Chiang Mai
Inside the old city walls almost everyone rides a red songthaew or a tuk-tuk, or now just opens Grab or Bolt; a thin, air-conditioned RTC city bus network exists but most visitors never find it. Long-distance transport splits across two unrelated terminals – Arcade for anywhere outside Chiang Mai province, Chang Phuak for anywhere inside it – and Pai, Mae Hong Son and Chiang Rai are each their own minivan or coach operator rather than one system. The overnight sleeper from Bangkok is the slow, scenic way in. Add a Sunday and Saturday street closure downtown, and a February-to-April smoke season bad enough that Wikivoyage tells you to leave town.
- Researched
- 29 September 2026
- Reviewed
- not yet
- Ways of moving
- 12, 37 sources
- Not confirmed
- 9
- Fares seen
- 2017–2025
12 ways of moving, each with its rule
We confirmed ten ways of moving to, from or around Chiang Mai: six by road, two hired or on demand, one by rail and cable and one under your own steam, from 37 sources. Two entries are not a service at all but a rule that decides whether travel happens: a permit, a closure, a border, a season or an authority's say-so. Two of them run only on demand or when the seats are full, so there is no timetable to show; the rule is written where the timetable would be. One needs a phone call or a message before you turn up.
The fares were seen in 2017 to 2025; a fare from an older year is a floor, not a price. Eight fares carry no year, because they could not be confirmed and the field says so. We rate 5 of the 12 high confidence, our own judgement of the sources. The entry was checked on 29 September 2026, and ends with nine things we could not confirm.
By road
Red songthaews (rot daeng)
No fixed route inside the city; roam the main streets around markets, temples and the bus and train stations, working as a shared taxi or a private charter depending on who else is aboard
Flag one down anywhere in the old city, or wait near Warorot Market, Tha Phae Gate or the bus and train stations. State your destination; if the driver nods, get in – that is the agreement to go, and the price should still be per person unless you have chartered the whole truck. Confirm the fare before you sit down, since a shared red songthaew and a chartered one cost very differently for the same seat. Press the buzzer on the roof to signal your stop.
- When
- Constant through the day in the old city and around the markets; thinner after dark
- Takes
- A few minutes for most in-city hops, longer if the driver has to route around the old city's one-way system
- Fare
- 30 baht per person inside the city walls and within the second ring road, rising to 40 baht in peak season; negotiated outside that area, upwards of 40 baht and as high as 200 baht in peak season for a tourist. This is Wikivoyage's figure and is undated on the page
SeasonYear-round. BookingNone. Hail on the street and agree the fare, or the per-person basis, before boarding. Run byIndependent owner-drivers.
Arcade Bus Station (Terminals 2 and 3, plus the Nakhonchai Air terminal) for out-of-province coaches
Everywhere outside Chiang Mai province: Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Pattaya, Nan, Hua Hin, Korat, Ubon and more
Arcade sits at the far end of Kaeo Nawarat Road on the city's north-east outskirts and is really two terminals plus a hidden third: Nakhonchai Air's own terminal is behind Terminal 2, reached by walking past the big sign at the rear of that building. There is no clean split by direction – government BKS buses, Nakhonchai Air and most other companies sell from both terminals with a great deal of overlap, so check your ticket rather than assume a terminal by destination. Green Bus sells from window 20 in Terminal 3. Songthaews and tuk-tuks wait on the road between the two terminal buildings and will quote tourists 100-200 baht to the old city; there is also a 15-baht shared minibus from the same road into the old town.
- When
- Frequent government and private departures to Bangkok through the day and night; one daily Green Bus to Phuket; Green Bus to Chiang Rai runs many times a day; three daily Phetprasert coaches each way to Udon Thani
- Takes
- Bangkok about 9 hours on a first-class coach, around 12 hours on a stopping government bus; Phuket 24.5 hours; Chiang Rai 3 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes; Udon Thani about 11.5-12 hours overnight
- Fare 2025
- Nakhonchai Air-class Bangkok coach about 488-550 baht; Green Bus to Phuket 2,000 baht (2025); Green Bus to Chiang Rai 196-305 baht depending on class (May 2025); Phetprasert to Udon Thani about 636 baht (Apr 2015, likely stale)
SeasonYear-round. BookingAt the terminal ticket counters, or online with Green Bus and Nakhonchai Air. Run byNakhonchai Air, Green Bus, Phetprasert Bus Company, and government BKS services.
Chang Phuak Bus Station for in-province buses
Within Chiang Mai province only: Mae Rim, Chiang Dao, Fang, Tha Ton, Phrao, Hot, Chom Thong, Doi Tao and Samoeng
Chang Phuak station is off Chang Phuak Road on the north side of the moat, about 1 km north of Chang Phuak Gate. It is a separate station from Arcade and handles a different set of destinations – nothing crossing a provincial boundary leaves from here.
