1. Flight to Luang Prabang
2. Train to Luang Prabang
3. Bus to Luang Prabang
4. Private Car to L. Prabang
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🎫 Book Tickets / Flights
From Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang you can travel by plane, bus, train, car.
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- Travel distance from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in Laos is about 360 km by plane. But this travel distance can change, it depends what type of transport you will choose. There are 4 options how you can get to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai – travel by tourist bus, direct flight, train via Bangkok and Vientiane or private car / taxi with a driver. The most fastest option of transfer to Luang Prabang is to travel by plane. Direct flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang takes about 1 hour and it costs about $120-180/pp. Flight schedule is limited, you can also travel by plane via Bangkok in Thailand or Vientiane in Laos.
- The most cheapest way of transfer to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai is to travel by tourist bus. Transport by bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang takes about 21-23 hours and bus tickets should cost about $50-60/pp. There is no direct train to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai. But you can travel by train via Bangkok and Vientiane. There is also a modern train in Laos, between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Travel by train from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang (via Bangkok and Vientiane) costs about $35-60/pp and it takes about 28-30 hours. From Luang Prabang in Laos you can travel to Hanoi by plane – there are direct flights, or by tourist sleeper bus.
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- You can also travel by private taxi + train from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang via Bangkok and Vientiane. There are some private taxi companies with modern cars to Bangkok and from Bangkok to Vientiane. From Vientiane you can travel by modern train to Luang Prabang or you can go to Pakse in southern Laos. Transfer by private taxi / car with a driver from to Luang Prabang is the most expensive option of transfer and it takes about 14 hours. Luang Prabang in Laos is the second most visited city of Laos. This city offers various historical places, pagodas or buddhist temples and there is a wide range of various accommodation facilities. Read the instructions how you can reach Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai below in this article. You can also search and book your tickets, car or flight to Luang Prabang or other city of Laos easily online. Before you arrive to Luang Prabang, read this article: Weather in Luang Prabang.
| Transfer Mode – Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Bus / Minivan | 21-23 hours | $50-60/pp |
| Direct Flight | 1 hour 10 minutes | $120-180/pp |
| Trains (via Bangkok, Vientiane) | 23-25 hours | $35-100/pp |
| Private Car / Taxi with a driver | 14 hours | $470-480/car |
How do I get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
1. FLIGHTS from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
If you are looking for the fastest and most comfortable way to travel from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in Laos, you can use air travel. The offer includes both direct flights and flights with a transfer in, for example, Bangkok. The disadvantage may be the higher price and the very limited schedule of these direct flights.
Lao Airlines and Air Asia offer direct flights from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. And flights with a transfer in Bangkok then other companies such as Bangkok Air, Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Bangkok Air, Thai Smile, VietJet Air, Hanh Air Systems and others.
Flights are operated from Chiang Mai International Airport to Luang Prabang International Airport, both airports are easily accessible from city centers. The direct flight time from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is approx. 1 hour 10 minutes, and connecting flights can take approx. 6-13 hours, depending on the transfer and waiting time in Bangkok.
By taking a direct flight, you will save many hours of your time compared to land transport options. The disadvantage can be the higher price of air connections. A direct flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang costs in the range of $120-170/pp, flights with a transfer in Bangkok are about the same.
Sometimes, however, there are also relatively cheap low-cost flights in special offers, so it is advisable to search for and book flights well in advance. You can easily search and book flights to Luang Prabang, Laos from Chiang Mai, Thailand online in advance. Always read all airline conditions and flight instructions to avoid any misunderstandings.
2. TRAINS from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
You can also travel from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by train, but this option has a total of 3 steps. The total travel time by train from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang with a transfer in Bangkok and Vientiane can be approx. 23-25 hours, of course it can vary a little.
The first step is to travel by Thai train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, which takes about 10-14 hours. This is a popular railway route and there are trains with 1st to 3rd class seats and sleepers on offer.
Train tickets from Chiang Mai to Bangkok range from $8-50/pp, seats are always a cheaper option than sleepers and you can easily find and buy tickets online. Trains depart from Chiang Mai Railway Station and arrive at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, see Thailand Railway Map.
The second step is to travel by Thai international train from Bangkok to Vientiane, Laos. So it’s a train that goes through the border crossing at Nong Khai and the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. This route runs a train similar to the one from Chiang Mai, offering seats and sleeping berths in 2nd to 3rd class. Train travel from Bangkok to Vientiane takes about 12 hours and tickets cost between $8-30/pp, seats are always a cheaper option than sleepers.
The disadvantage of this train transfer is the limited schedule, there is usually only 1 train per day. The train departs from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station and arrives at Khamsavath Railway Station (Vientiane-Tai Railway Station), which is about 10 km from the city center. You can easily search and buy tickets from Bangkok to Vientiane online.
2. BOOK TICKETS to Vientiane ➜
The third step is to travel by Lao train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. These trains depart from Vientiane Railway Station and arrive at Luang Prabang Railway Station, see Laos Railway Map. Modern and fast trains with seats run on this route, and the journey time from Vientiane to Luang Prabang is about 2-3 hours.
Train tickets from Vientiane to Luang Prabang cost between $11-35/pp, most casual travelers will be fine with the cheapest option seat. This train continues to China via the border crossing at the town of Boten. Once again, train tickets to Luang Prabang can be easily searched and purchased online.
