Chiang Mai Travel Guide

 

Chiang Mai also occasionally written as "Chiengmai", is the biggest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located some 700 kilometers north of Bangkok, among some of the highest mountains in the country. The city stands on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.

 

In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an progressively modern city, and although it lacks the cosmopolitan nature of Bangkok, it has many attractions for the 1000s of tourists who come annually. Chiang Mai's historical importance is derived from its strategic location on an ancient trade route. Long before the modern influx of foreign visitors, the city served as a major center for handmade goods, umbrellas, jewelry (especially silver) and woodcarving.

 

 

 

 

Attractions

Loi Kratong: (known locally as Yi Peng): Held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November. Every year thousands of people assemble floating banana-leaf containers (krathong) decorated with flowers and candles onto the waterways of the city to worship the Goddess of Water. Lanna-style sky lanterns (khom fai) are launched into the air. These are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.

Its a spectacular view into the sky and will be something to remember for a long time, If you are in the area around this time, you can't miss it for the world.

 

 

 

Songkran: held in mid-April to celebrate the traditional Thai new year. Chiang Mai has become one of the most popular locations to visit for this festival. A variety of religious and fun-related activities (notably the good-natured city-wide water-fight) take place each year, along with parades and a Miss Songkran beauty competition. You can experience this all over Thailand but Chiang Mai is the place to be for the biggest Songkran celebrations. Its a must do if you are in Thailand during Thai New year.

 

Shopping: Chiang Mai has a large and famous nightly bazaar or Kad Luang as it is know by locals for arts, handicrafts, and counterfeit products of all descriptions, and a number of large, well-appointed modern shopping centers. The night bazaar alone sprawls along several city blocks along sidewalks, inside buildings, and in open squares. In addition a handicraft and food market is held every Sunday evening on Rachadamnoen road (the main street in the historical center) which is then closed down for motorized traffic, attracting many local residents and tourists. This is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Chiang Mai,

 

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep: Established in 1383, this magnificent temple overlooks the city from its 1,073m elevation on the slopes of Doi (Mount) Suthep, which peaks at 1,685m. It is famous for its large gold-plated chedi, visible from the city on a good clear day. Although Wat Doi Suthep is the most recently built of the temples dating from the Lanna Thai period, it is the symbol of Chiang Mai. The site was selected by sending an elephant to roam at will up the mountainside. When it reached this spot, it trumpeted, circled three times, and knelt down - which was interpreted as a sign indicating an auspicious site. Clearly marked songthaews to Doi Suthep leave from Pratu Chang Phuak, passing Chiang Mai University and the zoo on the way. Prices are fixed at 40 baht up and 30 baht down; the drivers wait until they have sufficient (up to 8) passengers before they depart. Most guidebooks advise picking up a sawngthaew from Th Mani Nopharat, but these seem to have increased in price from a reasonable 40b to a ludicrous 500b. Don't encourage these charlatans to milk the tourist cash-cow any further - if you are going from the centre take a regular sawngthaew to the zoo and change there. The trip takes about 30 minutes one way.

 

Alternatively, the 18km journey from town can be made by motorcycle or a bicycle with appropriate gearing. The final 12km from the zoo onwards is entirely uphill and will take 60-90 minutes if cycling. Entrance to the temple is free for those who wish to climb the 300-plus steps; alternatively, there's a cable car with a 50 baht fare.

 

Rafting: Rafting down the Maetang river is offered by several companies and can often be combined with elephant riding or mountain biking. During the dry season (Jan-Feb) water levels are relatively low with only grade 2-3 rapids, but during the rainy season (Jun-Oct) higher water levels make for a more exciting grade 4-5 trip.

 

Elephant Rides: Many tour companies in Chiang Mai offer elephant rides alone or as part of a larger package. If you're uncomfortable seeing trainers guide them by hitting their heads with pointed barbs (which doesn't hurt an elephant), you'd probably prefer Elephant Nature Park. The Park is a sanctuary for abused animals, and while you can't ride the elephants, you can spend a day or a few days bathing and feeding them. The Park's director was named an Asian Hero by Time Magazine in 2005 for her work to save these giant and friendly creatures. Information and tour arrangements can be found online or at Taste from Heaven restaurant, 237 Thapae Rd, where the proceeds go to supporting the park.

 

Trekking: Is a great experience but you will need to be reasonable fit. May tour companies offer trekking packages to suit most. You can stay a night or 2 with the hill tribes living on very basic accommodation, its an experience and a must do, it is a highlight for many people when traveling to Thailand.

 

Nightlife

Chiang Mai's nightlife scene is the most happening in the North, although still a far cry from Bangkok's. There are discos, karaoke bars, and live music everywhere. The busiest nightlife zones are near Tapae Gate, Loi Kroh Road and along Charoenrat Road on the eastern bank of the Ping River.