- When
- Not confirmed per route; Wikivoyage lists the destinations but not a timetable
- Takes
- Varies by destination; not confirmed
- Fare
- Not confirmed. No operator or fare table for this station could be found
SeasonYear-round. BookingNone known; buy at the station. Run byLocal provincial bus operators.
Prempracha and aYa minivans on the Chiang Mai-Pai-Mae Hong Son loop
Chiang Mai (Arcade terminal) to Pai to Mae Hong Son on Route 1095, a mountain road with hundreds of hairpin curves
As of September 2017, Prempracha was the only scheduled minivan operator on this run, leaving hourly from Chiang Mai's Arcade terminal and from Mae Hong Son. A once-daily fan-cooled bus (really a songthaew) also runs but foreigners are usually turned away from it. aYa Service in Chiang Mai and Pai sells the same minivan route and separately rents motorbikes one-way between the two towns, keeping your passport and sending your luggage ahead by van. Prempracha's own booking site now loads as a bare JavaScript shell with no visible timetable or fare table, so its current schedule could not be checked directly – see gaps. Bring motion-sickness pills; the road has a reputation for both.
- When
- Prempracha ran hourly between 05:30 and 17:30 as of September 2017; current frequency not confirmed
- Takes
- About 3 hours Chiang Mai to Pai, with a stop at Mae Sae village
- Fare 2017
- 150 baht one way (September 2017 figure, likely stale). aYa's one-way motorbike rental Chiang Mai to Pai, with luggage sent ahead, was 300 baht (September 2017); its website currently advertises motorbike hire on this route from 200 baht/day but does not date that figureSeen in 2017: a floor, not a price.
SeasonYear-round; Wikivoyage warns of an average of two accidents a day on this road, more in the rainy season. BookingPrempracha: online by card, PayPal or 7-11, or through most Chiang Mai guesthouses. aYa: at their shopfronts in Chiang Mai or Pai. Run byPrempracha Transport; aYa Service.
RTC Chiang Mai City Bus
A handful of fixed routes around the city, including to and from the airport
This is the one most visitors never notice: an air-conditioned public bus network running a few set routes rather than the roaming songthaews everyone else uses. Look for the RTC branding; Wikivoyage points travellers to the operator's Facebook page for route maps since there is no dedicated route-planning site found.
- When
- Not confirmed in detail; Wikivoyage describes only a few routes so far
- Takes
- Varies by route
- Fare
- 20 baht flat fare, cash to the driver or a Bangkok Rabbit card; a Tourist card is also sold at 180 baht per day or 400 baht for 3 days unlimited travel. Undated on the source page
SeasonYear-round. BookingNone, pay on board or use a Rabbit or Tourist card. Run byRTC Chiang Mai City Bus.
Songthaews to Doi Suthep from Chang Phuak Gate
Chang Phuak Gate (the 7-eleven there) up to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, with some continuing to Bhubing Palace and the Doi Pui hill-tribe village
Clearly marked songthaews wait at the 7-eleven at Chang Phuak Gate; a second cluster waits at the northern gate of Chiang Mai University on Huay Kaew Road near the zoo. Drivers wait until they have enough passengers, typically five or more, before leaving, which can mean a long wait; some will go earlier if the passengers already aboard pay extra. Most only go as far as the main temple; ask specifically if you want Bhubing Palace or the hill-tribe village as well.
- When
- On demand, once the songthaew has enough passengers
- Takes
- Roughly 30-45 minutes up the mountain from the city
- Fare 2025
- 50 baht one-way to the temple up to a 180 baht round trip covering the temple, Bhubing Palace and the hill-tribe village; prices should be 80 baht or less as of 2025
SeasonYear-round; smoke season (see service_status entry) can mask the view. BookingNone. Wait for a driver going the same way and agree the fare. Run byIndependent songthaew drivers.
Hired, booked and on demand
Tuk-tuks and samlors
Anywhere in the city; cluster at the bus and train stations and outside the night bazaar
Wave one down on any street. Agree the price before you get in – there is no meter. Drivers waiting at the bus and train stations quote far more than a passing tuk-tuk on the street, so walking a block away before hailing one is the usual advice. A few pedal-powered samlors still work the same streets at similar prices, at a slower pace.
- When
- Constant in the tourist areas through the day and evening
- Takes
- A few minutes for most old-city hops
- Fare
- About 50-60 baht for a 5-6 km trip in the old city, not more than 100-120 baht across the whole city; drivers at the bus and train stations often start at 100-200 baht and may refuse to bargain. Undated on Wikivoyage
SeasonYear-round. BookingNone, agree the fare before boarding. Run byIndependent owner-drivers.
