Mae Salong From Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai

[healthcaretaker]

I have plan to visit all the above 3 places but either arrive CM - MS - CR or the other way CR - MS - MS by public bus starting/ending Bangkok.

I understand both ways need a change of bus but one of the way need to go via Thaton, which is the better way to do it that makes it easier ?

[Mickeem]

Easier via Chiang Rai

Public transport via Thaton too infrequent resulting in long wait at Kiu Satai (junction to MS on road to Mae Chan)

[healthcaretaker]

Thanks Mickeem,

Via Ching Rai also need change of buses or any direct bus from CR to MS ?

How about MS to CM ? Do I need to go back to CR or any other better way ?

[chuang]

Thanks Mickeem,

Via Ching Rai also need change of buses or any direct bus from CR to MS ?

How about MS to CM ? Do I need to go back to CR or any other better way ?

From Chiangrai take bus from old bus station for Chiangrai to Mesai...tell the driver to drop you at Pasang, i think about an hour ride, then catch a songthiew uphill to Mae Salong...please note the songthiew usually stop operating by about 3 pm.

From Mae Salong to Chiangmai....1. take a songthiew to Ta Ton then to Fang then to Chiangmai...

i would prefer 2..from Mae salong take songthiew downhill back to Pasang and catch a bus to Chiangmai..

[Ricardo]

Direct overnight-buses, from Bangkok (northern Bus Terminal) to Tha-ton or Mae-Sai (passes Pasang), would leave you only a connecting-ride in the morning, on a song-theaw for the final stage of your journey up-the-mountain.

I'd recommend Bangkok-Pasang-MS going, and returning to CM via Thaton & Fang, as i think CM has more to offer first-time tourists than CR. But both towns have their proponents ! Also the last red-bus the other way, from CM's Chang-Puak bus-terminal (not Arcade), needs to get you to Tha-Ton by lunch-time, since the last yellow song-theaw to MS is often 1pm from Tha-Ton. This means leaving CM by 8-ish.

Happy Travels !

[healthcaretaker]

Thanks chuang & Richardo,

I have been to all CM, CR, MaeSalong and Mae Sai before. I have 3 free days and nights between BKK and CM and I have decided to visit just Mae Salong and Mae Sai.

If I do Mae Salong first, will the bus overnight bus from BKK going to Mae Sai allow me to alight at Pasang ?

How about going to Mae Salong from Mai Sai ? Is there any direct bus and how long will the journey takes ? Will it be faster than CR - Mae Salong ?

[Ricardo]

Thanks chuang & Richardo,

I have been to all CM, CR, MaeSalong and Mae Sai before. I have 3 free days and nights between BKK and CM and I have decided to visit just Mae Salong and Mae Sai.

If I do Mae Salong first, will the bus overnight bus from BKK going to Mae Sai allow me to alight at Pasang ?

Definitely, you want to alight by the traffic-lights, then walk 10 yards up the MS-road, to where the MS-bound blue song-theaws are waiting.

How about going to Mae Salong from Mai Sai ? Is there any direct bus and how long will the journey takes ? Will it be faster than CR - Mae Salong ?

No direct bus, so from Mai Sai you would take the local bus, about a half-hour journey (including the Police check-point) back to Posang, before taking the blue song-theaw up-the-mountain.

For what it's worth, I myself tend to prefer the green song-theaw (from Mae Chan) which runs 3-4 times every day, rather than the more-intermittent blue ones, which tend to wait until they have a full-load, this can take a few hours !

my comments in Bold above