How to Get to Chiang Khan?

Planning your trip to Chiang Khan’s Famous Walking Street? Getting there can be a difficult task as Chiang Khan is located in the remote North-Eastern regions of Thailand. But not to worry, there are some options that are available for you.

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What Transport Options Do You Have?

thai air asia flight to loei airport runway — One of the Thai Air Asia flights that flies to Loei.

There are quite a few options available. Unfortunately, trains are the only option that is not present, so if you were looking to take an overnight train to Chiang Khan then I’m sorry to break out the bad news. But on the bright side you can take a plane instead, which is way faster!

Your journey will likely take place in 2 parts. The first part consists of getting from Bangkok to Loei, the province in which Chiang Khan is in. The second part consists of getting from Loei to Chiang Khan.

Bangkok to Loei

The journey from Bangkok to Loei is approximately 540km. Luckily, this part of the journey is the easiest.

Travelling to Loei by Plane (Recommended)

The flight route from Bangkok to Loei is operated by 2 carriers: Thai Air Asia and Nok Air. The journey by plane will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes. I’ve had bad experiences with Nok Air in the past and while Air Asia is a budget airline, their service is still pretty good compared to the other options, So I would recommend you fly with Air Asia.

The pricing for the flights are as follows:

Thai Air Asia Flight - 1050 THB or 32 USD (round trip)
Nok Air Flight - 1500 THB or 46 USD (round trip)

This is, of course, is the fastest route and is the one that I recommend to most tourists and travelers. There are usually on average 2 flights per day with Air Asia flights having the option of departing in the morning or late afternoon. Nok Air meanwhile, only has flights that depart in the morning.

Both of these carriers operate their flight at Don Meaung (DMK) Airport.

Loei to Chiang Khan

Once you have arrived at the cute little Loei airport, you will need to make your way to Chiang Khan which is roughly 50km away. This part of the journey is a little bit more tricky. There are a few options available for you to choose from.

Bus / Van (Recommended)

The first option is the easiest option, travelling by bus. Once you exit the airport you will a shuttle service that is operated by Air Asia. These will take you directly to your hotel, all you have to do is tell the driver.

Remember to be patient as the driver is probably not fluent in English, so having your hotel up on Google Maps or your booking site will prove helpful in communicating.

The tickets will cost you 250 THB or 8 USD for a one way trip. You can purchase your tickets right at the entrance to the airport where there will be some people ready to sell you tickets. Or you can pre book your seat using the widget below so you don’t have to deal with the hassle and long wait times at the ticket counter.

The journey will take just a little over an hour.

Taxi

Another option is to travel by a local taxi which I absolutely DO NOT recommend as it is a huge waste of money coming in at around 800 THB or 24 USD. Yes the journey will be a bit more comfortable but honestly it is not worth the price.

If you insist on getting a taxi then I recommend you cross the road and find a taxi a few steps away from the airport as the price will be a little cheaper.

Renting a Car

The final option is to rent a car. This option is great if you plan on exploring the Loei province, and it will make things easier if you decide to travel to hard to reach or less popular attractions.

As you step out of the airport there will be a few places where you can rent a car for 700THB or 21 USD per day. A lot of people choose this option due to the freedom it allows.

Bonus: Bangkok Directly to Chiang Khan

Last but not least there is the direct route from Bangkok to Chiang Khan. This option takes the longest time, and depending on which option you choose, can take an upwards of 9 hours.

However this option is the cheapest depending on which mode of transport you choose.

Bus / Van (Recommended)

If you choose to travel from Bangkok directly to Chiang Khan then I recommend you take the local bus or minivan. Every bus is air conditioned and the journey is relatively comfortable.

Travel times vary from early morning to late night but there is only one constant, and that is the journey takes 9 hours. If you are in no rush then the bus is perfect for you.

The busses comes in 2 flavors: Express and VIP the main difference here is that the VIP busses are more comfy, which doesn’t sound like much but on a 9 hour trip it can make all the difference.

Express Bus (Recommended) - 560 THB or 17 USD (one way)
VIP Bus - 880 THB or 27 USD (one way)

The buses will be stationed at Mochit Bus Terminal, you can get there by taxing the BTS Sky Train and taking a motorbike taxi.

Taxi

Again I absolutely DO NOT recommend you take a taxi, I’m not even sure if any taxi drivers are willing to drive that far to be honest…

If you managed to find one the journey takes approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes and you can expect the price to be 3500 THB or more, that’s around 105 USD.

Car

Last but not least, if you own a car then the journey will take roughly the same time as taking a Taxi or a Bus.

The major benefit here is that you have the freedom to stop or visit any place you want. Perhaps you would like to stop by and stay the night at Khao Yai first, or take a quick walk around in Ayutthaya, the freedom is in your hands.

Looking for Things to Do in Chiang Khan?

Chiang Khan Walking Street - Take a stroll down memory lane in this vintage walking street
Chiang Khan Skywalk - Inch your way through this see-through glass bridge
Phu Thog - Hike up the Phu Thog mountain and enjoy the scenic views of the Mekong River
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price

Useful Resources for Traveling in Thailand

Tourism Information - All the information you need when traveling in Thailand
4G/5G SIM Card - 8 days, 15GB, Important for staying connected while in Thailand
Private Airport Transfers - Transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city without worry
Best Bangkok Hostels - A list of the best hostels to stay for cheap and meet new friends