There are 6 ways to get from Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai by car, plane, train, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Drive to Narathiwat Airport, fly
best- Drive from Kota Bharu to Narathiwat Airport (NAW)car
- Fly from Narathiwat Airport (NAW) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI)plane NAW - CEI
5h 57m฿5,571–11,803Drive, train, bus via Chiang Mai
cheapest- Drive from Kota Bharu to Sungai Kolokcar
- Take the train from Sungai Kolok to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminaltrain
- Take the train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Chiang Maitrain
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Raibus
36h 35m฿1,044–2,672Drive, train, bus
- Drive from Kota Bharu to Sungai Kolokcar
- Take the train from Sungai Kolok to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminaltrain
- Take the bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Raibus
32h 22m฿1,144–2,722Bus
- Take the bus from Terminal Kota Bharu to Sungai Nibongbus
- Take the bus from Terminal Bas Sungai Nibong to Hat Yaibus
- Take the bus from Hat Yai to Phayaobus
- Take the bus from Phayao to Chiang Raibus
38h 38m฿3,069–3,711Drive 1,985.6 km
- Drive from Kota Bharu to Chiang Raicar 1,985.6 km
27h 58m฿7,442–10,750Fly from Sultan Ismail Petra
- Fly from Sultan Ismail Petra (KBR) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI)plane KBR - CEI
8h฿4,399–13,368
Narathiwat Airport (NAW) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai is to drive and train and bus via Chiang Mai which costs ฿1000 - ฿2700 and takes 36h 35m.
The fastest way to get from Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai is to drive and fly which takes 5h 57m and costs ฿5500 - ฿12000.
No, there is no direct bus from Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai. However, there are services departing from Terminal Kota Bharu and arriving at Chiang Rai via Terminal Bas Sungai Nibong, Hat Yai and Phayao. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 38h 38m.
The distance between Kota Bharu and Chiang Rai is 1632 km. The road distance is 1985.6 km.
The best way to get from Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai without a car is to bus which takes 38h 38m and costs ฿3000 - ฿3800.
It takes approximately 5h 57m to get from Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai, including transfers.
Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai bus services, operated by Ekspres Mutiara, depart from Terminal Kota Bharu station.
The best way to get from Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai is to bus which takes 38h 38m and costs ฿3000 - ฿3800. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs ฿4400 - ฿14000 and takes 8h.
Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai bus services, operated by Ekspres Mutiara, arrive at Sungai Nibong station.
Chiang Rai is 1h behind Kota Bharu. It is currently 6:19 PM in Kota Bharu and 5:19 PM in Chiang Rai.
What companies run services between Kota Bharu, Malaysia and Chiang Rai, Thailand?
You can take a bus from Terminal Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai via Sungai Nibong, Terminal Bas Sungai Nibong, Hat Yai, and Phayao in around 38h 38m. Alternatively, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways International, and six other airlines fly from Sultan Ismail Petra (KBR) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) 5 times a day.
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Narathiwat Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿5,000–11,000
Flights from Sultan Ismail Petra to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Kuala Lumpur, Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ฿4,100–13,000
- Website
- malaysiaairlines.com
Flights from Sultan Ismail Petra to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Kuala Lumpur, Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- ฿6,000–16,000
- Website
- nokair.com
Flights from Sultan Ismail Petra to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Kuala Lumpur, Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿4,100–13,000
- Website
- lionairthai.com
Flights from Sultan Ismail Petra to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Kuala Lumpur, Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿4,100–13,000
- Website
- thaiairways.com
Flights from Sultan Ismail Petra to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Kuala Lumpur, Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- ฿6,000–16,000
- Website
- vietjetair.com
Flights from Sultan Ismail Petra to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Kuala Lumpur, Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 25m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ฿5,000–16,000
- Phone
- 1690
- [email protected]
- Website
- dticket.railway.co.th
Train from Sungai Kolok to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿340–900
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/thai-railways
- Website
- https://dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicWeb/home/Home
- 1st Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿600–900
- 3rd Class (Seat)
- ฿340–410
- 2nd Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿390–500
- 2nd Class (Air-conditioned Seat)
- ฿750–850
Train from Sungai Kolok to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿340–900
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/thai-railways
- Website
- https://dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicWeb/home/Home
- 1st Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿600–900
- 3rd Class (Seat)
- ฿340–410
- 2nd Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿390–500
- 2nd Class (Air-conditioned Seat)
- ฿750–850
Train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Chiang Mai
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ฿190–900
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/thai-railways
- Website
- https://dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicWeb/home/Home
- 1st Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿600–900
- 3rd Class (Seat)
- ฿210–260
- 2nd Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿190–250
- 2nd Class (Air-conditioned Seat)
- ฿500–540
- Phone
- +66 2 936 3256
- Website
- sombattour.com
Bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿650–1,600
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/sombat-tour
- Website
- https://www.sombattour.com/
- VIP
- ฿1,081
- Express
- ฿650–900
Bus from Phayao to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 13m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿140–170
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/sombat-tour
- Website
- https://www.sombattour.com/
- Phone
- 1624
- [email protected]
- Website
- nakhonchaiair.com
Bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,100–1,400
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/nakhonchai-air
- Website
- https://www.nakhonchaiair.com/view/
- Phone
- (09) 774 2655
- [email protected]
- Website
- e-mutiara.com.my
Bus from Terminal Kota Bharu to Sungai Nibong
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 14m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿500–800
- Schedules at
- e-mutiara.com.my
- Book at
- easybook.com
- Phone
- 019 - 545 3888
- [email protected]
- Website
- behtravelandtour.com
Bus from Terminal Bas Sungai Nibong to Hat Yai
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 11m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ฿485
- Schedules at
- behtravelandtour.com
- Phone
- +66 5326 6480
- [email protected]
- Website
- greenbusthailand.com
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿360–650
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/greenbus
- Website
- https://www.greenbusthailand.com/website/
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Is ride-sharing platform BlaBlaCar right for you?, 4 of the smartest ways to explore Australia, and Travelling to the US: What do I need to know? - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai is 1986 km. It takes approximately 27h 58m to drive from Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai.
Book your Kota Bharu to Chiang Rai bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
There are 408+ hotels available in Chiang Rai.


















