Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the hub of Northern Thailand, a city much greener and quieter than the capital Bangkok. It’s the fifth largest city in the country and has a cosmopolite air to it.

Location

Chiang Mai is located on the Ping river and ss the capital of Chiang Mai Province. Chiang Mai stands at the hills of the Himalayan Mountains, at 700 km / 435 miles north of Bangkok.

How to get to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai International Airport handles both domestic and international flights. The route from Bangkok is one of the busiest but there are also flights from Malaysia, Taiwan, Laos and Singapore. The airport is located at 10-15 min drive from the city. There are taxis to get from the airport to the city but most of the hotels offer shuttle services as well.

If you want to travel by bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the journey on the cheapest bus takes 12 hours.

If you prefer the train, there is a train service from Bangkok to Chiang Mai but takes about 12-15 hours.

Temperatures

The temperatures don’t very much during the year. The coldest month is December while the hottest in April.

Dec avg high 82 F / 27 C; avg low 59 F / 15 C
Apr avg high 97 F / 36 C ; avg low 73 F / 22 C

Things to do

The city’s historical center is the walled city. However, sections of the walls only remain at the gates and corners. Inside the remaining city walls there are 30 temples decorated with beautiful wood carvings, angelic guardians and pagodas laced with gold filigree. The most famous of them is Doi Suthep, which overlooks the city from a mountain.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is the most famous temples in Chiang Mai. It dates from 1383 and offers one of the best views of the city.

Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in the city and houses two very important Buddha figures: a marble Buddha and a crystal Buddha.

Those are just two of the most important temples in Chiang Mai. In total there are over 300 temples in the city, each having something unique to offer the visitors.

There are several museums in the city as well where you can spend some time exploring the history and culture of Thailand.

Ratchadamneon Rd , which runs from Thapae Gate to the very popular Wat Phra Singh, is the main walking street in Chiang Mai and has become the place where you can enjoy a relaxed evening stroll.

Night Bazaar is located in the modern Chiang Mai, towards the Ping river and is very popular among the tourists.

There are plenty of Thai massage parlors in the city where you can enjoy anything from a quick face or foot massage to a long course introducing you in this art.

Elephant Nature Park is located at about 60 km / 37 mi north of the city and is home to 30 rescued elephants.

Chiangmai Zoo is located at the foot of Doi Suthep and is home to over 7000 animals, including a pair of Giant Pandas from China (which evidently became the top attraction in the zoo).

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