How to Get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Fly nonstop in about 1h 10m or go overland via Chiang Khong. Compare flights, buses, the slow boat and private cars from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang.
Last updated: November 11, 2026
Contents
Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang are among the loveliest old towns in the region: Lanna temples and a moated old city on one side, gilded monasteries and monks collecting alms at dawn on the other. Between them lie the mountains of northern Laos and the Mekong.
You can fly the distance in about an hour, or take the long way over the border and down the river. The trips are very different, so pick the style that fits your days.
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by Flight
Lao Airlines and Bangkok Airways fly nonstop between the cities, Lao Airlines on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and Bangkok Airways on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The flight takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.[1] On booking platforms, flights start at about $41 (November 2026).[2]
Luang Prabang International Airport lies 4 km from the old town. A flat-rate airport taxi costs 50,000 kip per group, and you buy the ticket at the counter by the exit.[1]
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by Bus and Slow Boat
The overland route runs through the border town of Chiang Khong. GreenBus leaves Chiang Mai for Chiang Khong every day at 08:30 via Chiang Rai and at 09:30 via Phayao.[3] Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV carries you across the Mekong to Huay Xai, an entry point that accepts the Lao eVisa.[4]
From Huay Xai the slow boat takes 2 days down the Mekong to Luang Prabang, with a night in Pakbeng. Forested hills and river villages drift past, and nothing hurries you. The boat pier lies about 9 km from the centre of Luang Prabang.[1]
If you want one booking for the whole way, platforms sell a combined bus, taxi and sleeper-bus ticket. It leaves Chiang Mai at 09:30, takes about 22 hours and costs about $49 (November 2026).[2]
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by Private Transfer
A private car carries you door to door without the border shuffle. On booking platforms, an economy car, a 4-seat SUV or a 10-seat van costs from about $477 to $720 per vehicle and takes from about 14 hours, longer with queues at the border (November 2026).[2]
Comparing Your Options
| Mode | Price (USD) | Duration | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | From about $41[2] | About 1h 10m[1] | High |
| Combined bus | About $49[2] | About 22h[2] | Low |
| Private Transfer | $477 - $720 per vehicle[2] | From about 14h[2] | Very High |
Tips for Traveling from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
- Lao eVisa: Apply online at laoevisa.gov.la before you travel. It is processed within 3 working days, is valid for 1 entry and allows a 30-day stay. Print the approval letter and carry the passport you applied with.[4]
- Passport: It must be valid for more than 180 days from your arrival date.[4]
- Pick your day first: The nonstop flights do not run daily, so choose the day that has a flight, then book.
- On the slow boat: Pack water, snacks and some Lao kip. The 2 days on the river are long.
- Motion sickness: The mountain roads in northern Laos are winding. Take a tablet if you are prone to car sickness.
Timetable
| Flight Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang $ 40.76–63.23 4h 25m – 16h 30m | |
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| Bus Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang $ 48.85 22h | |
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| Taxi Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang $ 472.24–713.24 14h | |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Use the booking tool on this page to compare the transport options currently available from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, including current prices and schedules.
The nonstop flight is the cheapest and the fastest option: fares start at about $41, against about $49 for the combined bus ticket on booking platforms (November 2026).
Fly. The nonstop flight takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.
A nonstop flight takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, the combined bus ticket about 22 hours and a private car from about 14 hours. The slow boat from Huay Xai adds 2 days on the river.
Yes. Lao Airlines flies on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and Bangkok Airways on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Most nationalities need a visa. Eligible travellers can apply for a Lao eVisa online, which is accepted at Luang Prabang airport and at Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV. It is valid for 1 entry and a 30-day stay.
Yes. Booking platforms offer economy cars, 4-seat SUVs and 10-seat vans from about $477 per vehicle.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Official Website for Tourism Luang Prabang: Access (Luang Prabang). Retrieved November 11, 2026.
- [2] 12Go: Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang timetable. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
- [3] GreenBus: Bus Schedule (routes and departure times). Retrieved October 30, 2026.
- [4] Lao eVisa, Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR: Frequently asked questions. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
Guide prices and journey times are indicative, not live quotes. A booked package may include transfers and waiting time as well as the main journey. Check the selected offer, pickup point and current conditions before booking.