If you’re planning a trip to Thailand with your family, Bangkok and Chiang Mai should def be on your Bucket List of the must-see places to visit in Thailand. Bangkok has all of the most popular tourist attractions like Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Ancient City that you don’t want to miss seeing. And then Chiang Mai is a small picturesque town in the north filled with ancient ruins and Lanna temples that is surrounded by canals, terraced rice fields, and tucked away in the mountains. But what is the best way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok?
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Best Way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok with Kids
Are you wanting to have a truly unforgettable trip to Thailand with your kids? Then take the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Is it worth taking the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
After living in Thailand for the past 15+ years, I think taking the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is the best way to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai with kids!
Why you should take the Thailand overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai?
- Enjoy a taste of Thailand from the vendors who pop in and out at each train station
- A once-in-a-lifetime experience for the whole family
- Sip on your morning coffee from the food train car as the cool, crisp morning air is flowing in from the windows as you go over the mountain
- Chuckle at the little kids running barefoot alongside the train waving with big smiles as the ‘farang’ waves back
- Glimpse into village life as grandmas wash their clothes in the river or uncles whiz by on motorbikes with baskets of fruit stacked higher than their head
- Do a Nature Scavenger Hunt or play the i-Spy game as you watch the beautiful rural countryside glide on by
Do I need to book my overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai in advance?
Yes! If you do decide to take the Thailand overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, it’s super important to book your train tickets in advance because the good bunks fill up fast!
The best place to book your train tickets in advance is from the reputable 12go.com site.
What tickets should I book for the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai?
With travel in Thailand with family, I would recommend booking the 2nd Class Sleeper AC beds and not the ‘2nd Class AC seats’ even though they are about 300 baht (~$10 USD) cheaper.
I also don’t recommend booking the 1st Class Sleeper Cabins because they only have 2 beds in each cabin. However, if you were traveling with a family of 4 or even 5, then you could book 2 private 1st class sleeper cabins. Then, mom could sleep in one cabin with one child and dad in a separate cabin with the other child. Or two children could share a bunk together also. However, do note that the sleeper beds are narrow.
Only traveling with one small child? You could also book the 1st class sleeper cabin and just let your little one sleep with you in the bottom bunk.
TIP #1: Book bottom bunks only if you don’t want to climb up and down the small ladders. It’s slightly more expensive.
TIP #2: If you book the 1st class sleeper cabins, then be sure to book both beds or you will end up with a random stranger as a bunk mate!
How much is the first class overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai from Bangkok?
A first class sleeper train ticket costs between 1400-2500 THB (~$40-$70 USD).
Upper Bed: 1453 THB (~$40 USD)
Lower Bed: 1653 THB (~$47 USD)
Entire Cabin Compartment: 2453 THB (~$70 USD)
If you do want to book a 1st class sleeper cabin to Chiang Mai, then I highly recommend booking the entire compartment in advance because they sell out quickly!
Does the first class sleeper train in Thailand have seats?
It does actually! At first, the cabin will be set up with 2 seats. After the train gets going for a couple hours, an attendant will come by and change your 2 seats into 2 beds.
How much is the second class overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai from Bangkok?
A second class train ticket to Chiang Mai from Bangkok costs between 428 – 1338 THB (~$13-$40 USD).
2nd Class A/C Sleeper Lower Bed: from 1038 THB (~$30 USD)
2nd Class A/C Sleeper Upper Bed: from 758 THB (~$20 USD)
2nd Class A/C Seat: from 558 THB (~$16 USD)
2nd Class Fan Seat: from 428 THB (~$12 USD)
If you do want to book a 2nd class sleeper bed to Chiang Mai“], then I highly recommend booking the those lower bunks well in advance!
How long does it take to ride the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
- The daytime train to Chiang Mai from Bangkok takes only 10.5 hours.
- The overnight train to Chiang Mai from Bangkok takes 12.5 hours.
Overall, I still think the best way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok with kids is the overnight sleeper train.
If you want the fastest way or the cheapest way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok, then keep reading.
Second Best Way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
The fastest way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is on a Domestic Flight :
If you are short on time, then taking a domestic flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is the best option.
How long is the flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai :
The flight duration for a direct flight between Chiang Mai Bangkok is about 1 hour 15 minutes.
This is a much faster option than the 12 hour bus or train ride to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.
Which domestic airline in Thailand should I take to Chiang Mai?
I personally would recommend taking the domestic airline in Thailand with the best safety record:
- Air Asia has 7/7 safety rating and is considered the safest low-cost air carrier
- Bangkok Airways also has a 7 star safety record, but they are not considered a ‘budget airline.’
Other domestic airlines that our family has personally enjoyed flying on within Thailand:
- Thai Airways (5/7 stars for the safety record)
- Thai Lion (5/7 safety record)
Personally, I don’t recommend flying on these Thailand domestic airlines:
- Vietjet – although it has a 7/7 safety record, the leg room was the worst I’ve ever experienced! It made for a horrible flying experience.
- Nok Air (sadly only has a 2/7 safety rating — ahh!!)
- However, we do still fly with Nok Air because they have never had any accidents that resulted in deaths.
- Also, Nok Air usually has the cheapest flight options to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.
- We are actually flying home from Chiang Mai to Bangkok with Nok Air next February! Ekkkkk
How far in advance should I book my plane tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
- The average cost to fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is about 700-1200 baht (~$20-$35 USD) each way.
TIP: If you already know you will have luggage that weighs more than 7 kilos (~15lbs), then I highly recommend you pre-purchase extra luggage weight for a better deal.
