Facts about the bus from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang
Cheapest Bus
$37
Fastest Bus
13h
Earliest Bus
12:00 AM
Latest Bus
6:30 PM
Daily Bus Routes
6
Distance
1750 kilometers
Bus Companies
JTTT Travel, K Buddy, Naluang, Naluangs, Smart En Plus, Sombat Tour, Thai AirAsia, Yortdoy Travel
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews
M
Matthew
Great experience travelling on the 2 day slowboat from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang. All connections went smoothly and there was great communication from our driver all the way through until we arrived in Luang Prabang. The company doesnt advertise that you get a free sandwich when you arrive at the slowboat on day one. A nice touch. By far the cheapest option for this trip we could find and it was as smooth and simple as possible. 100% recommend.
Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), May 14, 2024
JM
Jesse M
All transport was provided by K Buddy from our Chiang Rai hotel to the Luang Prabang pier. Pick-up was on time. Good option to take away some stress while travelling.
Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Apr 30, 2024
CZ
Celia Z
I had booked the van plus overnight bus to Laos.
Departure was scheduled for 12pm at my hotel. A gentleman came by at 11am to tell me that the departure had been postponed until 2pm. At 1.30pm another man in a basic car picked him up and dropped me off at the van.
The rest went pretty well. The van was comfortable and air-conditioned, and he took us to a small roadside shop to do the paperwork before the border (rather bizarre). We filled in the customs form and took photos if we didn't have any. You can also change baths into kip at a very attractive rate.
Customs clearance was fairly straightforward, with nothing to report on the Thai side. On the Laotian side, however, there was a $1 or 50 bath service charge (just for her to check the form). Pay $40 or 1,800 baths for the visa (be careful, in baths it's much more expensive). After passing through customs, we had to wait to catch the night bus, which took us to the small but well-stocked bus station. The night bus left more than 30 minutes late, the staff were as unfriendly as possible, they didn't explain anything to us and they didn't speak English. You end up in a rather narrow berth with a stranger (they try to put tourists together). And a road that jolts you back and forth between holes and bends is enough to make you want to vomit. There was a dinner break at 8pm, and after that we had no idea whether there were breaks or just the travelers' stops, because nothing was said in English.
The journey goes on, we don't sleep or don't sleep much, but at least we make it to our destination.
This review was autotranslated
J’avais réservé le van plus bus de nuit pour le Laos.
Départ prévu à 12h à mon hôtel. Un monsieur est venu à 11h passé pour me prévenir que le départ était repoussé à 14h. A 13h30 un autre homme en voiture basic est passé le chercher, m’a déposé au van.
La suite s’est plutôt bien passé. Le van était confortable et climatisé, il nous a conduit à un petit shop en bord de route pour faire les démarches avant la frontière (plutôt bizarre). On y rempli le formulaire pour la douane et prendre des photos pour ceux qui n’en ont pas. On peut aussi faire le change des baths en kip à un taux très interessant.
Le passage de la douane a été assez facile, rien à signaler côté thaïlandais. Par contre côté laotien, prévoir 1$ ou 50 baths de frais de services (juste pour qu’elle vérifie le formulaire. Payer 40$ ou 1800 baths de visa (attention en baths c’est beaucoup plus cher). Passer les douanes il faut attendre pour aller prendre le bus de nuit, on nous conduit à la gare routière petite mais avec le necessaire. Le bus de nuit est parti avec plus de 30 min de retard, le personnel était mal aimable au possible, on ne nous expliquait rien et ils ne parlaient pas anglais. Tu te retrouves dans une couchette plutôt étroite à deux avec un inconnu (ils essayent de mettre les touristes ensemble). Et la une route qui te secoue dans tous les sens entre les trous et les virages c’est à avoir envie de vomir. Une pause dîner à eu lieu à 20h et après aucune idee s’il y avait des pauses ou juste les arrêts des voyageurs car rien n’est dit en anglais.
