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Search round tripsDomestic route CNX to HKT
Chiang Mai to Phuket: two hours from the mountains to the sea
Both airlines fly nonstop from Chiang Mai to Phuket in about two hours, so there is no need to change in Bangkok.
Fares
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Nonstop, both airlinesEconomy
CNX
Chiang Mai
HKT
Phuket
- Distance
- 1,187 km
Return
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Looking for Chiang Mai to Phuket air tickets and not sure what to pay? Two airlines fly this route, and fares change with demand, so the same seat can cost noticeably more close to a holiday weekend. Put your dates in the search above to compare today's fares and book with bookingMentor.
Everything you should know
Chiang Mai to Phuket flight guide
Flying from Chiang Mai to Phuket
In short
The trip from the northern mountains to the Andaman coast takes about two hours on a nonstop flight. Both airlines fly from Chiang Mai (CNX) to Phuket (HKT), a distance of about 1,187 km.
Bangkok Airways or Thai AirAsia?
The main difference is what comes in the fare. Bangkok Airways sells full-service economy that includes a checked bag. In Chiang Mai the airline has a Blue Ribbon Lounge for its business passengers and a Boutique Lounge on the second floor of domestic departures for its other passengers, subject to the airline's current rules. Thai AirAsia is low-cost: a seat and a cabin bag, with checked luggage, seats and meals sold as extras. For a beach holiday with a suitcase, add the bag before comparing prices.
No ATMs after check-in at Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai's single terminal is a short ride from the Old City. Domestic check-in is at the northern end of the ground-floor hall. Before you go upstairs to security, take out any cash you need: there are no ATMs or exchange booths after check-in. Two hours before departure is a sensible margin, more at weekends.
Smart Bus and taxis from Phuket's Domestic Terminal
Flights from Chiang Mai use the Domestic Terminal at Phuket International Airport, which sits at Mai Khao on the island's north-west tip. Every beach is a fair drive from here:
- Phuket Smart Bus: boards at the Domestic Terminal arrivals exit and runs via Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata to Rawai, about 90 minutes to Patong.
- Meter taxi: the stand is outside to the right, 50 to 60 minutes to Patong (38 km).
- Airport Bus: hourly to the Phuket Town bus terminal, 32 km away.
- Pre-booked car with a driver, which meets you in arrivals.
Walk past anyone offering a ride inside the hall, and if a van stops at a travel agency on the way, simply give your hotel name and ask to carry on.
Phi Phi boat trips and the south-west monsoon
November to April is the dry season on Phuket's west coast, with calm seas for boat trips to Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay. From May to October the south-west monsoon brings rain and rough water, and lifeguards often close beaches to swimmers. For Chiang Mai residents and visitors, a Phuket trip in March or April also means a break from the northern haze.
Background on the carriers
Bangkok Airways has the longer history: it was founded as Sahakol Air in 1968 and has flown as Bangkok Airways since 1989. It owns three airports, at Samui, Sukhothai and Trat, and runs a fleet of 23 Airbus A319, Airbus A320 and ATR 72-600 aircraft (August 2025). From Chiang Mai it flies to Suvarnabhumi, Koh Samui and Phuket.
Thai AirAsia is a joint venture between Thailand's Asia Aviation, with about 55 percent, and Malaysia's AirAsia group. It began service on 4 February 2004 and keeps its head office at Don Mueang. Its Airbus fleet numbered 62 in August 2025, with seven more on order: 180 seats on an A320-200, 186 on an A320neo and 236 on an A321neo.
Phuket airport's location and terminals
Phuket handled 17,474,051 passengers in 2025, 6,636,760 of them on domestic flights. Airports of Thailand runs the airport, which sits in Mai Khao subdistrict of Thalang district, about 32 km north of Phuket Town. Terminal 3 is the domestic building and Terminal 2 the international one, and the runway is 3,000 m long.
Chiang Mai, your departure airport, handled 9.52 million passengers in 2025 and has operated around the clock since April 2014.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
We check practical details such as entry rules, seasons and costs against official government and tourism sources.
Chiang Mai to Phuket flights at a glance
Both airlines fly nonstop from Chiang Mai (CNX) to Phuket (HKT). The flight covers about 1,187 km and takes about two hours.
| Flight time | 2h 00m nonstop |
|---|---|
| Best time to go | November to April |
| Distance | 1,187 km |
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Airlines flying Chiang Mai to Phuket
Bangkok Airways flies full-service economy with a checked bag included; Thai AirAsia sells low-cost fares. Both land at Phuket's Domestic Terminal.
On Thai AirAsia, checked bags are an extra. Bangkok Airways has lounges for its passengers on the second floor of Chiang Mai's domestic departures.
Departure and arrival airports
CNX Chiang Mai International Airport
- Codes
- IATA CNX, ICAO VTCC
- Check-in
- Domestic counters at the northern end of the ground-floor hall
- Cash
- ATMs and exchange booths on the ground floor only
- Lounges
- Coral Executive Lounge (domestic), Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon and Boutique lounges
HKT Phuket International Airport
- Codes
- IATA HKT, ICAO VTSP
- Terminal
- Domestic Terminal
- To the beaches
- Smart Bus from the Domestic Terminal, meter taxis outside to the right
- Distances
- Phuket Town about 32 km, Patong 38 km, Kata 48 km
How to book Chiang Mai to Phuket for less
Before you swap the hills for the beach.
1checked bag in Bangkok Airways' standard fare
Add the bag before you compare
Bangkok Airways includes a checked bag in standard economy; Thai AirAsia does not on basic fares. With a suitcase, compare the totals after adding it.
0ATMs after security
Take cash out downstairs at CNX
Chiang Mai's ATMs and exchange booths are all in the ground-floor hall. Draw what you need before going up to security.
90 minSmart Bus to Patong
Find the Smart Bus at the Domestic Terminal
The Smart Bus boards right outside domestic arrivals and runs down the west coast as far as Rawai. Check the day's timetable, as the gap between buses can be long.
Flight, train or bus to Phuket
Chiang Mai to Phuket overland means a train or bus to Bangkok and a long bus south, the best part of two days. The nonstop flight takes about two hours.
| Mode | Journey time | Total trip time | One-way fare | Operators and timings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight (nonstop) | About 2 hours | About 5 hours door to door | Search fares | 2 airlines |
| Flights via Bangkok | Two flights with a change at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang | Most of a day | Search fares | 2 airlines |
Where to stay in Phuket
Most visitors stay on the west-coast beaches at Patong, Karon and Kata or in Phuket Old Town; Nai Yang is closest to the airport.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General
Yes. Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia both fly the route nonstop in about two hours.
Getting there
About two hours for roughly 1,187 km. Timetabled times vary slightly by airline and season.
It depends on your luggage. Bangkok Airways includes a checked bag and snacks in standard economy; Thai AirAsia is cheaper for travellers with only a cabin bag.
On the ground floor, in the main hall. There are none upstairs after security, so get cash before you check in.
Yes. Its Blue Ribbon Lounge serves business passengers and eligible members, and its Boutique Lounge on the second floor of domestic departures is open to Bangkok Airways passengers under the airline's current rules.
Take the Smart Bus from the Domestic Terminal, which stops at both beaches on its way to Rawai, or a meter taxi or pre-booked car. Kata is about 48 km from the airport.
Outside the terminal, to the right as you leave arrivals. Ignore drivers who offer rides inside the building; their flat fares are usually higher than the meter.
Some shared vans and private cars call at an agency to sell tours and rooms. You are under no obligation; give your hotel name and ask to go straight there.
No. The Smart Bus runs down the west coast. For Phuket Town take the separate Airport Bus, which leaves hourly during the day.
Timing & weather
From November to April. In the monsoon months, May to October, the west coast has rough water and beaches are often closed to swimmers.
Booking
As early as you can. December and early January are Phuket's busiest weeks, and both seats and beach hotels fill well ahead.
