In 2016, it wasn’t easy to find where to buy a bus ticket from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. So I did an extensive research, and I will share everything you need to know about getting to Chiang Rai from Chiang Rai.
Buying Tickets
You can always buy the ticket at the bus station, but you don’t want to take a chance of getting the bus being full.
There are not many in the old town where you can buy the ticket.
If you go to Wat Phra Singh, there is a travel agency across the street (Next to Honeyboon Cafe & Art Gallery). You can buy a ticket here.
Green Bus is the safest and the cleanest bus in town.
You can also check the schedule on their website. You can change to English, but it is still not the easiest to read.
I think the best way is to book it online. When I went back in 2022 June, there was a website I was able to use with full English translation.
How much is the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?
As you can see above image, Normal buses and Express (VIP) buses will only be 2 dollar difference.
- Green Bus Ticket Price : 150 Bhat (Normal) – 280 Bhat (Express)
You will have to buy normal buses at the station or dedicated ticket sellers, but you can buy express online.
Also, buying express online will be about 10% cheaper than buying it on site.
- Online Price : 255 Bhat
There is also a VIP bus. The difference between Express and VIP is that VIP won’t stop mid-way for bathroom break. Express will stop for bathroom break.
VIP buses will be 355 Bhat.
The Bus Station
So there are several bus stations and I almost went to the wrong one.
Make sure you check the terminal before you head to Chiang Mai bus station (Normally it is terminal 2 / 3). It will only take 10-15 minutes by taxi from the old town.
- Terminal 2 / 3: Platform 12-13 Muang Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand
- Terminal 1 : Si Phum Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
If you get the too soon, you can always go to the Star Avenue Lifestyle mall which is clean and nice.
Green Bus
I got the VIP bus, and there are air conditioned and comfortable.
It is not a small seat so you can easily lie down like you are on a business class.
The good thing about Green buses are you can choose your seat.
And there is a bathroom in the bus (VIP buses) if you have an emergency (Honestly, I didn’t go in, but I cannot imagine it would like your home bathroom).
It will take about 3.5 hours to 4 hours depending on the traffic.
Arriving at Chiang Rai Bus Station
Make sure to wait till the last stop. The bus will have one stop at the White temple and the second stop will be in the town. Unless you are directly going to the White temple, you should stay on the bus till the end.
There will be enough taxis waiting for you if you are staying outside of town. They don’t have uber, so you have no choice but to get the Songthaews or the taxi.
Anyways this is how you get the Green bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.