guide to Thailand's night trains compares the sleeper berths. The newest sleeper, Special Express 9, is reported to arrive in Chiang Mai at 07:15 in the 2026 timetable (secondary source; confirm in SRT's D-Ticket system).
Then cross Chiang Mai to the Arcade bus terminal (Terminal 3) for the Greenbus to Chiang Rai: about 11 departures a day, 218 baht in X-Class or 339 baht in VIP, in about three and a half hours (October 2026). The timetable, terminals and booking are on our page on Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.
This combination is slower than a flight and dearer than the direct coach once you add a sleeper berth. It suits people who enjoy rail travel, who want a day or two in Chiang Mai on the way, or who are following a route like our northern Thailand itinerary. Done in one go, the morning arrival in Chiang Mai leaves plenty of time to reach Chiang Rai the same afternoon.
The new railway to Chiang Rai: status in 2026
The State Railway of Thailand is building a new double-track line from Den Chai, on the existing northern main line, via Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong on the Mekong, 323 km in all, at a cost of 72,835 million baht. In March 2026 the works were 59.570 % complete, slightly ahead of the plan, and SRT's target is to open the line in 2028, according to Thai Post's report of SRT's figures (16 April 2026).
So ignore any website or app that sells a "train to Chiang Rai" today. It is either a train to Chiang Mai with a bus, or a mistake. We follow Thailand's rail projects, including the high-speed line to Korat, on our page about Thailand's new railways.
There is no railway station in Chiang Rai until the new line opens. SRT's target is 2028. Until then, any "train to Chiang Rai" ticket is a train to Chiang Mai plus a bus.
Which option to choose
- Short trip, or arriving from abroad: fly. Check whether your fare leaves from Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi.
- Lowest cost, and you sleep on buses: an evening coach from Mo Chit 2, in a business or VIP seat.
- You like trains or want Chiang Mai on the way: the sleeper to Chiang Mai and the Greenbus north.
- Family with luggage: fly; the overnight bus is hard with small children.
Once in Chiang Rai, most visitors go straight to the White Temple, about 15 km south of town, and many add the tea hills of Mae Salong. If you are booking train seats, our guide to booking Thai trains online explains D-Ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Bangkok to Chiang Rai?
No. In October 2026 no railway reaches Chiang Rai. The new Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong line was about 60 % built in spring 2026 and SRT's target is 2028. Until then, take a train to Chiang Mai and a bus onward.
How long is the bus from Bangkok to Chiang Rai?
About 11 to 13 hours. On 20 October 2026 the BusX platform listed 15 coaches from Mo Chit 2, most leaving between 16:30 and 20:30 and arriving at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2 early the next morning.
How much is the bus from Bangkok to Chiang Rai?
Between 722 and 905 baht one way on the date we checked (20 October 2026), depending on the company and the class. Business and VIP seats cost more but recline further, which helps on an overnight trip.
Which Bangkok airport has flights to Chiang Rai?
Both can, depending on the airline. Low-cost carriers mostly use Don Mueang; Thai AirAsia's Suvarnabhumi flights go only to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi, so its Chiang Rai flights leave from Don Mueang. Always check the airport code on your ticket.
Sources
- Airports of Thailand – Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai Airport: airline information (checked October 2026)
- BusX (busticket.in.th) – Mo Chit 2 to Chiang Rai departures and fares for 20 October 2026 (checked October 2026)
- Thai Post – SRT: Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong line 59.570 % complete, opening target 2028 (16 April 2026, in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- fairfair – Greenbus timetable and fares, Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – SRT 90-day booking for the special express trains (checked October 2026)
- Seat61 – Bangkok to Chiang Rai by train and bus (checked October 2026)