The Overnight Sleeper Train Bangkok to Chiang Mai 2025

Everything you need to know about the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

Covering how to book your tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, what facilities are on board, what you need to take with you and much more!

While many transport options are available, the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is one of the most popular and for good reason. 

It is comfortable, clean and quiet, along side offering the opportunity to experience a more authentic mode of transport than just catching another flight!

Experiencing a sleeper train in Thailand is also an incredible bucket list experience to tick off when visiting this part of the world!

We have had both good and bad travel day experiences while travelling Asia and the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is one of our favourite so far!

It was simple to book, we both managed to get a good nights sleep and everything felt very organised and safe.

In this blog you will find out everything you need to know about taking the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and why we think it’s the very best way to make this epic journey! 

How to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

Bangkok is brimming with things to do from the bustling street markets to the incredible unique temples.

But if you can tear yourself away from the city, then Chiang Mai and the North are certainly worth a visit. 

Northern Thailand is full of misty mountains, rice terraces and gorgeous temples and in our opinion, should not be missed!

The three main options for tourists to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok are by plane, bus or train. 

Taking into account the cost of the journey vs both speed and comfort, we believe that the overnight sleeper train Bangkok to Chiang Mai is the best option!

Whilst it may take much longer than flying, most of the hours spent on the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai are spent sleeping so time does pass very quickly. 

🚂Facts about the trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai🚂 

Schedule for Bangkok to Chiang Mai by Train

Five trains depart from Bangkok to Chiang Mai each day and three of those are overnight sleeper trains. 

This makes train travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai incredibly easy to book as there are lots of options available each day.

However, the most popular trains to Chiang Mai to be booked are the sleeper trains 9 and 13 as they arrive early the next day and do not cut into your valuable daylight hours. They are special express trains. 

Train Times from Bangkok to Chiang Mai 

We opted to book the newer sleeper train 9 Bangkok to Chiang Mai, as we had read reviews that as well as the cabins being much newer and more comfortable, the train was also quieter as it is electric, meaning for an even better night’s sleep! 

On our return journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, we chose to book the day train to experience the beautiful views along the way. 

After experiencing both train journeys, we always recommend the overnight sleeper train as the best option for both comfort and the experience. 

How long is the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

Regardless of which train you choose to book from Bangkok to Chiang Mai it is a long journey spanning over 400 miles! 

The fastest Bangkok to Chiang Mai train is the #7 but this does mean you spend a whole day of your trip on a train.

If you are on vacation and have a bucket list of things to see and do then this is not the ideal choice. 

The sleeper train to Chiang Mai takes 12-13 hours but as most of the hours are spent sleeping it feels more like 4-5 hours. 

Which railway station do you board the sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

You will board the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station which is located close to the popular Chatuchak Market. 

Whilst you can get the bus or metro from almost anywhere in Bangkok to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, it’s not an option we recommend if you are travelling with lots of luggage! 

How much do the tickets cost for the Overnight Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

Whilst we always recommend booking train tickets on 12go.Asia, it’s important to note that the Bangkok to Chiang Mai train price is higher here than if you were to buy them yourself from the train station in Bangkok. 

However, the overnight sleeper train tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai get booked out weeks in advance so it is highly unlikely that you will be able to secure these yourself. 

The other advantage to booking with 12go.Asia is that the train tickets are only released 30 days in advance at the main train stations.  

Price of 1st Class AC and 2nd Class AC Tickets in Thai Baht, USD and GBP

But with 12Go you can book 2nd Class AC tickets 60-90 days in advance and they book your tickets as soon as they are released. 

All you have to do is sit and wait for the confirmation making it a stress-free experience! 

Getting your hands on tickets for first class, however, is much more difficult as they sell out immediately.

But fear not, 2nd Class sleeper tickets are a perfect mix of a unique experience and comfort for a very decent price! 

Tickets for First Class Sleeper Train Bangkok to Chiang Mai

• The cost for first-class sleeper train tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is between THB 1753-1903pp (roughly 48-53USD / 39-41GBP) and there are just 12 of these cabins so they do sell out quickly. 

