I am a slow traveler and I like traveling by train. Taking the train ride allows me to see the countryside and experience local ways of life. I traveled by train a lot in both Vietnam and Thailand.
I like the train ride in Thailand more. I love their 3rd-class seats with open windows and open doors where I can feel the wind and dirt on my face. For a short distance (a few hours train ride), this is a great way of traveling between places.
I took train rides whenever possible when traveling around Thailand. It is a cheap and safe way of travel that is suited well for budget female solo travelers like me.
Some of my favorite train rides are from Bangkok to Maeklong Railway Market, Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and to Namtok (the death railway), Bangkok to Hua Hin, and Khao Yai (Pak Chong) to Lopburi.
I took a 13 hour night train ride from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in the third class and it was like a one of a kind experience. In this article, I’ll share my experience traveling in third class and give you my opinion on whether you should avoid it or give it a try.
Even if you’re looking into second or first-class sleeper trains, I still recommend reading on. I will share some recommendations of how to book the ticket, what class to choose, and how to get to both Chiang Mai and Bangkok train stations.
If you are looking for overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, it will basically be the same process as taking a train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. You have to book the ticket, choose the class, and get to/from the train station.
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Why take the train instead of the flight?
The flight between Bangkok to Chiang Mai is around 1 hour and the train is 10-13 hours. The flight ticket is around 30-50 USD and the 1st class train ticket is around 50 USD.
So, why bother with the overnight sleeper train? Some people prefer taking the train because they just simply want to experience the train ride or save a night in a hotel. The train ride also offers an authentic Thai experience than the flight. You can get good views of the countryside before it gets dark.
If you book the 3rd class, it will cost 300 baht, which is significantly cheaper than taking flight. The 2nd class ticket is around 30 USD, and is the most popular option for travelers (also sold out quickly).
You can consider taking a bus between Chiang Mai and Bangkok, but in my opinion, a train is a safer transport for such a long distance.
How to buy a ticket – online or at the train station?
Booking a ticket online in advance is a convenient way to secure your seat. Most second class and first class trains are sold out quickly in the high season.
Booking a ticket at the train station is slightly cheaper than booking online (100-200 baht), but does not guarantee that you will have an available spot. One advantage of booking at the station is that you can buy your ticket at the last minute.
If you are planning to take the third class seat, you have to book directly at the train station. They don’t sell this option online.
You can buy first class and second class tickets directly at the official website dticket.railway.co.th or through many other online travel agencies and third-party websites like 12go.asia. You can book the train ticket up to 90 days in advance.
Dticket website loads quite slow. Sometimes, you need to change the VPN to the location in Thailand to be able to book the ticket. The train station in Bangkok is Krung Thep Aphiwat Central and in Chiang Mai is Chiang Mai Train Station.
What train class to choose?
So, should you book the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class? The answer is simple: if you have a good budget, the 1st class is the way to go. If you are on a budget and want to travel like most local Thai, choose the 3rd class.
If you are in between, choose the 2nd class. This is the most popular option for long trains as it is more comfortable than 3rd and cheaper than the 1st Class.
The 2nd Class
If you want to book the 2nd class, you should book in advance because it is the most popular option and often sold out quickly. The ticket is ranging from 800- 1000 baht depending on type of train, upper berth, or lower berth.
The 2nd Class has three options: 2nd Class A/C Sleeper, 2nd Class A/C Seat, and 2nd Class Fan Seat. The 2nd Class Sleeper offers bunk beds in a shared area.
I recommend choosing the lower berths for a better experience. It costs a little bit more but it is easy to get in and out. It also has windows, so you can see outside. The upper berths are colder as it is usually closer to AC units.
The 1st Class
The 1st Class Sleeper Air Conditioning is a luxury option, and the price is ranging from 1200 baht to 2500 baht per ticket. The first class offers more privacy than the second class.
The 3rd Class
The 3rd Class has hard seats with fans and open windows. It is the cheapest option and costs only around 300 baht. This is also the most uncomfortable option for such a long journey.
Is it better to take an overnight train or a day train?
If you are a train traveler who enjoys scenic views from the train windows, you can take the daytime trains. The best daytime trains are number 7 from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or number 8 and 102 from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
The downside of taking the daytime train is that you will lose an entire day onboard and arrive in the evening. But, If you prefer daylight views, the day train is the best option for you.
You can consider taking the overnight train if you want to save on one night’s hotel. The most Popular overnight trains are the number 9 from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and number 10 from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The Lower berths and newer carriages on these trains offer more comfort.
The second most Popular overnight trains are the number 14 from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and number 13 from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. These trains offer standard sleep beds.
