How to go → PHUKET to CHIANG MAI? ☀️

1. Flights to Chiang Mai
2. Bus + Train Chiang Mai
3. Bus / Van to Chiang Mai
4. Taxi/Car to Chiang Mai
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From Phuket to Chiang Mai you can travel by plane, bus, bus+train, car.

• • The travel distance from Phuket to Chiang Mai is approximately 1530 kilometers by land via Bangkok. The most efficient and fastest option to reach Chiang Mai from Phuket is by taking a direct flight. Direct flights from Phuket Airport to Chiang Mai Airport typically take about 2 hours and cost around $70-170 per person. Alternatively, there are flights with stopovers in Bangkok. If traveling by land from Phuket to Chiang Mai, one can opt for a bus + train route via Surat Thani and Bangkok. This entails taking a bus or minivan to Surat Thani, then a train from Surat Thani to Bangkok, and another train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Traveling by bus + train to Chiang Mai from Phuket generally takes about 27-37 hours, with total costs ranging from $25-120 per person.
  • Another option is to travel by tourist bus from Phuket to Chiang Mai, which takes about 25 hours, with bus tickets priced at about $60-65 per person. For those preferring a private car to Chiang Mai, it’s also feasible. Traveling by private taxi/car to Chiang Mai from Phuket via Bangkok typically takes about 20-23 hours, with costs ranging from $500-630 per person. Book direct flights or bus/train tickets and private cars from Phuket to Chiang Mai online. From Chiang Mai, visitors can also explore and travel to Chiang Rai or the province of Nan.

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• • Chiang Mai stands as the largest city in northern Thailand. Laden with numerous historically significant monuments, temples, and pagodas, this city boasts a rich cultural heritage. From the slopes of Doi Suthep, home to a stunning temple, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the city. Be sure to explore the Sunday night markets downtown as well. While Bangkok offers multiple transportation options to Chiang Mai, including flights, trains, and buses, what about from Phuket? There are four primary ways to travel to Chiang Mai from Phuket – via flight, tourist bus, bus + train, or private taxi/car via Bangkok. Flying remains the most convenient and comfortable mode of transport. From Chiang Mai, travelers can also journey to Mae Hong Son or Pai by bus, minivan, taxi, or motorbike.

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How do I get from Phuket to Chiang Mai?

1. FLIGHT from Phuket to Chiang Mai

Undoubtedly, the fastest and most convenient transfer option from Phuket to Chiang Mai is an air transfer. There are a limited selection of direct flights as well as flights with a stopover in Bangkok. A direct flight is of course the fastest option and in this way you will save many hours of your time compared to ground transfer options.

Flights are operated from Phuket International Airport to Chiang Mai International Airport, the destination airport is a short distance from the city center and within easy reach. A direct flight from Phuket to Chiang Mai takes about 2 hours, flights with a transfer take between 5-15 hours, depending on the transfer and onward connection.

The transfer to the Phuket Airport and the wait before departure must also be taken into account, so the total time of the air transfer to Chiang Mai can be approximately 5-6 hours. For air transfer from Phuket to Chiang Mai, you can use Thai VietJet, Thai AirAsia, Hanh Air Systems and other transfer companies such as Nok Air, Air Asia, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Smile, Bangkok Air.

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Thai AirAsia offers the most cheap flights between these places. Direct flights from Phuket to Chiang Mai cost in the range of $70-170/pp, connecting flights can be more expensive, but are usually in this range as well. However, flight prices may vary throughout the year and seasons.

You can easily search and buy your direct flight to Chiang Mai from Phuket online well in advance, which is recommended. Also, read all flight information and instructions and follow all airline instructions when booking your flight to Chiang Mai.

Most of the offered direct flights to Chiang Mai are Economy class, which may have certain restrictions, e.g. in the form of the maximum weight of carried luggage. Air transfer is probably the best transportation option from Phuket to Chiang Mai and is suitable for those who want to avoid lengthy travel and visit other places in Thailand.

