How to get fromChiang Rai to Kunmingby plane, bus, train or car

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There are 4 ways to get from Chiang Rai to Kunming by plane, bus, train, or car

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

Fly from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport
best
1. Fly from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG)plane CEI - KMG
5h 47m
¥1,437–2,648
Local Bus, bus, train
cheapest
1. Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khongbus
2. Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxaybus
3. Take the train from Oudomxay station to Kunming Southtrain
17h 46m
¥368–1,023
Bus to Chiang Mai International Airport, fly
1. Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Maibus
2. Fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG)plane CNX - KMG
9h 45m
¥1,195–2,650
Drive to Tachilek, fly
1. Drive from Mae Chan to Tachilek (THL)car
2. Fly from Tachilek (THL) to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG)plane THL - KMG
10h 4m
¥533–2,669

Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) flights

22Weekly Planes

6h 37mAverage Duration

¥830Cheapest Price

Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Chiang Rai to Kunming.

Launch map view

Distance: 687 km
Duration: 5h 47m

What companies run services between Chiang Rai, Thailand and Kunming, China?

Scoot Tigerair, Thai AirAsia, and four other airlines fly from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) 3 times a day.

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Train operators

Bus operators

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Kunming(opens in a new window), China(opens in a new window)

Kunming, also known as Yunnan-Fu, is the capital and largest city of Yunnan province, China. It is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of the province as well as the seat of the provincial government. The city was of great significance during World War II as a Chinese military center, American air base, and transport terminus for the Burma Road. In the middle of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, Kunming is at an altitude of 1900 m above sea level and a latitude just north of the Tropic of Cancer. The city is the fourth most populous city in Western China, after Chongqing, Chengdu, and Xi'an, as well as the third most populous city in Southwestern China after Chongqing and Chengdu. As of 2020 census, Kunming had a total population of 8,460,088 inhabitants, of whom 5,604,310 lived in its built-up (or metro) area made of all urban districts but Jinning, not conurbated yet. It is at the northern edge of Dian Lake, surrounded by temples and lake-and-limestone hill landscapes.

Things to do in Kunming

Green Lake(Opens in a new window)

Green Lake Park, or Cui Hu Park, is an urban park in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. It was established in the 17th century on the west side of the Wuhua Mountain and is sometimes described as a "Jade in Kunming".

Yuantong Temple(Opens in a new window)

Yuantong Temple is the most famous Buddhist temple in Kunming, Yunnan province, China. It is located in a protected natural depression and in recent years it has been expanded with funding from Thailand. In the 1950s, it hosted a grand ceremony to greet and send on the sacred teeth of the Buddha and so became important in Southeast Asia.

Daguan Park(Opens in a new window)

Daguan Park is a lakeside park located in the southwestern suburb of Kunming, Yunnan, China. Today many locals come to sit, drink tea, fly kites, and go boating. Among shady walks and pools, Daguan's focal point is Daguan Ge, a square, three-storeyed pavilion built to better the Kangxi Emperor's enjoyment of the distant Western Hills and now a storehouse of calligraphy extolling the area's charms. The most famous poem here is a 118-character verse, carved into the gateposts by the Qing dynasty scholar Sun Ran, reputed to be the longest set of rhyming couplets in China. The park is set on Daguan Stream, which flows south into Lake Dian, and there are frequent hour-long cruises down the waterway, lined with willows, to points along Lake Dian's northern shore. Lake Dian, also known as the Kunming Lake, is the largest lake on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. At Longmen of the Western Hills, there is a panoramic view of the lake.

Kunming North Station(Opens in a new window)

Kunming North Railway Station (昆明北站, Kunming Bei Zhan) is an old railway station in Kunming, the capital of China's Yunnan Province. It was the terminal of the metre gauge Kunming–Hai Phong Railway, but now only sees very limited service.

Places to stay in Kunming

Sofitel Kunming(Opens in a new window)

8.6Fabulous

Kunming Upland International Youth Hostel ,near the city center ,2 mins walk to the subway, 2 mins walk to the Green Lake, Close to Yuan tong Temple, Old street, Yunnan University, convenient payment and visa cards are accepted(Opens in a new window)

8.9Fabulous

The Cloudland International Youth Hostel, Close to the city center,10 min walks to the subway, Close to the night market, old street, green lake, English-speaking service, free Activity convenient payment and visa cards are accepted(Opens in a new window)

9.3Superb

Grand Park Kunming(Opens in a new window)

8.8Fabulous

Rome2Rio makes travelling from Chiang Rai to Kunming easy.

Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chiang Rai to Kunming right here. Rome2Rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Rome2Rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward.