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Did you know Thailand has a great train network that can take you all the way from the north of the country to the southern tip and even through Malaysia all the way to Singapore? In this post, I’ll explain how to cover the route from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train, what to expect on your journey, if you should choose a sleeper train and much more!
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Nestled in the northern part of Thailand, Chiang Mai is a gorgeous and captivating city that seamlessly blends traditional charm with modern delights. Known for its rich history, breathtaking temples, and vibrant markets, Chiang Mai is a great city in Thailand for culture aficionados and conscious travelers.
The city holds some of the most remarkable temples in Southeast Asia that reflect its cultural heritage like the awe-inspiring Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, perched atop a mountain, which offers panoramic views of the city. Furthermore, the intricately designed Wat Chedi Luang, with its towering ruins, stands as a testament to the city’s ancient grandeur.
Chiang Mai’s bustling markets are a haven for shoppers and food enthusiasts alike. The famous Night Bazaar attracts travelers with its wide array of handicrafts, textiles, and delicious street food. The Warorot Market, on the other hand, allures visitors with its colorful stalls selling fresh produce, aromatic spices, and traditional Thai snacks.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
For those seeking a plant-based culinary adventure, Chiang Mai boasts a thriving vegan and vegetarian scene. From trendy cafes to traditional eateries, the city offers an abundance of delicious and health-conscious options that cater to vegan travelers in Thailand.
Add to that the many enchanting festivals like Loi Krathong and the Chiang Mai Flower Festival and you’ll understand why this city is one of my favorite places in the world. Do note that Chiang Mai has become a popular hotspot in Thailand in recent years and is by no means an off-the-beaten-path travel destination. But, compared to the south of Thailand, it still holds a more authentic vibe.
If you’re planning to explore more of Thailand, traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train is a convenient and eco-friendly option. In the rest of this post, we’ll delve into the details of this memorable train journey, providing all the necessary information to make your trip a lovely slow travel experience.
→ PRO TIP: Traveling soon? check out my ultimate packing list for Thailand!
Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai, Thailand
If you’re wondering how to get from Chiang Mai to Bangkok then I can assure you that the best way is by train! Buses are plying the route too but they are rather inconvenient to sleep in and most of the time don’t have toilets and don’t provide other amenities like blankets and pillows.
Traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train is a pleasant experience but it can be a daunting task to find accurate information regarding timetables, prices and what platform is the most convenient to buy tickets. Below, I’ll explain everything you need to know!
The daily departures of the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok can be found on various sites like Thai Railways and 12GoAsia but, for your convenience, here are they are:
| Train number | Departure time | Arrival time (Krung Thep Aphiwat) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
#102 |
6.30 AM |
20.15 PM |
13H45 |
|
#8 |
8.50 AM |
18.55 PM |
10H05 |
|
#52 |
3.30 PM |
5.10 AM |
13H40 |
|
#14 |
5 PM |
6.10 PM |
13H10 |
|
#10 |
6 PM |
6.50 AM |
12H50 |
Note that the daytime trains only offer seating while the nights offer comfortable sleeper berths which will save you the cost of one night of accommodation!
Krung Thep Aphiwat is a brand-new train station in Bangkok that opened its doors in January 2023. It’s the final stop. If you’re flying out of Thailand, Don Muang train station is the stop before Krung Thep Aphiwat.
The best train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok is highly dependable on your own wishes. The train ride from Chiang Mai to Bangkok is known to be one of the most scenic ones in Thailand. If you take train #8, you will be able to enjoy this scenery but you will need to spend a full day on the train and, if you’re short on time, this might not be that convenient.
The night trains, on the other hand, are very comfortable and will allow you to save on accommodation. Regarding travel time, train #8 is the best choice to travel during the day, and train #10 the fastest one for night time travel.
Yes, I can warmly recommend to take a sleeper train. Not only will you save on accommodation but you don’t have to worry about getting a good night’s rest. The night trains in Thailand aren’t anything like the long-distance sleeper buses!
They offer very comfortable sleeper berths with a decent thin mattress, a pillow, and fresh sheets.
There are various ways to buy tickets for the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Note that tickets only go out for sale 30 days prior to the departure date. It is however possible to buy tickets in advance through booking platforms but your request will be held in the system until tickets are released and can be issued.
12GoAsia is one of the best booking platforms for train travel in Thailand and in Southeast Asia in general. Tickets won’t be released directly after purchase but you will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.
The Thai sleeper trains from Chiang Mai to Bangkok offer upper and lower berths, with the lower berths being more enjoyable providing more space. Keep in mind that you can’t choose the type of berth on 12GoAsia. Current prices are available on the website of 12GoAsia.
Bookaway is another booking platform offering train tickets for the Chiang Mai to Bangkok route. Prices are approximately the same as on 12GoAsia.
Baolau is an online platform to buy flights, busses, and train tickets in Asia. It works similarly to 12GoAsia and Bookaway but a big plus here is that it allows you to select your seat or berth! Prices are also slightly cheaper than on 12GoAsia and Bookaway.
The website of Thai Railways offers an English version of their website allowing foreign visitors to buy train tickets.
Tickets are cheaper here than the ones on sale on the previous booking platforms and another advantage is that you can choose your preferred berth. The website is however very slow and, while it allows payment with most overseas credit cards, it doesn’t accept all of them.
If you’re on a budget, the best way to buy tickets is at the Chiang Mai Railway Station. It is located about 5 kilometers outside of the city center of Chiang Mai.
Essentially, you only pay for your ticket here, which comes in a lot cheaper than ordering through a booking platform. Booking platform fees can be pretty high and almost double the price of a ticket. The tickets are however exactly the same.
Also, keep in mind that you won’t save much money if you travel to the train station by tuk-tuk. The money you win by buying the tickets at the train station, you’ll lose on paying for a tuk-tuk.
2nd class sleeper train Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Which train class you need to pick depends completely on your own wishes and preferences. While 3rd class fan seats offer minimal comfort, the 1st class sleepers offer air conditioning, compartments with only one or two beds, and a private sink.
The third-class seats on the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in Thailand are not as luxurious as the higher classes but they do provide a lovely glimpse into local life and the opportunity to interact with fellow passengers.
The seats are simple and functional, with padding although you can still find a few trains in Thailand with the typically wooden benches. There is no aircon but the open-air windows allow for a refreshing breeze and picturesque views of the Thai countryside.
The atmosphere is lively, with vendors selling snacks and locals engaged in conversations, making it a memorable and budget-friendly choice for adventurous travelers.
The second-class seats on the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok offer a comfortable and convenient option for travelers. There are two types of second-class seats available: air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned.
The air-conditioned cabins provide a respite from the tropical heat, ensuring a cool and pleasant journey. These cabins feature padded seats, ample legroom, and large windows to enjoy the passing scenery.
The non-air-conditioned seats offer a more budget-friendly alternative, still providing comfortable seating but without the cooling system.
The second-class air-conditioned sleepers on the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok offer a comfortable and convenient overnight journey.
These sleepers provide you with a bed in an open-plan carriage with bunk beds, clean bedding, and curtains for added privacy.
At the end of each carriage, you can find a double sink, a squat toilet, and a Western toilet. The air-conditioning ensures a cool and pleasant environment throughout the night. There are also two power outlets.
The first-class sleepers on the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok provide a luxurious yet more expensive travel experience. These spacious compartments offer the utmost comfort and privacy, allowing you to unwind and rest.
The cabins feature beds with soft bedding and exclusive amenities like a private washbasin, and power outlets. The first-class sleepers are air-conditioned, maintaining a pleasant temperature for the entire trip.
The staff also visits the cabins with food menus that can be ordered and delivered from and delivered to the comfort of your cabin. At the end of the aisle, you can also find toilets and a hot shower.
I love to spend time in Chiang Mai and traveling by train is my favorite mode of transport no matter where I go. It was only a few days before departure that I started looking into the various ways that I could buy tickets and timetables.
I was pretty sure that I wanted to take one of the overnight trains as I had traveled previously in 2016 from Bangkok to Chiang Mai this way and loved every bit of the trip.
I wanted to book train #10 which leaves Chiang Mai at 6 P.M. in the evening but unfortunately, it was booked out so I opted to take the special express train number #14 instead.
Chiang Mai Bangkok train
After doing some research I decided to buy the tickets through 12GoAsia, which is the most expensive option considering the included booking fee. I received the tickets a few hours later and was honestly a bit flabbergasted by the actual price of a ticket and what I had paid to 12GoAsia.
If you have time on your hands, and maybe a bicycle, it does pay off to buy the tickets at the counter of the train station in advance which is located 5 kilometers from the center of Chiang Mai.
Prices change regularly so I don’t want to get into that but if you buy a ticket at the train station it will approximately cost only 2/3rd of the price that you will pay at a booking platform. Just saying!
Ample space to put your luggage on the Chiang Mai to Bangkok train
After buying some fruit and a healthy takeaway meal at Tien Sieng restaurant (the best food for vegans in Chiang Mai for only 35 baht/plate!) me and boyfriend were picked up by a Grab car that our host lady ordered for us.
Initially, we planned to take a Songthaew to the train station to save some money but are host lady told us it would be too much of a hassle since songthaews randomly drive around picking up and dropping off passengers, and as a result, we could risk missing our train.
We arrived at the train station half an hour before departure time and were greeted by the staff. We showed our tickets and were granted access to board the train.
As you receive your tickets by email after booking, the document states very clearly that you need to print your ticket. I’m not sure what would happen if you would arrive with the ticket on your cell phone. In case you did this, let me know in the comments below so that I can add it to this guide!
Chiang Mai train to Bangkok: Waiting for the departure at the train station
As we booked through 12GoAsia, we didn’t get the chance to choose our berths. We were however assigned seats that were just behind from one another and our two upper berths were next to each other so this was not an issue.
As we departed, the seat in front of me remained empty so we were able to sit together to enjoy our previously bought dinner together and chat a bit before the staff came around to prepare the beds.
They start pretty early to prepare the beds and, since we wouldn’t be able to chat anymore then, we kindly asked them if they could wait a little bit longer to fix our beds. This was not an issue and when we asked them one and a half hours later to prepare our beds, they took immediate action.
