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About Sombat Tour

Bus is a convenient way of travel no matter whether you need to get to a neighboring town a couple of hours away or venture further afield crossing the whole country. Whatever your budget, buses have you covered. Express buses offer the most affordable ticket price for travellers who have very little money to spend. VIP options are geared toward those who do not want to compromise on comfort. Before you jump on a bus, make sure you choose the type of service which suits you best. For a long-haul trip look for a VIP or first-class coach which provides non-stop service to your destination or just call a minor number of stations along the way. Express or local buses in many cases may prove an acceptable choice for shorter trips, but longer rides are often not the best buy. Study the timetable before going as many long-haul destinations are served by night buses, and some offer wider seats or sleeper berths for such travels. Make an online reservation for your bus ticket with Sombat Tour. Other travellers’ reviews will help you to choose the best ticket and coach class.

Sombat Tour Popular Stations

The main stations covered by Sombat Tour’s buses include:

• Nan Bus Terminal
• Sombat Tour Ranong Office
• Sombat Tour Chiang Khong
• Si Chiang Mai
• Southern Terminal Bangkok
• Surat Thani Bus Terminal
• Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3
• Nakhon Phanom
• Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2
• Thung Chang
• Sombat Tour Viphavadee 13
• Sombat Tour Ban Tha Ton
• Lamphun Bus Station
• Mae Hong Son
• Chiang Saen
• Hua Hin Bus Station
• Lampang Bus Station
• Phuket Bus Terminal 2
• Ranong Bus Station Sombat

Sombat Tour Top Destinations

Sombat Tour buses ply a number of routes and here is the list of some of the most popular ones:

• Bangkok - Chiang Mai
• Bangkok - Phuket
• Bangkok - Hua Hin
• Chiang Mai - Bangkok
• Phuket - Bangkok
• Hua Hin - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Chiang Rai
• Chiang Rai - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Ranong
• Ranong - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Khon Kaen
• Surat Thani Bus Terminal - Bangkok
• Khon Kaen - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Nong Khai
• Nong Khai - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Lampang
• Lampang - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Mae Sai
• Bangkok - Mae Hong Son
• Nan - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Surat Thani Bus Terminal
• Bangkok - Surin
• Bangkok - Nan
• Bangkok - Mukdahan
• Mae Hong Son - Bangkok
• Mae Sai - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Chiang Khong
• Surin - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Sisaket
• Mukdahan - Bangkok
• Sisaket - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Phayao
• Chiang Khong - Bangkok
• Lamphun - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Lamphun
• Phayao - Bangkok
• Phrae - Bangkok
• Bangkok - Phrae

Sombat Tour Ticket Prices & Bus Classes

One of the best things about bus travel is that you can almost tailor-make your trip adjusting it to your requirements for privacy and comfort. Different classes and types of buses cater to the different needs of travellers. The cheapest trips are normally offered by standard-class buses. They may be called local, express or ordinary. These are a good choice for shorter trips. Sleepers or VIP coaches are good both for longer and overnight trips. They may offer berths or wide soft reclining seats, sometimes with built-in massage options, blankets, soft drinks, and snacks, or more substantial meals on board or during toilet or refuelling stops. Travelling by night buses allows you to save on a hotel room, but to ensure the most comfortable ride do choose the class of your bus wisely. Prices always depend on the distance you ride and the type of coach. For some, even shorter trips, it is worth investing some extra money and buying a seat on a VIP bus as it can save you twice as much time as you spend travelling by an ordinary bus.

Travel by Bus: Pros & Cons

Pros of bus travel.

• Bus is the best choice to get to destinations that are not connected by rail or planes. The network of buses often covers almost the whole country, and their routes are well and long-established.
• Opposite to air travel and sometimes rail travel, taking a bus does not require arriving at the bus station much in advance. Check-in, even on international routes, does not take much time. Luggage allowances are usually very traveller-friendly, and the fee for extra luggage, if limits are set, is normally not very high.
• Bus tickets can be more affordable compared to air or fast train tickets. There is always a choice of ticket classes for all pockets. Cheaper standard options may be a bit slow and do not offer top comfort, but anyway acceptable and bring you to your destination. On longer routes, toilets or toilet stops as well as snacks, water, and sometimes toiletries and blankets are almost always included in the price.
• If you are ready to spend more, some VIP coaches offer seating comparable to business class on a plane with wide soft reclining seats, blankets, fewer passengers, and many other perks to make your trip a pleasant journey.

Cons of Bus Travel

• Newer intercity bus terminals are very often located out of the city close to bigger highways to allow buses to avoid city congestion. Unfortunately, it may create extra challenges for travellers, too. Getting to such a terminal may be a problem as in some destinations there are restrictions on vehicles allowed to enter the terminal, and you will have to use special carriers to get there. This results in higher costs as prices may be inflated. Also do calculate extra time if you are travelling during rush hours, especially if you are not familiar with the traffic situation at your starting point.
• Buses are probably the means of transport which runs out of schedule more often than trains or planes. They are heavily dependent on the road situation which sometimes can be unpredictable – accidents, road construction works, detours, etc. This is especially true for travels during weekends, high season, or national holidays. Do keep this in mind and do not plan tight connections.
• Travelling on certain routes or during the most popular periods may require advanced booking. Bear in mind that it is not always possible to show up at the bus station and hop on the next bus – tickets may well be all sold out, so organize your trip accordingly.

Sombat Tour Popular Routes

Sombat tour schedule & timetable, sombat tour stations, sombat tour company reviews.

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• Bangkok - Chiang San Update
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• Bangkok - Chiang Rai Update
• Bangkok - Chiang Khong Update
• Bangkok - Phayao Update
• Bangkok - Thung Chang Update
• Bangkok - Nan Update
• Bangkok - Phrae Update
• Bangkok - Lamphun Update
• Bangkok - Mae Hong Son Update
• Bangkok - Chiang Mai Update
• Bangkok - Lampang Update
• Bangkok - Ban Tha Ton Update
• Bangkok - Khon Kaen Update
• Bangkok - Surin Update
• Bangkok - Mukdahan Update
• Bangkok - Sri Chiang Mai Update
• Bangkok - Sisaket Update
• Bangkok - Ubon Ratchathani
• Bangkok - Buntharik
• Bangkok - Ranong Update
• Bangkok - Phuket Update
• Bangkok - Hua Hin Update
• Bangkok - Koh Samui Update
• Bangkok - Surat Thani Update
• Bangkok - Chianyai Update
• Chiang Mai - Hua Hin Update
• Chiang Mai - Khon Kaen Update
• Chiang Rai - Nakhon Phanom Update
• Chiang Rai - Khon Kaen Update
• Phuket - Khon Kean Update

Sombat Tour Review

Last updated on December 11, 2023

Posted on December 11, 2023 April 5, 2023 by Kamolchat Thanaditsayakun

Sombat Tour is a well-known and respected public transport company, operating a fleet of modern buses on routes across Thailand, mostly departing from Bangkok. In the main, they operate three different standards of buses – Supreme, Super and Star with differing levels of luxury across the three, including reclining chairs, massage chairs, and personal TV screens. You could argue that the quality of their buses is good enough to rival those in Western countries, and their plan certainly seems to be to provide a better quality of service in Thailand by giving better comfort levels and facilities onboard their buses. With plenty of other bus companies operating across Thailand, how does Sombat Tour compare in terms of prices, schedules and service? Our Sombat Tour company review will answer those questions and more.

