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Chiang Mai
Thailand Bookings Network Chiang Mai
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Thailand Bookings Network Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, some 700km (438mi) north of Bangkok, is Thailand’s second largest city (though it does not even have 10% of Bangkok’s population), capital of one of the largest provinces of Thailand (roughly 20,000sqkm, 7,720sqmi) and in general the center of Northern Thailand. In many aspects, it’s much more pleasant than Bangkok. A common claim is that it has the advantages of Bangkok without suffering the capital’s disadvantages. Among the advantages are that it does, for example, have an infrastructure which permits any city lifestyle one can afford, but without the traffic, without the pollution, without the noise of Bangkok - and at considerably lower cost. The Tourism Authority of Thailand elected to summarize the advantages of Chiang Mai with the following words: "Many lowland Thais regard Chiang Mai city and province as being a national Shangri-la thanks to beautiful women, distinctive festivals, historic temples dating from the 1300’s, arresting scenic beauty, temperate fruits such as apples, peaches and strawberries, and a crisp, invigorating cool season climate." In matters of tourism, one even cannot help getting the impression that Chiang Mai has overtaken Bangkok though plain figures may not support such a claim. But it’s not the number of tourists that make Chiang Mai seem a more touristy city than Bangkok. Rather, it’s the attitude of visitors towards the city. Hardly any visitor to Thailand likes Bangkok for the city itself. Tourists may not be inclined to by-pass Bangkok - one has to have seen the Thai capital, otherwise one does not know Thailand. And beyond any doubt, Bangkok is richer in architectural monuments of world class ranking than any other municipality in Thailand, including Chiang Mai. But what the visitor is likely to talk about first when summarizing his Bangkok experience is the terrible traffic congestions, the pollution, the noise, to a certain extend the dirt. It’s a different matter with Chiang Mai. In comparison to Bangkok, Chiang Mai may be poor in architectural monuments and the display of art. Nevertheless, visitors throughout the last decade have put Chiang Mai into contrast to Bangkok, describing it as a nice place. And visitors who have time to spend often choose not to spend that time in Bangkok but, if they favor cities, much rather in Chiang Mai. As the Tourism Authority of Thailand worded it (probably a little bit too enthusiastically): "As countless travelers have discovered, Chiang Mai’s manifold attractions enthrall, delight, and to visit this northern Shangri-la merely once is to remain forever enchanted." The absolute number of tourists on any given day may be considerably smaller in Chiang Mai than in Bangkok. Relative to the size of the two cities, however, the number of tourists per 1000 inhabitants (or whatever figure one wants to chose for that kind of statistics) is higher in Chiang Mai than in Bangkok. For this reason, too, Chiang Mai always seems a more touristy place. Actually, during the peak season, one seems to meet just as many tourists in some parts of Chiang Mai as one meets locals. To some, this may be an impediment to enjoying the place. As always, a mechanism is in effect that resembles the mechanism of self-destroying prophecies. A tourist place retains its charm only as long as it doesn’t reach its full capacity for tourism. One may argue whether Chiang Mai has reached its full capacity already, or whether it’s still charming. HistoryChiang Mai has an history of more than 700 years. Oddly enough, it doesn’t begin in what is today Northern Thailand but the Southern Chinese province of Yunnan, a few hundred kilometers to the north. There, the well developed Thai kingdom of Nanchao existed from the middle of the 7th until the middle of the 13th century (for 604 years to be exact). In 1254, however, the Nanchao Kingdom was conquered by Kublai Khan, resulting in the southward migration of a large number of Thais. Most of these Thais settled in what is today northern Thailand. A result of this influx of Thais from southern China was the founding of several towns and principalities in what is today northern Thailand. Among the towns founded and the principalities established in the second half of the 13th century was Chiang Mai. However, a predecessor of Chiang Mai was Chiang Rai, some 180km (113mi) to the north. There, a prince of the Nanchao Kingdom who had migrated south with his people, Mengrai, established in 1262 the Lannatai principality (commonly translated as Kingdom of one Million Rice Fields). If one prefers to speak of a Lannatai Kingdom instead of a Lannatai Principality at that early stage, one of course has to upgrade Mr. Mengrai’s rank to that of King. However, one must be aware that Mengrai was of course designated in Thai and with a Thai title, and ranks of nobility in Western and Thai history are not equivalent to each other. Certainly, Mengrai was an independent and absolute ruler, but his realm just had the size of what would be considered as a principality in European history. In the 30 years after the founding of Chiang Rai, Mengrai’s realm indeed grew to a size of what one may consider a kingdom. The development was aided by Mengrai’s close alliance to the ruler of Sukhothai, King Ramkhamhaeng who conquered a territory larger then present day Thailand but did not touch the considerably smaller neighbor in the north. Therefore, two fairly strong Thai kingdoms existed at the end of the 13th century, Sukhothai and Lannatai. Chiang Mai was founded by King Mengrai as his new capital in 1291. The new city was completed with a surrounding moat and wall in 1296. The name it was given reads in full as "Nophaburi Si Nakhonping Chiang Mai". The good relations between the Lannatai Kingdom and the southern Thais didn’t last for long. After the Sukhothai period which ended in the 14th century, the southern Thai’s approach to the Lannatai Kingdom was characterized by repeated attempts to degrade it to a vassal principality rather than accepting it as an equal Thai kingdom. And for the roughly 600 years from 1291 to 1774, the Lannatai Kingdom was a willing ally of the Burmese at least for as long a time as it sided with Ayutthaya. Actually for more than 200 years, from 1556 to 1774, it was a Burmese vassal state, just as the Shan principalities to the west of Lannatai. Due to its location in between Burmese and Siamese spheres of influence, Chiang Mai was not only repeatedly subdued by one of the two but also several times destroyed. Chiang Mai became an integral part of Siam only in 1774 when the city, in preceding decades under strong Burmese rule, was conquered (or liberated) by King Taksin. Local NationalismThe visitor will notice that the people of Chiang Mai never get tired of pointing out that Chiang Mai has for centuries been the capital of an independent Thai kingdom - with the emphasis on "independent". But Thais from Phitsanulok southwards, or in northeastern Thailand, do not identify themselves with the Lannatai Kingdom. For them, Thai history begins in earnest with Sukhothai and continues through the Ayutthaya period into the Bangkok era. In books published in Bangkok on the history of Siam or Thailand, the Lannatai Kingdom regularly appears rather as a foreign power, on equal footing with the former principalities of Wiengchan (today Vientiane) and Luang Prabang which now form Laos. Inhabitants of Chiang Mai, however, will argue that point, especially if they are natives of the city or belong to the educated class, as they identify strongly with their history reaching back to King Mengrai. And they view their history as independent history and as Thai history at the same time - in spite of the fact that this double interpretation has a tendency to be contradictory in many historical details. ClimateThe climate of Chiang Mai (and all of Northern Thailand) is slightly different from (and more agreeable than) the climate of central and other parts of Thailand, mainly due to the region’s elevation (300m, around 1000ft in the valleys). The cool season lasts from late October to the end of February. Average daytime temperature is 21° Celsius (70° Fahrenheit); nights are much cooler. The coolest months are December and January. The hot season is from early March to end of May. Average daytime temperature is 30° Celsius (85° Fahrenheit). The hottest month is April. The rainy season usually begins early June and reaches to the end of October. Average temperature is 25.5° Celsius (77° Fahrenheit). The wettest month is September. FestivalsChiang Mai celebrates many festivals, most of which are also celebrated in other parts of Thailand, but probably with less fervor. Among them are the Flower Carnival (on the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of February), Songkran (April 13-15) and Yee Peng (on the day of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, generally mid-November). The Flower Carnival celebrates the time when Chiang Mai’s temperate and tropical flowers are in full bloom; it is characterized by colorful floral floats and parades. Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year. Chiang Mai celebrates Songkran with special elation in a 3-day carousel of religious merit-making, pilgrimages, beauty parades, dancing and uninhibited good-natured water throwing. Yee Peng is Thailand’s loveliest festival when, under the full moon, people float banana-leaf boats bearing a lighted candle, incense, a flower and small coin onto rivers, canals, lakes and streams to honor water spirits and float away the past year’s sins. RestaurantsBesides excellent Thai and Chinese food, visitors can enjoy Italian, French, German and Muslim food in specialty restaurants. US-style steakhouses, sandwich bars, fast-food outlets, English-style pubs and vegetarian restaurants offer a broad range of cuisines. International fare is widely available in teahouses and coffeeshops. Local culinary specialties include highly spiced Naem sausages and mildly curried Khao Soi noodles. Many visitors enjoy a traditional Khan Toke dinner which is accompanied by a display of northern dances. Khan Toke actually is a wooden tray for carrying dishes. In a Khan Toke dinner the guests sit in groups of five or six on the floor. Major Khan Toke dishes include glutinous rice, Burmese and northern Thai-style curries, spiced mincemeat dishes, Chiang Mai sausage, highly seasoned sauces and dips, and crisp pork rind. Diners eat with their hands while groups provide entertainment, performing popular Northern dances such as the graceful fingernail dance, the candle dance and the sword dance. Khan Toke dinners are served by: Khumkaeo Palace Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center Khan Toke Chiang Mai ShoppingChiang Mai is a major center for quality handicrafts. At any city emporium or at the Night Bazaar one can purchase an extraordinary variety of "antiques", silverware, silver jewelry, hill tribe opium pipes and embroidery, Thai silks and cottons, basketry, celadon, furniture, lacquerware, wood carvings or parasols. The visitor can often watch how the various handicrafts are made especially at several outlying villages, particularly along the Bo Sang - Sam Kamphaeng Road. In genuine cottage industries, parasols, silk and cotton weaved cloth, jewelry, wood carvings, silverware, celadon and lacquerware are manufactured. However the visitor should be aware that many "factories" along the Bo Sang - Sam Kamphaeng Road actually are not primarily factories but retail outlets, and they charge not factory but retail prices. (For additional information on handicrafts, please see the chapter Shopping in the general section of this book.) Cottons & SilksFirst-class Chiang Mai cottons and silks are of top quality. A very large selection is available in Sam Kamphaeng. Umbrellas/ParasolsThese are inextricably associated with Bo Sang where villagers have been engaged in their manufacture for at least 200 years. Different materials, cotton, silk, Sa paper (produced from the bark of the mulberry tree) and bamboo are used. Visitors to Bo Sang will see hundreds of designs and sizes ranging from the miniature to the gigantic. SilverwareThe finest Thai silverware is made in Chiang Mai by family enterprises which have been in the profession for several generations. Traditional skills and a guaranteed pure silver content of not less than 92.5% invest bowls, receptacles and other decorative items. Silver shops are concentrated on Wualai Road where silverware artisans and their families traditionally live. LacquerwareStriking black and gold designs give Chiang Mai lacquerware its visual appeal and sheen. Lacquer designs adorn various base materials such as wood, bamboo, metal, paper and baked clay. Products are receptacles, figurines, display plates or display boards. Aside from Thai products, lacquerware of Burmese origin is also widely traded in Chiang Mai. Furniture / Wood CarvingsChiang Mai is a major center of furniture making. Woods and materials popularly used include teak, rosewood, rattan and teak veneer. These may be unadorned or, in the case of teak and rosewood, artfully carved in traditional or modern designs. Furnishings, cushion covers and seats are often finished with Thai silk