Train Chiang Mai to Bangkok: comfortable tables to eat dinner
After putting on comfy pants, I watched an episode of a show on Netflix before going to sleep. I was amazed about how well I slept on the train, only waking up once during the night when the train stopped to pick up new passengers and one of them was watching a soccer game on his phone without wearing headphones.
The staff comes around early in the morning to change the beds back to seats again. There is a huge double sink in the hallway near the toilets where you can wash your face and brush your teeth.
If you’re lucky, you can watch Bangkok in a wonderful pink hue before arriving at Don Muang or Krung Thep Aphiwat Station. Our train was said to arrive at 6.10 A.M. but it was a bit delayed and arrived at 6.35 in Krung Thep Aphiwat.
Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Thailand:
Booking.com: For the best guesthouses, homestays, or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in the big cities or the countryside
12GO and Bookaway: The best transport websites for long-distance buses and train travel in Thailand
Thai Railway: To check timetables and connections for trains
Grab: The Uber of Southeast Asia is a convenient and cheap ride-hailing app
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Bangkok or Phuket
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from a vegan cooking class in Bangkok to a half-day meditation retreat at a waterfall temple with a monk.
Thailand is very easy to enter because you can stay in the country for up to 45 days with a tourist visa on arrival. If you want to spend more time in Thailand, check out the official Thai e-Visa website.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is without a doubt Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Get access to mobile data straight away when entering the country with a Thai E-sim or an Asialink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries. If you are already in Thailand, the best local prepaid sim card is AIS.
Tuktuk in Bangkok, Thailand
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal is the new main train terminal in Bangkok that has opened it’s doors in January 2023. It is the start and finish point for most of the long-distance train services in Thailand.
Arriving in KTW, you will first have to find your way in the new train terminal. Saying that it is huge is an understatement! The train station counts 24 platforms and two additional MRT stations.
From KTW you can opt to take one of the free shuttle busses into the city or take the blue or red metro line which can be accessed via an underground walkway.
The counter to buy tickets for onward train travel is located near the food court close to the entrance of the train station. After buying train tickets, you are kindly requested to proceed to your platform’s designed waiting area with seating, which is arranged a bit like the layout of an airport.
Bangkok, Thailand
If you’re staying in Bangkok, there are thousands of accommodations to choose from, so it can be a daunting task to figure out where to start looking.
If you want to stay close to the tourist center of town then Bangklamphu is your best choice, with Khao San Road, Bangkok’s famous backpacker street being the epicenter for tourists.
For a more local experience, consider staying in Chinatown and for a long-term stay, Sukhumvit Road is probably the best option, being a favorite among expat with a lot of western-style restaurants and shopping opportunities.
Here are a few accommodation options in Bangkok that are worth checking out:
You can find a wide array of accommodation options in Chiang Mai and, aside from the old town, there are various cool neighborhoods to stay in Chiang Mai outside of the moats.
Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train
To finish off this post, here are some answers to the most-asked questions about traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train.
The train station in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is located in the eastern part of the city. Specifically, it is situated in the Chang Moi neighborhood, on Charoen Mueang Road. The train station is approximately 3 kilometers east of the Old City and is easily accessible by various means of transportation, including taxis, tuk-tuks, and songthaews (red trucks).
The train station in Bangkok is called Krung Thep Aphiwat train station and is a newly built train station that opened its doors in January 2023. It is located 7 kilometers outside of the center of Bangkok next to Bang Sue Junction Railway Station in the north of Bangkok.
No, there is no need to arrive early at the train station although it is recommended to arrive at least half an hour before departure so there is enough time to check tickets and find your seats.
Train #10 and #14 normally come with a restaurant carriage. When traveling by train during day time, a meal is often included in the price of your ticket. food vendors also pass by regularly on the train selling food and drinks.
The duration of the train journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok can vary depending on the type of train and its schedule. On average, the journey takes around 10 to 14 hours. Some trains, such as the overnight sleeper trains, offer more comfort and amenities but take longer to reach Bangkok. The duration can also be influenced by factors such as stops along the route and any delays.
The distance between Chiang Mai and Bangkok by train is approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles). This distance may vary slightly depending on the specific route taken by the train and any deviations caused by track layout or construction.
Night train Chiang Mai to Bangkok: Power outlets on train #14
Yes, you can generally charge electronic devices on the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Many trains provide power outlets in the seating areas or sleeping compartments, allowing passengers to charge their devices during the journey. However, it’s worth noting that not all seats or compartments may have power outlets available.
Yes, the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok does make stops along the way. Some common stops along the route include Lampang, Phitsanulok, and Ayutthaya, among others.
Yes, the sleeper train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok is generally considered safe for travel. Train #10 even offers ladies-only compartments for women to feel absolutely safe.
However, as with any form of travel, it’s advisable to take basic precautions such as keeping personal belongings secure and being aware of your surroundings.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this post about how to travel from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train. Having traveled through Thailand extensively, I cannot recommend traveling by train enough. It is my favorite mode of transport and also one of the most eco-friendliest!
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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