About Sombat Tour

Sombat Tour is a very well established public transport company with their roots dating back to 1942, when the business was formed under the name Tek Chiang. In 1978 they changed the name to Thepsombat Company Limited and began trading as Sombat Tour, so they have been operating public transport services for close to 80 years now. Initially, they operated a small number of routes but have expanded a lot over the last few decades to cover all regions of Thailand to some extent. In total, they operate 30 different routes, with the majority of these departing from or going to the country’s capital city, Bangkok. Some of the most popular routes include Bangkok to Phuket, Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bangkok to Hua Hin, Bangkok to Koh Samui, and Bangkok to Surat Thani , while routes departing from other cities include Chiang Mai to Hua Hin, and Chiang Rai to Nakhon Phanom.

Sombat Tour does not operate any cross-border routes, so if you’re looking to travel from Thailand into a neighboring country, you’ll need to consider different bus companies, or catch a flight. Another option is to use Sombat Tour to get you close to the border but cross the border independently before picking up another bus on the other side; a good idea if you were intent on traveling with Sombat Tour as much as possible!

Schedules vary on all their routes, with some routes only having one or two buses each way per day, while others have multiple buses to choose from. Bangkok to Chiang Mai is a good example, with around 20 departures from Bangkok each day, departing from Mo Chit and/or Vibhavadi and you can choose which type of bus you want to travel on depending on the schedule. They have Star, Super and Supreme services as well as a VIP 20 bus. These and the Supreme buses are the most expensive as both are VIP types. More on the bus types in a moment. Another good thing to look out for is that Sombat Tour provides special ‘Lady Buses’ as they call them, which are special buses put on just for female passengers on Fridays and Sundays from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. This is great news if you’re a female traveling alone.

Let’s take a closer look at the different buses that Sombat Tour operates. Star buses have the cheapest tickets, so consider these if you’re traveling on a budget. Even these most affordable bus services are very comfortable as they offer seats that recline and have calf support for your legs, and there is a steward onboard serving snacks and beverages. The Super class buses are similar – both have four seats to a row – but these could be double-decker buses and may include massage chairs and personal TV screens in addition to those other comforts. Supreme class buses are the VIP types that you may have traveled on with other bus companies. These have only three seats per row, giving you larger seats and more room around you. All seats have a massage option, and they recline further than those on the more standard buses.

Tickets to travel with Sombat Tour are generally quite comparable to buses operated by other companies, but you will probably find you’re paying a few more baht to travel with Sombat Tour. You could argue that you’re getting a great service for that slight extra cost, as even Sombat Tour’s standard buses include more than some other provider’s luxury buses, so you are getting more for your money anyway.

Sombat Tour Customer Reviews

The buses operated by Sombat Tour certainly appear to be very well equipped, comfortable and modern, according to their website, but are they really as good as they say they are? Looking at reviews of Sombat Tour that have been left by previous passengers is the best way to judge this.

Many passengers use the travel website, 12Go.asia to book their bus tickets in Thailand. On this travel booking site you can enter the route and dates that you want to travel, then compare all the different transport options. For popular routes like Bangkok to Chiang Mai , they sell tickets for Sombat Tour as well as other bus companies so you can check the prices and bus types, and read reviews, before going ahead to book.

At the time of writing, over 18,700 customers have booked bus tickets with Sombat Tour through 12Go , and there are over 1,200 reviews of the company. The overall rating is 4.4 out of 5 stars, which is very good. 62% of customers gave 5 stars and 25% gave 4 stars, with very low percentages giving 3, 2 or 1 stars, so customers have definitely been impressed and very happy according to these Sombat Tour reviews.

Looking at some of the recent comments on the reviews, passengers have raved over how comfortable and well equipped the buses were, that the staff were friendly and the driving was good, that they arrived on time, and that it was good value for money. There were a few negative points mentioned in recent reviews. Several customers said that there were no announcements in English and therefore they had trouble figuring out what was going on when the bus stopped for a break. Some others mentioned that there was no Wi-Fi, but we could not see any claims that they offer Wi-Fi – perhaps this is a service that could be added in the future. Another comment was about the air conditioning being too cold, but this is a very standard complaint on buses in Thailand and we recommend always bringing a few extra layers.

Should You Travel with Sombat Tour?

With generally very good reviews, it seems as though Sombat Tour is striving to, and reaching their goals, to provide a great service. In countries like Thailand, keeping to schedules to arrive and depart on time is a common problem, but it looks as though Sombat Tour is good at keeping to their scheduled timetables and that they genuinely want to provide a comfortable and affordable service to their passengers. With this in mind, we can’t see any reason not to recommend traveling with Sombat Tour, even if they might be very slightly more expensive than some of their competitors. Remember, you can check prices for Sombat Tour and other bus companies on the travel website, 12Go , and make up your own mind.

My name is Kamolchat - a writer with a passion for travel who loves sharing stories of new destinations and unforgettable adventures. I was born and raised in Thailand and I have always been captivated by the beauty and diversity of my homeland which inspired me to venture out and discover the world.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of contributing to various travel publications and websites, such as Lonely Planet and Viator. I strive to provide an authentic representation of the places I visit, get into the heart of local cultures and finding authentic experiences that nourishes the soul.

As I continue to journey across the globe, I want you to join me in experiencing the wonders of our world through my stories. Together, we can learn, grow, and be inspired by the incredible people, places, and cultures that make our planet such an extraordinary place to explore.

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About sombat tour.

Starting as a public transportation operator in 1942, Sombat Tour operated as Tek Chiang in Thailand. The company changed its name to Sombat Tour in November 1978 when it was registered as Thep Sombat Co. Ltd. In the course of its 50 years in operation. The company has focused on improving its bus services and raising industry standards in Thailand.

The business has expanded to 30 routes, covering various national regions. The company operates under the motto "Sombat Tour, Best friend companion" and tries to continuously improve transportation and customer service with their preparedness in all aspects. Its well-organized administration is the reason behind its success. The company has received several awards for its outstanding bus service.

Sombat Tour buses travel to many major cities and popular tourist locations. Moreover, it has a wide variety of buses for you to choose from. Sombat Tour consistently improves the quality of its services and provides punctuality, friendly employees, and extraordinary amenities. If you want to book bus tickets on Sombat Tour, log onto redBus to get exciting offers.

Sombat Tour Bus Services

Buses operated by Sombat Tour frequently travel between several cities. Depending on the amenities supplied onboard and the traveller's budget, Sombat Tour offers a variety of bus models. These models include Supreme, Super, Star, and Smart buses.

As of now, Sombat Tour operates only in Thailand. With more than 59 departures every day, predominantly from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, it is one of the busiest bus companies. Thus, Sombat Tour is trusted by various locals as well as tourists.

You can check out the availability of buses on the redBus website.

Amenities Offered by Sombat Tour Buses

If you are travelling with Sombat Tour buses, you must know about the amenities offered to its passengers. Moreover, it will help you learn all services available and ask for something if required.

