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Flights from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang

Only one nonstop links Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang: Lao Airlines, on an ATR, about an hour, four times a week in October 2026. The other way is by river: bus to Chiang Khong, the Friendship Bridge, then two days on the slow boat.

By Pierre-Marie Coupry · updated · sources

The bamboo bridge on stilts across the Nam Khan, below a wooded bank

Photo by Shutterstock

Boarding pass · nonstop

one way · Chiang Mai, from

$127

fare checked October 12, 2026; it changes with your dates

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Flight
nonstop, about 1 hr
Airline
Lao Airlines only
One way
from $127
By river
bus, then 2 days by boat

Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang: fly, or ride down the Mekong?

One hour in the air, a connection via Bangkok, or three days by road and river. Times are for the trip itself.

Bus, then the slow boat

Our pick

3 days · bus ≈ $13 to $20, boat ≈ 220,000 kip

Right for you if

You have time: Greenbus to Chiang Khong, the Friendship Bridge to Huay Xai, where the e-Visa is accepted, then two days on the Mekong with a night in Pakbeng.

Not for you if

You have four days in total: this route takes three.

The slow boat itinerary

Lao Airlines nonstop

Fastest

≈ 1 hr · 4 flights a week

Right for you if

You want to arrive the same day: departs 3:15 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Not for you if

You're leaving on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday: no nonstop on those days, for now.

One stop via Bangkok

Every day

via Don Mueang · Thai AirAsia

Right for you if

The nonstop isn't on your day: Thai AirAsia connects via Don Mueang daily.

Not for you if

You want to save time: the connection adds several hours.

Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang flight prices by month

The lowest one-way fare seen for each departure month.

One way, lowest fare seen

  1. January : –
  2. February : –
  3. March : –
  4. April : –
  5. May : –
  6. June : –
  7. July : –
  8. August : –
  9. September : –
  10. October : $127 the cheapest
  11. November : $134
  12. December : $177
January
–
February
–
March
–
April
–
May
–
June
–
July
–
August
–
September
–
October
$127the cheapest
November
$134
December
$177

Source: Aviasales via Travelpayouts, lowest one-way fares seen in recent days, checked October 12, 2026. “–”: no fare seen for that departure month.

From the airport to central Luang Prabang

The airport is 4 km from the old town: twenty to thirty minutes by road. Fill in the Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) online within 3 days before you arrive.

Taxi or van

≈ 100,000 kip

Fixed fare: buy the ticket at the desk inside the terminal, then walk to the vehicle. About 20 to 30 minutes to the old town.

Visa on arrival

≈ $40

Issued at the airport, in US dollars cash. The e-Visa, $50 on the official portal, is also accepted there.

From Chiang Mai, the river route

Between northern Thailand and Luang Prabang, the Mekong forms the border, then flows into Laos: this is the slow boat route, two days on the water.

Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang: FAQ

Does the nonstop go back to daily in winter?
It was daily last winter. For the season starting October 25, 2026, nothing confirms it yet: in October, it flies four days a week.
How much is the slow boat?
Around 220,000 kip for the boat alone, according to a 2026 guide. Packages sold in Chiang Mai, bus and boat included, run about 1,700 baht.
Is the e-Visa accepted at Huay Xai?
Yes: Friendship Bridge IV, between Chiang Khong and Huay Xai, is on the official portal's list of e-Visa entry points. So is Luang Prabang airport.

Sources: flights and times, trip.com (flight status, October 2026), FlightMapper, Kayak and aerocorner (October 2026); bus and slow boat, 12Go and Nomadasaurus (2026); fares, Aviasales via Travelpayouts (weekly check); visa, official portal laoevisa.gov.la (October 2026); Luang Prabang airport, aifly (May 2026). Updated October 12, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.