Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai

What to expect when visiting Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s northernmost city, an intriguing fusion of new and old. Its hundreds of temples, striking Old City and delicious local dishes tell the story of Chiang Mai’s culture and history. On the other hand, its cafe culture, friendly coworking spaces and nightlife attract digital nomads from across the globe.

Surrounded by mountains, the city offers plenty of adventures with nature. But if you can, we recommend travelling to Chiang Mai in time for one of its many festivals — like Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival) in November and Songkran (Water Splashing Festival) in April.

3 ways to get from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai

If you’re looking for adventure and a more authentic experience, then we suggest travelling by ferry or “slow boat” from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.

Travelling by slow boat along the Mekong River is one of the most scenic and cheapest ways to travel on this route. This option is truly unique and offers amazing sights that you will miss if you take a flight or a bus instead.

Keep in mind that three days on a boat can feel like a long time and there is not much to do besides taking in the scenery along the river. We suggest bringing a book or a deck of cards to keep yourself entertained throughout this journey.

The first part of the journey is travelling from Luang Prabang to Pak Beng by ferry.

To get to the slow boat terminal in Luang Prabang, you need to take a tuk-tuk from the city centre. This trip takes about 15 minutes and costs 50,000 LAK (€2.10) per person.

For the long ferry ride, you can buy your tickets directly at the slow boat pier. Note that ticket booths open at 08:00 and a ticket costs 110,000 LAK (€4.60) per person.

The boat departs at 08:30 and the ride takes 9 hours. You’ll arrive at Pak Beng at around 17:30, so don’t be surprised if you have to spend one night in this village.

Note that many locals at Pak Beng will offer accommodation. Prices are negotiable, so make sure to ask for a discount. Don’t expect too much of the local accommodations, though. Most of them are clean and good for a night’s sleep.

The ferry from Pak Beng to Huay Xai departs at 08:30. To guarantee your spot on the boat, make sure to arrive at the pier before 08:00, which is when the ticketing booth opens.

Fare starts at 110,000 LAK (€4.60) for the journey that takes around 9 hours to the pier in Huay Xai.

Upon arriving at the pier, you can take a tuk-tuk for 20,000 LAK (€0.80) to the Laos Border Control and Immigration Office to exit the country. This trip takes about 20 minutes.

Once complete, cross over the bridge to the Thai border. The next step is to take a shuttle bus to the immigration office in Chiang Khong, which costs 10,000 LAK (€0.40) per person. Tuk-tuks are also available near the bridge.

At the immigration office, present your documents to get your visa and have your passport stamped.

After all the immigration steps, you need to look for a hotel to spend a night in Chiang Khong, as the buses to Chiang Mai depart early in the morning.

We suggest booking your hotel in advance. Try to book a hotel with a free pick-up service so that you won’t have to arrange for a transfer.

Green Bus is the only bus company on the Chiang Khong to Chiang Mai route. They offer several daily trips departing from Chiang Khong District (Chaing Khong Market), north of the border crossing. Bus tickets start at €11.20 for the bus ride that takes around 5h 40m - 7h 5m.

Travelling by bus takes almost a full day, but it is cheaper compared to flying. That’s apart from the one night you can save on accommodation. A bus ride also gives you an opportunity to take in the sights along the way.

Yortdoy Travel is the bus company operating on the Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai route. Tickets cost around €54.

Departure and arrival station

Buses depart from the Southern Bus Terminal, within a 5-minute drive from the city centre of Luang Prabang. On the other hand, Laos Group Tour offers a free pick-up service from your hotel so you won’t have to worry about the transfer.

Naluang bus drops passengers off at Bus Terminal 3 in Chiang Mai, while Laos Group Tour bus takes you straight to Chiang Mai Bus Station 2. Both stations are located east of the city centre. To go to the city centre, you can take a songthaew for about 60 THB (€1.60) for the 15-minute ride.

Below we provide you with schedules of the reputable buses from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.

Booking a flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai is the quickest option and takes just a little over an hour. A direct flight with Lao Airlines starts from 3,000 THB (€82), but it’s normally more expensive.

In case these direct flights are sold out, you can also book an indirect flight, which makes a stopover in Bangkok. These flights take around 4.5-5.5 hours, with airfares starting from 3,575 THB (€98).

Be sure to book your flight in advance and early as there are not many direct flights for this route.

Flights depart from Luang Prabang Airport (LPQ), which you can reach in 15 minutes by taxi or tuk-tuk from the city centre.

All flights land at Chiang Mai Airport (CNX). From the airport, you can take a bus, taxi, songthaew, or tuk-tuk to go to the centre of Chiang Mai. Depending on the traffic, it is usually a 20-minute trip from the airport.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.