Some of the most prominent amenities offered by Sombat Tour buses are:

• Complimentary Snacks and Drinks
• Neck Pillow
• Air conditioning
• Reclining Chairs

These are only a few of the various amenities provided by Sombat Tour. In addition, you should confirm that the buses you select for your trip have the amenities you require. Prices for bus tickets may vary from one bus to the next depending on the number of amenities and the type of bus you choose.

Popular Routes Covered by Sombat Tour

Sombat Tour is one of the busiest bus companies in Thailand. It provides services to a variety of cities. Some of the local routes covered by Sombat Tour are:

• Bangkok to Chiang Mai
• Chiang Mai to Bangkok
• Bangkok to Koh Samui
• Nan to Bangkok
• Bangkok to Hua Hin
• Bangkok to Khon Kaen
• Lampang to Bangkok
• Mae Hong Son to Bangkok
• Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai
• Bangkok to Surin
• Bangkok to Sisaket
• Khon Kaen to Chiang Rai
• Bangkok to Phayao
• Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani

Sombat Tour bus services cover various other routes. You can book any of these routes from the redBus website.

Popular Bus Terminals Covered by Sombat Tour

While travelling long distances, it is important to know the major terminals. It helps in understanding the boarding and drop-off points. Some of the popular bus terminals covered by Sombat Tour are:

• Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak)
• Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal
• Chiang Mai Bus Terminal
• Ranong Bus Terminal
• Surat Thani Bus Terminal
• Nan Bus Terminal
• Phitsanulok Bus Terminal 1

Through redBus, you may find more details on these terminals and other information. To access the necessary Sombat Tour terminal information, log onto the redBus platform. After selecting your boarding and drop-off points, you can carry forward with booking your bus tickets and make the final payment.

Popular Cities Served by Sombat Tour

Some of the most popular cities served by Sombat Tour are:

• Surat Thani
• Ubon Ratchathani
• Mae Hong Son

redBus provides you with the option of booking tickets from any of these cities. Moreover, it also showcases an extensive list of boarding and drop-off points to choose from.

Types of Buses Offered by Sombat Tour

Sombat Tour has a great frequency of buses that ply between different cities regularly. One can choose to travel by different types of buses offered by Sombat Tour based on the facilities available onboard and budget. The various types of buses offered by Sombat Tour include:

• Business Class

Office Address of Somabat Tour

There are quite a few offices of Sombat Tour in Thailand. Some of them are listed below:

Mo Chit Bus Terminal

Address : Kamphaeng Phet Rd., Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Phone: 1215/02-936-3256

Address : 37 Ka-om Rd., Watsomanas, Pomprapsattruphai, Bangkok 10100

Phone: 1215/02-030-4999

Southern Bus Terminal

Address : 8 Soi Borommaratchachonnani 62/6, Chimphli, Taling Chan, Bangkok 10170

Phone: 02-894-6050-1

Sukhonthasawat

Address : 17/150 Sukhonthasawat Rd., Ladprao, Bangkok 10230

Phone: 1215/086-317-1992

Address: 23/21 Soi Vibhavadi 11-13, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Phone: 1215/083-296-6944

Book Sombat Tour Bus Tickets Online with redBus

One of the largest bus ticketing platforms in the world, redBus, has a huge selection of reliable bus companies listed for every route. Thus, it is a trustworthy source for booking BO bus tickets for any of the desired routes. Making reservations online via redBus is simple because of the platform's user-friendly interface.

On the platform, exciting coupon codes can help you receive fantastic discounts and offers. Not only does redBus provides you with all the important information, but it also gives necessary reminders till the date of your journey.

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Sombat Tour Bus Company

General information.

Travel with Sombat Tour

Sombat Tour is a bus company based in Bangkok, Thailand. It offers departures in 1 country, such as Thailand . It is one of the many bus companies in Thailand, as it offers more than 78 daily departures, mostly from cities like Bangkok , Chiang Mai , and Phuket. Sombat Tour operates regular bus lines. Intercity buses are also offered by Sombat Tour.

Popular domestic bus lines

Sombat Tour offers comfortable rides between a lot of well known destinations in Thailand . You can find their most popular departures below:

Bangkok - Hua Hin Chiang Mai - Bangkok Bangkok - Chiang Mai Phuket - Bangkok Surat Thani - Bangkok

Here are some other carriers operating in that area:

Frequently Asked Questions about Sombat Tour

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Sombat Tour

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Sombat Tour has been established since 1942. Sombat Tour is a reputable and popular public transportation service provider in Thailand. After its establishment, Sombat Tour continues to grow and develop, aiming to provide an excellent service with the best quality in the industry to meet the international standard.

Popular Routes by Sombat Tour

• Bangkok to Chiang Mai
• Chiang Mai to Bangkok
• Bangkok to Surin
• Bangkok to Ranong
• Bangkok to Hua Hin
• Bangkok to Khon Kaen
• Bangkok to Sisaket

Sombat Tour Bus Services

The company has expanded to many regions around Thailand including the northern, the north-eastern, the central, and the southern parts with 29 routes in total. The most popular bus routes provided by Sombat Tour is the bus service from Bangkok to Chiangmai and bus from Chiangmai to Bangkok . Apart from that, they also offer express bus service to Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Ranong, Khon Kaen and many other popular locations in Thailand.

There are several types of coaches used by Sombat Tour for their bus trips. Some of the bus types also feature massage chairs, private TV, blanket and neck pillow and many more. All buses are equipped with air-conditioner, adjustable chair and leg rest to ensure their passengers have a comfortable journey to their destination.

Now, you can easily book Sombat Tour bus tickets online at BusOnlineTicket.co.th. Booking online can save you the cost and time used to go to the bus station to buy Sombat Tour bus tickets. Moreover, since Sombat Tour is really popular in Thailand due to their good reputation in providing excellent service, you are advised to book your bus tickets online in advance before your journey. Book online now!

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Popular Bus Terminals

• Chiang Mai Bus Terminal
• Ranong Bus Terminal

I took a luxury overnight bus in Thailand and got 10 hours of business-class service for $30. The US should take notes.

• I paid $30 to take a luxury Sombat Tour bus from Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
• Boarding the bus was easy and the service on board reminded me of business class.
• The seats were large and comfortable and our ticket even came with food. The US should take notes.

Bus transport varies considerably from country to country, from super-slick intra-city buses in Mexico to down-at-heel Greyhounds in the US .

In my extensive journeys around the world as a travel writer, I've enjoyed some superb buses and endured some rust buckets.

On a recent visit to Thailand, I experienced my most deluxe bus ride to date.

My wife and I decided to travel between Bangkok and Chiang Mai by bus rather than plane.

Aiming to save some money and cut down on flying during a three-week trip to Southeast Asia , my wife and I chose to take a bus between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Bangkok is just over 420 miles south of Chiang Mai by road, and I'd heard about a deluxe bus line that made the journey in 10 hours.

Seats cost less than $30 per person for services that — if the photos I saw online were to be believed — were reminiscent of business class on a plane. I booked tickets through the Thai-based travel agency 12Go and prayed the photos were accurate.

We caught the bus at Bangkok's Mo Chit bus terminal, located a few miles northeast of the city center.

