Hua Hin is often described as a town similar to Chiang Mai but near the beach. If you need a little sand ‘n sun in your life and are looking for a budget-friendly way to travel from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin, then this VIP Bus guide is for you.
Chiang Mai to Hua Hin: Sombat Tour VIP Bus
UPDATE:Â Prices and times of Sombat Tour’s bus schedule have been updated as of March 2017.
VIP bus tickets from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin can be purchased at the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station (Terminal 3) on Kaeo Narawat Road on the northeast outskirts of the Old City. The Sombat Tour Bus counter sells one way VIP bus tickets for 1,005Â baht (29 USD).
Tickets must be purchased in cash and in person. Go to the bus terminal least a day in advance, especially during holiday or weekend travel. Return tickets must be bought at the terminal of departure.
Sombat Tour bus tickets can be purchased online through 12go.asia but the available routes only go from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
View Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station in a larger map
The bus ride from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin is about twelve and a half hours long. Departing times of Sombat Tour Bus from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin are as follows:
Sombat Tour Bus Schedule: Chiang Mai to Hua Hin
| Special (754 THB) | VIP (1,005 THB) | Special (754 THB) | |
| Departing Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station (Terminal 3) | 8:00am | 7:00pm | 7:30pm |
| Arriving at Hua Hin Bus Station | 8:30pm | 7:15am | 7:45am |
Pros of the Sombat Tour VIP Bus
- There are several food stalls that sell hot meals at Terminal 3 (unlike Terminal 2 across the street)
- Mini convenience shops sell snacks, toiletries, and simple travel gear
- The bus left on time and arrived at destination on schedule
- Snacks, drinks, blankets, AND neck pillows were provided on the bus
- Bus seats lean back and leg and foot rests come up for a relatively comfortable sleeping position
- Strong air conditioning (recommend wearing long pants/socks/light jacket)
- The bus stopped at a nice rest stop. The bathrooms have European toilets, toilet paper, and hand soap. The neighboring convenience store has a huge selection of snacks, drinks, and hot meals.
Cons of the Sombat Tour VIP Bus
- Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station Terminal 3 bathrooms are equipped with squat toilets, charge three baht for toilet paper, and do not have hand soap
- The snacks provided on the VIP bus are pre-packaged sugary baked goods, which are not filling and results in a sugar high
- The bus isle is very narrow and difficult to walk through with bags
- There is no luggage compartment underneath the bus. Bags must fit in the overhead storage space above your seat, which has about a ten inch clearance
The bus ride ends at the new Hua Hin Bus Station on Petchkasem Road, located off the main highway (Route 4). It is a small building in good condition, with an air-conditioned waiting area that sells small snacks and has nice bathrooms. There is a tuk-tuk station on the corner of the main road if you need a ride to your final destination.
View Hua Hin Bus Stations in a larger map
Return tickets from Hua Hin to Chiang Mai can be purchased at the Hua Hin Bus Station. Bring cash and buy them in advance if possible, especially if you are traveling on weekends or on holidays. Departure times for the Sombat Tour VIP bus are as follows, and also take about twelve and a half hours:
Sombat VIP Tour Bus Schedule: Hua Hin to Chiang Mai
| Special (754 THB) | VIP (1,005 THB) | Special (754 THB) | |
| Departing from Hua Hin Bus Station | 8:00am | 5:00pm | 6:00pm |
| Arriving at Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station (Terminal 3) | 8:30pm | 6:30am | 7:00am |
Overall Impression of the VIP Bus from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin
Our experience with Sombat Tour VIP Bus was excellent. We choose to do the overnight route, and with the help of a sleeping aid, the twelve and a half hour ride passed by fairly quickly. We were comfortable in our seats, had enough room for our luggage, and really liked the condition of the rest stop we went to in the middle of the night. If you have time to spare and are physically able to sit down for over twelve hours, consider this cheap alternative to flying from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin.
Q bus from Huahin to Chiang Mai
Is there a difference between the 5pm and the 6pm departure.
I was told that the 6pm departure is a more luxurious bus ?
Colm
No probs chris & angela, on the bus as i speak ;)
Time to leave Hua HIn is now 5.30 pm for the overnight bus to Chiang Mai. Price as as of april 2016 is 980B
Thanks for that update, Andy!
Good clear,concise and to the point article. Thanks for the info
Thanks, Tom!
I just came back from Chiang Mai, per Bus both ways. Going in the day time….there is much to see, very enjoyable with one stop near Nakhon Sawan. Very clean western bathrooms with shop and restaurant where passengers also can get free food with Bus ticket. Remember your Bus number, there are many similar Buses in the parking lot. Chiang Mai now has a new Bus Station. My return trip to Hua Hin was over night. Everybody sleeps, very quiet. Same stop, same place. I made advance seat reservation and was very happy with SOMBAT. Very safe, Bus travels only… Read more »
I’ve done this round trip route 3 times in the last 2 years, each time the bus had a luggage compartment. Have you ever heard of a VIP bus without a luggage compartment?
There have been luggage compartments on the three or four other overnight buses we’ve taken. This particular trip we can’t be so sure because it was pouring down rain and we were ushered into the bus with all of our bags. It’s worth keeping in mind (and asking about at the ticket counter) when traveling and packing your bags.
Thanks for the information on this bus, Hua Hin is somewhere I want to visit. I’m reluctant to take the long distances buses here in Thailand after everything I’ve read recently and the crashes. I don’t know if people on the expat boards just have vivid imaginations but it makes me wonder about the drivers when they immediately run off after crashes. I prefer the train, though the Bangkok – Chiang Mai line sounds like it’s falling apart!
Glad to have been able to help! As with all things, there are people out there that highlight only the bad or only the good. If we listened to all of the negative reviews and bad news happening out there I am afraid we would never leave our house :) Best thing is just to do your research and choose a reputable company. We hope you are able to visit Hua Hin soon. It is a great laid back beach town! We definitely want to try out the train on one of our next trips down south.
Did you get a pic of the bus itself?
As JC of RetireCheapAsia.com often says, there’s always an option. Thanks for the excellent information and choice.
No problem at all. We are happy to be able to share our experiences. We have a couple more Hua Hin posts in the pipeline, so be on the lookout. Take care, Robert and Samee!