Bangkok to Chiang Mai is Thailand’s busiest domestic air corridor, and it is spoiled for choice: more than a hundred nonstop flights a week, a crowded field of airlines, and both Bangkok airports in play. The hop north takes about 70 minutes, and fares stay some of the cheapest in the country. This guide covers who flies it, what a fair return looks like in baht, and when to book.
Route: Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi BKK / Don Mueang DMK) → Chiang Mai (CNX)
Distance: approximately 595 km (370 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 1h 10m – 1h 15m
Direct flights: Yes — every fare we could price is non-stop. The cheap ones all leave Don Mueang (DMK): Nok Air took roughly seven eighths of them at ฿2,386–฿2,592, with Thai Lion Air at ฿2,592–฿3,003 and Thai AirAsia at ฿2,802–฿2,893. Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and Thai Vietjet Air also fly it non-stop from Suvarnabhumi (BKK).
Fares from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (THB)
This is a short domestic hop, so fares are low and fairly stable year-round — the swings are driven by Thai holidays and Chiang Mai’s cool-season tourism. The New Year period, Songkran (mid-April) and the November–February cool season are the priciest; the green season (June–September) is the cheapest. The figures below are typical economy return fares in baht, with the low-cost carriers at the bottom of each range and full-service Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways toward the top.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | high |
| February | — | medium-high |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | high (Songkran) |
| May | — | low |
| June | — | low |
| July | — | medium |
| August | — | medium |
| September | — | low |
| October | — | medium |
| November | — | high |
| December | — | very high |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, a typical fair price is roughly ฿2,500 return — the measured median is ฿2,388, so that anchor holds and is if anything a shade generous. What does not hold is anything below it: nothing sold under ฿2,386, and four fifths of the hundred cheapest fares sat in a band from ฿2,388 to ฿2,446. That floor belongs to Nok Air out of Don Mueang. No full-service fare appeared among the prices we could check.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 70 minutes):
- Nok Air — low-cost flights from Don Mueang, and the price leader by a distance in our fare check: ฿2,386–฿2,592 return on roughly seven eighths of the hundred lowest fares, including the floor.
- Thai Lion Air — low-cost flights from Don Mueang, at ฿2,592–฿3,003 in our check.
- Thai AirAsia — flies from both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang; low fares, bags and seats sold as extras. In our check it came in at ฿2,802–฿2,893.
- Thai Vietjet Air — frequent low-cost service from Suvarnabhumi; watch the fare rules on cabin and checked bags.
- Bangkok Airways — a full-service “boutique” carrier from Suvarnabhumi; lounge access and free bags included in the fare.
- Thai Airways — the flag carrier, full-service from Suvarnabhumi with generous baggage and a proper cabin service.
There is no cheaper one-stop option that makes sense on a route this short — every sensible ticket is a nonstop. The choice is simply between the rock-bottom low-cost fares and the full-service carriers that bundle in a bag, seat and refreshments.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–8 weeks ahead for the best low-cost fares; prices climb sharply in the final week, especially around holidays.
- Avoid the peaks: New Year, Songkran (mid-April) and the December cool-season rush are the busiest and most expensive.
- Compare the all-in price: a low-cost headline fare can end up dearer than Bangkok Airways once you add a checked bag and a seat — check the total.
- Be flexible on the Bangkok airport: Don Mueang (DMK) hosts Thai Lion Air and some Thai AirAsia flights and is often cheaper, but factor in your transfer time across the city.
- Fly midweek where you can — Tuesday to Thursday departures are usually a little cheaper than weekend flights.
Arriving in Chiang Mai
All flights land at Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), only about 4 km southwest of the Old City — one of the closest airports to a city centre in Thailand. A metered airport taxi or a ride-hailing car into town costs roughly ฿150–฿250 and takes 10–15 minutes. There are also fixed-price airport taxi counters, and many hotels offer free or cheap pickups. Because it is so close, you are in the Old City within minutes of collecting your bag.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
Non-stop flights take about 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. With boarding and taxiing you are still inside a couple of hours end to end, making this one of Thailand’s quickest and most convenient domestic hops.
Are there direct flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
Yes — every one of the hundred cheapest fares we could price is non-stop, and every one of them leaves Don Mueang (DMK): Nok Air at ฿2,386–฿2,592, Thai Lion Air at ฿2,592–฿3,003 and Thai AirAsia at ฿2,802–฿2,893. Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and Thai Vietjet Air also fly it non-stop from Suvarnabhumi (BKK). There are well over a hundred non-stop flights a week.
How much does it cost to fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
A typical economy return runs about ฿2,388–฿2,446, median ฿2,388, with the cheapest we found at ฿2,386 on Nok Air from Don Mueang. Even the dearest non-stop in our check was ฿3,003. Full-service tickets and holiday peaks like December and Songkran sit above that range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
June and September are usually the cheapest, in the green (rainy) season. In the dates we could price, non-stop returns started at ฿2,386. Avoid New Year, Songkran in mid-April and December, which are the busiest and priciest weeks of the year.
Which airlines fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
Several carriers fly it non-stop, and the one that holds the cheap fares is often left off the lists: Nok Air from Don Mueang took roughly seven eighths of the hundred lowest prices we found, at ฿2,386–฿2,592. Then Thai Lion Air (฿2,592–฿3,003) and Thai AirAsia (฿2,802–฿2,893), also from Don Mueang. Thai Vietjet Air on the low-cost side and full-service Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways fly it from Suvarnabhumi, but none of them appeared among the fares we could price.
Which Bangkok airport do these flights leave from?
Both, but the cheap fares are lopsided: all 100 of the lowest fares we could price left Don Mueang (DMK), on Nok Air, Thai Lion Air or Thai AirAsia. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) handles Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai Vietjet and some Thai AirAsia flights. They are on opposite sides of the city, so check which one your ticket uses — and budget the extra transfer time to Don Mueang if you are chasing the lowest fare.
How far in advance should I book Bangkok to Chiang Mai flights?
Aim for 3 to 8 weeks ahead. Because the low-cost airlines dominate this route, fares are cheapest well before departure and rise steeply in the last few days — and much faster around Thai public holidays and the cool-season peak.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Usually, yes. Midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) tend to be a little cheaper than Friday-to-Sunday flights, and shifting your trip by a day or two can shave a few hundred baht off a return. Early-morning and late-night flights are also often the cheapest.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Prices are indicative economy returns in Thai baht and change with demand — always check the live fare before booking.