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2. BUS + TRAIN from Phuket to Chiang Mai

If you would like to use a ground transfer from Phuket to Chiang Mai, the most used option is a bus / minivan and a train connection via Surat Thani and Bangkok. This transportation option has a total of 3 steps, first a bus/minivan trip from Phuket to Surat Thani, then a train trip from Surat Thani to Bangkok, and then a train trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The total time of the bus and train transfer to Chiang Mai from Phuket can be between 27-37 hours, but this time can vary a little and depends on the transfer to individual connections. For a transfer from Phuket to Surat Thani, you can use modern minivans and buses of companies such as Phantip 1970, 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport, 12GO Transport.

The journey to Surat Thani takes about 4.5-6 hours, depending on the type of bus and company. Then there is a train transfer from Surat Thani to Bangkok, which takes about 9.5-12 hours and tickets cost between $8-50/pp. You will then continue your journey from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by another train, see also the Thai railway map.

On these 2 routes, the trains will offer you the cheapest 3rd class trains or even 1st and 2nd class trains with seats or more comfortable beds. The total price for a bus + train transfer from Phuket to Chiang Mai can be in the range of $25-120/pp, depending on the class of train you use.

The most expensive option is of course comfortable sleeping berth in the 1st and 2nd class of the train. Bus tickets to Surat Thani and train tickets to Bangkok and Chiang Mai are easy to find and buy online in advance. You must purchase a total of 3 tickets for this option, 1 bus ticket, 2 train tickets.

3. BUS from Phuket to Chiang Mai

Another land transport option from Phuket to Chiang Mai is a bus transfer. To a limited extent, the bus company Greenbus runs on this route, significantly more companies then run with a transfer in Bangkok, i.e. to Bangkok and then to Chiang Mai. The Greenbus bus departs from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 and arrives at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3, other bus companies may also run between other stations.

You will see this information about the departure points in Phuket and Bangkok and the arrival points in Bangkok and Chiang Mai when searching for tickets online. Most bus companies will offer you modern and comfortable buses on the route between Phuket – Bangkok – Chiang Mai.

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The bus transfer to Chiang Mai from Bangkok takes about 25-28 hours, but this time can vary depending on the company and it depends on whether you also travel with a transfer in Bangkok. Buses in Thailand can also have delays during the journey and even during departure, these facts must also be taken into account.

A bus transfer from Phuket to Chiang Mai by Greenbus costs between $60-65/pp, if you will be traveling by bus with other companies, the total price may vary. More buses run with a transfer in Bangkok, and on the other hand, it is better to split this long route into 2 parts.

Bus tickets to Chiang Mai from Bangkok can be easily searched and purchased online in advance. Arrive at the Phuket bus departure point at least 30-60 minutes before the bus departure.

4. PRIVATE TAXI/CAR from Phuket to Chiang Mai

Another land transfer option from Phuket to Chiang Mai is a private car/taxi transfer with a driver. Glassflower offers this transport option on this route, several other companies also operate private transfers with a stopover in Bangkok. The taxi company offers modern smaller classic cars or SUVs and minivans for more passengers on this route to Chiang Mai.

Transportation by private car/taxi with a driver from Phuket to Chiang Mai takes about 21 hours, if you travel with a transfer in Bangkok, this time may vary, it may even be longer. Also, the stated driving time of private cars may not be strictly followed and unexpected delays may occur during the journey.

The advantage of a private transfer is the possibility of choosing a departure point in Phuket and an arrival point in Chiang Mai. A private chauffeured car transfer from Phuket to Chiang Mai costs in the range of $500-630/vehicle, transfer prices may also vary if you go with a transfer in Bangkok.

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Smaller classic cars are usually cheaper options, SUVs or minivans are usually more expensive options. However, you can split the fare and calculate it for individual passengers in the vehicle. You can search and book your private car/taxi with driver from Phuket to Chiang Mai, or with a transfer in Bangkok, online well in advance.

When booking, you will also see photos of the vehicles and possibly also references from other travelers. Most of the private carriers that offer car transfers are also rated well by other travelers.

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❓ FAQ + TIPS – Travel route from Phuket to Chiang Mai:

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🎫 Book train, bus tickets, flights from Phuket to Chiang Mai + Schedule:

(You can change your departure and arrival, eg. Phuket > Surat Thani, Surat Thani > Bangkok….)

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