How to travel from Chiang Rai to Laos Border by bus

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You can get from Chiang Rai to the border with Laos by taking a cheap bus from terminal 1 in the centre of the city. From Chiang Rai, you can reach Chiang Khong, the last town before the border with Laos, and then cross the Friendship Bridge, go through the immigration and make it into…

You can get from Chiang Rai to the border with Laos by taking a cheap bus from terminal 1 in the centre of the city. From Chiang Rai, you can reach Chiang Khong, the last town before the border with Laos, and then cross the Friendship Bridge, go through the immigration and make it into Laos.

Easy, right? Well, we have done it before you, and there was far less information online. We went with the flow and eventually made it to Huay Xai before embarking on the slow boat on the Mekong.

Through this article we’ll guide you on how to travel from Chiang Rai to the Laos Border, with all the options for every budget, tips and tricks.

Bus sign from Chiang Rai bus station to Laos Border

Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong

The journey begins at Terminal 1 in Chiang Rai, where buses depart every hour from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The first bus of the day is a great option if you want to make the most of your time.

The bus ride to Chiang Khong, the last city before the border, takes about two hours, but make plans for three due to frequent stops in small villages.

These local buses are basic—red, old, and often crowded with people standing. Be prepared for dust and open windows, but the friendly locals and the cost of only 70 THB make it a memorable experience.

We recall a particularly amusing moment when a lady sat in front of us, calmly carrying two chickens as if they were pets on a London metro.

The bus driver’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident as he stopped frequently to pick up more passengers. At one point, another backpacker even helped push car wheels onto the roof to speed things up!

Don’t expect AC or comfy seats; this is the best you can get for a 70 THB bus.

Toti and Ale on the bus from Chiang Rai to Laos

Reaching the border

Once you arrive near Chiang Khong, the bus driver will likely offer to take you directly to the border for an additional 50 THB.

This is a good deal, as otherwise, you might need to spend up to 100 THB on a Grab or tuk-tuk for a mere 15-minute drive. We opted for this offer and were dropped off just a short walk from the border.

Bus ticket from Thai immigration to Laos immigration

Crossing the Border from Thailand to Laos

After clearing immigration in Thailand (always check your exit stamp), you’ll be prompted to several stands offering bus tickets to pass the Laos immigration.

The bus crossing the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge takes about 10 minutes to reach the Laos Immigration offices, and tickets cost THB 30. They will wait to have a full bus, so don’t rush. You are officially exited Thailand and are entering Laos.

I remember we had to wait quite a while, as there were just about 20 people, not enough to fill the bus. Carry some Thai Baht with you, which is always handy and accepted in Huay Xai, but also for your Laos visa.

Passport control border from Thailand to Laos

Getting a visa on arrival in Laos

The process we went through at the Laos Immigration was smoother than we initially thought. Once you are off the bus, the small kiosks are open, and you’ll need to fill out a form and an arrival card in order to obtain your visa on arrival.

It’s essential to have two recent photos (passport standard), a copy of your document (just in case), and a pen (everyone was short on this, and they do not provide it).

On the arrival card, you’ll be requested the address in Laos, just the name of the hotel where you are staying rather than Huay Xai, Pak Beng or Luang Prabang. We stayed in Huay Xai before our Mekong River boat, so it was easier for us.

Handover your passport (you must have a full page free), the arrival form and the amount (about $30). At the border, they will accept Thai Baht, Lak or USD. Wait about 10 minutes until your visa is processed, and retrieve your passport from the second window.

They requested another $1 for processing fees. To be honest we saw online many saying it was illegal, but for one dollar we couldn’t bother to argue.

ATMs at the border

What to do if you don’t have enough money for your visa on arrival in Laos? Well, easy peasy. At the border in Laos there are several ATMs, some also offering withdrawal in USD.

However, reports are saying that rates at these ATMS are very inflated, and it’s not worth it. Remember to withdraw THB before departing from Chiang Rai to avoid scams.

View from our bus window while going towards the border from Thailand to Laos

How to get from the Laos border to Huay Xai town

Once you cross the border and get your Visa stamped, you must make it into town. The ride from the border of Laos to Huay Xai town is rough, through windy roads, and rural outskirts.

Several open trucks are offering the service, and the ticket is standard. They tried to scam us for about THB 100, but keep walking, and you’ll find 30,000 LAK (we paid about THB 50 each, $1,50).