Train schedule between Bangkok and Chiang Mai
You can go directly to dticket website to check the schedule. Remember to choose a station in Bangkok is Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and Chiang Mai is Chiang Mai Station.
Train timetable from Chiang Mai to Bangkok
| Train # | Depart/Arrive | Features |
| 8 (Special‑Expr.) | 08:50-18:55 (~10 h 05 m) | Daytime train- Fastest and most scenic |
| 10 (Special‑Expr.) | 18:00-06:50 (~12h50m) | Best overnight train – Newer carriages, 1st/2nd AC sleepers, dining car |
| 14 (Special‑Expr.) | 17:00-06:10 (~13h10m) | Second Best overnight train – Mix of 1st & 2nd class AC sleeper |
| 102 (Rapid) | 06:30-19:30 (~13 h 55 m) | Cheaper, but the slowest with more stops. |
| 52 (Express) | 15:30-05:10 (~13h40m) | Standard sleeper, AC |
Train timetable from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
| Train # | Depart/Arrive | Features |
| 7 | 09:05 AM~19:30 (10 h 25 m) | Best Daytime Train (Scenic Route) |
| 9 | 18:40~07:15 (~12 h 35 m) | Best Overnight train – Newer electric carriages, AC sleeper, dining car. |
| 13 | 20:05~08:40 (~12 h 35 m) | Second Best Overnight train – Standard sleeper, 1st & 2nd class AC |
| 51 | 22:30~12:10 (~13 h 40 m) | Standard sleeper, arrives midday |
Get to Chiang Mai Train Station
Chiang Mai Train Station is located 4 km east of Chiang Mai Old Town. To travel between Chiang Mai Station and the Old Town, you can use Grab or tuk tuk. I prefer using Grab as it is easy to request a ride and I don’t have to negotiate the price with the driver.
The journey is around a 15 minute ride in normal traffic conditions. I recommend allowing extra time when traveling from the Old Town to the train station, as traffic is often congested and you don’t want to risk missing your train.
Bangkok Train Station: Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
The train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok terminates at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. This station is very well connected with Bang Sue MRT underground station. You can follow the signs to walk to the MRT station.
You can use the MRT underground train to get to Sukhumvit, Chinatown, Silom, Bangkok Old town and Bangkok Riverside. You can easily transfer to BTS sky train to reach other parts of Siam or Pratunam.
There are also many taxis and tuk tuks outside of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station. You can get a tuk tuk to ChatukChak Bus Station for 100 baht. From ChatukChak Bus Station, you can get a minivan to other parts of Thailand like Pattaya or Hua Hin.
My experience taking 3rd class train ride from Chiang Mai to Bangkok
I stayed in Chiang Mai Old Town and did not book the ticket online in advance. I checked the the schedule online at the official website Dticket, and decided to take the 5 pm train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
I wanted to spend my morning taking a day trip to the Sticky Waterfall before leaving Chiang Mai. I went to the waterfall at 10 am and returned to my hotel at around 3pm. I took my luggages from my hotel and ordered a Grab taxi to get to Chiang Mai station.
I bought the ticket at the ticket counter for the next train to Bangkok. Only 3rd class and 1 st class were available. The 1st class ticket was 1,646 baht, which was quite expensive for me at the time. So, I decided to go with third class.
The ticket shows the seat number and car number, and I have to go exactly to the place stated on it. Usually, when I travel on an ordinary train, I just sit wherever there are free seats. But it was different on this train number 14, the ticket staff go around to make sure people sit on the right seat.
There are lots of local Thai in the 3rd class carriages, and just a few foreigners and backpackers. There are hard seats, fans, open windows, and public toilets. You put the suitcase on the rack at the top of the seats.
There are many street foods vendors that get on and off from different stations selling snacks and street foods. I caught some sunset views just outside the Chiang Mai city center before nightfall.
Normally, two people share a bench, but I was lucky, no one was sitting on mine, so I could stretch out a bit and lie down. Still, the hard seat and cold wind made things quite uncomfortable.
I do not recommend traveling in third class on the train between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. If you want to take the train, book in advance for the 2nd class AC sleep train for a more comfortable experience. It also has a reasonable price. Or if you have a bigger budget, go for 1st class.
If you want to experience the 3rd class train ride for local experience, try some shorter journey like the train from Bangkok to Mae Klong Railway Market, or the death railway from Kanchanaburi to Namtok.
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I hope this short guide on traveling by train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok is helpful for you. It is similar if you are looking to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. I prefer the 2nd sleeper class due to its reasonable price and comfortable beds.
The 1st class can be a bit expensive, and the 3rd class is not very suitable for such a long distance between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. It is more enjoyable for a shorter distance like Bangkok to the railway market.