and cotton. Wood carving is a traditional northern Thai art featured in numerous temples. In recent years, wood carving has increasingly embellished furniture, gracing screens, chairs, tables, beds, indeed anything bearing a wooden surface large enough to be carved. Carved elephants, figurines and tableware are among other items commonly available. Several wood carving and furniture shops are found along the Bo Sang - Sam Kamphaeng Road. However, it must be noted that the exportation of wood carvings has become more difficult in recent years, especially if they are made of teak wood. Often customs officers will require a clearance certificate from the Fine Arts Department. Aside from Thai wood carvings, items smuggled into Thailand from Burma are also widely available. Hill Tribe ProductsAmong the most appealing hill tribe products are silver ornaments such as bracelets, necklaces, pendants, hairpins and pipes of intricate design. Old pieces have been made from melted coins which originated in British India or French Indochina. Other favorite hill tribe products are embroidered items, such as tunics, dresses, bags, purses and caps. Hill tribe items can be purchased directly in hill tribe villages or at Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar. PotteryChiang Mai is a major center of Thailand’s pottery industry. Prized items include the distinctive, single-colored, specially high-fired celadon. Celadon, with its inimitable, finely cracked glaze, is produced in numerous forms, including dinner sets, lamp bases or general decorative items. Gold Plated Orchids & ButterfliesOrchids and butterflies are preserved and plated with 24-carat gold to create unusual gift items and jewelry pieces such as necklaces, pendants, hairpins and ear rings . SportsLanna Golf Course Opened in 1972, Lanna enjoys a truly spectacular setting at the foot of the famous Doi Suthep mountain just outside Chiang Mai. The course is moderately difficult with more than 20 lakes and water hazards, plenty of mature trees and elevated greens planted with local grass. Open 6:00-8:00 Office Lanna Golf Course Yim Cana Golf Course Also more correctly known as the Gymkhana Club, this course offers the uncommon setting of a large cricket ground surrounded by mature trees, including teaks. The course has a pleasant clubhouse. Office: Yim Cana Golf Course Trekking ToursMajor hill tribes, including the Meo, Lisu, Yao, Akha, Lawa and Karen live in the mountains around Chiang Mai. The tribes share animist beliefs and honor numerous forest and guardian spirits. Each tribe has distinctive courtship rituals, games, dances, agricultural customs, puberty rites, languages or dialects, aesthetic values and hygienic habits. Increasingly popular jungle treks, lasting from 2 to 7 days, take visitors through forested mountains and high meadows and include visits to remote high-altitude hill tribe settlements. Such treks sometimes also feature elephant rides. Best guides are hill tribe youths who commonly speak Thai, English and at least three tribal dialects. Visitors contemplating joining jungle treks are advised to contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office on Chiang Mai - Lamphun Road to get the TAT-prepared Trekking Guideline Sheet which lists the common-sense precautions would-be trekkers should follow to ensure personal security and satisfaction. There are currently three main trekking routes: the Chiang Mai - Mae Taeng route which usually includes a raft trip down the Mae Taeng River; the Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Song route through spectacular mountains and some rough terrain; and the Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai route with its exciting long-tail boat ride on the Kok River. Other trekking areas are in Chiang Dao, Mae Chan, Ngao, Phrao, Wiang Pa Pao and Lampang. MiscellaneousPost & Telegraph Office Telecommunication Center Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourist Police Immigration Customs Chiang Mai Business Association Business HoursPrivate companies Mon-Fri 8:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30, Sat 9:00-13:00. Banks Mon-Fri 8:30-15:30. Government offices Mon-Fri 8:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30. BanksSiam City Bank Siam Commercial Bank Bangkok Bank Bank of Ayutthaya Bangkok Commercial Bank Krung Thai Bank Thai Military Bank First City Bangkok Bank Bangkok Metropolitan Bank Union Bank of Bangkok Thai Danu Bank Laemthong Bank