What to expect when visiting Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is the former royal capital of Laos. A beautiful fusion of traditional Lao architecture and colonial design, this ancient city sits at the junction of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Luang Prabang lifts up your spirits with its 33 Buddhist temples and awakens your senses with its picturesque landscape.
Backdropped by mountains, adventurers will find plenty of things to do in Luang Prabang. You’ll find turquoise waterfalls, trekking trips and biking trails on the outskirts of town. Our favourite part? The friendly atmosphere and slow life that it was somehow able to maintain despite the growing number of tourists.
4 ways to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
There are 4 ways to travel the distance of 715 kilometers (444 miles) from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by bus (22 hours to 22 hours 30 minutes), shared Minivan (22 hours), flight (1 hour 30 minutes) and ferry (2 days). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 days and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from $61 (1,340,000 LAK) for the bus.Where to stay in Luang Prabang?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Luang Prabang at the bottom of this page.
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by Bus
Travelling by bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang takes almost a day of travel. But, it is also cheaper than booking a flight and faster than when travelling by ferry.
Yortdoy Travel and Banana Leaf Tour are the two most popular bus companies that offer trips from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. They both have one trip departing daily. We’ve provided the schedules in the table below.
Bus schedules from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by Shared Minivan
A minivan ride from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang costs around $61 (1,329,000 LAK). The minivan journey takes almost a day—about 22 hours.
Shared Minivan options from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by Ferry
This is for sure the most adventurous option when travelling from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. You cannot travel through the entire route by ferry as this requires an overland transfer, but we can assure you that you will be rewarded with magnificent views and a very unique experience.
Step 1: Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong/Huay Xai by Van/Bus + Tuk-tuk
You can book with a van ride or bus from Chiang Mai to the border in Chiang Khong. If you prefer to book a van, you can arrange this with your hotel or any travel agency in the city.
If you book through BookAway, it costs about $41 (903,000 LAK) per person and the trip takes about 6h 30m.
You can also book a bus ride with Green Bus. They have trips leaving at 08:00, 09:30 and 13:15. The cost starts at 300 THB ($9), depending on whether you book the regular or VIP bus. By bus, it takes at least 6 hours. You can book your bus ride through 12go.asia.
Go through Thai immigration and get your passport stamped. Then take the shuttle bus that takes you across to Laos for 25 THB ($0.80). Go through immigration again on the Laotian side.
Once outside, take a tuk-tuk to Huay Xai for 70 THB ($2.10) per person. Sometimes, drivers may charge higher. Huay Xai is where the ferry departs from. You may also have to stay for 1 night as ferries leave in the morning and by the time you reach Huay Xai, it would be at least early in the afternoon.
Step 2: Huay Xai to Pakbeng to Luang Prabang by Ferry
You can book a ticket online but it’s best to buy the slow boat ticket at the dock since it’s cheaper. It costs about 800 THB ($24) for the ferry ride to Luang Prabang. The ferry leaves the port in Huay Xai at 10:00.
First, the ferry will cruise through the river for 8 hours. Then you arrive at the town of Pakbeng. You have to stay in Pakbeng for one night. There will be many locals offering rooms to stay in. The key is to negotiate a good deal. Don’t expect much from the rooms but know that most are decent enough.
The next day, you board the ferry again bound for Luang Prabang. The second leg of the ferry trip takes about 8 hours. From the port, you have to take a tuk-tuk to the city centre. The cost is around 70 THB ($2.10) per person.
Before you make the trip, you can also try to book the entire trip from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang through a travel agency. It will be more expensive but you forego the hassle of having to coordinate transfers on your own.
Booking with BookAway
If you want to arrange your ferry tickets in advance, we suggest booking through BookAway. Fares start at $34 (740,000 LAK).
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by Flight
Flying from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is obviously the fastest way to travel, but comes at a price.
Airlines such as AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Smile, Thai Airways and Lao Airlines offer flights through this route. Most of the flights are non-direct and it takes at least 5 hours of travel, usually with a layover in Bangkok. There are only about 2-3 flights which offer direct travel. The price for a direct flight starts at 5,200 THB ($155).
Planes depart from Chiang Mai Airport and land in Luang Prabang Airport. Flight time is just below 1 hour 30 minutes. Click on the button below to check the latest and cheapest flights.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Best places to stay in Luang Prabang
Manichan Guesthouse - Mid Range
The Manichan Guesthouse is the perfect location, just a 5-minute walk from the Night Market, National Museum and plenty of other sights. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and clean and come with your choice of fan or air conditioning. A delicious breakfast is included daily with your stay and there is a restaurant on location for your convenience.
- Ideal location
- Walking distance to many sights
- Breakfast included
- Restaurant on-site
Private rooms start at $30 per night
Sakaodeuan Hotel & Travel - Treating Yourself
Sakaodeuan Hotel located within the Old Town of Luang Prabang is in an ideal location to explore some of the city’s best sights. You’re less than 1km away from both Mount Phousy and the Night Market.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable and clean. One of the best things about this hotel are the staff who are there to help you with anything. And the complimentary breakfast is a highlight of the stay. It’s delicious!
- Located in the Old Town
- Spacious and comfortable rooms
- Amazing staff
- Delicious free breakfast
Double rooms start from $75 per night.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
What is the distance from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
The distance from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is 715 kilometers (444 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
The fastest way to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is by flight and takes 1 hour 30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang?
The cheapest way to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang is by bus with ticket costs starting from $61 (1,340,000 LAK).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Routes from Luang Prabang
Most popular routes in Laos
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
