Bus from Kunming to Bangkok

[KeeperRik]

Now the new crossing is open from Laos understand there is now a 20 hour bus from Kunming China to Bangkok via the Expressway? Is there really a quality Expressway and has anyone any expetience of this trip?

[Briggsy]

Is this the bus with wings? Have a look how far it is.

[Big Pinkie]

we'll give you a unlikely maybe but we absolutely wont give you 20 hrs.

you need to supply a website link to keep the maybe. as for expressway just a no.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Big Pinkie

[sam sen]

not possible in 20 hours, a couple of days maybe.

[iancnx]

Fly by air an option..... Other than that..... 4 days trek via the worst transport u can envisage? Try sat map of the terrain. Rugged uuuhuuhuh

[MeowBundit]

Actually, buses from Kunming to Vientiane then to Bangkok exists. Buy you will pay LESS for plane ticket, if you count all expenses together.

[rfukata]

I've traveled from Nanning China to Mong Cai border North Vietnam by car in 2007 and found that the

highway/expressway was incredibly developed. I would think from Kunming to the Lao border must have similar

nice developed highways leading to the border.

[Big Pinkie]

I've traveled from Nanning China to Mong Cai border North Vietnam by car in 2007 and found that the

highway/expressway was incredibly developed. I would think from Kunming to the Lao border must have similar

nice developed highways leading to the border.

while back in southern china near laos did see highway construction happening so could well be finished and at a stretch you could possibly call it an expressway. but then you have to go through laos and although the roads may be new/newish there is no way you could call them expressway and the terrain as mention is horrendous, to put a straightish flatish road through there isnt going to happen for a very long while.

have seen the vientiane -kunming sleeper buses dont know the price. but OP is asking about through chiang kong in northern thailand not the north east.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Big Pinkie

[Tomtomtom69]

There are buses from Kunming to Huay Xai, Mengla to Vientiane, Kunming to Vientiane, Kunming to Luang Prabang, Jinghong to Huay Xai and Jinghong to Luang Prabang, in addition to buses linking Sipsongbanna and Phongsali province of Laos.

Since we're talking about the new "Bangkok-Kunming expressway" which doesn't really exist as such as the only true expressway sections are from Kunming to Jinghong and then again near Bangkok and in between there is a combination of good quality single carriageway and dual carriageway (mainly in Thailand) the most direct routing by bus is as follows:

Kunming to Huay Xai direct international bus (not sure how long this takes, but roughly 12-15 hours). Price is probably around about the 300-350 Yuan mark or US$50-60 (check these prices directly with agencies in Kunming).

Then there's a new Huay Xai-Chiang Khong service, which is more of a shuttle really as it simply shuttles people between both sides of the border. Finally a Chiang Khong to Bangkok bus exists that again, probably takes something in the vicinity of 12 hours. So in total, you're looking at 24-27 hours (possibly more) of just sitting on a bus, plus you'll probably want (or need) to take at least a one night rest stop in either Huay Xai or Chiang Khong. I'd say you're thus looking at spending like US$100 or so just on the bus journey alone.

Edited January 17, 2014 by Tomtomtom69