Is there a hire-car taxi service to chiang rai from chiang mai, the reason being the sister, brother in law will be visiting C.M.for 12 days, which is a bit long in C.M, i was thinking 1 nite in chiang-rai, minibus to tha-thon then back by boat on the kok river, then taxi back to C.Mai, 2 day getaway, or air-con bus, where do they leave from,? how much?

regards songhklasid.

Green Bus lines very good. Leave from bus depot. If memory serves 600 baht return to Chiang Rai.

VIP bus has two seats RH side one seat LH side, good legroom, aircon, toilet.

Agree with seedy; forget minibus they are deathtraps....designed by computer, built by robots, driven by morons.

Green Bus is a good service, first one leaves at 8am.

re

Green Bus lines very good. Leave from bus depot. If memory serves 600 baht return to Chiang Rai.

VIP bus has two seats RH side one seat LH side, good legroom, aircon, toilet.

here ya go

dave2

I just took a picture to the timetable at the Green Bus Chiang Mai ticket office in the city center and posted it at the end of an article on Tripadvisor about the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and return:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293917-c113505/Chiang-Mai:Thailand:Bus.To.Chiang.Rai.html

Out of interest, how long does that Green Bus take?

About 3 hours

In low season I think a car with driver is about 1,500/day plus fuel, but no idea about overnight charges. Wouldn't be much more than the bus fares if you have it for 2 days.

Hiring a car is another option, would be cheaper than bus fares if there are 3 of you and you could go to places the bus won't pass - go to Chiang Rai via Fang and come back via Chiang Saen.

If you do go on the bus, I've heard that going to Fang and getting the boat from there to Chiang Rai is interesting, although I've never investigated doing it.