Fly in or take the bus from Chiang Mai
| Way in | Arrival point | Journey | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) | Depends on origin | Airport taxi or app ride |
| Greenbus from Chiang Mai | Bus Terminal 1, some services Terminal 2 | 3 to 4 hours | Taxi or app ride |
| Private car from Chiang Mai | Your hotel or a terminal | About 3 hours | None |
There is no train: Chiang Mai is the end of the railway, so overland travellers from Bangkok change there. Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai has the Greenbus fares, 409 or 621 THB for November 2026, and the private-car prices.
From the airport
AOT lists the ground transport at the main terminal:
- Airport taxi, flat rate: 150 THB per ride within Chiang Rai city, no extra fees, from Entrance 3.
- Metered taxi: from 40 THB on the meter, with a fixed-rate option and charters to other provinces, also from Entrance 3.
- App rides: pickup and drop-off at Door 1.
AOT gives taxi and limousine hours of 06:00 to 22:00. For a late flight, arrange your ride before landing rather than relying on the counters.
Terminal 1 or Terminal 2
Chiang Rai has two bus terminals, and buses from Chiang Mai can use either. Greenbus names Terminal 1 for applicable services, but on the dates checked an 08:30 departure from Chiang Mai ran to Terminal 2, and a 13:10 return left from Terminal 2. The terminal is printed on the ticket; check it before you book a hotel pickup or plan your last stretch.
For Mae Sai, only private taxis were listed online for November 2026, from about 1,875 THB per vehicle; no public bus was offered for booking on the date checked.
Chiang Khong and the Laos border
For Laos, the crossing is Friendship Bridge IV between Chiang Khong and Huay Xai. Lao immigration lists it as accepting Lao eVisas, with visa on arrival for eligible passports. For November 2026, vans with hotel or terminal transfers were sold online from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong at about 535 to 545 THB, taking 2 to 2 hr 30 min, including an early 05:00 departure.
The bridge checkpoint and the boat landings in Huay Xai are separate stops. The Thailand–Laos border guide covers the crossing in both directions.
Questions before you go
How much is a taxi from Chiang Rai Airport to town?
AOT lists a fixed 150 THB per ride within Chiang Rai city, with no extra fees, from Entrance 3. A metered taxi from the same entrance starts at 40 THB. AOT gives taxi hours of 06:00 to 22:00.
Is there a train to Chiang Rai?
No. The nearest railway station is Chiang Mai, at the end of SRT's Northern Line. From there, Greenbus takes 3 to 4 hours.
How do I get from Chiang Rai to the Laos border?
The crossing is at Chiang Khong, Friendship Bridge IV, to Huay Xai. For November 2026, vans with transfers were sold online from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong for about 535 to 545 THB, taking 2 to 2 hr 30 min.
Thailand Transport Hub
Written and maintained from Bangkok. The people behind this site have lived in Thailand for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.
