cheapest/best way to travel to Chiang Rai?

[kimequa]

What are my options for traveling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?

A friend of mine said she took a minivan(taxi/shuttle??)

If flights are the best way, can you recommend an airline or a search engine to find cheap flights?

I'm actually looking to go from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and then a few days later to Udon Thani, then back again to Chiang Mai..all in early January.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. This is my first time traveling in Thailand.

[Lampang2]

Minivan drives can drive dangerously fast.

Make sure driver understands that reckless driving = no pay before entering.

If you hire it yourself that is.

[masuk]

Catch a bus from the terminal. About 4 hours to Chiang Rai and much safer than those grey vans.

[elektrified]

If you decide on the bus, the Green Bus VIP has O.K. drivers that drive fairly safe. The cheaper Green Bus - I think they call it First class has very dangerous drivers. Not recommended. Be sure to buy the VIP tickets about 4 days in advance. I recently went to CR and tried buying VIP tickets 48 hours in advance and I was too late. All sold out.

Udon Thani??? Fly from CM, that is the only safe way.

[SooKee]

Will be doing a trip there in Jan/ Feb. Plan to use Nakhonchai Air VIP bus. Seems to be the best to me.

http://www.nca.co.th/main_en.html

[chiang mai]

Agreed with the above, VIP bus to CR, fly to Udon, avoid the grey vans on that road, in fact avoid grey vans on any road!

[northernjohn]

Will be doing a trip there in Jan/ Feb. Plan to use Nakhonchai Air VIP bus. Seems to be the best to me.

http://www.nca.co.th/main_en.html

Looked good but did not show any busses leaving Chiang Mai. Are they located in the Bus Station up by Star Mall?

[SooKee]

Will be doing a trip there in Jan/ Feb. Plan to use Nakhonchai Air VIP bus. Seems to be the best to me.

http://www.nca.co.th/main_en.html

Looked good but did not show any busses leaving Chiang Mai. Are they located in the Bus Station up by Star Mall?

NCA have a ticket desk at the main bus station. Very good buses and very comfortable. This is their better site is here (other one is under construction): http://www.nakhonchaiair.com/main.html

Their call centre within Thailand is 1624. You can book with the call centre, get a reference number, go pay at a 7/11 and turn up on the day for the bus. Their call centre staff are very good.

Green Bus is the only other one I'd consider.

Edited December 13, 2015 by Pick of Penang

[khwaibah]

NCA does not go from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai or Udon.

Edited December 13, 2015 by khwaibah

[SooKee]

NCA does not go from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai or Udon.

Oh really? Damn. We looked through so many when there last time and I thought NCA went to CR too. Green Bus it is then.

[khwaibah]

NCA does not go from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai or Udon.

Oh really? Damn. We looked through so many when there last time and I thought NCA went to CR too. Green Bus it is then.

Never has from Chiang Mai. The Green Bus is your best choice.

Edited December 13, 2015 by khwaibah

[khwaibah]

To the OP. The only airline from Chiang Mai to Udon is Nokair. Their are no airlines from Chianf Mai to Chiang Rai

[TheSiemReaper]

Just flown Nok Air to Udon from Chiang Mai - it's an excellent service, highly recommended. Very pretty hostesses but much more importantly very nice hostesses - well mannered, caring, etc. the things that flying used to be about. I'd use them again in a heartbeat and almost certainly will next time I come to Laos.

[khwaibah]

And as the title says "CHEAPEST". Beat this at 57 baht..Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.

http://www.thailine.com/thailand/english/north-e/chmai-e/transp-e/bus-e.htm#Chiang%20Rai