Getting from Pai to Chiang Rai
Written by Nolo Hub Pai
Updated by the Nolo team, November 2026
tl;dr
There’s a direct minivan from Pai to Chiang Rai, so you don’t have to go back to Chiang Mai and change. It starts back down the 1095, the same curves you came up on, and the early van stops at the White Temple on the way. We sell the tickets at reception, and the van picks you up from the hostel.
Quick answers
- The van
- Terminal Green, direct, leaving Pai at 7am, 9.30am or 11.30am every day
- The White Temple
- The 7am van stops there for half an hour; entry isn’t included
- Pickup
- From Nolo Hub Pai
- Booking
- At our reception, about 48 hours ahead; no refunds or changes
- Price
- Ask at reception
The minivan
Terminal Green’s vans leave Pai every day at 7am, 9.30am and 11.30am, and none of them changes in Chiang Mai. They finish at a shopping centre in Chiang Rai.
The 7am van takes a 30-minute break at the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, outside Chiang Rai. The entry fee isn’t part of your ticket, so keep some cash for it. The later vans don’t stop there.
The first part is the 1095 back towards Chiang Mai, all 762 curves of it again. If they got to you on the way up, the carsickness tips in our guide to getting to Pai work just as well going down.
Booking
Book at our reception, about 48 hours before you want to go, and ask there for the price. Terminal Green’s tickets can’t be refunded or changed, so settle on your day before you buy.
If something comes up and you have to leave sooner than a van can take you, ask us about a private taxi.
In Chiang Rai
Stay a night if there’s something in Chiang Rai you want to see. If you’re on your way to Laos, you don’t need to stop at all: Terminal Green’s vans go on to the border at Chiang Khong, and our guide to getting from Pai to Laos has the packages that carry on across it.
Questions
Is there a direct bus from Pai to Chiang Rai?
Yes, though it’s a minivan. Terminal Green’s vans leave Pai every day at 7am, 9.30am and 11.30am and go straight to Chiang Rai, with no change in Chiang Mai.
Does the Pai to Chiang Rai van stop at the White Temple?
The 7am van does, for 30 minutes, and the entry fee isn’t included. The later vans don’t stop there.
How far ahead should I book the van to Chiang Rai?
About 48 hours. The tickets can’t be refunded or changed.
