Chiang Rai is well connected by air and by road. Travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, tourists get to choose from several options including plane, car and bus. Travelling inside Chiang Rai and other towns can be done on the songthaews (a collect taxi) or tuk-tuks (trishaws). For visiting places outside the town you can hire a car or even a motorbike if you are adventurous.

Chiang Rai has good air and road connections with Chiang Mai and Bangkok, and is easy to get around once there.

Make the most of your visit and take one of our Chiang Rai tours. Alternatively, if you choose to explore this area yourself this Chiang Rai transportation guide gives you information on getting to and getting around Chiang Rai. More general information can be found in our Thailand transportation guide.

Chiang Rai Transportation Guide 

Getting to Chiang Rai

By Plane

There is a small international airport on the outskirts of Chiang Rai which can be reached in ten minutes from town. Most of the flights are operated by Thai Airways, with daily flights from and to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. However, several budget airlines are now trying to cater to the tourist traffic from Chiang Rai. A taxi ride from the airport to the town will cost 250 Baht. Some of the Chiang Rai hotels run shuttle buses to and from the airport.

Thai Airways - Thai Airways is the national carrier and it operates hourly flights to and from Chiang Mai. Flights for to and from journeys to Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son are also available from Chiang Mai. Tourists can plan their trip by viewing flight schedules and seat availability, and, book tickets online using the Thai Airways website. 

Bangkok Airways - Bangkok Airways is also a national carrier and it operates flights to Chiang Mai from Bangkok and back. Tickets can be booked online, but, payment is accepted only through Visa and MasterCard.

Air Asia - Air Asia is a Malaysian budget carrier that operates a few domestic routes in Thailand. Air Asia flights are available from Chiang Mai. Bookings made well in advance ensure low fares.

One-Two-Go - One-Two-Go is the budget arm of Orient Thai, a charter carrier. The planes used by One-Two-Go are large ones when compared to those used by other airlines. The routes served by this airline are the standard ones of Phuket , Chiang Rai and. Chiang Mai.

Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Thailand.

Chiang Rai flights

By Bus

You can opt for bus travel between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The trip will take about four to five hours and you will be able to view the Lanna way of life from your bus window.

A widespread network of buses plying inter-city routes is in place in Thailand. There are two classes of bus travel available. First class service is air-conditioned while the second class service is not. There is a gradation even in the first class with the super first class having comfortable reclining seats, more leg space and a few other amenities. The rates charged for the bus rides are reasonable.  Buses for Chiang Rai can be boarded from Bangkok's Mor Chit bus station, Chatuchak.

Luggage theft is quite common so keep an eye on your bags especially during intermediate stops.

Getting around Chiang Rai

It is easy to do your sightseeing in Chiang Rai as it is a relatively small place making transportation in Chiang Rai easy. Most of the sightseeing destinations can be walked to from the centre of the town. Do not look around for licensed taxis as there are none here. There are however other ways of getting around Chiang Rai.

By Airport Transfers

As the airport is quite close to town most city hotels offer free shuttle services to and from the airport. However do ask specifically for charges involved before ordering hotel transportation.

By Tuk-tuk

Chiang Rai transport offers Tuk-tuks or samlors that are three wheeled carts, and are a popular option for travelling inside Chiang Rai. Samlors are quite noisy but are not very powerful. So, uphill rides are not possible in samlors. Use your negotiating skills to agree upon a fare before you get onto a tuk-tuk.

By Pedalo

Pedalos are three wheeled bicycles that are a common form of transport in Chiang Rai. The fare charged is almost the same as that for a tuk-tuk. So just hop on to whichever one you find first.

By Motorcycle

Renting motorcycles is also a good way of being mobile in Chaing Rai. Make sure you are carrying your driving license and wearing a helmet.

By Car

Car rental agencies are aplenty in Chiang Rai. You will even find branches of international chains like Avis, National and Budget. Though driving in Chiang Rai is not very difficult, hiring a driver along with the car will ensure that you have a more restful holiday. There are police check points near the border on the northern side, so a local driver will be helpful in crossing these points.