Home Routes Bangkok to Kunming
Bangkok to Kunming overland: route, cost and stops
Bangkok to Kunming, overland all the way, across 4 countries, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 5 stops, 6 legs, 33h on the move.
Modelled estimates, not live fares. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
This is one version of the corridor. Change the budget, the pace, the dates or the bed type and the route rebuilds around them.
Open this route in the plannerThe route, leg by leg
Each row is the mode the planner picked as the best balance of time and money. Alternatives on every leg — including night trains and coaches — are in the planner itself.
| Leg | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok → Chiang Mai | Night train | 9.5h | €15–€40 |
| Chiang Mai → Luang Prabang | Rail | 4.6h | €10–€15 |
| Luang Prabang → Hanoi | Night train | 7.2h | €15–€35 |
| Hanoi → Nam Định | Rail | 1.4h | €4–€5 |
| Nam Định → Sapa | Rail | 4.2h | €5–€10 |
| Sapa → Kunming | Coach | 5.8h | €5–€10 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €54 | €78 | €115 |
| Beds | €99 | €116 | €148 |
| Daily spending | €291 | €364 | €491 |
| Total per person | €512 | €634 | €841 |
Dorm beds, two people sharing where a room is cheaper than two dorm bunks. Daily spending is food and local transport, modelled per city rather than averaged across the trip.
Where you stop
Bangkok, Thailand
Worth the time: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chatuchak market
Eating: Street pad thai €1.50
Beds near the centre:
SUSU Khaosan Hostel · hostelbed box · hostelBaan Pun Thong · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Street food market · marketAmulet Market · marketNa Krung Thewes · market
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Worth the time: Old city temples, Doi Suthep, night bazaar
Eating: Khao soi €1.50
Beds near the centre:
Jonada Guest House · hostelJust Chill inn · hostelBamboo 99 Guest House · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Sukphorpiang · marketถนนคนเดินวันอาทิตย์ · marketSompet Market · market
Luang Prabang, Laos
Worth the time: Kuang Si falls, alms giving, Mount Phousi
Eating: Night market buffet €2
Beds near the centre:
YNotLao Hostel · hostelSunrise Hostel · hostelVilaluk Guesthouse · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Noodles · marketຕະຫຼາດຟອງສະຫວັນ · marketNight Food Market · market
Nam Định, Vietnam
Kunming, China
Beds near the centre:
昆明背包时年青年旅舍(南屏街店) · hostel四季雲上酒店 · hostel大姨家民宿 · guest house
Worth a detour
Places just off the corridor, priced against the route you already have — the extra time and the extra money each one actually adds.
| Place | Fits | Extra time | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haiphong, Vietnam | after Luang Prabang | +1.5h | +€30 |
| Chiang Rai, Thailand | after Chiang Mai | +59m | +€27 |
| Ayutthaya, Thailand | after Bangkok | +3.3h | +€28 |
| Thanh Hóa, Vietnam | after Luang Prabang | +2.2h | +€32 |
Common questions
How long does the Bangkok to Kunming trip take?
Moving time is about 33h spread over 6 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 5 stops, the whole corridor works as a 13-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €634 per person for 13 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €78 of transport, €116 of beds and €364 of daily spending. The realistic range is €512 to €841 depending on how early you book and how much you eat out.
Can you do it without flying?
Yes. An all-surface version runs about 33h of travel and €634 in total — €-0 less than the version above. Switch on avoid flying in the planner to see it.
Which countries does it cross?
Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China — 4 in total. Check visa requirements for your own passport before you commit to the route; this planner does not model them.
What transport does it use?
Night train, Rail, Coach. Every leg is costed with a walk-up fare and an advance fare, so the range on each row is the booking-window spread, not uncertainty about the route.
Adjust it for your own dates, budget and party size.
Plan Bangkok → Kunming