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 ?

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)

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 ?

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..

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 !

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 ?

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