Places of Interest in the CityWat Phra Singh This temple on Sam Lan Road dates from 1345 and is one of the focal points of Songkran festivities each April 13-15 when people bathe the revered Phra Buddha Singh image. Also on the temple compound is the Lai Kham chapel with exquisite wood carvings and murals and a scripture repository with striking reliefs. Wat Suan Dok This temple on Suthep Road, built in the 14th century, is a favorite spot for photographers, particularly during sunset. Several of the white Chedis contain ashes of local royals. The 500 year old bronze Buddha in a secondary chapels is one of northern Thailand’s largest metal images. Wat Chiang Man This Wat on Ratchaphakhinai Road is Chiang Mai’s oldest temple and probably dates from 1296. It first served as residence of King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Mai. It is noteworthy for a Chedi supported by rows of elephant buttresses, and a small, ancient Buddha image, Phra Kaeo Khao. Wat Chedi Luang The temple on Phra Pokklao Road is the site of an enormous destroyed pagoda, originally 85m (280ft) high, which collapsed during an earthquake in 1545. At one time, Wat Chedi Luang housed the revered Emerald Buddha image now found in Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaeo. One of Wat Chedi Luang’s most striking architectural features is a Naga staircase adorning the main chapel’s front porch. Wat Ku Tao The Chedi near Chiang Mai Stadium was built in 1613. The structure is colored with porcelain chips. Wat Chet Yot This temple on the Super Highway, north of Doi Suthep - Nimmanhemin Road, dates from 1453. The seven-spired square Chedi was inspired by designs at Buddhagaya, the site of Buddha’s enlightenment in northern India over 2,500 years ago, and was built by Lannatai masters who had recently returned from Buddhagaya. Chiang Mai National Museum The Chiang Mai museum beside Wat Chet Yot contains Lannatai works of art, ancient Buddha images and war weapons. The museum is open daily, except Mondays and Tuesdays, from 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00. Attractions to the WestTribal Research Institute The Institute on the Chiang Mai University campus, 5km (3mi) from the city, has a permanent exhibition of artifacts which is open is open Mon-Fri 8:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30. Chiang Mai Arboretum The attractively landscaped garden near Chiang Mai University, 6km (4mi) from the city, contains many kinds of tropical trees and flowers. Chiang Mai Zoo The zoological gardens, next to the Chiang Mai Arboretum, 6km (4mi) from town, occupies the lower forested slopes of Suthep Mountain. On display is a collection of Asian and African mammals and birds. Huai Kaeo Falls The area around the falls near Chiang Mai Zoo, 7km (4mi) from the city, is a popular spot for picnics. Khruba Sivichai Monument The Khruba Sivichai monument near the Huai Kaeo Falls, 7km (4mi) from the city, was built to commemorate Khruba Sivichai who initiated a plan to construct a hillside road for cars and people to the monastery on Suthep Mountain. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep 15km (9mi) west of the city, this temple, 1,156m (3,520ft) above sea level on Suthep Mountain, overlooking the city from its forested backdrop, is one of Chiang Mai’s most important landmarks. It dates from 1383 and has holy Buddha relics in its golden pagoda. Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world come throughout the year. To reach it one can chose the hard way and climb a steep Naga staircase comprising around 300 steps; the less energetic may ascend by funicular cars. Phu Phing Palace Phu Phing palace on Doi Buak Ha, 7km (4mi) further on the road passing Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, was built in 1962. The nicely landscaped grounds are open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, provided members of the Thai Royal family are not staying there at that time. Doi Pui Tribal Village The Meo tribal village, some 4km (3mi) from Phu Phing Palace, offers vignettes of modern tribal life. Phu Dam (Black Cliff) This scenic spot near Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is popular for picnics. TransportationThai Airways Chiang Mai Railway Station Arcade Bus Station Bangkok - Chiang Mai
