How to go → LUANG PRABANG to CHIANG MAI? ☀️

1. Flights to Chiang Mai
2. Train to Chiang Mai
3. Bus to Chiang Mai
4. Taxi/Car to Chiang Mai
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From Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai you can travel by plane, bus, train.

• • From Luang Prabang in Laos to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, you can travel in different ways and combinations. The most used are mainly 3 modes of transport, namely direct air connection, bus transfer and train transfer. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, clearly the most convenient transfer option from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai in Thailand is a direct air connection. A direct flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai takes about 1 hour, but the disadvantage can sometimes be higher prices. However, you can also travel by bus + minivan, by train via Vientiane and Bangkok, or you can also use a private car transfer with a driver.
  • An interesting option now can be a train connection, which has 3 steps. You can take a train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, from there you can take an international Thai train to Bangkok, and from Bangkok you can take another train to Chiang Mai. The train is usually a more convenient option than traveling by bus, which can be very tiring. The advantage of the train is also relatively cheap tickets and you can use sleeping beds in Thailand. The travel distance from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai may vary depending on the mode of transport you use. From Chiang Mai you can travel by tourist bus/taxi to Chiang Rai or Nan – another popular sites in the north of Thailand.

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You can also travel from Vientiane in Laos to Chiang Mai via Bangkok.

• • Chiang Mai – northern Thailand, digital nomads, fresh air, tourist attractions, various amazing temples or pagoda, nature. Lots of travelers in Laos continue also to Thailand. And Chiang Mai is one of the most visited cities in northern Thailand by foreign travelers. Luang Prabang belongs to the one of the most visited places in Laos and also from Luang Prabang you can travel to Chiang Mai in Thailand. But if you travel by land, eg. by bus, it is good to know, this route can take by bus about 22-25 hours.
  • The best way how to get from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai is to take a direct flight by Lao Airlines. Direct flights to Chiang Mai from Luang Prabang cost about $120-140/pp. You can also take a flight to Bangkok and from Bangkok you can travel by bus, train or plane to Chiang Mai. Read the instructions how you can reach Chiang Mai from Luang Prabang in Laos below. Before you arrive to Chiang Mai, read carefully this article: Weather in Chiang Mai.

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How do I get from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai?

1. FLIGHT from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai

The fastest, most comfortable, but at the same time more expensive transfer option from Luang Prabang, Laos to Chiang Mai, Thailand is a direct flight or a flight with a transfer in Bangkok. The disadvantage of this option is that the schedule of direct flights is very limited, there are more flights with a transfer in Bangkok.

Lao Airlines or Air Asia can be used for direct flights from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai. For connecting flights in Bangkok, several companies can be used, 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.

A direct flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai takes about 1 hour, with waiting at the airport and check-in, the transfer can take up to 4 hours. With this option, you will save a lot of time compared to a land transfer by bus or train.

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Flights are operated from Luang Prabang International Airport to Chiang Mai International Airport, both airports are close to city centers and are therefore easily accessible. If you would fly with a transfer in Bangkok, then Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports can be used here.

Flights from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai with a transfer in Bangkok can take approximately 5-13 hours, depending on the transfer in Bangkok, so this time can vary. The disadvantage of direct flights can also be the higher price, which is probably not suitable for low-cost travelers.

A direct flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai costs in the range of $120-170/pp, even flights with a stopover in Bangkok can be in this price range. However, prices can change slightly throughout the year and seasons and can sometimes be a little cheaper.

Flights from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai, including connecting in Bangkok, can be easily searched and booked online. Always read all airline terms and conditions and follow all instructions to avoid any misunderstandings.

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2. TRAINS from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai

One of the interesting options for land transfer from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai is to travel by train via Vientiane and Bangkok. This option has a total of 3 steps, the first step is to travel by Lao train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, the second step is to travel by Thai international train from Vientiane to Bangkok across the border, and the last step is to travel by train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. This possibility of traveling by train to Chiang Mai can take about 23-26 hours as a result, i.e. practically the whole day, but it is rather more comfortable than the tiring bus journey.