Instead if you are going directly to the pier to rush into the slow boat, it will cost a little more: 100,000 LAK ($4.60 | £3.70 | €4.40).

Continuing your journey in Laos

Many travellers choose to spend the night in Chiang Khong to catch the first slow boat to Laos in the morning.

Doing this way, you’ll get time for the visa process, breakfast, and stocking up on snacks before embarking on the two-day Mekong River journey. We opted to spend the night in Huay Xai instead, as we don’t like to put pressure on visas and want a slower trip.

Well, the sunset from the balcony of our guesthouse in Huay Xai was memorable, with the Buddha Statue on the hills of Chiang Khong creating the perfect landscape dream.

Practical Tips and Insights Crossing the Thai-Lao Border

  • The bus from Chiang Rai: The most convenient and efficient way to get from Chiang Rai to Laos border.
  • Budgeting: Keep some local currency handy for small transactions. Carry some USD, just in case.
  • Accommodations: Consider staying in Chiang Khong or Huay Xai for a more relaxed journey.
  • Cultural Insights: Huay Xai doesn’t have much to offer, but it is a laid-back town with nice restaurants and a lively bar full of backpackers.
Huay Xai Main road

Where to stay in Huay Xai

We stayed overnight in Huay Xai, and it gave us the chance to regroup after the journey from Chiang Rai. The little town is very quiet, with only one road going through the centre toward the pier, a few banks, lovely restaurants, and cheap bars for backpackers.

We decided to stay right in the centre, easy to walk to the pier with our backpacks, and closer to the restaurant. Sabaidee Guesthouse was very basic but extremely cheap. Did the job well.

Especially at sunset, we grabbed two beers and some snacks. We hung out on the balcony with other travellers, watching the sunset and Thailand on the other side.

Enjoy the journey

We travelled to Laos by land for two main reasons, trying to avoid flights, and be more sustainable mindful travellers. After all, Traveling from Chiang Rai to Laos border is a journey filled with unique experiences and stunning views.

With a bit of planning and flexibility, you can make the most of this adventure. Whether you’re taking the bus to Chiang Khong, crossing the border, or cruising down the Mekong, each moment offers a glimpse into the rich culture and beauty of Southeast Asia and this ritual of passage along the banana pancake trail.

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Co-Founder and Blogger

Toti Maisto is a London‑based travel creator, journalist, and marketer, and the co‑founder of Passport and Stamps, an award‑winning travel media brand focused on slow, experience‑driven adventures for backpackers and digital nomads. Drawing on more than a decade in digital marketing, SEO, and data‑driven content strategy, he blends storytelling, photography, and performance analytics to design travel guides that are both highly useful for readers and commercially effective for tourism and hospitality partners.
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Toti began his online publishing journey in 2012 by founding a local news outlet before pivoting fully into travel journalism and blogging. In 2018 he and his partner Ale left their traditional jobs, extensively explored Southern Spain developing love for authentic local experience that last meaningful memories. Then progressively built a portfolio of travel projects, working with the best tourism boar, PR agencies and top end hotels around the world. From 2022 Toti on a quest around Southeast Asia, Morocco, Balkans Area and the US to document first‑hand experiences journaling on daily basis through the wide website portfolio and social media. In the meantime you'll find Toti in a cafe in the remote village of Sapa (Vietnam) sipping coffee, scootering around Lombok island in Indonesia, or cafe hopping in Singapore with a laptop. He is extensively working as Speaker for the best conferences for SEO, blogging and content creators.​

As co‑founder and lead content strategist at Passport and Stamps Creative Media, Toti oversees editorial direction, SEO, and campaign planning across multiple sites and social platforms, collaborating with global tourism boards, hotel brands, and destination partners. His work emphasises authenticity and practical detail—combining on‑the‑ground research with data insights—to help readers plan realistic itineraries while giving brands a credible, trusted voice in front of highly engaged travel audiences.

On social media and video, Toti appears as half of the Passport and Stamps “slowmad” travel couple, sharing life on the road, behind‑the‑scenes content production, and transparent insights into long‑term digital nomad living. This mix of professional marketing background, hands‑on travel experience, and consistent cross‑channel presence positions him as a reliable, expert guide for travellers seeking honest, experience‑led advice rather than generic, second‑hand recommendations.