• The first-class sleeper train tickets give you a private cabin for two people so if you are travelling as a couple this is a great option. If you are travelling solo then you can book two tickets or you will share with another passenger.

• First-class cabins do not have a private bathroom but there is a sink in your room to freshen up. 

• The first-class cabin shared bathrooms do have a shower with hot water which is an advantage over the 2nd Class AC tickets where no shower is available. 

• The biggest advantage to 1st Class sleeper train tickets is that you have additional privacy as you can lock your door. You can also turn off the lights so you may get a better night’s sleep given the lights remain on throughout the night in the 2nd Class Cabins. 

Tickets for Second Class sleep train Bangkok to Chiang Mai

When travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train we opted for the 2nd Class AC sleeper train tickets. 

The main reason was that we wanted to experience something unique and also felt that the cost was very reasonable for such a long journey. 

• The cost for 2nd class sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai ticket price is between Thai Baht 1011-1291pp (roughly 28-36USD / 22-29GBP) 

• Each 2nd Class cabin has between 36-40 seats that are turned into beds so you will be sharing with many other passengers. However, we found it to be a very peaceful experience with everyone respecting privacy and quiet time. 

• Each 2nd Class cabin has three shared toilet rooms (no shower) and a baby changing room as well as two external sinks for freshening up. 

• You can store your luggage safely and securely underneath the bottom berth with ease.

• Each berth has a privacy curtain to draw when you are ready to get some shut-eye. 

How to book the sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

Step One: Where to book your Bangkok to Chiang Mai train tickets? 

Whilst you can try and book your tickets in advance from the train station in Bangkok, unless you are there 14-30 days in advance, we recommend booking your tickets online with 12Go.Asia. 

12Go.Asia is one of the most popular websites and options for travellers to book train tickets and transport in general when travelling in Asia and we highly recommend them.

Step Two: Choose which overnight sleeper train you want to book

• Once you have entered your dates and journey you will be taken through to the transport options and booking page. 

• You will see many options of transport to get you from Bangkok to Chiang Mai including trains, flights, buses and taxis! 

• Scroll down and select “trains” and then you can view the various trains available on your chosen date, and departure times.

• Select which overnight sleeper train you wish to travel on.  Be sure to select one with air conditioning. 

Step Three: Enter your details and complete your booking

• Once you have selected your train and clicked next you will reach the “Passengers Page” and will be asked to add the passenger’s information including contact details, full names, and ID/passport numbers

• You will then be given the option to book the upper or lower berths on the train

• If you are booking in advance and before the tickets are officially released, you will need to select how you would like 12Go Asia to manage your booking if you’re chosen seats are not available. This is very helpful and reassuring as 12Go Asia will refund you if you select “not flexible” and they are unable to secure your chosen tickets. 

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• Finally, you will select how you would like to receive your tickets. 12GoAsia offers two options.

1. Collect your tickets from their head office in Bangkok which is located inside the Metro Mall at Chatuchak Station – they are available 3 days before departure – Open hours: Sun-Sat (09:00-20:00)
2. Have the tickets posted to an address in Thailand for a small cost

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• The 12go.asia ticket office is in an easy-to-reach location from most places in Bangkok as its close to Chatuchak Market but be sure to collect your tickets in due time

• You are then given an option at the bottom for added travel insurance if you have not already arranged this. 

• The final step is to make your payment and click Complete! Get excited for your trip to Chiang Mai!

• Be sure to write down your confirmation number just in case you have any issues receiving your email confirmation.

Step Four: Check your email confirmation and wait for your tickets

• After booking check your email account for a confirmation email which arrives in the form of a receipt.

• Be sure to check your junk folder if you have not received it within a few hours.  

• Depending on how far in advance you booked your overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai tickets, your wait time on ticket confirmation can be anywhere from three days to a few months! 

• If you have booked a train to depart in the next 30 days you should receive confirmation and a PDF of your tickets via email within 3-4 days once 12go Asia has secured your tickets.  

• If you have booked your train much further in advance then you will not receive the tickets and PDF until you are within the 30-day departure window. This is because the tickets have not yet been released so 12GoAsia will be waiting to purchase them for you. 