In the first step from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, you will use a modern and fast Laos Railway train and the journey takes only about 2-3 hours. Train tickets from Luang Prabang to Vientiane cost between $11-35/pp (depends on the class, just use a comfortable seat). The train departs from Luang Prabang Railway Station and arrives at Vientiane Railway Station, see Lao Railway Map. Trains is the most comfortable and fastest option of transport between these cities in Laos.

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The second step is to travel by international Thai train from Vientiane to Bangkok via the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border crossing. This train departs from Khamsavath Railway Station (Vientiane-Tai Railway Station), this station is about 10 km from the city center and arrives at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station in Bangkok. You can use seats or sleeping beds on this train, it is better to choose a sleeping bed for this longer route.

Train travel time from Vientiane to Bangkok via border crossing is about 12 hours and tickets range from $8-30/pp, a seat is always the cheapest option on this train. This train also stops in other cities in Thailand before it arrives in Bangkok, so you can use it for other interesting stops on the route. The disadvantage of this train is the very limited schedule and usually only 1 train per day.

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The third and last step is the train journey from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, which can take about 10-14 hours. This is a very popular railway route, which is also sought after by foreign tourists. A train transfer to Chiang Mai from Bangkok costs between $8-50/pp, depending on which train class you choose and whether you use a seat or a sleeper bed. It is definitely better to use a sleeping bed and pay extra money. Sleeper trains are more comfortable than seats, but are of course a more expensive option of transport.

Trains depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station or Don Mueang and arrive at Chiang Mai Railway Station, see Thailand Railway Map. Tickets for all trains, both in Laos and Thailand, can be easily searched and purchased online. Trains also accept mobile phone tickets, so it is not necessary to print them. However, always read the current conditions and information when booking tickets on online platforms.

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3. BUS / VAN from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai

Another option for a land transfer from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai is a bus trip, possibly in combination with a minivan / minibus. Again, this is a very long route that can take approx. 22-24 hours in total, this time can also vary, depending on which route you choose exactly. It can usually be implemented in 2-3 steps, it depends on the company.

Company routes can be different, for example with a transfer in Vientiane or Nong Khai, or with a transfer to a taxi or minibus. You should see this information when searching and booking tickets, so check everything carefully.

A bus transfer from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai costs in the range of $55-60/pp, but these prices can change, again depending on the specific travel routes you choose.

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Buses can depart from various stations in Luang Prabang such as Chokprasert Bus Terminal or Sok Paseuth Bus Station and arrive at various locations in Chiang Mai. You will see this information again when booking tickets.

Bus tickets from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai can be easily searched and purchased online in advance. It is recommended to arrive at the bus departure point at least 30 minutes before the bus departure.

If you are wondering whether to go by bus or train, it is better to go by train via Vientiane and Bangkok, trains are a more convenient option and the journey can take about the same time. Bus and train transfers can also be almost similar in price.

4. TAXI / CAR from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai

A private car/taxi transfer with a driver is also a theoretical option for transportation from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai. However, this option has 3 steps and is the most expensive transfer option on this route. Driving time by private car from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai via Vientiane and Bangkok can take about 28-30 hours including transfers.

On the route from Luang Prabang to Vientiane you can use RG Adventure, on the route from Vientiane to Bangkok then Glassflower and on the route from Bangkok to Chiang Mai then companies such as Bangkok Taxi 24, MCC Van, Team Holiday, Glassflower, Thailand Limo by Datum and next.

A private car / taxi transfer with a driver from Luang Prabang to Vientiane costs about $435/car, a transfer from Vientiane to Bangkok via border crossing in Nong Khai costs about $360-400/car, and a transfer from Bangkok to Chiang Mai costs about $240-550/vehicle. The prices are based on the type of car you choose, the general rule is that larger minivans for more people are more expensive than smaller classic cars.

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On some routes, for example, only a minivan for several people can be used, which is more suitable for traveling in a group of several people. You can search, view and book your private car for transfer from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai online even in advance.

You have to book cars separately for each route. Always read all transfer terms and instructions carefully and follow the company’s instructions. A private transfer is more of an alternative, it is the most expensive transport option from Laos to Chiang Mai and is therefore not suitable for ordinary solo low-cost travelers.

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(You can change your travel route, e.g. Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Vientiane to Chiang Mai…)

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