 

Most of Chiang Mai's bars and pubs are located along Loi Kroh Road and Moon Muang Road. Here you can find small expat hangouts, go-go bars and sports bars. Most have pool tables and hostesses, along with music videos or various TV sports programs. Be aware despite their charm and friendliness, the pressure to purchase lady drinks can end up with a very surprising "check bin" (tab) at the end of the night.

 

Getting to Chiang Mai

 

By plane

 

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) handles both domestic and regional international flights. The route from Bangkok is one of the busiest in the country (Thai Airways flies daily almost every hour, with additional flights in the peak tourist season).

The airport is some 3 km south-west of the city centre, only 10-15 minutes away by car. Legal airport taxis charge a flat 120 baht for up to 5 passengers anywhere in the city; if you take a metered taxi, the fee will start from 40 baht + a 50 baht service fee from the Meter Taxi counter. The taxis operate from the exit at the north end of the terminal - after baggage claim and/or customs, walk into the reception hall and turn left. Alternatively, take bus #4 to the city center for 15 baht, or charter a tuk-tuk or songthaew for 50-60 baht. Most hotels and guesthouses offer cheap or free pick-up/drop-off services.

 

By bus

 

Buses to Chiang Mai leave from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit). The cheapest, non-aircon, stop-everywhere government buses take around 12 hours; non-stop VIP 24-seaters manage the trip in 9 hours on a good day. Chiang Mai also has good bus connections to practically everywhere in the North, and major destinations/hubs in the North-East (Isaan); there's even a direct service to Pattaya and Rayong in the East.

 

By train

 

Various rapid, express and sleeper services depart from Bangkok's Hualamphong Train Station, taking twelve to fifteen hours depending on the service selected. Daytime trains are entirely second and third class, with no sleeper berths; the first "overnight" train of the day departs Chiang Mai around 2:50PM and departs in Bangkok at around 5:30AM.

The overnight trains - particularly second class sleeper berths - is very popular, safe, comfy and fun, and great value too - sleeper fares start at about 500 baht for an upper berth in a 2nd class fan carriage. 2nd class lower berths are somewhat more expensive than, but also slightly wider than, upper berths; air-con is of course about 30% more expensive than non-aircon. Those who wish to avoid sharing the relatively basic second class "bathroom" facilities can book a private first class two-berth cabin (the attendant cleans the first class bathrooms frequently).

In the train (2nd sleeper class at least), you will be offered food (several types of set Thai dinner in the evening, and of Western or Thai breakfast in the morning) and drinks by the train staff - food quality is OK (more like from a street stall than from a restaurant). Bringing your own food/drinks is not a problem. Breakfast for 100 baht and especially dinner for around 150 are worth trying, however, if you do not want to rely on fast food during your trip.

Tickets can be purchased up to 60 days in advance on any station in Thailand, not only from the point of your departure. Advance booking is advisable year-round, but especially between November and March and around Songkran in April . On the larger stations (including Chiang Mai) you can pay for the ticket using your VISA/MasterCard - this is fairly safe, as SRT is a state-owned company.

 

From February 2009, SRT also opened an e-ticketing website http://www.thairailwayticket.com, an excellent option, especially for those willing to book while outside Thailand. However, it is still a bit tricky to register - as they explained by e-mail, you have to avoid any special characters while filling a registration form. After registration, you can book, pay and print your e-ticket online. However, it looks they sell only 1nd and 2rd aircon sleeper class tickets that way. The price is exactly what you'd pay in the ticket office.

 

SRT advises to buy tickets only in their ticket offices (or via e-booking). In Bangkok, touts may approach you near Hua Lamphong station, trying to deflect you into one of the nearby travel agencies, stating this is a ticket office - just ignore them, the ticket offices proper are inside the main station building. Travel agencies, however, may be worth checking, if you can't pay with a credit card and wish to avoid extra visit to the station - just make sure they charge you the actual price plus reasonable commission, not the silly "tourist" price. The latter is especially probable in the Khao San Road agencies; in Chiang Mai, however, they are often honest, with extra 60 baht or so well worth what you get for this (the songthaew return trip to the station will set you back 40 baht, plus at least 40 minutes).

 

Chiang Mai train station is approximately 3km due east of the city center, across the Ping River and near the main Post Office, at the crossing of Charoen Muang Road and Rat Uthit Road (27 Charoenmuang Road). If you arrive late it would be better to take a songthaew to town (many of these meet every train that arrives). If you do want to walk, exit the station, cross the open square in front and turn left on the first major road you come to (Charoen Muang Road) ; this road goes to the city center.