Travel to Chiang Mai

Travel to Chiang Mai

Thailands second largest city, Chiang Mai is a charming and laid-back metropolis, set among the hills in the northern part of the country. Its history stretches back to 1296, the Lanna Kingdom period. The moat, replete with ramparts and city gates, surrounds the Old Town, and is Chiang Mais most striking and best preserved relic. In Chiang Mai, you can experience the warm and friendly culture of the North, discover interesting handicrafts and hill-trek into the nearby mountains.

Transportation to Chiang Mai

Flights from numerous major cities throughout the region such as from Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos, Yangon and Mandalay in Myanmar, Singapore and Kunming in China ply to and from Chiang Mai International Airport. Getting to the city is a short taxi ride from the airport. Chiang Mai can also be reached by train and air from Bangkok, and buses travel to and from the city from all over the country.

What to see

Plenty of guesthouses, cafs and internet shops can be found at the Wat Chedi Luang tourist area near Thapae Gate. This temple complex dates back to 1411, and was briefly home to the Emerald Buddha that now resides at Bangkoks Wat Phra Kaeo. Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chet Yot are just two of the 300 temples that dot the city, but Wat Phra That, perched atop Doi Suthep Mountain at 1,000 metres above sea level, cannot be missed, and it is visible from most parts of the city on a clear day.

The lively Chiang Mai Night Bazaar has some of the best bargains in the country, where you can wander around perusing an assortment of goods from silk, handicrafts, shoes, DVDs and CDs, to t-shirts, wood-carvings and drawings. The street market around Tha Pae Gate on Sunday nights has to be experienced.

Daytrips

Twenty kilometres northwest of Chiang Mai is the Mae Sa Valley area that features an assortment of shows and attractions which include an elephant show and bungee jumping. Doi Inthanon National Park, 47kms from the city, boasts Chiang Mais tallest mountain, at 2,563 metres tall, as well as an impressive array of waterfalls and wild orchids.

Chiang Dao is a sleepy town 56kms north of Chiang Mai with a few small resort hotels, making it a good escape from the city. Lampang has some of the finest Burmese temples in Thailand, and on the way there from Chiang Mai, take time out at the Elephant Conservation Centre and the Elephant Hospital.

Activities and leisure

Chiang Mai is a perfect base from which to make excursions into northern Thailands mountains and for visiting the hill tribes. Delicious northern Thai cuisine can be found everywhere in Chiang Mai, and the annual Songkran water festival is perhaps best celebrated here.

Safety issues

Chiang Mai is a relatively safe city, but always be vigilant of petty criminals at night, especially around the busy bar areas. Tourists are particularly more susceptible when in an unfamiliar environment, and youshould be mindful when travelling about. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.