Cheap flights from London to Chiang Mai

There's no bad month to fly to northern Thailand, but October is the cheapest month on this route, and the price calendar above shows how the fares move. October comes at the tail of the rainy season, so the countryside is green and the crowds are thinner than in the cool, dry stretch from November through February. That cool season is the busiest, and fares climb around Christmas and New Year and again over the Thai holidays in spring. Midweek departures from Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted usually cost less than Friday and Sunday flights, and booking a few months ahead pays off if you're tied to holiday dates.

Every airline on this route sells a connecting itinerary, so the real choice is where you change planes and what the fare includes. Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and Oman Air all work through the Gulf, which usually means one stop and a single through ticket. China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines connect via mainland China instead, while Thai Airways Intl and Lufthansa City Airlines sell full-service fares with checked baggage in the price. AirAsiaX Sdn Bhd is the low-cost name here, so its base fare covers the seat and little else, with bags and meals costing extra. Air India is the other full-service option. Compare the total, not the headline fare.

Chiang Mai International is the only airport serving the city, so every itinerary on this route lands there. It sits close to town, a short ride from the old city rather than a long transfer out of town. Taxis, ride-hailing apps and shared songthaew pickups wait outside arrivals, so agree the fare or check the meter before you set off. On a single through ticket your bags are usually checked all the way to Chiang Mai and you clear immigration when you land; if you booked the legs separately, you collect and re-check your bags at the connecting airport. Have your onward address ready for the driver.

Currency

THB (฿)

Power sockets

Type A, B, C, F · 220 V

Language

Thai

Emergency number

191, 199, 1669

Calling code

+66

Internet domain

.th

Population of Chiang Mai

1.2 M (2022)

Time zone

UTC+07 (Asia/Bangkok)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport you're flying from — Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City all appear on this route.
• Confirm both legs sit on one ticket, or you'll collect and re-check your bags mid-journey.
• Read the baggage allowance on the low-cost fare, where checked bags and meals cost extra.
• Check your passport validity and Thailand's current entry rules before you pay.
• Look at the price calendar first: October is the cheapest month, and holiday weeks cost more.
• Leave a generous connection in the Gulf or in China so a delay doesn't cost you the onward flight.