By bus it takes 12 hours 25 minutes to travel from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai. The alternative to the long bus journey is to travel by road or rail from Nong Khai to nearby Udon Thani and then to fly from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai.
Bus Timetable from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai
Click on the Nong Khai – Chiang Mai link in the timetable below for more information and to buy tickets.
Nong Khai - Chiang Mai ฿ 975 12h 25m | |
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Bus Stop in Nong Khai
Bus services to Chiang Mai depart from Nong Khai Bus Terminal, 910/128-129, Moo 10, Soi Sansoen, Prachak Road, Nai Mueang, Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai 43000.
Arrival in Chiang Mai
Bus services from Nong Khai terminate at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2, Arcade Bus station, Wat Ket, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50000.
About Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai
Wat Chedi Luang is one of two major temples in Chiang Mai’s old walled city, the other is Wat Phra Singh. Wat Chedi Luang means the Temple of the Great Chedi. Construction of the great chedi began in 1391 and was completed in the 1470s. The height of the original chedi is variously estimated to have been 82 to 85 metres. For a period from 1468 to 1551 the famous Emerald Buddha (now located in Bangkok in the grounds of the Grand Palace) was installed in one of the four upper niches of the chedi. Unfortunately, a large part of the chedi fell down after an earthquake in 1545 and the structure has only been partially restored.

As well as the chedi, there are lots of other points of interest at the temple. Chiang Mai’s city pillar shrine is located near the front entrance to the temple. Behind the city pillar shrine is a very large and ornately decorated assembly hall containing the Phra Chao Attarot, which is a beautiful statue of the Lord Buddha cast in the 14th Century. Wat Chedi Luang is an amalgamation of three temples and occupies a large area. There are lots of other temple buildings and shrines to explore at the same time. Wat Chedi Luang also offers free ‘monk chats’ during which you can go to talk to a monk in English about any subject of your choice, although it makes sense to discuss the temple, Buddhism or Thailand.