Getting to Chiang Mai by Bus

Getting to Chiang Mai by Bus

Getting to Chiang Mai by bus is not just convenient, but also comfortable and affordable. Most buses to Chiang Mai depart from Moh Chit, Bangkok's new northern and northeastern bus terminal.

There is just one 3 rd class bus to Chiang Mai daily. Leaving from Bangkok at 3 pm, this bus takes 12 hours to reach Chiang Mai. The bus fare is 215 Bahts. Apart from this, you can get to Chiang Mai by 12 second class buses that ply on this route daily. These buses take 11 hours and cost 322 Bahts per head.

The best types of buses to get into Chiang Mai are the 1 st class air conditioned buses. These buses have 32 seats and attached toilets, and leave every half hour between 6.45 am and 9 pm. However, the ticket fare in these hi-tech buses of Chiang Mai is comparatively higher at 470 Bahts. You can reach Chiang Mai in ten hours if you travel in these buses.

The local government also runs VIP buses to Chiang Mai daily. These buses are 24-seater and have reclining seats. Between 7pm and 9pm, there are six departures daily. These buses take ten hours to reach Chiang Mai, and cost about 625 Bahts per person.

There are various private companies that run buses in Chiang Mai. Charging 300 to 400 Bahts for a return journey, these buses ply between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and depart from various points in these cities.

The Chiang Pheuak and Chiang Mai Arcade bus terminals are main hubs for getting into Chiang Mai by bus. From here, you can use tuk-tuk or sawngthaews to get into the main city.

While taking buses to Chiang Mai, you need to be aware of certain important points. Certain travel agencies dupe you by offering much less than what was initially promised. Choose your bus service after some research, and do not be lured by their offer of getting you ‘decent' accommodation in Chiang Mai at discounted rates. It is always advisable to use private buses to reach Chiang Mai.

To know more about Chiang Mai, explore relevant sections of AsiaRooms.

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