Chiang Mai
Travel Guide > Asia > Thailand > North Thailand > Chiang Mai Province > Chiang Mai
Introduction
Chiang Mai (Thai เชียงใหม่) is the largest city in the North Thailand region. It is roughly 700km north of Bangkok.
Sights and Activities
Markets
The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is where vendors hawk various goods such as statues, t-shirts, DVDs, and Thai food. The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is open every night but is more expensive than the Sunday Night Markets which take place in the Ta Pae Gate area and stretches into the middle of the old city. You can find more traditional Thai clothing and goods at this market and it's a good experience to simply check out the different local food available here.
Wararot Market is the largest local market in Chiang Mai and is also well worth a visit. It is where the locals come to shop so is less geared toward the tourist but is an absolute experience with all the sights and smells.
Doi Suthep
To the north of Chiang Mai is Doi Suthep, a large mountain adorned with the temple of Wat Phrathet Doi Suthep. Anyone catching a song-theaw up the slopes (a tuk-tuk can't drive up the mountain) will be rewarded with fantastic views of Chiang Mai and the sights of a traditional Thai temple.
There are also many waterfalls along the way to the temple where the sweaty traveller can stop to cool off. Some of the waterfalls do charge an admission fee to foreigners though.
PhuPhing Palace
Past Wat Doi Suthep is PhuPhing Palace which offers yet another cultural experience for the keen tourist. Be sure to get there before 3pm though as the palace closes then.
Events and Festivals
Songkran (Thai New Year)
Songkran is the biggest party of the year, held during the hot month of April. In the past, people would throw water among themselves in nice way to bless each other. These days, the festival has evolved into an all-out water fight that takes a whole week. Chiang Mai is the spot in Thailand where Songkran is celebrated for the longest period. The rest of Thailand limits the Songkran festival to some few days. The reason for this is that the festival originated from Chiang Mai in the past and so the city feels more strongly attached to it than anywhere else in Thailand.
Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is a major festival celebrated in the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (usually around November). Although it's celebrated throughout Thailand, the festivities in Chiang Mai are renowned for being the best. During Loy Krathong, people release traditional hot air balloons (Kome Loy) into the sky, set off traditional fireworks and place Krathong (little rafts) on water.
Getting There
Most budget travellers coming from within Thailand will probably arrive by either bus or train, though there is an international airport servicing Chiang Mai.
By Plane
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is found to the west of the old city.
By Train
Chiang Mai Train Station is located near the Ping River.
Many travellers take the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. A total distance of about 700km, the trip generally takes about 12 hours to complete. Many backpackers choose to take the overnight sleeper as this saves them a night's accommodation, although the day train does allow you to take in the scenery. While 12 hours can seem like a long time, it actually flies by as the scenery is quite interesting to look at. Don't expect to get any great photos, however, as it doesn't take long for the train windows to get dirty. Your only option here is to stand between carriages along with the smokers. You might also like to take your own food as the food served on the train is very basic and not to everyone's taste.
Upon arriving in Chiang Mai, the train station actually has several large sign boards listing several hotels and guest houses, their amenities and room prices. If you haven't pre-arranged your accommodation, this makes it less of a gamble than just listening to some tuk-tuk driver who probably is getting a commission by enticing you to a particular hotel.
By Car
Highway 118 goes north from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and Highway 11 goes south to Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae and around to Nan. Highway 1 connects with Highway 11 and goes all the way to Bangkok
By Bus
Travellers coming to Chiang Mai by bus will arrive at the Arcade Bus Station, which is near the train station on the east side of the Ping River. Chiang Mai has bus services to most main Thai towns. Buses leave frequently to Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Mae Sai, Nan, and other cities. Green Bus Thailand covers most routes in the Northern Regions and tickets can be booked on their website.
By Boat
Getting Around
Chiang Mai is an easy city to get around in for those with no transport of their own.
There are several landmarks that the traveller can use to get around. The most obvious thing you'll notice when you arrive is the square moat that still stands in the city centre from days long gone by. The gates and some of the walls are still standing as well and it is easy to use this landmark as a good way to gain your bearings. The road around the inside and outside of the moat is one way however, and it can be confusing for the first-timer as you are often required to over-shoot your destination and then do a u-turn to double back. As long as you remember that the inside road goes anti-clockwise and the outside road goes clockwise you should have no problems.
By Motorcycle
For the brave, motorcycles are can be rented for about 150 Baht a day for a manual 100cc bike, or slightly more for an automatic version. Make sure you ask for a helmet when renting a motorbike as the police around Chiang Mai have been known to pull foreigners over for not wearing a helmet even though there are a lot of Thais who do the same thing! You usually have to leave your passport with the owner when you rent the bike. Some places accept other forms of ID like drivers licenses.
By Tuk-Tuk and Song-Thaew
If you prefer to be safer, then tuk-tuks (three-wheeled motorized pedicabs) and song-thaews (red pickup trucks with two rows of seating at the back) offer easy alternatives for those who want to move about. Song-thaews are a lot cheaper than tuk-tuks and a cross city fare will cost you about 40 Baht. Song-thaews only go on main roads and most drivers don't speak English well, so it might be more convenient for the newcomer to hop on a tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuks are more expensive but faster than song-thaews. They will also drop you right at the front door of wherever you are wanting to go. A basic rule with both song-thaews and tuk-tuks is to negotiate the prices before you get into the vehicle. You avoid nasty arguments this way and both parties usually end up happier.
The usual line for tuk-tuk drivers in Chiang Mai is that fuel is expensive and hence their prices are so expensive. With a little haggling and perseverance, you can usually bargain the price down a bit. Another tip for bargaining with song-thaew drivers is to haggle in a group. They usually give a group discount for more than one traveller. Watch out for the song-thaew and tuk-tuk drivers around the Arcade Bus Station though. They are well-known to increase the price for the new tourist in Thailand. You can easily get around this by being in a group.
By Car
By Public Transport
Chiang Mai has no public transport within the city. You can catch local buses to the towns and villages in the surrounding areas though.
On Foot
By Bike
Eat
If you go east past the Night Bazaar from Ta Pae Gate you'll eventually end up at the Ping River which boasts a series of riverside restaurants. These are more expensive than your typical local restaurant but the atmosphere is more modern, they have live bands, and you'll be able to find English speaking staff.
Drink
Sleep
Budget
On the eastern side of the moat is Chiang Mai's main backpacker area, Ta Pae Gate. This is the area where the cheapest guest houses, most cheap foreign restaurants, and backpacker pubs and clubs are found. It is also close to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.
Mid-Range
Upscale
Keep Connected
Internet
Most hotels and guesthouses offer internet services at very affordable prices. Some places are even complimentary for house guests.
Phone
Post
This is version 17. Last edited at 4:29 on Feb 22, 08 by algore (+543). 9 articles link to this page.
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