Getting Around Chiang Rai
Airport, Car Hire, Buses & the Mountains

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Let's be straight up front: Chiang Rai isn't a town where you can comfortably sightsee on public transport the way you can in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. The main draws — Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), Wat Rong Suea Ten (the Blue Temple), the tea plantations, Phu Chi Fa, and Doi Tung — are scattered in different directions, some of them an hour or two apart. If you can drive and hold an international permit, renting a car is the most flexible and best-value option. If you don't drive, you can still get around by bus, songthaew, and Grab — you just need to plan your timing more.

From Chiang Rai Airport (CEI) into town

Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai International Airport (code CEI) sits about 8 km from the city centre, roughly a 15-minute drive. The key thing to know is that the public airport bus into town stopped running back on 22 August 2024. Your main options now are the airport taxi, Grab, and pre-booked transfers.

• Airport taxi (counter inside the terminal) — there are flat fares into town, or a metered ride at around 160–180 THB plus a 40 THB airport pickup surcharge. The easiest choice if you land late.
• Grab — you can hail one at the airport; into town runs about 120–150 THB, depending on time of day and demand. Worth opening the app before you land.
• Pre-booked transfer / hotel pickup — many hotels and resorts offer airport pickups; check when you book your room, as it's often good value and saves the guesswork.
• Pick up a rental car at the airport — there are car-hire counters at the airport, so if you plan to drive yourself, collecting the car here is easier than picking it up in town.

Getting around town and nearby

Chiang Rai's centre isn't big — you can easily walk around the Clock Tower, the Night Bazaar, and the temples in town. But once you head out to Wat Rong Khun or the tea plantations, you'll need wheels. Here are the options that actually work.

Car hire vs public transport — which to pick

Choose based on your trip style and where you want to go. If you're hitting several out-of-town spots in a single day, your own wheels win hands down. But if you're keeping it chilled with just a few stops, public transport will do the job.

• Rent your own car — flexible on timing, go wherever you like, and good value if you split it between 2–4 people. Ideal for Wat Rong Khun, the tea plantations, and heading up the mountains. The catch: you need an international driving permit and confidence on winding mountain roads.
• Songthaew / bus — very cheap, but routes are fixed and waits are long. Best if you're sticking to town and temples near the bus station.
• Grab + chartering for stretches — a middle ground; no driving yourself, good if you've only got a few stops and don't want to be tied to a transport schedule.
• Half-day / full-day tours — takes the driving and parking off your plate entirely. Someone drives you to Wat Rong Khun, the Golden Triangle, and the tea plantations as a package. Good if you're short on time.

How to reach Phu Chi Fa

Phu Chi Fa is Chiang Rai's most famous spot for the morning sea of mist, about 90 km east of the city — roughly a 2-hour drive through Thoeng district. The honest truth is that there's no convenient public transport running straight to Phu Chi Fa. The easiest way is to drive or charter a car up yourself.

• Drive / charter a car (recommended) — from town, take Highway 1020 then route 1155 through Thoeng, about a 2-hour drive. Chartering a car with a driver for the round trip runs from around 1,500 THB, depending on how you bargain and how many of you there are.
• Bus + local transport — take a bus from Chiang Rai bus station to Thoeng district (about 1.5–2 hours), then a songthaew or van into Phu Chi Fa village. From the village you still need to charter a pickup up to the trailhead. This way eats a lot of time and you should plan to stay overnight.
• Direct one-way bus — there's a bus from Chiang Rai station into Phu Chi Fa village leaving in the afternoon, with the return early the next morning. Only worth it if you're set on staying overnight on the mountain to catch the morning mist.

How to reach Doi Tung

Doi Tung's highlights are the Doi Tung Royal Villa and the Mae Fah Luang Garden, up north of Chiang Rai along the road towards Mae Sai. Driving yourself is easiest; if you're using public transport you'll need to change vehicles a couple of times.

• Drive / charter a car — from town, head towards Mae Sai then turn onto Highway 1149 up Doi Tung. The road is well paved with clear signage, and it takes about 1–1.5 hours. This is the easiest way.
• Bus to Mae Sai + transfer — take a Chiang Rai–Mae Sai bus (they run frequently, every 10–15 minutes) for around 40 THB, about 1.5 hours. Get off along the way at the turn-off for Doi Tung, then take a songthaew or charter a ride up the mountain.
• Part of a far-north tour — many tours bundle Doi Tung with the Golden Triangle and Mae Sai in one day. Good if you want to tick off several northern spots without driving yourself.

From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

Plenty of people do Chiang Mai first and then carry on to Chiang Rai. This route is easy and well served. The main options are the bus or renting a car and driving yourself.

• Green Bus — the main operator on this route, departing from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 (Arcade). There are VIP and Express classes, several departures a day. The VIP has wide 3-across seating and takes about 3 hours 20 minutes; tickets run roughly 271–380 THB depending on class, and you can book online in advance.
• Drive yourself — Highway 118, about 180 km, a 3–3.5 hour drive with some winding mountain stretches. The upside is you can stop at cafés and viewpoints along the way.
• Van / minibus — these run too; a touch faster than the bus but more cramped. Good if you just want to get there quickly.
• Fly — domestic flights mostly connect via Bangkok, so it rarely makes sense on time or money for a hop this short. Most people take the bus instead.