Grab, Bolt, Maxim and metered taxis, plus the airport taxi desk
Citywide, and the airport counter run
Order Grab, Bolt or Maxim through their apps for a private car; Grab also offers a metered GrabTaxi option and a motorbike option (Grab Win) inside the app, though the plain motorbike taxi is only bookable through Bolt, not Grab, at the airport. Metered taxis cannot generally be hailed on the street; phone the call centre and state your destination for a quote. At the airport, the registered taxi desk is near the car park at the north end of the terminal past the exit.
- When
- On demand, all day
- Takes
- Varies by trip; most in-city rides are a few kilometres
- Fare
- Airport taxi desk: flat 150 baht for up to 5 passengers to anywhere in the city; Grab charges the same flat fare to or from the airport, Bolt is often under 100 baht, and a Bolt motorbike taxi from the airport is about 40 baht. Within the city, Grab rides including to the train and bus stations run around 60-80 baht for a few kilometres, plus a 30 baht booking fee on the metered GrabTaxi option; Bolt and Maxim are usually 10-20% cheaper than Grab for both car and motorbike. None of this is dated on the source page, so treat it as undated
SeasonYear-round. BookingApp-based for Grab, Bolt and Maxim; call +66 53-279291 for a metered taxi call centre quote. Run byGrab, Bolt, Maxim, and the airport's registered taxi and Meter Taxi counter.
By rail and cable
State Railway overnight sleeper from Bangkok
Bangkok to Chiang Mai on the Northern Line
Buy at any SRT station, up to 180 days ahead, or through the SRT D-Ticketing website or app; larger stations and the app take cards. Four trains a day run with sleeper accommodation but only two of those carry first-class compartments, so check before booking if you want a private two-bed cabin rather than an open second-class carriage with curtained bunks. Take a night departure that arrives in the late morning to see the scenery rather than the dark.
- When
- About four trains a day carry sleeper accommodation; only two of these have first class
- Takes
- 12-15 hours
- Fare 2022
- First class: 1,253 or 1,453 baht for a top bunk, 1,453 or 1,653 baht for a bottom bunk (April 2022). Second class air-con: 771 or 941 baht top bunk, 841 or 1,041 baht bottom bunk (April 2022); non-air-con second class is cheaper stillSeen in 2022: a floor, not a price.
SeasonYear-round. BookingSRT D-Ticketing website or app, or in person at any station; book ahead for second-class sleepers in high season. Run byState Railway of Thailand (SRT).
On foot, by bike, or otherwise
Motorbike, scooter and bicycle hire in the city
City-wide and out to Doi Suthep and other outlying sights
Rental shops line the streets around the old city and most guesthouses can arrange one too. Shops routinely ask to hold your passport as a deposit; keep it if you can, and hand over a photocopy plus cash instead. Photograph any existing damage before riding off, and check the brakes. An international driving permit is legally required, though shops rarely ask to see one.
- When
- Walk-in, any time
- Takes
- Rentals are by the day, week or month
- Fare
- A simple bicycle rents from about 50 baht per day (undated Wikivoyage figure). No flat daily rate for a plain city motorbike rental was found; aYa Service's one-way Chiang Mai-to-Pai motorbike package, which includes luggage forwarding, is priced from 200 baht per day but the page carries no date
SeasonYear-round. BookingNone, walk in with ID or a passport as deposit. Run byIndependent rental shops and guesthouses.
Rules, permits and closures
Smoke (burning) season, February to April
Affects the whole city and every outdoor and mountain-view activity, including Doi Suthep
Northern Thailand's agricultural burning, blamed variously on rice farmers, forest clearing and mushroom foraging, fills the Chiang Mai valley with smoke from around Makha Bucha Day (late February to early March) for about a month, and haze often lingers into April. Air quality routinely reaches hazardous levels; check a live air-quality index before committing to mountain views or outdoor plans, and consider avoiding the city in this window if you are sensitive to smoke. On 10 March 2015, PM10 readings in Chiang Mai were measured over 255 micrograms per cubic metre against a Thai standard of 120; neighbouring Chiang Rai was worse the same day. No more recent official reading was sourced, but the seasonal pattern itself is described as ongoing.
- When
- Annual, roughly late February to late March/April
- Takes
- About a month at its worst, with haze often continuing longer
- Fare
- No charge; the cost is to visibility and health
SeasonLate February to April. BookingNothing to book; check an air-quality index before planning outdoor time. Run byGoverned by seasonal agricultural burning practices across northern Thailand and Thailand's Department of Air Quality.
