Buses remain the most popular and widespread means of transport in Thailand and are used by many Thais and travellers every day across the Kingdom.
On the whole the buses are fairly frequent, safe, reliable and comfortable. Usually they leave on time, travel quickly and some offer a VIP service, while remaining affordable to budget travellers. Buses travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and back, almost hourly and take about 10 hours.
Local buses can get crowded with locals, so you are advised to arrive a little early, however they depart quite regularly. Be sure to check your times for air-conditioned buses, which are far more comfortable in the Thai heat.
Long distance buses offer excellent service, with a hostess offering soft drinks and a small snack as well as a wet towel. Videos are shown on most buses, usually in Thai language, and they go on through the night making sleep a little difficult sometimes. Thais also love their air-conditioning at sub-zero temperatures, so remember to dress warmly.
|
Bus Timetables (Sombat Tour) |
|||||||
| Chiang Mai – Bangkok | Bangkok – Chiang Mai | ||||||
| Bus | Departure | Arrival | Fare | Bus | Departure | Arrival | Fare |
| VIP | 07:30 | 17:20 | 759 | VIP | 07:00/*07:20 | 16:30 | 759 |
| 1st Class | 08:00 | 17:50 | 569 | 1st Class | 08:00 | 17:30 | 488 |
| 1st Class | 09:00 | 18:50 | 488 | 1st Class | 09:00/*09:20 | 18:30 | 569 |
| VIP | 10:00 | 19:50 | 759 | VIP | 09:50 | 19:20 | 759 |
| 1st Class | 13:30 | 23:20 | 569 | VIP | *10:15 | 19:20 | 759 |
| 1st Class | 17:30 | 03:20 | 488 | 1st Class | *12:00 | 22:30 | 569 |
| 1st Class | 18:10 | 04:00 | 569 | 1st Class | 13:00 | 22:30 | 569 |
| VIP | 18:30 | 04:20 | 759 | 1st Class | *13:00 | 23:30 | 488 |
| VIP | 19:00 | 04:50 | 759 | 1st Class | 14:00 | 23:30 | 488 |
| 1st Class | 19:30 | 05:20 | 488 | 1st Class | 18:00 | 03:30 | 569 |
| VIP | 19:45 | 05:35 | 759 | 1st Class | *18:10 | 03:40 | 569 |
| 1st Class | 20:15 | 06:05 | 569 | VIP | *19:00 | 04:30 | 759 |
| 1st Class | 20:30 | 06:20 | 488 | VIP | 19:25 | 04:55 | 759 |
| VIP | 20:30 | 06:20 | 759 | 1st Class | 20:10 | 05:40 | 569 |
| VIP | 21:00 | 06:50 | 759 | 1st Class | 20:25 | 05:55 | 488 |
| 1st Class | 21:00 | 06:50 | 488 | 1st Class | *20:30 | 06:00 | 488 |
| VIP | 21:30 | 07:20 | 759 | VIP | 21:00 | 06:30 | 759 |
| VIP | 21:50 | 07:40 | 759 | VIP | *21:10 | 06:40 | 759 |
| – | – | – | – | VIP | *21:19 | 06:49 | 759 |
| – | – | – | – | 1st Class | *21:30 | 07:00 | 488 |
| – | – | – | – | VIP | 21:39 | 07:09 | 759 |
| – | – | – | – | VIP | *22:00 | 07:30 | 759 |
| – | – | – | – | 1st Class | 22:05 | 07:35 | 488 |
| * = Bus departs from Sombat Tour (Vibhavadi Office) | |||||||
| Sombat Tour: Chiang Mai – Tel: +66 53 304 041-2 | Bangkok – Tel: +66 2 792 1456 | |||||||
|
Bus Timetables – (The Transport Co., Ltd) |
|||||||
|
Chiang Mai – Bangkok |
Bangkok – Chiang Mai |
||||||
|
Bus |
Departure |
Arrival |
Fare |
Bus |
Departure |
Arrival |
Fare |
| 2nd Class | 06:30 | 17:30 | 389 | 2nd Class | 05:40 | 16:40 | 389 |
| VIP | 09:00 | 18:30 | 778 | 2nd Class | 07:25 | 18:25 | 389 |
| 2nd Class | 09:00 | 20:00 | 389 | VIP | 09:00 | 18:30 | 778 |
| 2nd Class | 11:30 | 22:30 | 389 | 2nd Class | 10:30 | 21:30 | 389 |
| 2nd Class | 16:00 | 03:00 | 389 | 2nd Class | 12:30 | 23:30 | 389 |
| 1st Class | 19:00 | 04:30 | 500 | 2nd Class | 14:30 | 01:30 | 389 |
| 1st Class | 20:00 | 05:30 | 500 | 2nd Class | 19:50 | 06:50 | 389 |
| 2nd Class | 20:00 | 07:00 | 389 | VIP | 21:00 | 06:30 | 778 |
| VIP | 21:00 | 06:30 | 778 | 1st Class | 21:40 | 07:10 | 500 |
| 2nd Class | 21:00 | 08:00 | 389 | 1st Class | 23:00 | 08:30 | 500 |
| 1st Class | 23:00 | 08:45 | 569 | 1st Class | 23:15 | 08:40 | 569 |
| The Transport Co., Ltd: Call Center – Tel: 1490 | |||||||