It took us about 40 minutes to get to Mo Chit in a taxi from our city-center hotel through Bangkok's bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic. The fare cost about $9.

Although the bus terminal wasn't super modern, it felt clean, safe, and convenient, particularly compared to bus stations I've frequented in North America.

A wide range of food outlets were available, offering everything from doughnuts to Thai-style buffets.

There were no queues for check-in at Mo Chit on a Wednesday evening in February.

We arrived an hour before our scheduled departure time and picked up our reserved tickets in a matter of minutes.

We had booked a VIP 20 bus run by Thai bus company Sombat Tour.

Our first impressions of the bus were promising. In addition to having a driver, the bus had an onboard attendant who welcomed us and explained the facilities in English.

Unlike at many budget airlines, our luggage was stored in the hold at no extra cost.

The bus was parked at the bay 15 minutes before departure, which let us to leave promptly at 7:25 p.m.

Sombat Tour's VIP 20 buses have 20 business-class-sized seats.

The 20 large, business-class-size seats were arranged in 10 rows with an aisle down the middle.

Fewer seats meant more privacy. On VIP 20 buses, you don't have to worry about deciding who gets the armrest or getting stuck in banal conversations with overly friendly passengers in the seat next to you.

Each seat had its own flexible reading light, charging outlets, and TV monitor offering a selection of films and music.

This being Thailand, seats also had a unique built-in massage feature that could caress our muscles electronically all the way to Chiang Mai.

The bus windows were fitted with curtains, and there was an onboard bathroom at the rear.

Several small snacks were brought around by the attendant soon after we departed.

Snacks included water, orange juice, a muffin, and a bag of crisps.

Blankets were also provided and ultimately proved useful, with the air conditioning trying its hardest to replicate a cool spring day in Vancouver.

It would've been nice to get pillows and headphones or have high-speed WiFi, too.

Built-in seat pods meant we could recline up to 135 degrees without disturbing the person behind us.

An electronic switch allowed us to set whichever seat angle we preferred. Other switches controlled the footrest height and massage intensity.

The bus had good suspension, and the journey was quiet and smooth — all conducive to a good night's rest.

A Thai-style buffet meal was included with our bus ticket.

At around 11 p.m., three-and-a-half hours into our journey, we stopped at a service station for a bathroom break and a late dinner.

The bus ticket got each of us a complementary meal at a Thai buffet inside. Although the food wasn't gourmet, it was quick, authentic, and remarkably tasty.

We arrived at Chiang Mai's bus terminal excruciatingly early.

One small downside of the journey is that we arrived in Chiang Mai between 5 a.m. and 6 am.

We got a taxi to our hotel, dumped our bags, and waited for the city's first cafés to open at 7 a.m. After coffee and croissants, we headed off to hit the main sights.

Chiang Mai, with its many beautiful gardens and temples, was well worth the journey.

Chiang Mai is a historic city of ornate Buddhist temples, floral gardens, and courteous people that's surrounded by a moat and guarded by the remains of an ancient defensive wall.

As a destination, it surpassed our expectations.

Sombat Tour provided us an economical and comfortable way to travel — and it saved us from paying for a night in a hotel.

If inter-city coaches of this quality existed in North America — where bus travel is often looked upon as something to be endured rather than enjoyed — public transport would be a lot more popular and widely used.

Plus, my bus ticket cost one-third the price of the cheapest plane ticket from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

Not only did we arrive in Chiang Mai fresh and relaxed, but we also got to enjoy 10 hours of business-class-standard service for just $30.

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Conveniently search for Sombat bus schedules and Sombat prices to choose an option that best suits your needs.

Find out which amenities will be accessible on a Sombat bus for each individual departure when you book your Sombat tickets, such as WiFi, A/C, power outlets and more.

All Sombat bus lines are available on Busbud. Can't seem to find the Sombat route you're looking for? Please get in touch, we have a dedicated team that is in charge of the quality of Sombat mapping on Busbud.

Get the best available deal by using a promo code to obtain Sombat discounts on tickets.

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Busbud is a bus and train search tool - we include Sombat routes, schedules and prices in our searches along with many other train and bus companies. You can compare prices, amenities and times by searching for a route. If you find a suitable trip, you can go ahead and get your Sombat ticket from us. Note that train tickets sell out, Sombat and other operators generally charge a lot more for last-minute tickets or for tickets bought in person.

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Bangkok to Chiang Mai Overnight Bus Travel – Times & Tickets by SOMBAT TOUR

Apr 3, 2024 | Go Places

Taking the bus is an easy way to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or vice versa. It is also a popular alternative to train travel.

Chiang Mai, the biggest city in Northern Thailand, is located about 700km from Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Every day there are thousands of people travelling between these two cities, either by taking the train, bus or flying. Many tourists fly into Bangkok and then head north to Chiang Mai as part of the same holiday.

Every day thousands of people travel between Bangkok and Chiang Mai by bus, as well as to the other provinces in Northern Thailand.

The quickest mode of traversing from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or vice versa is, of course, by taking the one hour flight. And tourists love the overnight sleeper train for the fantastic countryside views they can get from the scenic train ride.

The cheapest way to travel between Chiang Mai and Bangkok is by taking the bus, and it is faster than train travel. The 700 kilometres bus route is a 9 hours journey whereas, by train, it takes between 11~14 hours depending on which train service you use. 

Bus travel isn’t really as bad as it sounds so please don’t be scared by the long travelling hour and distance. Select the correct bus and buy the right ticket, you’ll find that travelling by bus is a surprisingly comfortable experience.

This article will discuss extensively the luxury coach, particularly the overnight sleeper bus, about the schedules, tickets, bus stations, and other useful information that helps plan your trip in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Travelling by bus is a comfortable experience if you choose the right bus company and buy the correct ticket.

“SUPREME CLASS” Bus by Sombat Tour

The “Supreme Class” bus by Sombat Tour bus company is one of the best bus travel experiences you could have in Thailand. FYI, Sombat Tour is a very reputable bus company that provides excellent luxury coach services travelling to many provinces in Thailand.

The Supreme Class’s bus fare to Chiang Mai, or Bangkok, is 823 Baht  one way. There are ten departure times for these buses each day, for both Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Most of them leave the bus terminal in the evening between 6.00pm ~ 10.00pm. That means you’ll arrive at your destination the next day morning between 5.00am ~ 8.00am. 

The SUPREME BUS operated by Sombat Tour is one of the best bus travel experience you could have in Thailand. They are comfortable, reliable and cheap.

If you are travelling on a small budget and don’t mind paying less for the lower class bus type, there is also the Super Class (617 Baht) and Star Class (529 Baht) to choose from. The travelling hour is still the same but comes at a cheaper fare. Seats are smaller and without some of the luxurious features and facilities of the Supreme Class.

See the timetable below for the bus schedules. You can see that most buses depart in the evening and arrive in the next day’s morning. 

Timetable for departure and the estimated time of arrival for the bus leaving Bangkok for Chiang Mai.

Timetable for departure and the estimated time of arrival for the bus leaving Chiang Mai for Bangkok.

The Bus’s Features & Facilities

The Supreme Class bus is a luxury coach equipped with first class facilities. In Thailand, this type of luxury coach is commonly called the “VIP First Class” bus. 

