Airport Details
Airport Full Name
Chiang Mai Airport
IATA Code
CNX
Location:
The airport is situated 2 miles (4km) from Chiang
Mai.
Airport Facilities
Facilities include a bank, bureaux de change, ATMs, bars, restaurants, shops, a tourist desk on the first floor, first aid on the second floor and a left luggage office. There are limited facilities for disabled travellers; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance.
Transfers
Taxis are available for travel to Chiang Mai, 100 Baht/15 minutes. A shared taxi will cost 40 Baht. Fares should be agreed in advance. The Airport does not allow public tricycle and pick-up cars to enter the airport area; those can be accessed outside the airport area. Many hotels arrange transport and public buses are only advised for serious budget travellers.
Contact
Tel: +66 (0)53 2702 2233.
Chiang Mai Hotel Deals
Climate Details (C)
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
| Min | 13 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 15 |
| Max | 29 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 28 |
Travel Guides: Chiang Mai
General Information
Chiang Mai is Thailand's second largest city, and an excellent starting point for excursions into the northern territories. Its name means 'new city', even though Chiang Mai is much older than Bangkok, having been built in 1296 under the rule of King Mengrai. The city straddles the gap between urban and rural Thailand, and offers the best of both worlds in terms of attractions and activities for Thailand tourists.
While Chiang Mai has more than 300 ancient temples, including the one at Doi Suthep, which offer breathtaking views over the area, its popularity is largely due to the elephant treks in the surrounding countryside. Travellers can also use Chiang Mai as a launching pad for excursions to the Lisu Hill-Tribe, Bhubing Palace, Isaan province, and Chiang Rai. Thai cookery classes are also a popular tradition, and the city also has an extensive night market, with dozens of street vendors selling a variety of traditional Thai wares that can be obtained at very low prices if you have the patience to bargain for them.
Chiang Mai is small enough to get around on a bicycle, has several attractions, and offers excellent accommodation, although tourists are advised that it can be difficult to find a room in peak season, between December and March.
Getting Around
Chiang Mai is tourist-oriented, and it is therefore relatively easy to get around, with several transport options. Three-wheeled tuk tuks, also known as samlors, are usually the quickest means of transport, and fares should be negotiated before travelling. Songthaewsare another novel (if slightly hair-raising) way to travel. Songthaewsare small, usually red, pickup trucks with benches fitted along the side; they have no fixed route but pick up and drop off passengers like buses and need to be flagged down. Be sure to check the destination with the driver. The Chiang Mai bus service is very limited; catching a metered taxi can be difficult at times as well. Renting a motorbike is a popular option, and car rental agencies are also available, though traffic can be heavy, and it is advised to rather hire a car with a driver. Bicycles are another good way to explore Chiang Mai and can be hired in the old city, though one does have to watch out for drivers.
Activities
Pai, Chiang Mai
Located 83 miles (135km) up a coiled mountain road from Chiang Mai in the extreme northwest of Thailand, Pai is an unlikely tourist attraction. The town has undergone a number of transitions from hill tribe village to hippie hideaway to a tourist playground. Its relaxed atmosphere and peaceful mountain scenery have enlarged its widening reputation and it is now a tourist hot spot. Pai is a popular base camp for treks into the hills which can be arranged through hotels or travel agencies in the city. Closer waterfalls and hot springs are worth a visit, and elephant camps are nearby as well. An airport now connects Pai to Chiang Mai, but the best way to get there is by motorbike or bus in order to see the beautiful scenery on the way.
Chiang Mai Zoo, Chiang Mai
Boasting two giant pandas from China, Chuang Chuangand Lin Hui,Chiang Mai Zoo has earned itself quite a reputation with travellers as one of the top attractions in the region. The perfect destination for a day trip with the kids, the Chiang Mai Zoo also features exhibits such as a walk through aviary, Gibbon Island, an aquarium, a Cape Fur seal exhibit and even a special Children's Zoo. With two waterfalls, plenty of space to run around and a fabulous variety of exotic residents, a trip to the zoo is a must for all animal lovers and a great way to spend the day. Seal shows and other animal shows are conducted several times a day.
Opening Times:
Open daily 8am5pm. Seal shows: Monday to Friday
10:30am and 2pm; Saturday and Sunday 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3pm.
Animal shows: Monday to Friday 11:30am and 3pm; Saturday and Sunday
11:30am, 2:30pm and 3:30pm.
Admission:
THB 100 (adult); THB 50 (children).
Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai
Maesa Elephant Camp is a popular attraction located up in the Muang hills, about a half hour's drive north of Chiang Mai. The camp is home to dozens of Asian elephants, and is dedicated to conservation and breeding. Visitors to the camp will be privy to shows which include elephants playing football and even painting! There are also elephant rides available for the more adventurous. Although this is not a natural environment for these great animals, they are well cared for and very entertaining. The best time to visit Maesa Elephant Camp is on March 13th, which is National Thai Elephant Day and is celebrated by an enormous banquet for the pachyderms.