3. BOOK TICKETS to Luang Prabang ➜
3. BUS from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Another option for land transfer from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is a trip by bus or in combination with a minivan. On this route from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, you can use buses from Mekong Transfer, Yortdoy Travel, Naga Travel or Naluang. The bus transfer is less convenient than the train journey via Bangkok and Vientiane.
Some companies can operate these transfers with a transfer to a minivan or other private transfer. Another option is to travel with transfers in, for example, Nong Khai or Vientiane, buses from Thailand to Laos can also travel via Bangkok. The travel time by bus / minivan from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in Laos can be approx. 21-23 hours, but this may vary or there may be delays.
BOOK TICKETS to Luang Prabang ➜
Buses can leave from different places in Chiang Mai and arrive at different places or stations in Luang Prabang, you will always see this information when searching and booking tickets, so check everything carefully. A bus transfer from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in Laos costs approximately $50-60/pp, prices may vary if you use buses with other routes.
Bus tickets to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai can be easily searched and purchased online even in advance. Always read all transfer instructions and conditions and follow all company instructions. Please arrive at the departure point in Chiang Mai at least 30 minutes before the bus departs.
4. TAXI / CAR from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
One of the options from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is also using a private transfer by car/taxi with a driver. This is the most expensive transport option and a car transfer from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang can take about 14 hours. Firstplan Transport Services will offer you a direct transfer by modern cars between these cities.
This company offers modern classic smaller cars, SUVs and even minivans for more people. Other other companies also go via Bangkok to Vientiane and here you will be offered private transfers by Bangkok Taxi 24, MCC Van, Team Holiday, Glassflower, Thailand Limo by Datum and others.
BOOK TAXI / CAR to Luang Prabang ➜
All companies have modern air-conditioned smaller and larger cars in operation around Thailand. Private car/taxi transfer with driver from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang costs around $470-480/car. If you choose a private transfer with a transfer in, for example, Bangkok and Vientiane, the price may vary.
The advantage of a private transfer is that you can choose your exact departure point and arrival point in Luang Prabang. You can search, view and book your private car from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang easily online in advance.
Transportation by private car with a driver to Luang Prabang is rather an alternative to other options, because of the higher price it is not suitable for ordinary solo low-cost travelers.
❓ FAQ — Travel from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang:
1. What is the travel time from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
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- Travel by bus / minivan from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang takes about 21-23 hours.
- Travel by plane from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang takes about 1 hour 10 minutes (direct flight).
- Travel by train from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang (via Bangkok) takes about 23-25 hours.
- Travel by private car / taxi from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang takes about 14 hours.
2. How to book and buy tickets + flights from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
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- Book and buy tickets+flights from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang online on 12go.asia ➜ or Baolau ➜.
- You can change your route, e.g. Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Vientiane to Luang Prabang…
3. How much does it cost to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
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- Transfer by bus / minivan from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang costs about $50-60/pp.
- Transfer by plane from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang costs about $120-170/pp.
- Transfer by train from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang (via Bangkok) costs about $35-60/pp.
- Transfer by private car / taxi from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang costs about $470-480/car.
4. What is the best way of transport from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
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- The best and fastest option of transfer from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is to travel by plane, because there are direct flights. There are also flights to Luang Prabang with stopover in Bangkok. Flight schedule of the direct flights is limited.
5. What is the cheapest way of getting from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
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- The cheapest option of transport from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is to travel by tourist bus, but it is not so comfortable..
6. Are there some direct flights from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
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- Yes, you can take a direct flight by Lao Airlines, but the flights schedule between these cities is very limited.
7. Is there a direct train from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
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- No, there is no direct train from Chiang Mai in Thailand to Luang Prabang in Laos. But it is possible to travel by train via Bangkok and Vientiane. You can take a train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and Bangkok to Vientiane via border crossing. And from Vientiane to Luang Prabang you can travel by modern new train of Laos-China Railway.
8. Is there a private taxi from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
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- You can travel by private taxi or car of Firstplan Transport Services to Vientiane from Chiang Mai. There are also another private taxi companies from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and from Bangkok to Vientiane. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang you can travel by train, bus or plane – direct flight.
9. Where you can also travel from Luang Prabang?
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- From Luang Prabang you can travel to the north of Laos – by train to Boten border crossing, you can also go back to Vang Vieng by train or bus. You can also take a direct flight to Hanoi in northern Vietnam or you can travel by train via Boten to China.
10. Where to stay in Luang Prabang?
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- Almost everywhere in the town or nearby. Luang Prabang has various cheap hotels + guesthouses, private homestays and there are aslo modern luxury private hotels or resorts.
11. How to travel solo in Laos?
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- Embark on a solo journey through Laos by navigating diverse transportation ways, opting for budget-friendly lodgings, and delving into local markets and sites, all while fostering cultural connections and respecting the traditions of this enchanting destination. Laos has a lot of activities also for solo travelers.
12. What you can buy and bring home from Laos?
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- Traditional clay jars, silk scarves, woven baskets, silver jewelry, coffee, and a coffee maker offer a blend of artistry and functionality. Traditional fabrics, rice papers, embroidered book covers, and ceramics reflect the country’s storytelling heritage and artistic traditions. Toys, puppets, and essential oils contribute to a varied collection that echoes the cultural tapestry of Laos. Read more: What to bring from Laos?
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(You can change your travel route, e.g. Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Bangkok to Vientiane…)