Weekend Walking Street road closures
Tha Phae Road from Tha Phae Gate on Sundays; Wualai Road south of Chiang Mai Gate on Saturdays
Both streets close to traffic for a pedestrian night market. The Sunday market starts at Tha Phae Gate and runs along Tha Phae Road into the old city; the Saturday market runs along Wualai Road south of Chiang Mai Gate. Expect songthaews and tuk-tuks to detour around both roads for the evening, and to charge more for drop-offs near the closures during market hours.
- When
- Weekly: Saturday evening on Wualai Road, Sunday evening on Tha Phae Road
- Takes
- An evening
- Fare
- No charge to pedestrians; expect a longer or costlier ride if your destination is inside the closure
SeasonYear-round, every week. BookingNothing to book. Run byChiang Mai municipal authorities.
What we could not find out
9 things the researcher looked for and did not find, in their own words, with where to ask instead. None of this goes into the planner; it stays here until someone confirms it.
- 01
Corrects the brief: the '762 curves' figure could not be confirmed anywhere. The only sourced curve count found is Wikivoyage's Mae Hong Son Loop article, which gives 'over 1,864 curves' for the whole Mae Hong Son-to-Chiang Mai stretch of Route 1095, not a Chiang Mai-Pai-specific 762. Ask locally or check a recent trip report before repeating either number.
- 02
Corrects the brief: there is no clean north-versus-north-east platform split at Arcade Bus Station. Wikivoyage's own text says plainly there is 'no logic as to what buses go to which destination from which terminal' – Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 both sell tickets to overlapping destinations, and Nakhonchai Air has a third, unsigned terminal behind Terminal 2. The real split is by province: Arcade serves everywhere outside Chiang Mai province, Chang Phuak serves everywhere inside it.
- 03
Corrects the brief in the other direction too: Chang Phuak Gate's own historical marker claims the road north from it leads 'onward to Mae Rim, Pai, Chiang Rai and the Lao border', but the Chang Phuak bus station's own destination list (Mae Rim, Chiang Dao, Fang, Tha Ton, Phrao, Hot, Chom Thong, Doi Tao, Samoeng) does not include Pai or Chiang Rai, and the only sourced minivan route to Pai leaves from Arcade, not Chang Phuak. Treat the gate's historical description as describing the direction of the road, not the departure point for those two towns.
- 04
Prempracha Transport's own booking site (premprachatransports.com, redirecting to booking.premprachatransports.com) now loads as a client-rendered page with no server-side timetable or fare data in the page source – it could not be checked directly, and the September 2017 figures cited here (hourly departures, 150 baht) are second-hand from Wikivoyage and may well be stale. Ask at any Chiang Mai guesthouse for the current schedule and price.
- 05
Green Bus Thailand's website (web.greenbusthailand.com) is a Next.js site backed by what looks like a headless CMS at /backend/uploads/ but no route, timetable or fare API endpoint was found in the page source; its Chiang Rai fares here come from Wikivoyage's May 2025 note, not from the operator directly.
- 06
No current fare or timetable could be found for Chang Phuak Bus Station's in-province routes (Mae Rim, Chiang Dao, Fang, Tha Ton, Phrao, Hot, Chom Thong, Doi Tao, Samoeng). No operator website or government page for this station was found; ask at the station itself.
- 07
RTC Chiang Mai City Bus has no dedicated website found beyond its Facebook page (facebook.com/rtccmcitybus), which returns a generic Facebook shell to an automated fetch rather than route content – its route map could not be verified beyond what Wikivoyage describes in prose. Check the Facebook page directly, or ask at a 7-eleven near a stop, for current routes.
- 08
The airport's separate shuttle minibus (a flat 50 baht drop-off anywhere in the city, cited to October 2025 on Wikivoyage) was left out as an option here to stay within a reasonable count; it is a real, cheap alternative to the taxi desk worth asking about at the terminal.
- 09
No motorbike daily rental price specific to riding around Chiang Mai city itself (as opposed to a one-way Chiang Mai-to-Pai package) could be confirmed from either Wikivoyage or an operator page. Ask shops directly and compare a few before committing a passport as deposit.
What the planner can route today
The options above live on the place page, not in the departure board: a boat that comes when you phone has no time to show. What the board can do for Chiang Mai is this.
- Y
- Scheduled flightsChiang Mai (CNX), 3 km
- Y
- Trains and coachesTransitous carries 1 timetable feed for this country, 0 with real-time
- N
- Ferriesno crossing within 25 km
- Y
- Driving and taxiOpenStreetMap roads; cab fare from the country band
- N
- Bike and scooter shareno share feed known
- N
- Cruisesno open itinerary source anywhere
Y routable now · F found, not yet implemented · N no source known.