Opening Times:
8am-3pm
Admission:
THB 120 (entry and show), THB 1,200 (rides per
hour).
Mae Sa Waterfall, Chiang Mai
Set in the lush Soi Suithep-Pui National Park, only 10 miles (15km) out of town, the Mae Sa Waterfall is definitely worth visiting on any Thailand holiday. Follow the winding pathway to the waterfall's plummeting 10-tiered cascades. There are various little secluded areas along the trail where visitors can relax with a picnic. The jungle villages dotting the riverbanks are also fascinating to see. This popular picnic and swimming spot gets a bit over-crowded on weekends.
Opening Times:
Open daily 8am-6pm.
Admission:
THB 100
Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai
Some 10 miles (15km) west of Chiang Mai lies the Doi Suthep Mountain, famous for the Wat Phrathat temple perched on the summit. Legend has it that in the late 14th century King Ku Na was looking for somewhere to house a collection of holy relics. He placed them in a howdah (canopied seat) on the back of an elephant and let the animal wander. The elephant proceeded to climb Doi Suthep, on top of which it trumpeted, turned round three times and knelt to indicate that this was the spot. Within the site are bells, pagodas, statues and shrines influenced by both Buddhist and Hindu culture, including a model of the Emerald Buddha and a statue of the Hindu god Ganesh. Wat Phrathat can be reached either by a flight of 290 steps, or by funicular, and offers breathtaking views of the countryside.
Getting There:
Songthaews (red taxi trucks)leave from in front of
Chaing Mai University and in front of the Chaing Mai Zoo. They cost
around THB 30 per person one-way.
Opening Times:
Daily 6am-8pm.
Admission:
THB 30, or THB 50 including a return funicular
ride.
Bhubing Palace, Chiang Mai
The royal winter palace of Bhubing has beautiful, regal structures and extravagantly landscaped gardens for visitors to take in. The palace may not be entered but the gardens can be explored when the Thai royal family is not in residence. The gardens of Bhubing Palace are known for their stunning roses, and are home to a variety of bird and insect life. There is a strict dress code which must be adhered to when visiting this royal site, including a ban on shorts and dresses that show the shoulders, however clothes can be hired at the palace for those who aren't properly attired.
Opening Times:
Daily 8:30am-4:30pm. Closed January to
March.
Admission:
THB 50 (adult), THB 10 (child).
Lisu Hill-Tribe Display, Chiang Mai
A worthwhile Chiang Mai attraction is the Lisu Hill-Tribe display at the Hill-Tribe Research Institute Museum. The lives and cultures of the hill-tribe people in Thailand are exhibited here through photographs, agricultural implements, religious artefacts and musical instruments. Household utensils and ethnic costumes are also displayed. The non-hill-tribe ethnic minority, the Mlabri (who are often associated with the 'spirit of the yellow leaves'), are included in this extraordinary exhibit.
Opening Times:
Weekdays 9am-4pm.
Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center, Chiang Mai
The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center is an interesting attraction near the Three Kings Monument (Saam Kasat). This multimedia history and cultural education centre offers English-subtitled video displays of Chiang Mai, followed by tours of the rooms documenting the region's history and culture since the pre-Muang period. There are also exhibits showcasing Buddhism and regional beliefs, as well as agricultural history, hill tribes and other regional cultures, and the royal dynasties are also represented. The guides are elegantly outfitted in traditional Thai clothing. The Center is a must-visit for anyone interested in learning more about the rich culture and history of Chiang Mai.
Opening Times:
8:30am-5pm daily except Mondays.
Admission:
THB 90
Chiang Mai Temples, Chiang Mai
Temple tours of Chiang Mai are a wonderful attraction for visitors. The old town is home to the most honored temples and some tranquil Buddhist sanctuaries. The historic Wat Pra Singh holds the revered Phra Singh Buddha, which dates from the 15th century. The oldest temple in Chiang Mai is Wat Chiang Man (establilshed by King Mengrai), noted for its ancient bas reliefs and massive teak columns. Wat Chedi Luang boasts a gigantic chedi ruin, said to be the tallest structure in the old town, and was once home to the sacred Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok). Wat Rong Khun is an impressive white glass temple with colourful paintings inside; if you look carefully, you may even spot Superman or Keanu Reeves depicted in them!
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Chiang Mai
A beautiful Chiang Mai attraction, the first genuine botanical garden in Thailand was the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in the Mae Sa Valley. It now also serves as a centre of botanical research and studies. The main feature of this attraction is the Glasshouse Complex, made up of four exhibition conservatories and eight display glasshouses. A lovely river runs melodically through the grounds. The Thai Orchid Nursery and Rock Garden are other highlights of the gardens, as well as various walking trails and shaded rest areas. Facilities for visitors include a restaurant, a first-aid station, souvenir shops and toilets.