The bus has 24 spacious seatings, with the seat setting being one on the left and two seats on the right. Seats can be reclined 135-degree and with adjustable leg rest, which helps passengers to fall asleep faster and more soundly. Each chair has a built-in massager (adjustable) so that you can be pummelled for 9 hours if you want. 

The bus also comes with free onboard Wi-Fi and 2 USB charging ports at every seat (1.0 Amp and 2.1 Amp) to charge mobile phone and tablet. Every seating has its own touchscreen personal entertainment system with English and Asian movies, interactive games and music. You’ll be given a USB headphone for watching movies and listening to music, but you can also use your 3.5mm headphone if you wish. 

The personal entertainment system with English and Asian movies, interactive games and music.

Complimentary water and snacks, as well as a blanket and neck pillow, are provided onboard. The blanket is a lifesaver, as it can get quite chilly on the bus thanks to the air conditioning. Much like in an aeroplane, we recommend you bring additional layers of clothes to stay warm. An onboard lavatory is available for light usage throughout the 9-hour journey. 

The check-in baggage service is also available, with each passenger is allowed two pieces of luggage not exceeding 25kg in total. If the luggage is too big or exceeds the weight limit, an extra transportation fee will be charged. For security purpose, passengers will be given a luggage tag for their checked-in baggage. Small hand carry bag can be stored in the overhead compartment. 

The complimentary water and snacks are served twice, usually, during the first and the last 30 minutes of the journey. 

Passengers won’t have to wait until the rest stop if they wish to ease themselves because there is an onboard lavatory at the back of the bus.

Where To Buy The Bus Ticket

Because Sombat Tour is a famous bus company in Thailand, you should book the bus ticket ahead to avoid disappointment, particularly if you are visiting Thailand during the high tourist season . The bus ticket can be purchased up to one year in advance of the actual travel date. 

The easiest way to purchase bus ticket is through Sombat Tour’s official website here . However, at the time of writing, the booking system is only available in the Thai language, even if the site is multi-lingual. You can try to proceed with the help of Google Translate as we find the booking process quite straight forward.

Choose the desired date and time, followed by your contact information and finally be directed to the merchant’s payment page, which is in ENGLISH to complete the payment with a credit card. You’ll receive a booking confirmation when payment is successful. 

The online booking system is only available in the Thai language, for now. But the process is pretty straight forward and can be easily completed with the help of using Google Translate. 

When book online, you have the options to pay either by credit card or over the cashier counter at 7-11 stores in Thailand.

If you don’t feel secure to pay with a credit card, you can choose the option to pay at 7-11 store during the online checkout page. You may walk into the nearest 7-11 store (in Thailand) with the booking code you received during the booking process and pay at the cashier counter either by cash or credit card.

Note that the payment must be completed within three hours upon the booking code is issued, and there will be a service charge of 25 Baht on top of the ticket price. You’ll receive a payment slip when payment is successful.

You can then bring this booking confirmation or the payment slip to the bus station’s ticket counter at least 30 minutes before the actual time of departure to claim your bus ticket.  

Another way to book Sombat Tour’s bus ticket is to buy it directly from their ticket counter. If you are in Bangkok, you can go to any of their five ticket counters here . In Chiang Mai, their ticket counter is located at Arcade Bus Station 3. Payment can be made either by cash or credit card. 

Bus Online Ticket

Another way to purchase the bus ticket easily is through the online ticket agent here . It is very convenient because the booking website is entirely in English, and they accept payment by Paypal , credit card, as well as payment over-the-counter at Tesco Lotus and Big C convenient stores.

Buying the bus ticket through online ticket agent is time-saving, but please pay very careful attention when choosing your bus ticket because other than Sombat Tour, they also sell the ticket for the other bus companies like Bangkok Busline, Thai Sriram Bus Express, etc. You may read their booking FAQ here .

Bus ticket going to the other destinations like Chiang Rai, Sukhothai, Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Siem Reap (Cambodia) is also on sale. Check availability and booking here .

See Bus Schedule from Bangkok to Chiang Mai .

See Bus Schedule from Chiang Mai to Bangkok .

Look out for the bus company name and type of class when booking your bus ticket online. 

Sombat Tour’s Bus Terminals

In Bangkok, Sombat Tour have their own bus terminal located at Vibhavadi (Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd, Lat Yao). Take note some of their buses depart from Mo Chit Bus Terminal, which is the biggest bus station in Bangkok. In Chiang Mai, the bus will arrive and depart from Arcade Bus Terminal 3. You can go to these bus terminals by using GRAB . 

Please be at the bus terminal at least 30 minutes before the actual time of departure to find your boarding platform. For bus ticket purchased online, you would first need to claim your ticket at the ticket counter.

If you arrive early at the bus terminal (Vibhavadi and Chiang Mai terminals), you may sit and relax at the terminal lounge which comes with free Wi-Fi, and public announcement for boarding.

Other facilities at the bus terminal include shower rooms, convenience store, massage centres (not free), a cafe, ATMs, coin-operated public telephone, etc. 

In Bangkok, Sombat Tour has its own bus terminal at Vibhavadi. Some of their buses also use Mo Chit Bus Terminal. 

Passengers can rest at the terminal lounge while waiting for the bus departure. Wi-Fi and charging stations are available here. 

The Rest Stop 

Halfway into the journey, there will be a quick rest stop at Kamphaeng Phet Province where everybody can get down the bus for 30 minutes. Passengers may wash-up, walk around to stretch their legs, smoke a cigarette, buy souvenirs, or eat. The rest stop also has a minimart for passengers to replenish on snacks and drinks, if necessary. 

Supreme Class bus ticket holder is entitled to free buffet-style Thai meal at the restaurant. Of course, you may remain seated or sleep on the bus as the air-conditioner is always turned-on throughout the 30 minutes rest stop.

The minimarket at the rest stop where passengers can buy water and snacks, as well as souvenirs. 

The Supreme Class ticket price is inclusive of a free buffet style Thai meal inside the restaurant. 

The Wiang Ping Super VIP Class Bus

Every day there is one trip of a super luxurious bus departing from Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It’s called the “Wiang Ping” Super VIP Bus . The bus is a 20 seater luxury coach aims to give its passengers the comfort feel comparable to the first-class airline experience. 

The seats are bigger and more spacious. There are only two rows of seats, separated from each other by the aisle so that you won’t be bothered by a chatty seatmate. It’s suitable for people who want to be left alone, the single/solo traveller, the heartbroken … The bus leaves Bangkok at 9.19pm and Chiang Mai at 7.20pm daily. The fare is similar to Supreme Class bus ticket, i.e. 823 Baht one-way. 

The “WIANG PING” Supreme Bus has only 20 seats. The chair is wider and the aisle is also bigger even though the ticket price is the same as the usual Supreme Bus. 

Other than Chiang Mai, Sombat Tour also provide Supreme Class bus service to the other Northern Thailand provinces.

Many tourists combine their visit to Chiang Mai with detours to the neighbouring provinces such as Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Phayao, Chiang Khong and Chiang Rai. Sombat Tour has daily bus service (direct) travelling from these cities to Bangkok and vice versa.

