Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) is about 15–20 minutes north of the town centre, with several daily flights from Bangkok taking around 1 hour 20 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing cars meet arrivals.
From Chiang Mai, comfortable Greenbus coaches leave the Arcade bus station throughout the day and take about three to three and a half hours; book a day or two ahead in high season. There is no railway to Chiang Rai. Direct overnight buses from Bangkok take roughly 11–13 hours.
Routes at a glance
| From | Best route | Time | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Direct flight to CEI | About 1 h 20 min | Fares vary widely by date |
| Chiang Mai | Greenbus from Arcade bus station | About 3–3.5 hours | Around 200–350 THB |
| Chiang Mai | Private car with stops on the way | About 3 hours direct | Priced per vehicle |
| Pai | Minivan to Chiang Mai, then bus | About 7 hours in total | Around 450–600 THB |
| Chiang Khong (Laos border) | Local bus or minivan | About 2 hours | Around 100–200 THB |
| Bangkok | Overnight VIP bus | About 11–13 hours | Around 700–1,000 THB |
Getting around Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle
The town centre is walkable. Local buses and songthaews from the old bus station run to the White Temple, Mae Sai and Chiang Saen, but connections between outlying sights are poor, so most visitors hire a car with a driver, join a tour or use ride-hailing apps for the nearer temples. Bicycles can be rented for the flat riverside roads.
