Getting around Chiang Mai

Bus

Chiang Mai has two bus stations, and minibuses run from fixed stops to towns close to Chiang Mai.

Chang Pheuak Bus Terminal, Just north of the old city on Th Chotana, the Chang Pheuak Bus Terminal is the main departure point for journeys to the north of Chiang Mai Province.

Local blue minibuses run to Lamphun (one hour, every 20 minutes). Air-con minibuses to Chiang Dao (two hours, hourly) leave from Soi Sanam Gila, behind the bus terminal.

Arcade Bus Teminal, About 3km northeast of the city centre, near the junction of Th Kaew Nawarat and Rte 11, Chiang Mai's main long-distance station handles all services, except for buses to Northern Chiang Mai Province. This is the place to come to travel on to Bangkok or any other major city in Thailand. There are two terminal buildings, with ticket booths for dozens of private and government bus companies. Nominally, Building 2 is for towns north of Chiang Mai and Building 3 is for towns south of Chiang Mai, but in practice buses leave from both terminals to most destinations. There is also a third depot behind Building 2 used exclusively by the private bus company Nakornchai Air, which has luxury buses to Bangkok and almost everywhere else in Thailand.