There are 7 ways to get from Ko Samui to Chiang Rai by plane, ferry, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Koh Samui Airport
best- Fly from Koh Samui Airport (USM) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI)plane USM - CEI
5h 45m฿5,820–14,390Train, bus via Bangkok
cheapest- Take the train from Na Thon Seatran Ferry Pier to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminaltrain
- Take the train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Chiang Maitrain 9
- Take the bus from CoolMuang Coffee to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1bus
33h 48m฿1,523–3,260Ferry, bus via Surat Thani
- Take the ferry from Na Thon Koh Samui Songserm to Surat Thani Townferry
- Take the bus from Sapthaweephol Office Surat Thani to Arcade Chiangmai Bus stationbus
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Raibus
19h 12m฿3,185–4,020Ferry to Surat Thani, fly
- Take the ferry from Lomprayah Nathon Pier to Surat Thani Airportferry
- Fly from Surat Thani (URT) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI)plane URT - CEI
7h 50m฿4,991–6,931Bus
- Take the bus from Koh Samui Nathon Pier to Arcade Chiangmai Bus stationbus Koh Samui Nathon Pier - Arcade Chiangmai Bus station
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Raibus Chiang Mai
28h 45m฿2,150–2,300Ferry, bus
- Take the ferry from Boonsiri Ferry Nathon Pier Koh Samui to Koh Tao Boonsiri Pierferry
- Take the bus from Koh Tao Pier to Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3bus
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Raibus
29h 30m฿3,881–5,122Train, bus
- Take the train from Na Thon Seatran Ferry Pier to Chiang Mai stationtrain Na Thon Seatran Ferry Pier - Chiang Mai station
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Raibus Chiang Mai
42h 56m฿3,847–4,562
Ko Samui to Chiang Rai by ferry, taxi, and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Ko Samui to Chiang Rai is to bus which costs ฿2100 - ฿2300 and takes 28h 45m.
The fastest way to get from Ko Samui to Chiang Rai is to fly which takes 5h 45m and costs ฿5500 - ฿15000.
No, there is no direct bus from Ko Samui to Chiang Rai. However, there are services departing from Koh Samui Nathon Pier and arriving at Chiang Rai via Chiang Mai. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 28h 45m.
The distance between Ko Samui and Chiang Rai is 1189 km.
The best way to get from Ko Samui to Chiang Rai without a car is to ferry and bus via Surat Thani which takes 19h 12m and costs ฿3100 - ฿4100.
It takes approximately 5h 45m to get from Ko Samui to Chiang Rai, including transfers.
Ko Samui to Chiang Rai bus services, operated by Nitiphong Phai Boon Transport, depart from Koh Samui Nathon Pier station.
The best way to get from Ko Samui to Chiang Rai is to fly which takes 5h 45m and costs ฿5500 - ฿15000. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs ฿2100 - ฿2300 and takes 28h 45m.
Ko Samui to Chiang Rai bus services, operated by Nitiphong Phai Boon Transport, arrive at Arcade Chiangmai Bus station.
Book your Ko Samui to Chiang Rai bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
What companies run services between Ko Samui, Thailand and Chiang Rai, Thailand?
Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways International, and three other airlines fly from Koh Samui Airport (USM) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Koh Samui Nathon Pier to Chiang Rai via Chiang Mai in around 28h 45m.
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Koh Samui Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿5,000–10,000
Flights from Surat Thani to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿2,800–6,500
- Website
- lionairthai.com
Flights from Koh Samui Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿6,500–17,000
Flights from Surat Thani to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿2,500–4,400
- Website
- nokair.com
Flights from Koh Samui Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Krabi, Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ฿6,000–14,000
Flights from Surat Thani to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 12m
- When
- Friday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- ฿2,900–3,800
- Website
- thaiairways.com
Flights from Koh Samui Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿5,000–14,000
- Website
- vietjetair.com
Flights from Surat Thani to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿2,400–7,500
- Phone
- +66 2 259 1059
- [email protected]
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Na Thon Seatran Ferry Pier to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 15h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ฿850–1,900
- Book at
- Van2Travel Train
Train from Na Thon Seatran Ferry Pier to Chiang Mai station
- Ave. Duration
- 37h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿3,400–4,100
- Book at
- Van2Travel Train
- Phone
- 1690
- [email protected]
- Website
- railway.co.th
Train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Chiang Mai
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿190–900
- Book at
- 12go.asia
- Website
- railway.co.th
- 1st Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿600–900
- 3rd Class (Seat)
- ฿210–260
- 2nd Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿190–250
- 2nd Class (Air-conditioned Seat)
- ฿500–540
- Phone
- +66 2 218 1018
- [email protected]
- Website
- Nitiphong Phai Boon Transport
Bus from Sapthaweephol Office Surat Thani to Arcade Chiangmai Bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,813
- Website
- Nitiphong Phai Boon Transport
Bus from Koh Samui Nathon Pier to Arcade Chiangmai Bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 24h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,750
- Website
- Nitiphong Phai Boon Transport
- Phone
- +66 5326 6480
- [email protected]
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿400–550
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿400–550
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿400–550
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿400–550
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
- [email protected]
- Website
- Mekong Transfer
Bus from CoolMuang Coffee to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿750–780
- Schedules at
- Mekong Transfer
- Phone
- +66 2 225 1025
- [email protected]
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
Bus from CoolMuang Coffee to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿840
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
- Phone
- +66 42 081 899
- [email protected]
- Website
- RG Adventure
Bus from CoolMuang Coffee to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿430–1,200
- Schedules at
- RG Adventure
- Phone
- +66 2 217 1017
- [email protected]
- Website
- Next Step Journey
Bus from Koh Tao Pier to Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿3,274
- Website
- Next Step Journey
- Phone
- +66 86 2730389
- [email protected]
- Website
- Songserm
Ferry from Na Thon Koh Samui Songserm to Surat Thani Town
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿850–1,600
- Website
- Songserm
- Phone
- +66 89 873 0008
- [email protected]
- Website
- Lomprayah
Ferry from Lomprayah Nathon Pier to Surat Thani Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿460–2,100
- Schedules at
- Lomprayah
Ferry from Boonsiri Ferry Nathon Pier Koh Samui to Koh Tao Boonsiri Pier
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿380–1,300
- Schedules at
- Lomprayah
- Phone
- +66 2 252 1052
- [email protected]
- Website
- 12go.co
Ferry from Lomprayah Nathon Pier to Surat Thani Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,076
- Book at
- PL Travel
- Phone
- +66 2 234 1034
- [email protected]
- Website
- 12go.co
Ferry from Lomprayah Nathon Pier to Surat Thani Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿689
- Book at
- A and T Travel
- Phone
- +66 (0)77 272230
- [email protected]
- Website
- Phantip Travel
Ferry from Lomprayah Nathon Pier to Surat Thani Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿570
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Phantip Travel
- Phone
- +66 9 4724 4555
- [email protected]
- Website
- Boonsiri Highspeed Ferries
Ferry from Boonsiri Ferry Nathon Pier Koh Samui to Koh Tao Boonsiri Pier
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿200–650
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Boonsiri Highspeed Ferries
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