Chiang Mai to Laos

Travelling from Chiang Mai to Laos can be achieved via air, land or water and the mode chosen will largely depend on your intended destination, how much you want to spend and how much time you have.

There are a number of amazing places to explore in Laos, but the most popular locations tend to be Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

To get from Chiang Mai to Vientiane (the capital of Laos), there are two main options; fly or drive. The distance of the trip is 688 kilometres by road and can take between 12-15 hours by bus or 4 hours by plane (via Udon Thani). There are no direct flights between Chiang Mai and Vientiane. Read our guide here on getting from Chiang Mai to Vientiane by bus or plane, as there are a number of steps involved.

If you intend to go from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, you can take a direct flight which are only 1 hour in duration and cost around $150 AUD each way. Alternatively, there are buses which can take you there, or bus and boat combinations. The prices vary depending on the option chosen, so check out our Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang guide which outlines the options, time-frames and pricing.

A number of tour companies will offer bus tours which will take you on a sightseeing tour whilst you complete the trip. These tours offer all-inclusive packages including transfers from your hotel, meals, accommodation and an air-conditioned bus.

Just make sure that you understand the Visa requirements before leaving Thailand to cross the border to Laos. Make sure you bring pens, extra passport photos for your application and $35 USD or 1500 THB to pay for the Laos Visa on Arrival.