Thai Airways has 10 direct flights daily from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. The first departure is around 7:30, the last around 20:45. While departure times might change every 6 months, the changes are likely to be minimal while the frequency is basically maintained. Flight time is 1:05hr. The price of a one-way ticket is 1650 Baht. Trains from Bangkok for Chiang Mai depart from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station at 6:40 (arr 19:15), 15:00 (arr 5:15), 18:00 (arr 7:25), 19:40 (arr 8:05) and 22:00 (arr 11:55). Fare (excluding surcharges for rapid or express trains and aircon) is 121 Baht for 3rd class, 255 Baht for 2nd class and 537 Baht for 1st class. The rail distance is 751km. Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road; 713km, non-aircon 133 Baht, 5:25, 5:30, 6:00, 7:25, 9:10, 10:30, 12:30, 13:35, 16:30, 19:15, 20:45, 21:20, 21:40, 22:00; aircon 242 Baht, 9:10, 9:35, 9:45, 10:00, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:10, 21:13, 21:30, 21:45; VIP 310 Baht, 20:00, 21:00 A large number of private bus companies connect Bangkok with Chiang Mai. Among them are: Chiang Mai Gold Tour, Tel 247-1051 to 5 Setthi Tour, Tel 278-5660 to 2 Ambassador Tour, Tel 252-0402 Siam Express Tour, Tel 513-3811 Phumin Tour, Tel 233-1025, 271-2991 Thanchit Tour, Tel 279-6768 Chan Tour, Tel 252-0349, 278-5576 Chaisit Tour, Tel 278-4880 Pat Tour, Tel 251-5447 Top North, Tel 252-2967 Siam First Tour, Tel 245-2677 Thavorn Farm, Tel 279-5850, 271-3011 Poy Luang Tour, Tel 252-0200 Indra Tour, Tel 251-6197 Chiang Mai - Bangkok Thai Airways has up to 11 direct flights daily from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The first departure is around 7:45, the last around 20:45. Not all the schedules are the same for every day. Flight time is 1:05hr. The price of a one-way ticket is 1650 Baht. Trains for Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station leave Chiang Mai at 6:35 (arr 20:05), 15:30 (arr 5:30), 17:15 (arr 6:25), 19:30 (arr 8:25), 20:45 (arr 10:25). For fares and distance see entries under the opposite direction. Provincial FlightsChiang Mai - Chiang Rai Thai Airways has one to three direct flights daily from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. The first departure is in the morning, the second and third usually in the early afternoon. While departure times might change every 6 months, the changes are likely to be minimal while the frequency is basically maintained. Flight time is around 40min. Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has two to three direct flights daily from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai. Departures are in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Flight time is around 40min. Chiang Mai - Khon Kaen Thai Airways has a direct flight twice a week from Chiang Mai to Khon Kaen. Departure is around noon. Flight time is around 1:25hr. Khon Kaen - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has two direct flights per week from Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai. Departure is in the early afternoon. Flight time is around 1:25hr. Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Son Thai Airways has two to three direct flights daily from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son. The first daily departure is in the morning, the second in the late afternoon; the third one, not on all days, is usually in the late morning. Flight time is around 40min. Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has two to three direct daily flight from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai. Departures are daily in the late morning and in the late afternoon while on some days of the week, a third flight leaves around noon. Flight time is 30 to 40min, depending on the aircraft used. Chiang Mai - Mae Sot Thai Airways has a direct flight four times a week from Chiang Mai to Mae Sot. Departure is in the early afternoon. Flight time is around 50min. Mae Sot - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has a direct flight from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai four times a week. Departures are in the mid-morning. Flight time is around 50min. Chiang Mai - Nan Thai Airways has a direct flight three times a week from Chiang Mai to Nan. Departure is in the mid-afternoon. Flight time is around 45min. Nan - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has a direct flight from Nan to Chiang Mai three times a week. Departure is around noon. Flight time is around 45min. Chiang Mai - Phitsanulok Thai Airways has a daily direct flight from Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok. Departure times are not the same at each day but are usually in the late afternoon. Though the flights are direct there are stop-overs either at Mae Sot and Tak or at Nan. Because of the stop-overs, flight time is more than 2hrs. Phitsanulok - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has a daily direct flight from Phitsanulok to Chiang Mai. Departures are in the morning but on different hours on different days. The flights are direct (no change of aircraft) but there is either a stop-over at Tak and Mae Sot or at Nan. Because of the stop-overs, flight time is more than 2hrs. Chiang Mai - Phuket Thai Airways has a direct non-stop flight four times a week from Chiang Mai to Phuket. Departure is around noon. Flight time is around 2hrs. Phuket - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has a non-stop flights from Phuket to Chiang Mai four times a week. Departures are in the early afternoon. Flight time is around 2:05hrs. Chiang Mai - Surat Thani Thai Airways has a direct non-stop flight twice a week from Chiang Mai to Surat Thani. Departure is around noon. Flight time is around 2hrs. Surat Thani - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has a non-stop flight from Surat Thani to Chiang Mai twice a week. Departures are in the mid-afternoon. Flight time is around 1:50hr. Chiang Mai - Tak Thai Airways has a direct flight four times a week from Chiang Mai to Tak. There is always a stop-over at Mae Sot. Departure is usually in the early afternoon. Flight time is around 1:40hr. Tak - Chiang Mai Thai Airways has a direct flight from Tak to Chiang Mai four times a week. Departure is in the mid-morning. The flight is direct (no change of aircraft) but not non-stop as there always is a stop-over at Mae Sot. Flight time is around 1:30hr. Transportation within Chiang MaiPublic transport within urban Chiang Mai is by buses, mini-buses (essentially converted pickups with bench seating) and samlor (pedicabs or tricycles). Public buses ply several city routes. The fare per single journey is 2 Baht. Mini-bus fare within the city is 5 Baht on normal routes. Prices must be negotiated for longer distances. Samlor (pedicab or tricycle) fares must be negotiated before beginning the journey. Mae RimMae Rim is a small town in Chiang Mai Province, in the enchanting Mae Sa Valley, some 15km (9mi) north of Chiang Mai city. Places of InterestOrchid Farms The two nearby orchid farms, Mountain Orchid and Sai Nam Phung Orchid Nursery, have an amazing variety of all year round blooming orchids. Thais consider orchids as the Queens of the Forests. Wang Kulap (The Rose Garden) A great variety of roses and other beautiful flowers can be seen on both sides of the stream passing through the garden. Mae Sa House The house is a show place for private collections of Thai antiques. Mae Sa Falls The falls in an impressive setting with many gigantic trees stretch over 8 levels. Ban Hmong Mae Sa Mai The village offers an insight into the culture and ways of living of the Hmong hill tribe. Lodging, campfire and food are available for visitors desiring to stay overnight. In addition, souvenirs are sold at the village. Elephant Training Center At the center at Mae Sa Mai, 30km (19mi) north of Chiang Mai city, half the distance from Mae Rim, trained elephants demonstrate their formidable and highly-valued forestry skills. Admission is 40 Baht per person. A 2 1/2 hour jungle tour is offered after the show at 250 Baht per person. Chiang DaoChiang Dao is a small town in Chiang Mai Province, some 75km (47mi) north of Chiang Mai city. Places of InterestChiang Dao Caves The sacred caves, 72km (45mi) north of Chiang Mai city, are filled with Buddha images belonging to Wat Tham Chiang Dao. The upper parts of the caves are illuminated with electric light, while deepest recesses can be explored with local guides equipped with oil lanterns. FangFang is a small town in Chiang Mai Province, some 150km (94mi) north of Chiang Mai city. Places of InterestDoi Ang Khang This demonstration site for the planting of temperate climate vegetables and flowers, 163km (102mi) from Chiang Mai on Highway 107 (Chiang Mai - Fang Road), is under the patronage of King Bhumiphol. Fang Hot Springs In a 4 hectare (10 acre) forest clearing at Ban Pin, 11km (7mi) off Highway 107 before reaching Fang, are about 50 hot springs. Three boil continuously with a strong smell of sulfur. Water temperatures range between 90° and 100° C (194°-212° F). Doi SuketDoi Suket is a small town in Chiang Mai Province, some 20km (13mi) northeast of Chiang Mai city. Sam KamphaengSam Kamphaeng is a small town in Chiang Mai Province, some 15km (9mi) east of Chiang Mai city. Places of InterestCotton and Silk Weaving Villages Sam Kamphaeng and the surrounding villages are famous for Thai silk as well as cotton, both still woven by local folk on traditional looms and sold in a wide variety of plain lengths, plaids, brocades, stripes, prints and checks. Other Cottage Industries On both sides along the road from Chiang Mai city to Sam Kamphaeng are many so-called factories for silverware, lacquerware, wood carvings and other handicraft. Visitors can watch how particular items are made. However, demonstrations of the manufacture of certain handicraft often are part of the marketing. Prices at places that manufacture themselves are not necessarily lower than in plain shops. Larger traders who proclaim themselves wholesalers have retail prices which are generally not at all lower than the prices at, for example, the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai city. Many of the handicrafts sold along the road between Sam Kamphaeng and Chiang Mai are indeed produced in cottage industry, but not mainly along the road at the so-called factories where tourists arrive by the bus loads. Bo Sang Umbrella Making Village The village, 9km (6mi) from Chiang Mai city on the road to Sam Kamphaeng, is not to be missed by anybody with an interest in Thai handicrafts. The locals manufacture silk and cotton umbrellas and Sa paper parasols which are hand-painted in a variety of floral and animal designs. Generations of Bo Sang families have been engaged in umbrella and parasol making for over 200 years. People there also make Temple Bells, produce so-called Sa paper by an ancient process, using the bark of mulberry trees. Sam Kamphaeng Hot Spring The spring in a nice green surrounding, about 23km (14mi) from the town of Sam Kamphaeng, has water with a high sulfur content which allegedly possesses curative and restorative properties. Separate male and female bathing facilities are available. The place is popular for picnics, too. Roong Aroon Hot Springs The 16 hectare (40 acres) resort near Sam Kamphaeng Hot Spring, 35km (22mi) east of Chiang Mai city, is decorated with different kinds of plants and flowers and has a rock garden as well. Two boiling hot springs provide mineral water for individual bath rooms and bath tubs. The facilities also include bungalows and a restaurant serving Thai specialities and international cuisine. Hang DongHang Dong is a small town in Chiang Mai Province, some 15km (9mi) southwest of Chiang Mai city. Chom ThongChom Thong is a small town in Chiang Mai Province, some 60km (38mi) southwest of Chiang Mai city. Places of InterestWat Phrathat Si Chom Thong The temple, on the Chiang Mai - Hod Rd, 58km (36mi) southwest Chiang Mai city, was built in 1451. The Vihara houses a holy relic of the Buddha. Mae Klang Falls The Mae Klang Falls, on the Chiang Mai - Hod Rd, 58km (36mi) from Chiang Mai city, are a big cascade in a scenic surrounding near the Doi Inthanont National Park. The spot is popular for picnics and much photographed. Places of InterestDoi Inthanont National Park The park beyond Mae Klang Falls, one of Thailand’s most famous and well equipped to welcome visitors, has an area of 1,005sqkm (388sqmi), mainly west of Chom Thong and extending towards Mae Chaem in the west and Sunpatong in the north. It is named after and has on its terrain Doi Inthanont, Thailand’s highest mountain (2,565m, 8,418ft) and encompasses several Karen and Meo hill tribe villages. The natural scenery is marvellous. Areas above 1,800m (5,880ft) are covered with lichens and are rich in wild orchids. Shooting, fishing or damaging vegetation is strictly forbidden. Particularly scenic spots are around the Wachirathan, Siriphum and Mae Pim waterfalls. Wachirathan Falls They can be viewed on the route to Inthanont Mountain, a 30min drive from Mae Klang Falls. Siriphum Falls They are on the same route, an hour’s drive from Mae Klang Falls. Mae Ya Falls The falls, 12km (8mi) from Chom Thong market, can be reached by local mini-bus. Borichinda Cave The cave is a 10min drive from Mae Klang Falls, after which one must walk for 1 to 2 hours. Since there is a big opening, the cave is not dark. Ob Luang Ob Luang is a steep river valley amid scenic mountains and teak forests, 88km (55mi) from Chiang Mai city on the Chiang Mai - Mae Sariang Rd. |