Le voyage se fait, on ne dort pas ou pas beaucoup mais au moins on arrive à bon port
Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Sleeping Bus, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Mar 5, 2024
CM
Christine M
bon dans lense
Bus Taxi + Bus + Song Taew + Slow Boat, K Buddy (เค บัดดี้), Feb 6, 2024
N
Nadia
The journey to the border was perfect, and the cab driver was extremely helpful with the formalities, etc. Thank you again.
On the other hand, the bus was not at all comfortable, there were no mattresses, there were two of you per berth and there wasn't much room, so you were sharing the intimacy of a stranger if you were alone. We were woken up several times by the noise, the flashlights on our heads and by customs who ripped my bag protector in the hold.
It's certainly an experience, but if you need comfort, take the plane instead :)
This review was autotranslated
Le trajet jusqu'à la frontière était parfait, le taxi m'a énormément aidé pour les formalités etc, merci encore à eux.
En revanche le bus n'était pas du tout confortable, pas de matelas, vous êtes deux par couchette et il n'y a pas énormément de place, autant dire que vous partagez l'intimité d'un inconnu si vous êtes seuls. Nous avons été réveillés à plusieurs reprises par le bruit, les lampes torches sur la tête et par la douane qui a déchiré mon protège sac dans la soute.
C'est certe, une expérience mais si vous avez besoin de confort prenez plutôt l'avion :)
Bus Taxi + Sleeping Bus, Naluangs (Naluangs), Dec 14, 2023
KM
Katie M
We made it to Laos in one piece but the bus was an experience I will never forget haha. The bus was over packed with people sleeping in the isle. I woke up to the sound of a lady being violently sick. The bus was very jumpy and rocky.
Bus Taxi + Sleeping Bus, Naluangs (Naluangs), Oct 18, 2023
How to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by Bus
Taking a bus to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang is a safe, comfortable and less expensive alternative for traveling this route. To popular destinations, bus companies operate multiple trips per day, often round the clock at 30-60 minute intervals. To less traveled destinations, there may be only 1 scheduled trip a day. The most common bus types are non-air-conditioned, air-conditioned, and premium buses.
It is best to reserve your tickets at least a few days ahead of your travel date. Check our list of bus companies available for online booking offering Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang tickets. When traveling on weekends and holidays it is recommended to reserve tickets much earlier due to higher numbers of travelers, both vacation-makers and urban workers returning home to their provincial home.
How far is it from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang?
Traveling by bus, the distance from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang depends on the route taken. Most bus companies travel via expressways or tollways. This may not necessarily be the shortest route but it is the fastest one as normally there is less traffic and no traffic lights.
To get to certain island destinations which are not connected to the mainland by a bridge, buses board large car ferries. Passengers are usually asked to get off the bus, but there is no need to take your luggage from the bus. The travel distance from port to port is added to the total distance.
How long does it take to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by Bus?
The estimate travel time from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang is about 16h 30m. Note that traveling by bus is slower compared to driving your own car or getting a taxi. Depending on the departure time congestion between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang may differ greatly There is usually more traffic between morning until afternoon during weekdays than during weekends.
Another important factor that may affect travel time is the type of bus. Premium or VIP buses are usually faster as they use motorways and call to fewer bus stations (if any) en route. Buses normally make short 10-30-minute breaks after a few hours of continuous travel to allow passengers use bathrooms, stock up on munchies and let bus attendants and the driver have rest.
Some premium buses have onboard toilets and the second driver. Nevertheless, usually they still make en route stops for a quick lunch or fuel refill.
How much does it cost to get from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by Bus?
The ticket price from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang can vary depending on the type of buses you choose. For a less expensive ticket consider non-air-conditioned or ordinary buses. Premium or luxury buses are more expensive but you can expect more comfort and some additional services like phone charging ports, personal entertainment system screens and toilets.
Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang timetable
To help you plan your trip, here is the Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang timetable of bus departure and arrival times.
Best Rated Companies for this Route
Bus companies differ a lot in quality and service they provide. When choosing a bus company for you travels, do some basic research before you buy your tickets.
Safety is one of the most important aspects to consider. We also recommend you checking reviews on overall service quality of the bus companies serving this route.
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