There is also the bus going from Chiang Mai to Khon Kaen (Northeastern Thailand), and to Hua Hin (Southern Thailand) daily. You may refer to the bus schedule here as well as buying the bus ticket online. 

The Arcade Bus Terminal 3 at Chiang Mai. Besides Bangkok, you also can take Sombat Tour’s bus from here to Khon Kaen and Hua Hin.

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Chiang Mai to Hua Hin: Sombat Tour VIP Bus Guide

by Chris | Last updated Mar 6, 2017 | Published on Aug 1, 2013 | Central Thailand , Destinations , How Tos | 14 comments

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Hua Hin is often described as a town similar to Chiang Mai but near the beach. If you need a little sand ‘n sun in your life and are looking for a budget-friendly way to travel from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin, then this VIP Bus guide is for you.

Chiang Mai to Hua Hin: Sombat Tour VIP Bus

UPDATE:  Prices and times of Sombat Tour’s bus schedule have been updated as of March 2017.

VIP bus tickets from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin can be purchased at the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station (Terminal 3) on Kaeo Narawat Road on the northeast outskirts of the Old City. The Sombat Tour Bus counter sells one way VIP bus tickets for 1,005 baht (29 USD).

Tickets must be purchased in cash and in person. Go to the bus terminal least a day in advance, especially during holiday or weekend travel. Return tickets must be bought at the terminal of departure.

Sombat Tour bus tickets can be purchased online through 12go.asia  but the available routes only go from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.

The bus ride from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin is about twelve and a half hours long. Departing times of Sombat Tour Bus from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin are as follows:

Sombat Tour Bus Schedule: Chiang Mai to Hua Hin

Pros of the sombat tour vip bus.

• There are several food stalls that sell hot meals at Terminal 3 (unlike Terminal 2 across the street)
• Mini convenience shops sell snacks, toiletries, and simple travel gear
• The bus left on time and arrived at destination on schedule
• Snacks, drinks, blankets, AND neck pillows were provided on the bus
• Bus seats lean back and leg and foot rests come up for a relatively comfortable sleeping position
• Strong air conditioning (recommend wearing long pants/socks/light jacket)
• The bus stopped at a nice rest stop. The bathrooms have European toilets, toilet paper, and hand soap. The neighboring convenience store has a huge selection of snacks, drinks, and hot meals.

Cons of the Sombat Tour VIP Bus

• Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station Terminal 3 bathrooms are equipped with squat toilets, charge three baht for toilet paper, and do not have hand soap
• The snacks provided on the VIP bus are pre-packaged sugary baked goods, which are not filling and results in a sugar high
• The bus isle is very narrow and difficult to walk through with bags
• There is no luggage compartment underneath the bus. Bags must fit in the overhead storage space above your seat, which has about a ten inch clearance

The bus ride ends at the new Hua Hin Bus Station on Petchkasem Road, located off the main highway (Route 4). It is a small building in good condition, with an air-conditioned waiting area that sells small snacks and has nice bathrooms. There is a tuk-tuk station on the corner of the main road if you need a ride to your final destination.

Return tickets from Hua Hin to Chiang Mai can be purchased at the Hua Hin Bus Station. Bring cash and buy them in advance if possible, especially if you are traveling on weekends or on holidays. Departure times for the Sombat Tour VIP bus are as follows, and also take about twelve and a half hours:

Sombat VIP Tour Bus Schedule: Hua Hin to Chiang Mai

Overall impression of the vip bus from chiang mai to hua hin.

Our experience with Sombat Tour VIP Bus was excellent. We choose to do the overnight route, and with the help of a sleeping aid, the twelve and a half hour ride passed by fairly quickly. We were comfortable in our seats, had enough room for our luggage, and really liked the condition of the rest stop we went to in the middle of the night. If you have time to spare and are physically able to sit down for over twelve hours, consider this cheap alternative to flying from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin.

Q bus from Huahin to Chiang Mai Is there a difference between the 5pm and the 6pm departure. I was told that the 6pm departure is a more luxurious bus ? Colm

No probs chris & angela, on the bus as i speak ;)

Time to leave Hua HIn is now 5.30 pm for the overnight bus to Chiang Mai. Price as as of april 2016 is 980B

Thanks for that update, Andy!

Good clear,concise and to the point article. Thanks for the info

Thanks, Tom!

I just came back from Chiang Mai, per Bus both ways. Going in the day time….there is much to see, very enjoyable with one stop near Nakhon Sawan. Very clean western bathrooms with shop and restaurant where passengers also can get free food with Bus ticket. Remember your Bus number, there are many similar Buses in the parking lot. Chiang Mai now has a new Bus Station. My return trip to Hua Hin was over night. Everybody sleeps, very quiet. Same stop, same place. I made advance seat reservation and was very happy with SOMBAT. Very safe, Bus travels only …  Read more »

I’ve done this round trip route 3 times in the last 2 years, each time the bus had a luggage compartment. Have you ever heard of a VIP bus without a luggage compartment?

There have been luggage compartments on the three or four other overnight buses we’ve taken. This particular trip we can’t be so sure because it was pouring down rain and we were ushered into the bus with all of our bags. It’s worth keeping in mind (and asking about at the ticket counter) when traveling and packing your bags.

Thanks for the information on this bus, Hua Hin is somewhere I want to visit. I’m reluctant to take the long distances buses here in Thailand after everything I’ve read recently and the crashes. I don’t know if people on the expat boards just have vivid imaginations but it makes me wonder about the drivers when they immediately run off after crashes. I prefer the train, though the Bangkok – Chiang Mai line sounds like it’s falling apart!

Glad to have been able to help! As with all things, there are people out there that highlight only the bad or only the good. If we listened to all of the negative reviews and bad news happening out there I am afraid we would never leave our house :) Best thing is just to do your research and choose a reputable company. We hope you are able to visit Hua Hin soon. It is a great laid back beach town! We definitely want to try out the train on one of our next trips down south.

Did you get a pic of the bus itself?

As JC of RetireCheapAsia.com often says, there’s always an option. Thanks for the excellent information and choice.

No problem at all. We are happy to be able to share our experiences. We have a couple more Hua Hin posts in the pipeline, so be on the lookout. Take care, Robert and Samee!

Hi, I’m Chris and I sold it all, paid off my debt, and left the rat race in the US. Today, I live as a full time, financially independent expat in Chiang Mai, providing future expats and travelers firsthand knowledge about all things Thailand! Learn more about my story here…

Sombat Tour Office (Vibhavadi Rangsit Road) Bangkok , Thailand

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More about sombat tour office (vibhavadi rangsit road), getting to sombat tour office (vibhavadi rangsit road).

Sombat Tour Vibhavadhi Branch is located next to Toyota Buzz car dealership and Starbucks and is a 15 minute walk from the Phahon Yothin MRT Subway Station. It's a white building with a big, blue triangle on the front and parking bays for the buses.

Address :   Sombat tour, 23/21, 23/21 Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

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• Chiang Mai from US$19
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What are the most popular places i can go to from sombat tour office (vibhavadi rangsit road).

Chiang Mai   is the most popular place to go from Bangkok. It takes to get there.   Lampang   is the second most popular place to go from Bangkok. It takes to get there.

What is the best way to get to Sombat Tour Office (Vibhavadi Rangsit Road)?