We booked tickets two months in advance and had no issue getting the exact tickets we opted for!

Step Five: Collect your tickets and get excited about your trip to Chiang Mai!

• The final step if you have selected collected, is to collect your train tickets from the 12go.Asia ticket office in the Metro Mall near Chatuchak Station. 

• You can collect them anywhere from 3 days to 3 hours before your train journey is booked. 

❗IMPORTANT NOTE – Do not make the mistake we did!

Whilst it looks like the 12go Asia ticket office and Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (also known as Bang Sue Grand Station) are close to one another (approx 5 minutes by car) do not make the mistake that we made. 

If you decide to collect your train tickets on the day of departure and are leaving from the Khao San road area by car you will be travelling during busy rush hour due to the trains departure time. 

We left our hotel 90 minutes before our departure time to make a journey that should have taken 30 minutes and due to traffic we very nearly missed our train. 

Luckily for us, the staff at 12Go.Asia were so helpful in our time of need! 

I emailed them whilst we were in the taxi explaining that we were struggling to get there on time and fearful we were going to miss our train and they emailed us our tickets.  

They advised us to get them printed off at the station and even provided a caption explaining we needed our tickets printed in Thai, to show the train staff members.

Their service was exceptional! 

Every blog we had read had said how easy it was to collect your tickets for your Bangkok to Chiang Mai overnight sleeper train on the same day.

No one mentioned the intensity of Bangkok rush hour traffic so do not make the same mistake we did. 

Which trains and tickets for the sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai do we recommend?

We recommend the number 9 sleeper train Bangkok to Chiang Mai in 2nd Class with AC.

After examining photographs of both the number 9 and the number 13 night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and doing extensive research I could see that the beds and seats looked much more comfortable on the newer number 9. 

The beds on number 9 are made of softer material instead of the plastic/leather material on the older number 13 train.  

We also liked the fact that since the newer train was electric they would make for a quieter journey so we could get more sleep! 

Facilities on the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (2nd Class Cabins)

• Bedding – YES including a sheet, pillow, and a very comfortable blanket
• Toilets – YES there are “Western-style” toilets but remember to bring toilet paper
• Showers – NO
• Wifi – NO
• Electrical Socket – YES you will find one per bunk but no USB sockets
• Food – YES  You will be offered a dinner and breakfast menu when you board as well as snacks in between meals (see below for menus!)
• Water – YES you will be provided with two small bottles each but this is not enough for the journey so bring extra with you
• Luggage racks – YES But you have ample room under your seats to store bags safely. We had TWO 80L bags plus TWO 40L bags and they fit under the seats
• Table for working – YES but for a very short window of time so do not anticipate being able to work comfortably on the overnight sleeper train
• Smoking – NO
• Alcohol – NO

What is the food like on the Sleeper train Bangkok to Chiang Mai? 

• As soon as the train departs you will have the chance to order food for your dinner and breakfast the next morning – vegetarian options are available! Just ask!

• The cost of the food for two dinners and two breakfasts was 740THB (16GBP / 20USD) which is hugely overpriced for Thailand.

• There was no card facility. So ensure you bring enough cash with you. 

• The quality of the food for both breakfast and dinner was well below average and not nearly as good as plane food. So we recommend that you eat before boarding the train and bring snacks with you.

The differences between the Upper and Lower berth in the 2nd Class AC Cabin

• The staff change the seats into beds for you at 7.40 pm just an hour after boarding. 

• The bottom berth is the more spacious option and you can even pull the small table across you so you can set up your tablet or mobile phone on there and watch TV!

• The top berth does not have a table or shelf and is smaller but I still had enough room to stretch out and keep my day bag and change of clothes with me. 

• Both the top and bottom berth have hooks to hang small items of clothing or a hat, plug sockets, a small reading light, a small net compartment for any small items and a privacy curtain. 

• The lower birth is darker than the top berth as the top is positioned right through the cabin lights which shine through your curtain. 

• The beds themselves were comfortable enough. The staff do add a thin mattress when they make the bed but they are not thick and don’t have much padding but we found them sufficient for one night!

