Cheapest round-trip
Search your dates
Return fares for Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai are pulled from the airlines and our partners when you search. Pick your dates to see return flights and prices.
Search round tripsInternational route KUL to CNX
Cheap flights from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai
Both airlines fly nonstop from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai. The 1,806 km flight takes about 2 hours 45 minutes.
Fares
Fares are pulled from the airlines and our partners when you search. Search your dates
Nonstop, both airlinesEconomy
KUL
Kuala Lumpur
CNX
Chiang Mai
- Distance
- 1,806 km
Return
Search fares
Looking for Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai 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
Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai flight guide
Flying from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai
In short
Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai is a 1,806 km nonstop flight of about 2 hours 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), flown by AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines. It takes you straight to northern Thailand's old walled city and mountains without a change in Bangkok.
Malaysia Airlines from T1 or AirAsia from T2
Malaysia Airlines flies from KLIA Terminal 1 and includes a checked bag and a meal in normal economy fares. AirAsia leaves from Terminal 2 and sells a basic fare with a cabin bag only. A trekking pack or a suitcase will need a paid checked allowance on AirAsia, and it costs less when added online at booking.
KLIA Ekspres timings and the RM55 fare
The KLIA Ekspres from KL Sentral is the most predictable way out to Sepang, about 45 km south of the city. Trains run every 20 minutes, reach Terminal 1 in about 28 minutes and Terminal 2 three minutes later, and the adult one-way fare is RM55. Make sure you get off at the right terminal for your airline.
Taxis and Gate 12 shuttle vans at CNX
CNX is one of the closest airports to a city centre in Asia, just south-west of the old city. A taxi or Grab reaches most old-city and Nimman hotels in 15 to 20 minutes.
Budget options are good here. Airports of Thailand runs shuttle vans from Gate 12 of the international terminal: route A1 goes to Nimmanhaemin Road, Huay Kaew Road and the moat for 40 baht, A2 to Mahidol Road, the Night Bazaar and Chang Khlan Road hotels for 40 baht, and A3 to Ring Road 2 and the 700th Anniversary Stadium for 60 baht. The city's Yellow and Red bus lines run from 6 am to 11:30 pm, and red songthaews take passengers to any address for a negotiated fare.
If you plan to drive to Pai, Doi Inthanon or Chiang Rai, the car rental counters are on the first floor of the terminal.
Filing the TDAC for Chiang Mai
All non-Thai nationals must file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online in the three days before arrival, at tdac.immigration.go.th. It took over from the paper TM6 card on 1 May 2025 and records your arrival only; it is not a visa. Whether you need a visa depends on your passport, so read our Thailand visa page and the Thai e-Visa site before you buy the ticket.
Cool season, burning season and the rains
November to February is the cool, dry season and the busiest time in Chiang Mai, with the lantern festivals of Yi Peng and Loy Krathong in November. From late February to April smoke from crop burning often hazes the valley. The rains run from about June to October, when the hills are green and hotels are cheaper.
Thailand is on UTC+7, one hour behind Malaysia, and neither country changes its clocks. You gain an hour on the way north.
The TDAC window matters for planning. The Royal Thai Embassy guidance says submission opens three days before arrival, so a traveller landing on a Saturday can file from the Wednesday, and that immigration will not process an arrival without it. You can file before a Thai visa has been issued, which helps if your application is still pending.
On the Malaysian side, KLIA Ekspres trains run until about 1 am, so a late evening departure from KL Sentral is workable. Check in online and drop bags at least two hours before an international flight from KLIA, since the walk to the satellite gates at Terminal 1 can take time.
Bangkok or back to KL afterwards
Many visitors carry on to Bangkok and leave from Suvarnabhumi, where long-haul and South Asian flights depart, including those on our Bangkok to Dhaka flights page. Others make Chiang Mai a round trip and fly home to KL; our Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka flights page lists another route out of KLIA.
Book early for April's Songkran water festival, when Chiang Mai fills with Thai and foreign visitors.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
Checked against trusted sources:
KLIA Ekspres faresChiang Mai International AirportRoyal Thai Embassy
Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai flights at a glance
Both airlines fly nonstop from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Chiang Mai (CNX). The 1,806 km flight takes about 2 hours 45 minutes.
| Flight time | 2h 45m nonstop |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1,806 km |
Search Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai flights
Pick your dates to see the flights, times and fares available on this route.
Flights and fares for your dates
Search the dates you want to fly to see the flights and fares available.
Search flights
Trending flights
More flight routes on bookingMentor, grouped by departure country.
Flights from Bangladesh6 routes
FromTo DAC CXB DhakaCox's Bazar FromTo DAC ZYL DhakaSylhet FromTo DAC CGP DhakaChattogram FromTo DAC RJH DhakaRajshahi Available airlines2 airlines- US-Bangla Airlines
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines
FromTo ZYL DAC SylhetDhaka FromTo CGP DAC ChattogramDhaka
Flights from United Arab Emirates4 routes
FromTo DXB DAC DubaiDhaka FromTo AUH CGP Abu DhabiChattogram FromTo AUH DAC Abu DhabiDhaka FromTo AUH ZYL Abu DhabiSylhet Available airlines1 airline- Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Flights from India2 routes
FromTo CCU DAC KolkataDhaka FromTo BOM DAC MumbaiDhaka Available airlines2 airlines- Air India
- IndiGo
Flights from Japan1 route
FromTo NRT DAC TokyoDhaka Available airlines1 airline- Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Flights from Ethiopia1 route
FromTo ADD DAC Addis AbabaDhaka Available airlines1 airline- Ethiopian Airlines
Flights from Bahrain1 route
FromTo BAH DAC ManamaDhaka Available airlines1 airline- Gulf Air
Flights from Thailand1 route
Flights from Egypt0 routes
Flights from China1 route
Flights from Sri Lanka1 route
FromTo CMB DAC ColomboDhaka Available airlines2 airlines- FitsAir
- SriLankan Airlines
Airlines flying Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai
Both airlines fly this route nonstop.
Departure and arrival airports
KUL Kuala Lumpur International Airport
- Codes
- IATA KUL
- City
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Getting into town
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport is in Sepang, about 45 km south of the city. Malaysia Airlines uses Terminal 1 and AirAsia Terminal 2; the KLIA Ekspres train reaches KL Sentral in about half an hour. Batik Air Malaysia also flies to Subang (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport), much closer to the city.
- Time zone
- UTC+8
CNX Chiang Mai International Airport
- Codes
- IATA CNX
- City
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Terminal
- One passenger building with international and domestic halls.
- Time zone
- UTC+7, no daylight saving
- Getting into town
- Chiang Mai International Airport sits just south-west of the old city, one of the shortest airport runs in Asia: a taxi or Grab reaches most old-city and Nimman hotels in 15 to 20 minutes.
How to book Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai for less
Practical points for booking this route.
Low-costbags are extra
Add bags when you book
AirAsia charge for checked baggage. It is cheaper added online at booking than at the airport.
2airlines on the route
Compare the total, not the headline fare
Put your dates into the search above and compare the price with baggage, seats and meals included, not just the base fare.
TDACdue within 3 days of landing
Apply for the Thai e-Visa early
File the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before departure and check whether your passport needs a Thai visa.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
Hotels and resorts in Chiang Mai with guest scores, nightly prices and free cancellation.
Travelers are asking
No questions yet about Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai flights. Ask the community or our travel team, and the answer will show here once it is published.
Be the first to ask
Our travel team answers questions about Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai flights
Reviews and questions
Contribute:
No reviews yet. Be the first to review this routeFlown Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai recently? Tell other travellers how check-in, the flight and the arrival went.
Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Getting there
AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines fly the route nonstop. Schedules change by season, so check the flights for your dates in the search above.
About 2 hours 45 minutes in the air. The two airports are 1,806 km apart in a straight line; actual times vary a little by airline, aircraft and wind.
One passenger building with international and domestic halls. International flights such as this one use the international side, so allow time for immigration on arrival.
Chiang Mai International Airport sits just south-west of the old city, one of the shortest airport runs in Asia: a taxi or Grab reaches most old-city and Nimman hotels in 15 to 20 minutes.
Most flights use Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA): Terminal 1 for Malaysia Airlines and Terminal 2 for AirAsia. Batik Air Malaysia also flies from Don Mueang to Subang, the older airport closer to the city. Your ticket shows KUL or SZB.
General
The clock moves one hour back on landing in Thailand (Thailand is UTC+7). Neither side uses daylight saving, so the gap stays the same all year.
Malaysia Airlines departs from Terminal 1 and AirAsia from Terminal 2. Both are on the KLIA Ekspres line from KL Sentral.
What's included
It depends on the airline. AirAsia is a low-cost carrier whose basic fares include only a cabin bag, so add checked baggage when you book. The full-service airlines normally include a checked bag; the allowance is shown on your booking.
Stay & facilities
On the full-service airlines, request a Muslim (halal) meal when you book or at least 24 hours before departure through the airline's manage-booking page. On AirAsia, meals are bought online or on board; check the menu for halal options.
Prices & payment
Take an Airports of Thailand shuttle van from Gate 12 of the international terminal. Route A1 runs to Nimmanhaemin Road, Huay Kaew Road and the moat for a flat 40 baht.
Yes. Every non-Thai national files the TDAC online at tdac.immigration.go.th in the three days before arrival. It is not a visa.
