How to Arrive in Xishuangbanna
By Air
Jinghong International airport (There are Daily flights from Kunming). Note: when booking a plane ticket to Jinghong, if it is not listed as “Jinghong”it is listed as “Xishuangbanna”.
From Thailand International Flights
Bangkok-Chiangmai-Xishuangbanna
Xishuangbanna-Bangkok-Chiangmai
From Laos international flights
Luang phrabang-Jinghong-Luang Phrabang
Domestic Flights
Flights from Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc
By Land
Mohan is the international port on China-Laos border. It is 180 kilometers from Jinghong and 380 kilometers from Luang Phrabang. There is an international highway from Kunming to Bangkok via Xishuangbanna. Regular bus is available among Xishuangbanna and Ban Houayxay, Luang Namtha, Luang Phrabang as well as Vietnam.
By Land-Domestic Land Transprot
Regular Bus
From Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Jiangshui, Yuanyang, Baoshan, Dehong, Chengdu, etc. There are over a dozen sleeper buses from Kunming daily, departure at around 9:00 am and arrival at around 18:00 am. They cost 150-260 RMB per head depending on the coach quality. The bus takes around 8 hours and will travel over some bumpy dirt roads. Note that a sleeper bus is also available during the day.
By River-Jinghong Port
There is regular boat service available between Xishuangbanna and Chiang Saen in Thailand.
Jinghong-Chiang Saen 10th and 25th, each month
Chiang Saen-Jinghong 11th and 26th, every month
But shipping company may cancel due to insufficient passengers. The cost is 800 RMB per head. No Laos/Myanmar Visa necessary. They leave around 7:00 am and take a full day.