Comparison · Chiang Mai vs Luang Prabang · Thailand / Laos
Chiang Mai vs Luang Prabang
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nawit science, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Chiang Mai for Doi Suthep, Old city temples, nightlife and free sights; choose Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong and Morning alms giving. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 352 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 352 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Chiang Mai
- November–February
- Best time for Luang Prabang
- November–February
Side by side
| Chiang Mai | Luang Prabang | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Thailand | Laos |
| Known for | Doi Suthep, Old city temples and Khao soi | Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and Kuang Si Falls |
| Best time to visit | November–February | November–February |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$140 | $60–$140 |
| Cost level | Very affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 36°C (97°F) | April, 35°C (95°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 28°C (82°F) | December, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | CNX | LPQ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Chiang Mai for…
Doi Suthep, Old city temples, nightlife and free sights. Founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna kingdom, Chiang Mai keeps a square old city ringed by a moat and fragments of brick wall, with dozens of temples inside. Beyond the moat are the café district of Nimmanhaemin, the Ping River and the forested slopes…
Choose Luang Prabang for…
Wat Xieng Thong and Morning alms giving. Luang Prabang occupies a narrow peninsula where the Nam Khan river joins the Mekong in northern Laos. The former royal capital is a UNESCO World Heritage town of more than 30 Buddhist monasteries, French colonial shophouses and wooden Lao houses, small…
Top sights compared
| # | Chiang Mai | Luang Prabang |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wat Phra That Doi Suthep | Wat Xieng Thong |
| 2 | Wat Phra Singh | Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) |
| 3 | Wat Chedi Luang | Mount Phousi |
| 4 | Wat Chiang Man | Morning alms giving (Tak Bat) |
| 5 | Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls | Night market |
Food compared
| Chiang Mai | Luang Prabang |
|---|---|
| Khao soi | Luang Prabang khao soi |
| Sai ua | Or lam |
| Nam prik noom | Fried river weed |
| Gaeng hang lay | Jeow bong |
Which is cheaper?
Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $60–$140 in Chiang Mai and $60–$140 in Luang Prabang (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Chiang Mai on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang are about 352 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Chiang Mai and 4 in Luang Prabang.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Chiang Mai or Luang Prabang cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $60–$140 in Chiang Mai and $60–$140 in Luang Prabang (estimates).
+Is Chiang Mai or Luang Prabang better for a first trip?
Pick Chiang Mai for Doi Suthep, Old city temples, nightlife and free sights, or Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong and Morning alms giving.
+How far is Chiang Mai from Luang Prabang?
About 352 km in a straight line.