How to get from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train

Chiang Mai is one of the most visited cities in Thailand, a gateway to a region that’s home to stunning mountain ranges, Buddhist temples, nature treks and modern conveniences. It feels a world away from the exciting chaos of Bangkok but it’s still well-connected to the capital by several convenient daily train services.

Do keep in mind that high levels of tourist traffic between the two regions mean it nearly always feels like peak season on the railways, so it’s best to book tickets in advance where possible. We’ve collected together all the information you’ll need, including route guides, timetable information and the best place to book tickets.

Travelling the other way? Check out our guide for taking the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

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Route map and details

Chiang Mai and Bangkok are the two most significant stops Thailand’s Northern Line, and most passengers are travelling between the two cities. It’s a very common tourist route and you’re more likely to be sharing a carriage with a Westerner than someone from Thailand.

The authorities have long been aware that the Northern Line is bursting at the seams and in need of expansion and maintenance. In the medium-term, the line is likely to be electrified and double-tracked, both of which will increase capacity and reliability, but in the interim, you should expect to find most services running at 90%+ capacity and sleeper berths hard to come by. Book in advance where you can, especially if travelling in a group or as a family.

Timetables

There are five trains per day from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Sleeper carriages are available on all trains apart from RP102 (non-AC service, second and third class seats) and SP8 (second-class air-conditioned seats).

SP10 and SP14 are the most popular trains and should be booked as far in advance as possible, particularly in peak tourist season and around religious festivals.

Average journey time: 12 hours 30 minutes

How to buy tickets

The easiest way to buy train tickets in Thailand is online rather than going to the station. You do pay a very small commission but the ease and convenience makes it worthwhile in our opinion.

Baolau is the best site to use for buying train tickets, they have access to the live Thai Railways booking engine, so you can easily see availability, timetables and prices.

Payment can be made using international credit card and PDF confirmation tickets are sent to your email address within a few minutes. This is the actual ticket you need to board the train, so there’s no need to exchange it at the station before travel. You may prefer to print the pdf out, but it’s also fine to show it on your mobile phone to the conductors and station staff.

Chiang Mai to Bangkok train tickets

How much does it cost?

The Chiang Mai to Bangkok train usually has four different classes to choose from, ranging from a luxurious first class berth for two people, to a hard, uncomfortable third class seat. Most tourists book a second class berth and it’s our recommended way to travel.

Here is a list of which class is available on which train:

¹ Air-conditioned carriages

Prices for each class are shown in the table below, note that some trains have newer carriages so the prices are sometimes slightly higher: