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Dec

29

Chiang Mai Travel Guide

Filed Under Thailand

A trip to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city, covering some 20,000 square kilometres and situated among the verdant hills of Northern Thailand. In this welcoming and atmospheric city, you will find a variety of restaurants and shopping, cool nights, rich and proud culture and friendly people.
The number of attractions is plentiful and you may wish to extend your vacation in order to take in all of the sites and experiences available to visitors. Among the noteworthy attractions include the scenic moat surrounding the old town, intricately designed temples, the amazing handicrafts and fantastic hiking and trekking opportunities.

Flights to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai International Airport is a well equipped facility that receives flights from national and international destinations. The Airport serves daily international flights from Singapore, Taipei, China, Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Domestic flights connect to Bangkok, Samui, Phuket, Mai Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Mae Sot, Phitsanulok, and Sukhothai.
There are quiet a few options for getting around the city. Taking a tuk-tuk is an inexpensive option that allows passengers a scenic view of the city. There are also a number of ‘red buses’ otherwise known as songtaews. You don’t have to worry about find them—they will find you. Always agree on a price before you set off to your destination.

Sightseeing in Chiang Mai
While visiting the city, there are a wide selection of attractions that you should see and quite a few that you ‘must-see’. One of these is the majestic Doi Suthep Mountain and Temple. The famous temple sits on the mountain and overlooks the city offering fantastic views. The mountain offers the chance to get close to nature. The Chiang Mai Arboretum is a charming landscaped garden that contains a variety of tropical trees and flowers as well as a small display of Asian and African mammals and exotic birds.
The Huay Kaew Waterfall is not only a great place to relax and cool off, it also makes from some truly amazing photo opportunities while the valleys of Mae Taeng and Chang Dao offer the chance to get up close and personal with elephants as well as great trekking opportunities. The small towns of Lampang and Lamphun are a short drive away and offer some stunning architecture and scenery.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
The city has a vibrant nightlife. There are bars, discos and eateries dotted throughout the city. There is the chance to enjoy a relaxing meal on the river in one of the many riverside restaurants or sit back and enjoy the live bands. Eating plays a big part in the social life of Chiang Mai and with so much wonderful food to tempt your palette, you will never go hungry.

A visit to this city is not complete without visiting the local stalls and shops. The famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is a colourful market offering everything from local souvenirs and handicrafts to silks and works by local artists. Haggling is not only an important aspect of your shopping experience, it is also fun and expected.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
Shopping opportunities abound in Chiang Mai. In fact, it is one of the bast places to pick up a souvenir in Thailand. There are gem factories, umbrella factories, silver outlets, handicraft centres and silk shops. For a great daytrip, head to the woodcarving village in Ban Tawai and pick up a unique souvenir or two.

Daytrips
There are some exciting daytrip destinations within easy reach of Chiang Mai, most of which can be accessed by hire car, shared taxi or scooter. Both Mae Taeng Valley and Lampang have elephant camps where you can watch these gentles beasts play football and paint pictures among other amazing feats. These camps are also the perfect departure point for elephant treks into the jungle.

If you would like to explore some of the province’s natural attractions, the caves at Chang Dao (about a one-hour drive from Chiang Mai) are worth a visit. There are a number of different chambers open for discovery and guides are on hand to lead the way.

If you prefer to see things on foot rather than by car there are some interesting day treks in and around the city. Gardening fans may like to visit Sirikit Botanical Gardens near Mae Rim where hundreds of different plan species grow and there are a number of pretty walks through forested areas.

Must-see attractions
Among Chiang Mai’s must-see attractions is the temple on top of Doi Suthep mountain from where outstanding views of the city can be enjoyed. There are dozens of other worthwhile temples in the old city, including Wat Prah Singh. The best way to see these ancient temples is to take a walking tour of the old city, stopping at the many beautiful temples along the way.

If you are a shopping fan, the Night Bazaar is a must-visit for its eclectic mix of hill tribe souvenirs and cheap CDs and DVDs. Having recently been modernised, the market is now even easier to explore and many of the shops are housed indoors should the weather turn sour.

The Chiang Mai Zoo is a worthy stop for those with children and houses a number of exotic animals such as pandas, jungle cats and koalas. For a different kind of zoo experience, the Chiang Mai Night Safari is a new addition to the city’s animal attractions and allows you to get up close with tigers and a number of other big cats.

Best time to go
The best time to visit Chiang Mai is in the cool season from October to March when nights are comfortably cool and days are sunny but not scorching. April sees the arrival of the hot season when temperatures can reach 40°C. This is also the time of year when the Thais celebrate their new year and finding a hotel room can be tricky. The rains arrive in May but don’t really get going until July or August. The rainy season can be a good time to visit if you don’t mind the occasional shower.

Rainy day suggestions
As the rainy season in Chiang Mai extends several months, it’s good to have a back up plan in place in case your sightseeing plans get spoilt with wet weather. Chiang Mai has several indoor attractions including two huge shopping centres with cinemas: Kad Suan Kaew and Central Airport Plaza. In addition, the Chiang Mai National Museum on the Superhighway tells the story of the city’s fascinating past.

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