Getting from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai

About the ride from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai

After exploring Thailand’s hidden gem, Ayutthaya, it’s time to continue your journey to the north and explore beautiful and unique Chiang Mai. When traveling the 614 kilometer (382 mile) distance between these two cities, you have one option - you can travel on a local bus. The journey takes around 10 hours, and you can choose between traveling during daylight or an overnight trip.

If you’re traveling during the day, you’ll be able to enjoy the green scenery of several national parks you’ll ride next to. However, if you choose the sleeper option, you’ll catch up on your sleep and save money on accommodation.

Chiang Mai is a vibrant city, with many unique things to see and experiences to try. The entire area has a very rich culture, and even if you spend months exploring it, there will still be something new and exciting to discover! 

What to see when traveling from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai

What you’ll be able to see on your journey between Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai depends on what time of day you leave. If you choose a morning departure, you’ll be riding through the typical Thai countryside for the first few hours. As you continue your journey to the northern part of the country, the scenery will turn greener, with hills and mountains in the distance. You’ll pass next to several national parks, such as Lan Sang, Mae Wa, Mae Ping, Doi Khun Tan, and a few more. 

However, if you’re traveling on an overnight trip, there won’t be much to see, but this is a great time to catch up on your sleep. For those who can’t sleep on a moving bus, you can always read a book, write your next blog post, or catch up on some work.

After a 10-hour long drive, you’ll arrive in the beautiful city of Chiang Mai. In the past few years, the city has gained a reputation as a meeting place of digital nomads and festival-goers. During the Thai New Year in April, the streets of Chiang Mai are packed with Thai people cheering, while the sky is covered with glowing lanterns.

Chiang Mai is known as the place in Asia where people come and stay for longer periods of time, and there’s a reason why this northern city is loved among foreigners. Compared to other cities in Thailand, for example, Bangkok, Chiang Mai has a very laid-back vibe, but it still has signs of strong influences of Thai traditions and culture. The hills around the city are home to many villages that are so remotely located and small that some of them aren’t even on the map. These villages are home to several different Chiang Mai Hill Tribes. You can learn more about them at the Tribal Museum.

The most popular attraction in the entire province is Doi Suthep, which is a mountain located 12 km outside of the city and has an incredible view of the entire area. This place is where the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a 13th-century temple, is located. The temple is home to a large white elephant shrine and a replica of the Emerald Buddha.

If you want to explore the trendy side of Chiang Mai, go out for a couple of drinks at Nimmanhaemin Road, where all the fancy restaurants and bars are located. If fancy dinners aren’t really your kind of fun, and you want to check out the street culture, head to the “Handicraft Highway”, The San Kamphaeng Road, where you’ll find everything from silverware and silk products, to cute jewelry. This area is well known for its pottery, and there are several shops on this road that sell it.

While you’re here, you should try Northern Thailand’s signature meal, Khao Soi. This is a curry and coconut-flavored soup filled with chicken, boiled egg noodles, and crispy fried egg noodles. Chopped red onions, a bit of lime, and pickled green mustard are also served with the soup. You can’t really say that you’ve been to Chiang Mai if you haven’t tried Khao Soi!

Chiang Mai has so many different sights to see and things to do that you could explore it for days and still only scratch the surface. No matter how long you stay, it’s hard to get bored in Chiang Mai!

How to get from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai

Taking a bus 

Traveling on a bus between Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai is very comfortable and convenient. There are two departures every day, one bus leaves in the morning, and the other one leaves in the evening, so you can choose between a daytime or an overnight trip, which is an excellent option if you want to save on accommodation. Buses are well equipped with toilets, A/C, comfortable seats, and WiFi. It will take around 10 hours to arrive in Chiang Mai, and there’s usually water, a snack and a meal provided by the operator. The bus will make a few rest stops during your journey.