What are the toilets like on the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

• There are three toilets at the end of each car – two normal Western-style toilets and one baby changing room.

• There are also two sinks outside the toilets to brush your teeth and wash your hands. 

• They were all kept very clean for the duration of the journey.

What to expect in the morning on the Bangkok to Chiang Mai Night Train?

• The staff announce waking up at 5.50 am sharp and the crew changes the beds around back to seats at 6 am on the dot. 

• Breakfast arrived at 6.15 and was very average again but it was something to get our day going and the coffee was pretty good. 

• You arrive in Chiang Mai at 7.15 am so just an hour later. 

Chiang Mai and the north is brimming with things to do and epic beauty spots!

From visiting the unique and breathtaking Sky Temple in Lampang or Doi Inthanon National Park just 90 minutes from the city!

To the mountains of Phu Chi Fa and the Tea Plantations of Doi Mae Salong further North.

Many places can be visited independently with a hire car or bike but if you prefer to have trips organised for you then we have listed some of our favourites below to help you plan your Northern Thailand itinerary.

What to bring with you on the Bangkok to Chiang Mai Sleeper Train

• Snacks – Whilst the menu and food are offered, the food was not the finest of cuisines and not the most filling either so we recommend bringing some tasty snacks for the trip.

• Eye mask – The lights on the train remain on for the duration of the journey in 2nd Class. Whilst you have a privacy curtain you can pull across, if you are on the top bunk then the light very clearly shines through to your bunk making an eye mask essential. 

• Earplugs – We found the Bangkok to Chiang Mai overnight sleeper train to be very quiet and everyone respected the fact that people were trying to sleep.  But if you are an extremely light sleeper it’s worth bringing some earplugs with you just in case. 

• A warm jacket – The air conditioning stays on all night and it can get a little chilly so it’s worth keeping a warm jacket or long-sleeved top with you especially if you feel the cold. 

• Pyjamas – Have some comfortable clothes to hand if you want to change before going to sleep. There are no changing rooms but I got changed on my bunk behind the privacy curtain and it made for a much more comfortable sleep. Many people just got on the train in their animal print pyjamas so you can always opt to do that if you prefer! 

• A lock for your bags – If you are worried about your bags then you could bring a lock to chain them together for added security. However, there was plenty of space for them under the seats and it felt very secure. 

• Additional toilet paper – The toilets did run out of toilet tissue after a few hours so it is best to bring some of your own.

• Entertainment & a local SIM card – There is no Wi-Fi on the 2nd Class overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and there is no entertainment.  Ensure you download a couple of movies onto your mobile phone before you set off and don’t forget to get set up with a local sim with 4G to stay connected.

• A Power bank – Whilst there are plug outlets in each berth there are no USB ports. So a power bank will come in very handy if you do not have a plug adapter with you.

Where to go after Chiang Mai?

So you made it to Chiang Mai, but where should you go next?

Chiang Mai is a fantastic city full of incredible cafes and some beautiful views BUT you are missing out if you do not venture further afield.

We spent three weeks exploring the North of Thailand and discovered so many amazing places that seem to be unknown to most tourists.

If you have time then we HIGHLY recommend visiting these amazing places!!

• The Floating Pagodas in Lampang – An incredible temple perched on top of a mountain that glistens for miles around – 1 hour and 30 minutes from Chiang Mai

• Phu Chi Fa National Park – Epic mountain ranges with a stunning blanket of fog at sunrise that makes for incredible views and amazing photographs – 4 hours 30 minutes from Chiang Mai

• Doi Mae Salong – A mountain village nestled on the border of Thailand and Myanmar and home to lush tea plantations and majestic temples and no other tourists at all! – 4 hours and 20 minutes from Chiang Mai.

• Doi Inthanon National Park – One of the most popular day trips from Chiang Mai and worthy of exploring for a few days due to its powerful waterfalls and unique hikes with friendly local Hill Tribe villagers! – 1 hour and 30 minutes from Chiang Mai. It is full of hidden gems and beauty spots with a fraction of the usual crowds.

Waking up in a new city was truly magical—a must-do for all travellers!