Home Routes Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang overland: route, cost and stops
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, overland all the way, across 2 countries, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 4 stops, 3 legs, 8h 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai | Rail | 2.3h | €5–€5 |
| Chiang Rai → Vang Vieng | Rail | 3.9h | €10–€10 |
| Vang Vieng → Luang Prabang | Rail | 1.8h | €5–€5 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €20 | €20 | €20 |
| Beds | €48 | €56 | €72 |
| Daily spending | €121 | €151 | €204 |
| Total per person | €238 | €281 | €358 |
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
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
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Worth the time: White temple, hill trekking
Eating: Khao soi €1.20
Beds near the centre:
Baan Mai Kradan Hostel · hostelKenta House · hostelเฮือนกาวิน · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Walking Saturday Night Market · marketMarket (fruit, vegetables, meat, etc) · marketตลาดศิริเนตร · market
Vang Vieng, Laos
Worth the time: Karst lagoons, tubing, caves
Eating: Riverside meals €3
Beds near the centre:
Pan's Place · hostelXay Luang Sy Guesthouse · hostelMoukdavanh Bungalow Guesthouse · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Old market · marketLocal market · marketThe Corner Hanoi Cafe & Restaurant · thai
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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lampang, Thailand | after Chiang Mai | +1.7h | +€34 |
| Sukhothai, Thailand | after Chiang Rai | +8.9h | +€32 |
| Vientiane, Laos | after Vang Vieng | +4.7h | +€28 |
| Sapa, Vietnam | after Chiang Rai | +12h | +€45 |
Common questions
How long does the Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang trip take?
Moving time is about 8h spread over 3 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 4 stops, the whole corridor works as a 8-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €281 per person for 8 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €20 of transport, €56 of beds and €151 of daily spending. The realistic range is €238 to €358 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 8h of travel and €281 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 — 2 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?
Rail. 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 Chiang Mai → Luang Prabang