Chiang Mai is a city built on the roots of a traditional heritage that dig deep into the soil of time. It's a city with a beautiful cultural personality of its own. In addition, it's been blessed with much majestic beauty in nature. The people themselves are an unforgettable part of Chiang Mai. Handicrafts of silk, silver and wood are timeless souvenirs for visitors from all over the globe. Along with all this, a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment all help to make Chiang Mai one of Thailand's prime tourist attractions. Favorite hotel in Chaingmai
About 700 kilometres from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is situated on the Mae Ping River basin some 310 metres above sea level. Surrounded by high mountain ranges, it covers an area of approximately 20,107 square kilometres. The terrain is mainly jungles and mountains, parts of which are within national parks which are still fertile and verdant with plentiful flora and fauna. There are many sites and locations where tourists prefer to visit to study the lifestyle of the tribal people who live on high hills.
How to Getting There
Distances from town to neighbouring districts :
- Chom Thong 58 km
- Chiang Dao 68 km
- Chai Prakan 13 km
- Doi Tao 121 km
- Doi Saket 18 km
- Fang 154 km
- Phrao 103 km
- Mae Chaem 156 km
- Mae Taeng 40 km
- Mae Rim 8 km
- Mae Wang 35 km
- Mae Ai 174 km
- Wiang Haeng 150 km
- Samoeng 54 km
- San Kamphaeng 13 km
- San Sai 12 km
- San Pa Tong 22 km
- Saraphi 10 km
- Hang Dong 15 km
- Om Koi 179 km
- Hot 88 km
- Mae On 29 km
Car :
a) From Bangkok drive on Highway No.1 (Phahonyothin) to Highway No.32 passing the provinces of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, and Nakhon Sawan, then take Highway No. 117 to Phitsanulok and drive on to Highway No. 11 to Lampang, Lamphun and Chiang Mai. The route is 695 kilometres.
b) From Bangkok drive to Nakhon Sawan and then take Highway No. 1 passing Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Lampang, and Chiang Mai. The route is 696 kilometres.
Bus :
The 10-hour journey from Bangkok can be made on air-conditioned buses originating from the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2), contact tel. 936 2852 for more information. Buses leave for Chiang Mai several times a day from 8.00 to 21.00 hrs. In Chiang Mai contact Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station, tel: 0 5324 2664.
There are services from Chaing Mai’s Chang Phuak Bus Terminal to various districts in Chiang Mai. Buses ply along the northern route (Highway No. 107) passing through Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Chiang Dao, Chaiprakan, Fang and Mae Ai. Some buses continue to Tha Ton. Local city buses ply between Chiang Mai and Lamphun on Highway No. 106. Chang Phuak Bus Station tel: 0 5321 1586.
Train :
The State Railways of Thailand operates daily services from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong). Trains leave for Chiang Mai 6 times a day from 8.00-22.00 hrs. For more information, contact tel. 1690, 223 7010, 223 7020. Chiang Mai Railway Station, tel. 0 5324 2094.
Air :
From October 20,2003, Phuket Air offers 2 daily shuttle service flights from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with YS-11 aircaft. The journey takes only 40 minutes and the flights time are available at 07.30 and 18.00 hrs. For more information, call Bangkok Office 66 2679-8999 or Chiang Mai Office 66 5392 2118-9 or view at www.phuketairlines.com
Thai Airways has numerous daily flights servicing the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route. In addition, they have daily flights connecting Chiang Mai with Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, and Phuket. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at Reservations by Phone 24 Hrs: Tel : 66 2628 2000, Chiang Mai office at tel. 66 5321 1044-7, or view their website at www.thaiairways.com.
Bangkok Airways has 2 daily flights connecting Chiang Mai with Bangkok. In addition, they have daily flights servicing the Chiang Mai-Sukhothai route. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel: +66(0)265 5678 For Reservation tel: +66(0)265 5555 or E-mail: reservation@bangkokair.co.th
Getting Around
For relative short distance you can take a tricycle (Sam Lor). Short rides within the city cost between 20 and 30 baht. Longer rides may cost as much as 50 baht.
Tuk-Tuks (three-wheeled motorised taxis) are also popular for short and quick journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance. Minimum fares are approximately 20 baht.
The most common means of transport is a “See Lor” (literally “four wheel”) or “Song Theao”. They all are red-coloured and look like pick-up trucks but with a roof over the back. They pick up as many passengers as they can and drop them off as the drivers reach their destinations. To go by “See Lor”, simply tell the driver your destination. Fares range from 10-20 baht according to the distance