You can find directions from your current location here: https://www.google.com/maps/dir//Sombat tour, 23/21, 23/21 Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

What other stations are near Sombat Tour Office (Vibhavadi Rangsit Road)?

Sombat Tour Vibhavadhi Branch   is 6 meters away from Sombat Tour Office (Vibhavadi Rangsit Road) .  Sombat Tour Viphavadee 13 Bus Station   is 21 meters away from Sombat Tour Office (Vibhavadi Rangsit Road) . 

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Michigan Central Station to celebrate reopening with 10 days of tours, concert

Detroit — As restoration of Michigan Central nears the finish line, plans are moving forward for the former train station's grand opening in early June, which will include a concert for 15,000 people and several days of free public tours.

Michigan Central's team on Tuesday asked the Detroit City Council for permits to host the grand opening. Events will run from June 6-16 with performances, station tours, discussions and family-friendly activities, said CEO Joshua Sirefman.

"Our celebration is going to have two core pieces, a free concert we call 'Open Live' on June 6 to celebrate all the station has meant for the city and what it will mean going forward," said Sirefman. "We anticipate an audience of 15,000 for this. This will be free and we will make sure the residents in the immediate neighborhood have priority access to tickets."

The station's public opening comes 36 years after the last train left the station on Michigan Avenue in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. Ford Motor Co. purchased the building and its surrounding campus in 2018 and has spent hundreds of millions of dollars restoring the area and station.

Sirefman said Michigan Central expects 60,000 people to tour the station over 10 days in June.

"The goal of that experience will be to celebrate the restoration and revitalization of the building," he said.

The station will open to media first on June 6 and an event to thank those who supported the Michigan Central Children's Endowment, led by Bill and Lisa Ford, begins at 5 p.m.

There will be a 90-minute outdoor free concert at 8:30 p.m. Gates for the concert will open at 6 p.m. The event will also be streamed globally, though performers haven't been announced. Pre-registration will be required for all events.

Then on June 7, there will be VIP and general entry tours, an open forum with leadership of the tower and Newlab at Michigan Central. There also will be food service, performances, displays and activities expected.

The station will host free ticketed tours from noon-10 p.m. June 7; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. June 8; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 9. The open house and festival continues noon-8 p.m. June 10-13; from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 14-15; and from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. June 16.

The weekends will have programming with multiple performances per day, demonstrations and music. Weekdays will have a light programming approach with a few spikes of interest each day, according to the permit request.

Open houses will continue June 21 through Aug. 31 from 5-9 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

An "OPEN" sculpture will guide visitors to the entry point of the open houses alongside empty frames people can pose with the train station in the background. Food trucks will line the streets to serve a variety of options from around the surrounding communities.

There also will be a shuttle service and more parking for festivities, Sirefman said.

In 2018, Ford acquired the station and several nearby buildings for $90 million from the Moroun family, the billionaire owners of the Ambassador Bridge. With the state approving tax breaks at the time estimated at $207 million, there was the promise of a revitalization of the shuttered icon.

That year,  40,000 visitors  waited to see the vacant 1913-built rail stop before extensive renovations began.

The 30-acre Corktown mobility innovation hub anchored by the station eventually anticipates one day being home to 5,000 tax-paying jobs, as Ford promised in 2018. Half are expected to come from the Dearborn automaker’s advanced technology teams and the rest from startups and suppliers. Fulfilling the vision, though, is likely to take years, according to the project's leaders, who promise more details will be shared in June.

Ford has estimated the price tag to restore the entire Corktown campus at $950 million, but it wouldn't say how much has been spent restoring the 500,000-square-foot train station. Over the last six years, 3,100 workers put in more than 1.7 million hours into its construction.

Although restoration will be complete in time for the open house in June, the station won't immediately be the buzzing center of shops, restaurants, Ford employees at work and overnight visitors.

"We will start after that, the long process of activating the building over time," Sirefman said.

Still, Ford is expected to occupy several floors in the station's tower, according to two sources familiar with the situation. There are plans for a still-to-be-named hotel to occupy the top three stories. Other businesses will have some tie into advanced tech, electrification or mobility.

More: Michigan Central about to open, but what will be inside?

Restaurants and shops on the ground floor are being curated by Roslyn Karamoko, founder of Detroit Is The New Black apparel brand. Art installations will pay homage to the station's history, and there'll be space for public gatherings and live music performances on its campus. There's also potential for the  return of passenger rail service nearby .

District 6 Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero said the NFL Draft was not as successful near Corktown and Southwest Detroit as previously expected and asked how the station would make more efforts to boost nearby businesses outside their campus.

"We want Michigan Central to feel a part of the neighborhood," Sirefman responded. "We're going to have a partnership with all the local businesses. ... We are going to have limited availability for food and beverages on site but we want to make sure local businesses are highlighted. We are still working on shuttle services for the event but I think that could create opportunities and ensure people are in the neighborhoods."

The petition for the grand opening permits was sent to the council's Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee for a vote before returning to formal session next week.

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Idaho Falls news, Rexburg news, Pocatello news, East Idaho news, Idaho news, education news, crime news, good news, business news, entertainment news, Feel Good Friday and more.

Local radio station holding public tour and open house to celebrate 40 years of broadcasting

Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com

REXBURG – John Haeberle was thrilled as he listened to the new signal on his radio dial.

It was May 1, 1984 and KRIC was broadcasting at 100.5 FM for the first time. Haeberle had a license from the Federal Communications Commission to operate a radio station on the second floor of the Spori building on the Ricks College campus. Thanks to a transmitter atop the Annis Butte about 13 miles southwest of Rexburg, the 25-year-old radio station had more reach than it ever had.

Four decades later, a tower on the south Menan Butte transmits the signals for two radio stations owned by Brigham Young University-Idaho. What is now KBYI has a 100,000-watt signal on 94.3 FM. It’s also streamed online . Listeners tune in daily for NPR News, classical music and other student-produced programming.

Brandon Isle, who became the station manager in 2022, tells EastIdahoNews.com it’s the students behind the mic who have made BYU-Idaho Radio what it is today.

“At various points in our history, we’ve been the No. 1 station on the dial,” Isle says.

And students have produced award-winning content over the years.

Isle and his team are celebrating 40 years of broadcasting to a wide audience by holding a public open house and tour of the station on May 17. They’ll sprinkle the airwaves with tributes and memories from former employees as well. EastIdahoNews.com reporter Rett Nelson got his start at BYU-Idaho Radio. Listen to an air check in the video above.

The early days of radio on campus

Years before KRIC went on the air, it was a lab station that operated out of a small trailer. It was called Viking Saga and students would produce content to give to other stations.

In 1959, the college acquired a 10-watt station known as KRIX. It was in the old Spori building and students had limited ability to broadcast their own content.

“I’ve heard it described as ‘the signal dribbled out of the windows of the Spori.’ So if you wanted to listen, you probably couldn’t, unless you were on campus,” says Isle.

Kay Wilkins played a pivotal role in those early years.

It became KVIK in 1967.

Under John Haeberle’s leadership, KRIC went on the air in 1984 and began broadcasting to a large audience for the first time. Lamar Barrus was the program director and was heavily involved in writing copy for student announcers early on, according to former station manager James Clark.