Cheapest flights Chiang Mai Bangkok :
Air Asia runs deals as low as 300 baht (~$10 USD), which makes it the cheapest flight to Chiang Mai that I’ve ever seen.
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*ACCOMODATION TIP: If you haven’t booked a place to stay yet, be sure to read these ‘Must Read Tips’ BEFORE booking any place to stay in Bangkok.
*MONEY TIP: Take Thai baht with you because most vendors do not take credit card. Also, beware of pick-pocketers in all the tourist areas. Simply keep your phone, wallet, backpack or purse on your front side.
*BAG TIP: This is my favorite sling bag for travel because it’s small and light, keeps my valuables up front, and can easily still hold a small travel umbrella, my sunglasses, my passport, chapstick, and mula. I have taken this sling bag with me to Thailand, USA, Japan, France, Italy — literally all around the world!
Hey there, we're Brittany and Witt!
The Cheapest Way to Get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
Overnight Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
If you’re looking for an affordable travel to Chiang Mai, then the overnight bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is a good option for families — especially if your kids are elementary aged or teenagers.
Is the Overnight Bus in Thailand safe?
Unlike in the USA, the overnight bus tours are safe and comfortable.
The overnight bus in Thailand feels kind of like an international flight with even more legroom!
The VIP or 1st Class overnight bus in Thailand is always air-conditioned, includes a snack and drink, and usually has one rest stop in the middle. The nice thing about the tour bus system in Thailand is that they have way more departure times than the trains.
How long is the Overnight Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in Thailand?
To go from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, it would take about 13 hours.
- You would leave from the Mo Chit Bus Terminal.
- That bus terminal is near the Mo Chit BTS Sky Train Station or Chatuchak MRT Subway Station.
- Not every bus tour company is created equal. Some are good. Some are bad. My favorite bus company to travel with is Sombat Tour.
- You could read this blog post for why staying in a hotel in Bangkok near a BTS Sky Train Station is so helpful.
How much is the Overnight Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
The bus fare is quite reasonable and is a great affordable way to travel Bangkok to Chiang Mai:
1st class bus ticket = about 600 THB (~$18 USD)
VIP bus ticket = about 800 THB (~$23 USD) per seat.
- It’s a good idea to pre-book the overnight bus tours in advance if you have a specific bus or itinerary you want to take.
- If your schedule is flexible, then it’s not necessary to pre-book. There are many Bangkok Chiang Mai bus routes at all hours of the day and night.
Other ways to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
Rent a Car from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
If you’re brave enough to drive in a foreign country and on the left side, then you can rent a car to get to Chiang Mai with kids. Do note that driving to Chiang Mai from Bangkok will take about 12-15 hours depending on how often you stop for bathroom breaks and meals.
You can book a reputable Car Rental in Thailand with the cost being about $28-$65 USD depending on the make and model of the vehicle.
Note: Please do not take this blog as legal advice or even as fully accurate. These are just my own opinions trying to offer helpful explanations. You can read my full disclosure here.
Phone and Internet Service
It’s a no-brainer that you’ll need to stay connected while traveling in Thailand — whether it’s for using GPS, researching the best island hopping tour packages, or letting the kids have some downtime a little Bluey on YouTube.
Don’t do the T-Mobile or AT&T International Roaming plans for about $10 a day — it’s a total rip off!
You can get the same exact service for much cheaper and just as easy with our tips below:
E-SIM: I highly recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo to have great internet service all over Thailand. They are actually using the same local providers that AT&T, T-mobile and Verizon will use.
I have personally used Airalo many times traveling to multiple countries all over the world, and it works great and is SUPER easy to install.
To use your Airalo eSIM, you simply buy a package then scan the QR code they send in an email to install and activate the eSIM.
The packages run from only $9.90 for 50 GB of data to $19.95 USD for Unlimited Data in Thailand.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING AROUND THAILAND WITH KIDS: If you let your kids watch YouTube, Netflix, etc, then I recommend getting the Unlimited Data. But if you’re not video streaming, then 50 GB of data is enough to browse the internet, use Google Maps, and stay in touch with friends back home.
PHYSICAL SIM CARD: You could also pick up a physical SIM card at the airport upon arrival or at any mall, which would have a TRUE shop, DTAC shop, and/or AIS shop. You would need your passport on hand. The physical SIM + a prepaid service card would cost about 350 baht (~$10 USD), but it usually only comes with 5GB of Data. So Airalo is a much better deal.
TIP: If you plan to use a physical SIM card, then be sure to contact your local phone provider (such as AT&T or Verizon) before traveling overseas to check that your phone is already unlocked. They can usually do this for you over the phone.
*PLEASE NOTE : the price ranges are up-to-date as of the date of publishing this post. They may vary from season to season.
Other Blog Posts that might help you with your upcoming family trip to Thailand:
If you’d like to visit the most famous landmarks in person, this is an epic One Day in Bangkok Itinerary with kids on the Hop on Hop off River Taxi.
The Best Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids with recommendations to the best cultural activities, museums, kid-friendly restaurants, indoor playgrounds, and what to do on a rainy day in Bangkok.
The Best Family-friendly Temples in Bangkok with helpful info like how to get there, opening hours, entrance fees, and how to keep the kids entertained while visiting.
Don’t forget to read up on the recently updated Tourist Visa measures.
Best Beaches in Thailand: Railay Beach, Krabi Travel Guide with
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The 9 must-visit attractions in Bangkok with kids
These are the 9 must-visit attractions in Bangkok (plus 1 hidden gem that only the locals know about!).
This list includes the most kid-friendly temples to visit in Bangkok plus other child-friendly activities at each of these must-visit tourist attractions in Thailand.
