I'm up in Chiang Rai over New Years, but now that I'm here, I apparently cannot buy a bus ticket back to Phitsanulok (or anywhere else) for a good week or so, and flights aren't even available to BKK until Wedensday (expensive) or Thursday (affordable). Am I stuck spending a couple extra days skipping work in Chiang Rai, or are there any secret ways of getting back south?

Thanks for any advice you all might have!

You can always hire a private car w/driver to drive you down or taxi, but that will be expensive.

Or maybe rent a car and drive yourself?

What about train?

If you can get down to Chiang Mai you will have many more options. The train, many many more buses, vans flights going from CNX to BKK.

Alright, thanks! I guess the next challenge would then be figuring out how to get to Chiang Mai. Oh, what an adventure.

try a little harder to get moving thai speakers would be able to help . james

Sorry to hear you are trapped in Chiangrai. I really do hope you can get transport out quickly.

Very very difficult to believe that you can't get on a bus from Chiang Rai to "anywhere" until next week. There are tons of buses going to Chiang Mai everyday.

Have you BEEN to the Chiang Rai bus station in person or somebody telling you that in a bar?

Also Air Asia website has flights out today dec 31 and tomorrow jan 1.....and i suspect thai air also has some seats.

Not buying that you are "trapped in Chiang Rai"....

there is a Nok air flight to BKK at jan 1 at around 17.30 hours for just over 3K

Speaking for the residents of Chiang Rai, we feel your pain at being stuck in our little town. Getting yourself to Chiang Mai first was actually a good suggestion. More options there.

I'd love to be stuck in Chiang Rai.

Do you have much luggage? Another alternative for getting to Chiang Mai, if you're really desperate and with just a small luggage tote, is to hire a motorcycle taxi at the Chiang Rai bus station to drive you to Chiang Mai.

Chiang Rai's beautiful this time of the year.

Another creative option is to take a bus to a neighbouring town (Mae Sai comes to mind). From there, catch a bus to Chiang Mai or perhaps one going to Bangkok.

Sorry, I didn't see until I had already posted that you can't get a bus to go anywhere from Chiang Rai...

Anyone know how I can delete a post?

Edited December 31, 201114 yr by Microwave

This thread is concusive proof to show your boss you were really stuck in Chiang Rai and couldn't get to work. Good work sir.

This thread is concusive proof to show your boss you were really stuck in Chiang Rai and couldn't get to work. Good work sir.

No it is not:

there is a Nok air flight to BKK at jan 1 at around 17.30 hours for just over 3K

I've got it all worked out now! Thank you so much for the suggestions to getting to Chiang Mai. There are apparently still some tickets to Chiang Mai from the bus station inside the city (the old station that mostly serves the province). Fortunately, my girlfriend is fluent in Thai and we were able to figure out a train from Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok (the trains appeared as mostly all booked when we viewed the page in English, but then several were available when we went back to the page in Thai... <deleted>?).

Thanks again for your help! And I agree, Chiang Rai would be far from the worst place to get stuck for a few days... But much better to be home and not damage my credibility with my Thai co-teachers (okay, only one of them would probably actually care... but she takes these things super seriously).

Thanks again, everyone!

Good luck with that bus journey, it was the most terrifying bus ride of my life. In fact it was the most terrifying experience of my life period. Shocking.

I have better idea:have you heard about ChiangKong?It is border town on MekhongRiver near ChiangRai.It is important stop on backpackers strada.Half a dozen VIP direct buses to BKK every day.

They do not go through ChiangRai,but - Tong and ChiangKham.You can make booking through backpackers guest house or travel office..From MeiSai you have good VIP bus to Korat.(probably booked out).

HappyNewYear!