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.
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.