Another 3,000-watt signal began broadcasting around 1993 with call letters KWBH. Listeners know it today as KBYR on 91.5/88.3 FM, which plays inspirational music.

These stations were housed on the second floor of the Spori building until 2000, when the building was destroyed in a fire.

That same year, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Ricks College would be renamed Brigham Young University-Idaho and transition from a two-year junior college to a four-year university.

The University Communication Building at 525 South Center Street, where the radio station is currently housed, was completed in 2001 and dedicated by then university President David Bednar.

Clark came on board as station manager in 1999. There were concerns about staffing at the time and Clark recalls a shift in focus centered on increasing opportunities for students.

“We were asked to use as many students as we could to do the work,” Clark says. “We had three full-time people and the rest were students. We had anywhere from 15-30 students (a semester). They added greatly to the operation.”

The campus radio station is where Isle started his broadcasting career as a student more than 20 years ago. As he reflects on this milestone, he speaks fondly of the mentors who gave him opportunities to gain experience.

“Mark Bailey (the news director for many years) caught me one day and said, ‘How would you like to come work for me?'” Isle recalls. “I started working here as a student doing news cut-ins and segues.”

It makes Isle smile knowing that he now plays a similar role for students today.

“There’s something magical about working with students,” Isle says. “They’re hungry and eager to learn and it’s so rewarding to see them come in … and pick up new skills and have those daily wins.”

Many students have come back to visit after getting jobs in the industry. It’s a thrill for Isle to see former students doing good things as a result of their involvement at the radio station.

He’s glad to be a part of the 40-year anniversary and is looking forward to celebrating with the community.

The open house is happening on May 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. T-shirts and other swag will be available for those who attend.

On a personal note

There was always something magic about radio to me and James Clark made my dream of talking on it a reality. He was the general manager of KBYI for more than 20 years. He and Mark Bailey, the news director, gave me a lot of creative freedom. I’m sure they were embarrassed at times but I felt like a star. Working there was the highlight of my college experience.

It’s been more than a decade since I graduated. I’m having the time of my life working for East Idaho News, but I look back on my time at KBYI with fondness. It was a special time in my life because I was hungry and eager to try things. James Clark provided an environment for me to spread my wings and fly but was always there to bring me back to earth.

I enjoyed his personality and the thought-provoking words and phrases he used. I later became aware of his musical skills when he offered to pay me to help him build an organ at his house. I don’t remember being much help to him, but years later, I am appreciative of his investment in someone so undeserving as me. Despite his amazing talents, he never sought the spotlight, preferring instead to let me and other students shine. He taught me a lot about humility and professionalism by his example.

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News & Reviews News Wire Concert, 10-day open house to mark Michigan Central Station grand opening

Concert, 10-day open house to mark Michigan Central Station grand opening

Performer to be announced this week for June 6 event

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DETROIT — A 90-minute concert to be livestreamed globally and 10 days of open-house tours are on tap for the grand opening of the renovated Michigan Central Station, officials said in plans outlined for the Detroit City Council last week.

The concert will be held June 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET in Roosevelt Park in front of the station, Michigan Central CEO Josh Sirefman told the council. The Detroit Free Press reports the artist is set to be announced this Tuesday, May 7; advance registration will be required for the 15,000 attendees, with priority given to residents of nearby residents.

Following the opening concert, open-house tours of the building — to become the center of a technology campus — will run through June 16. The Michigan Chronicle reports the open house will welcome up to 60,000 visitors, with additional tours offered Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 31 with preregistration.

Renovation of the 13-story building has been underway since Ford Motor Co. purchased the building in 2018 for $90 million; the company said it planned to spend $740 million on restoring the structure and surrounding area.

More information on the facility is available at the Michigan Central website , which will also include additional details on the upcoming events as they become available.

8 thoughts on “ Concert, 10-day open house to mark Michigan Central Station grand opening ”

Recommend that we visit while we can. Not sure this effort will be long lasting.

EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. The negative Nancys come out. You were first this time. Well played. But of course Charles Landey had to weigh in with more negativity.

Do any of you have anything good to say about anything?

“with priority given to residents of nearby residents.” Just a small typo there.

You can love this building, you can celebrate its resurrection, you can jump for joy at the railroad heritage being saved, you can call it a triumph of architectural renewal, and all that stuff. What you can’t do is explain what’s in it for FoMoCo, what the Ford family gets for the investment. For all this money, Ford ends up in three places, the Glass House headquarters on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, this new Michigan Central technology campus on Michigan Avenue in Detroit, and the traditional engineering/ prototype campus in Dearborn/ Allen Park.

If Ford can’t design a reliable car in Dearborn/ Allen Park, it won’t have any better luck at Michigan Central in Detroit.

I’m no fan of the management of GM (“Government Motors”), but even GM is wise enough to reduce its real estate portfolio by walking away from the RenCen on the Detroit riverfront.

Consider this irony: Detroit ends up saving Michigan Central, a too-big, poorly located obsolete megastructure that the New York Central Railroad should have built much smaller, while at the same time the city has no idea what to do with the much newer, better located RenCen megastructure.

Stay positive Charles. You can’t criticize all the public dollars being invested in CalHSR and then turn around and criticize the private dollars going to Michigan Central.

As for “what is in it for FoMoCo?”

I am sure the project and the facility were all set up under an educational non for profit by Ford so they (and other contributors) could maximize their tax writeoffs.

JOHN — I’m sure if you look hard enough you’ll see that NOTHING gets built in Detroit without substantial public financing, not even a McDonald’s let alone a billion dollar project.

Michigan Central is the THIRD example of megastructure “edifice complex” in Detroit. The first was Michigan Central’s (New Yok Central System) 1910-1913 train station in Detroit with an office tower that the railroad didn’t need.

The second was the RenCen, built under the leadership of Hank The Duece (Henry Ford II) in the 1970’s. An embarrassing 1970’s architectural bomb, later picked up by GM for its HQ, and now GM is walking away. If anyway rents or buys RenCen space, it will be at a fire sale price.

The third and most recent example of “edifice complex” is FoMoCo rehabilitating Michigan Central at colossal expense, an obsolete train station and office tower, duplicating much newer tech space that Ford is tearing down in Dearborn and Allen Park.

Look where GM is “walking away” too. Hudsons Tower, where they will lease the two top floors and the street level will be a showroom. A development by Rock Ventures founded by Mr. Dominos, Dan Gilbert. More private capital flowing into Detroit. More Class A office space with adjoining hotels. GM’s lease in RenCen had shrunk considerably over the years. Their exit is not as big of a deal as one thinks.

Michigan Central appears to be focused differently. Old building, old neighborhood. Tech centric education. And yes, the City of Detroit probably had to fix the sewers and water system and repave some streets. But now it makes the adjoining properties more desirable for residential and urban living.

If you think the MC is bad private investment, that is your opinion, but if you think its bad public policy, I think you are posting in the wrong website.

Regarding your last paragraph, John. Good public policy for Detroit, terrible investment for Ford.

How many cars does Ford need to sell to build out work space for one engineer or one techie in the new bilding.

No question Detroit is an up-and-coming city. But as I started early this morning, What’s in it for Ford?

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