How to Book a Sleeper Train From Bangkok to Chiang Mai: Tickets & Guide
Lower berths sell out fast, booking early matters most
The Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train covers 693km in 12 to 14 hours overnight, and Train #9 is consistently named the best option, modern carriages, a convenient 18:40 departure, and arrival in Chiang Mai around 7:15am. Lower berths sell out fast, so booking early matters more than almost anything else on this route.
The real train options
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #9 Special Express (CNR) | 18:40 | ~07:15 | Modern carriages | The one to book first |
| #13 Special Express | 20:05 | ~08:40–08:45 | Older Daewoo carriages | Backup when #9 sells out |
| #7 Daytime Special Express | 07:30 | ~17:50 | Seats only | Daylight scenery |
| #109 Rapid Sleeper | 14:15 | ~04:00 | Older stock | Cheapest berths, awkward arrival hour |
Train #9 is repeatedly named the top choice for its modern CNR carriages and more comfortable overall journey. Train #13 is the sensible backup, and even has a genuine quirk worth knowing: some of its door windows can actually be opened, letting photographers get glare-free shots of the jungle scenery, something the fully sealed Train #9 doesn't allow.
Real pricing by class
Repeatedly named the top choice for comfort
| Class | Berth | Approximate price |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd class (Train #9) | Upper | $28–29 (฿900–950) |
| 2nd class (Train #9) | Lower | $31–32 (฿1,000–1,050) |
| 1st class (Train #9) | Upper | $44–48 (฿1,400–1,550) |
| 1st class (Train #9) | Lower | $50–52 (฿1,600–1,700) |
| 1st class (Train #9) | Private cabin | $74 (฿2,400) |
Train #13's older Daewoo carriages run slightly cheaper across every class than Train #9's modern CNR stock.
Sourced from thailandtrain.org's Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train guide, thailandtrain.org's Bangkok to Chiang Mai train schedule and prices, visitthailandtoday.com's Bangkok to Chiang Mai transport comparison, yesmytrips.com's Thailand sleeper trains guide, and thethailandguides.com's Bangkok–Chiang Mai sleeper train guide.
An honest note on the booking window
Every current source agrees on 90 days
How to book
Lower berth for value, private cabin for comfort
Go to dticket.railway.co.th, the official State Railway of Thailand portal, and search Bangkok (Krung Thep Aphiwat) to Chiang Mai for your travel date. Select Train #9 first, or Train #13 as the backup if #9's lower berths are already gone. Choose your class, 2nd class lower berth for value, 1st class private cabin for comfort, enter your passport number, and complete payment with a credit or debit card.
If the official portal feels too complicated, or you want an instant e-ticket without navigating a government website, booking through an agency like 12Go Asia is the common alternative. It adds a booking fee, but offers a more standard checkout experience and immediate confirmation.
Practical tips
Book the moment the 90-day window opens if you're travelling November through February, during Songkran, or around any Thai public holiday, lower berths on Train #9 can sell out within hours during these periods.
Choose Train #13 as your backup rather than a daytime seat-only option if Train #9 is sold out, you still get a proper lay-flat bed, just in older carriages.
Book directly at the station only if you're already in Bangkok 14 to 30 days ahead of your travel date, otherwise online booking is the more reliable route given how quickly popular dates fill up.
Pick a lower berth over an upper one if the price difference is small, lower berths offer more space and are generally preferred by taller travellers.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until you arrive in Thailand to book your sleeper train ticket. Given the 90-day advance booking window and how quickly lower berths disappear, this is one of the easiest ways to end up with no availability at all.
- Relying on outdated advice that tickets open just 30 days before departure. This figure appears in older guides but is contradicted by every current source, plan around the 90-day window instead.
- Assuming Train #9 is your only option once it's sold out. Train #13 still gets you a proper sleeper berth, just in older carriages and at a slightly later departure time.
- Booking a daytime seat-only train (like #7) by mistake when you actually want to sleep through the journey, confirm you're booking a sleeper class specifically, not a seated one.