Different Chiang Mai bus services let you explore the largest city in northern Thailand, as they are an important part of the public transport system serving locals and visitors of Chiang Mai. Public buses let you travel to the city from Chiang Mai Airport in the most affordable way. You can reach many popular destinations in Thailand by bus from Chiang Mai, as there are plenty of intercity bus routes starting in the city.
Discover Chiang Mai bus services with public bus routes, as well as the most popular Thailand destinations that can be reached by bus from Chiang Mai.
Intercity Buses from Chiang Mai
Intercity buses are the most affordable way to get from Chiang Mai to various destinations. These buses are connecting Chiang Mai with other popular destinations in Northern Thailand and other parts of the country.
To compare different transportation options for a trip from Chiang Mai, use this search form. Otherwise, explore the most popular intercity bus routes and their timetables below.
Popular Intercity Bus Routes
The most popular intercity bus routes from Chiang Mai and timetables for each type of bus are listed below.
Bangkok
Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the central region of the country. Being one of the most visited cities in the world, Bangkok has many points of interest that attract large crowds of tourists. Bangkok is the main transportation hub in all of Thailand, with many buses going there from Chiang Mai.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Bangkok ฿ 651–1,016 9h – 15h | |
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Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai, the northernmost major city in Thailand, is the place where you can avoid the crowds of tourists while exploring the nature of the region, visiting remote hill tribes and checking out the Golden Triangle, famous for being the former center of the world’s opium trade. As it's another popular destination in the northern part of the country, there are many buses going from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai ฿ 271–380 3h 20m – 3h 45m | |
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Nan
Nan is a laid-back city in northern Thailand, which is the capital city of the same-named province, known for its vast national parks. There are buses going from Chiang Mai to Nan.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Nan ฿ 330–666 6h 25m – 8h 40m | |
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Sukhothai
Sukhothai is a small city in lower northern Thailand, famous for the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai. To travel between Thailand's two popular destinations, you can take a bus from Chiang Mai to Sukhothai.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Sukhothai ฿ 570 5h 30m | |
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Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is a city in the lower north of Thailand, which is an important travel hub for tourists going to visit the ancient city of Sukhothai. To travel there, you can take a bus from Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok and transfer to another bus going to Sukhothai.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Phitsanulok ฿ 405–610 5h 30m – 7h | |
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Pai
Pai is a small town located 80 km northwest from Chiang Mai, famous for the mountainous landscape and laid-back atmosphere. As many tourists visit the town, there are numerous bus and van departures from Chiang Mai to Pai.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Pai ฿ 240 4h 20m | |
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Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son is a town in northwestern Thailand, which is a gateway to the mountainous province, bordering Myanmar. You can take a bus or van to travel from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Son ฿ 340–380 6h – 6h 5m | |
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Mae Sot
Mae Sot is a city in northwestern Thailand, bordering Myanmar. There are buses going from Chiang Mai to Mae Sot.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Mae Sot ฿ 426–621 6h 45m | |
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Lampang
Lampang is the third largest city in northern Thailand, which is a trading and transportation center in the region. Lampang lies 101 km southeast of Chiang Mai, and there are plenty of bus routes connecting the cities.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Lampang ฿ 164 1h 30m | |
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Lamphun
Lamphun is a town in northern Thailand, known for interesting historical sites. To get there from Chiang Mai, you can take a bus to Lamphun.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Lamphun ฿ 330 30m | |
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Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is a historical city in Laos, famous for amazing temples and colonial-era architecture. There is an international bus route connecting Chiang Mai with Luang Prabang.
| Bus Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang ฿ 1,650 22h | |
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Other Thailand Bus Services
You can explore Thailand's bus services in the country's other popular destinations by clicking the name on the map below.