Pattaya and Chiang Mai are two of the most popular destinations in Thailand and there’s a good reason for it! These two cities are great places if you’re looking to get away from it all, relax and enjoy some activities that don’t involve the crazy traffic or Bangkok like air pollution.
It’s no wonder tourists flock to these areas every year in search of seclusion and natural beauty in Chiang Mai or sunshine and beaches in Pattaya.
Pattaya and Chiang Mai are also easy to get to from each other, so don’t worry, we have it all covered on the best ways to get to each destination so let’s begin…
From Pattaya To Chiang Mai By Train
One of the most fun and interesting ways to get from Pattaya to Chiang Mai is by train. You can purchase tickets from any travel agency and take a train that travels through central Thailand up to Chiang Mai and is around 700km in distance. The trip will take around 18 hours and cost between 500-1500 baht for a one-way ticket depending on which train and class you prefer.
It’s also important to note that you’ll have to change trains in Bangkok before setting off for Chiang Mai as Bangkok is the major train hub in Thailand for all long distance journeys.
If you’d prefer, you can book an overnight train from Bangkok with a sleeping berth that will allow you to rest throughout the trip. It’s important to note that trains with sleeping berths are obviously more expensive than standard seating trains.
Taking a train in Thailand is usually a pleasant and convenient experience especially if you book 1st Class as there are closed 2-berth rooms in the first class but open-plan berths in the second class sleepers. Timetables and pricing information can be found online or at the train terminal in Bangkok and you can also get your ticket at the train station.
One final note is that the train from Pattaya to Bangkok can be quite slow and takes around 4 hours to reach the capital so bear that in mind when booking your connecting train from Bangkok.
From Pattaya To Chiang Mai By Bus
If you’d rather spend the money on a bus ticket, you can get from Pattaya to Chiang Mai by bus but believe me, it’s an uncomfortable journey especially if you’re tall. The journey will take around 13 hours and you’ll be able to get a bus ticket from any travel agency.
The ticket price will be around 500-1000 baht for a one-way trip and you can take a bus from Pattaya to Bangkok then from there to Chiang Mai or you can go directly to Lampang in Northern Thailand from Pattaya before connecting to Chiang Mai. Either way is roughly the same price and a very long journey!
If you’d like to see the journey from a different perspective, you can also take a bus from Pattaya and stop off in multiple destinations along the way to see some of the nearby attractions. For example, you can get from Pattaya to Chiang Mai by buses that stop in Bangkok, Phitsanulok or several other places on the way and really make a several day trip out of it.
From Pattaya To Chiang Mai By Air
Fast And Cheap
If you’d prefer to travel quickly and by air, you can fly directly from Pattaya Utapao to Chiang Mai. The flight will take around 90 minutes but check prices beforehand as they are constantly changing for a one-way ticket. You can again book tickets from any travel agency or flight website.
It’s important to note that flying is the fastest and easiest way to get from Pattaya to Chiang Mai and will literally save you at least half a day in time as well as being a lot more comfortable than going by bus or slow 3rd Class train. It will probably cost a little more but it’s worth it for the speed unless you fancy an adventure through rural Thailand?
Driving From Pattaya To Chiang Mai
If you’d prefer to get from Pattaya to Chiang Mai by driving yourself, it will take around 11 hours straight through without long stop offs and be about 800km distance by road. You can hire a car for your travels around Thailand or if you have your own vehicle, even better as it will save you the rental cost.
Final Words
Pattaya and Chiang Mai are two of the most popular and interesting cities in the whole of Thailand but for very different reasons. Both of these cities have so much to offer with Chiang Mai being a mountainous area surrounded by jungles and cooler weather whereas Pattaya is a beach party town with one of the wildest and craziest nightlife’s in the world, so whichever direction you’re heading in, i’m sure you’ll have an amazing time.