Chiang Rai

By bus
By bus

There are two bus stations in Chiang Rai. The old bus station and new bus station. There is a songthaew' officially a "minibus" connecting the two bus terminals. It costs 10 baht per person and takes 15 minutes. Some drivers ask you to pay more if there are fewer than 10 passengers, despite what the official price list posted inside the songthaew says. You can just wait for the next one and pay 10 baht.

Both bus stations have plenty of tuk-tuks and songthaews outside, as well as a few meter taxis at Bus Terminal 2.

Old Bus Station Bus Terminal 1 is located in the centre of town. Buses coming from Chiang Rai province stop here. From here you take the bus south to Phayao, and north to Mae Sai as at May 2010. There is enough English written on the signs and buses at the terminal to tell where the bus is going. You board the bus and pay the Ticket Collector.confirm with him/her first that the bus is actually going where you want to go - they stand outside the entrance door of the bus as well as help load large luggage to the top of the bus.

Chiang Khong
on the Laos border. Buses leave every hour or so and have the destination clearly marked. The journey takes two and a half hours and costs 70 THB on local bus.

New Bus Station Bus Terminal 2, 7km south of the city, just off the super highway. Buses from elsewhere in Thailand stop here

Chiang Mai
There are three types of bus: First Class with air-con, Second Class with air-con and VIP. Air-con First and Second - stops one time for 15 Minutes. Takes just over 3 hours. Costs 186 baht 2nd class a little less. 1st Class provides free water, nuts and hand-towel. VIP - takes 3 hours, costs 360. Operated by Greenbus depart Chiang Mai on a regular basis. Green bus stops at both terminal.
Bangkok
Three types of bus, VIP 3 buses daily, 990 baht, 1st class and 2nd class from Mo Chit Bus Station. Takes approximately 11-12 hours.

NB: You may well pay more for the Tuk-tuks at each end than the trip itself.

By plane
By plane

Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport CEI is located on Phaholyotin Road 8 kilometres from the centre of Chiang Rai. Car rental is available on arrival from Avis (http://avisthailand.com).

At a desk in the airport you can hire a pre-paid taxi. It costs B200 to the city centre and more to other places the prices are on display. It will take you to your hotel, or the driver will find you one if you give him the price range you want to pay.

The airport is served by AirAsia (http://www.airasia.com/), Orient Thai (http://www.flyorientthai....) and Thai Airways (http://www.thaiairways.com) to Bangkok. There are now daily flights to/from Macau operated by Orient Thai Airlines.

By train
By train

The nearest train station is at Chiang Mai.