Opening Times:
Daily 8:30am-4:30pm.
Dokmai Garden, Chiang Mai
The Dokmai Garden ( dokmaimeaning flower) displays a vast range of edible fruit plants, vegetables and vascular plants. Aluminium signs in English, Japanese and Thai guide and inform guests throughout the grounds, which are surrounded by plantations of teak, bananas and longan. The Atlas moth and the Golden Birdwing butterfly can also be observed here, as well as numerous mushrooms and fish species and more than 1,000 varieties of flowers.
Museum of Insects and Natural Wonders, Chiang Mai
Little boys will love this wonderland of interesting creepy crawlies. Founded in 2002 by Manop Rattanarithikul (nicknamed 'The Mosquito Man') and his wife, Manop, who have a keen interest in insects and have been studying them for most of his life. Manop guides curious visitors through his vast and rare collection of insects and invertebrates that comprises 422 species of insects Thailand. From the tiniest little gnat to gigantic beetles, there are enough bugs here to make your skin crawl!
Opening Times:
Open daily 9am5pm.
Admission:
THB 200
Events
Chiang Mai Art and Culture Festival
To celebrate the birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, this Chiang Mai festival features live outdoor Thai music and dancing, stage performances, Lanna art exhibitions and entertaining puppet shows (for the kids!) There's also a lot of really good food at the festival.
Date:
9 - 13 April 2012
Venue:
Near the Three Kings Monument
Loy Krathong
Similar to Valentines Day in the west, Loy Kratong is celebrated in Chiang Mai on the full moon night nearest November. Decorated banana leaf boats, beautifully lit with candles, float along the waterways. Hot air balloons made from colourful bags are also sent off into the night sky. Very romantic...Date:
28 November 2012
Yasothon Rocket Festival
The skies around the town of Yasothon light up on this night with fireworks and rockets, tempting the clouds to spill their precious rain over the rice fields. Originating in pre-Buddhist times, it is a fertility rite held to celebrate and to encourage the coming of the rainy season, and parade ornaments and floats often sport phallic symbols and imagery. Although the humble origins lie in superstition, the festival is today a competition to see who has the biggest rocket. For more information phone the Yasothon Municipality on (0)45 711 397 or the Thailand Tourist Office on (0)2 694 1222.
Date:
12 - 13 May 2012
Venue:
Phaya Thaen Park, Yasothon
Naga Fireball Festival
One of the world's most awesome phenomena is this natural event which coincides with the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat. Hundreds, often thousands of balls of fire rise out of the water to a few hundred metres before disappearing. It is not yet known how exactly this occurs and though scientists may dispute, the locals believe it is the work of Naga, a serpent living in the Mekong River. There is an annual festival to celebrate this intriguing phenomenon.
Date:
29 - 30 October 2012
Venue:
Mekong River, Nong Khai region
Bor Sang Umbrella Festival
Near Chiang Mai and often referred to as 'the Umbrella Village', Bor Sang hosts the annual Bor Sang Umbrella Festival. This event celebrates the traditional crafts and skills of the local people with features such as exhibitions, a Miss Bor Sang pageant and stalls selling the hand-crafted umbrellas a must for all visitors to the area.Date:
15 - 17 January 2012
Venue:
Bor Sang main street
Chiang Mai Songkran
Songkran is the Thai New Year, celebrated with exuberance and ceremony in Chiang Mai this is possibly the city's biggest party event of the year! Songkran in Chiang Mai is one of the biggest parties of the year. Chiang Mai's moat becomes a playground with people splashing and dunking unsuspecting friends, all in good humour.Date:
13 - 17 April 2012
Restaurants
Le Grand Lanna
Le Grand Lanna is fashioned on a Lanna nobleman's home, constructed entirely of old teak on raised stilts. Aside from it's comfortable dining hall with beautiful Lanna art, there is also sheltered terrace seating outside overlooking the tropical gardens, which are home to exotic birds and butterflies. Flaming torch lighting and traditional music set the scene beautifully for evening meals. Pomelo salad, khao sawy and gaeng hang lan (red pork curry) with sweet mango chutney are favourites on the menu, satisfyingly topped off by homemade lychee or yam ice-cream.Address:
51/4 Chiang Mai-Sankampaeng Rd
Aroon Rai
This Thai garden restaurant serves authentic northern cuisine from an open kitchen, and lets diners take some of their recipes and spices home. Famous for fried insects and frogs, the menu also offers a superb khao sawy with egg noodles and crisp-fried chicken, a sweet and spicy combination with coconut undertones. Their sai ua (Chiang Mai sausage) is famous and the fried pork rinds are truly decadent.
Address:
45 Kotchasarn Rd
The House
The House is elegant and sophisticated, with large draped windows and delicate silk finishes. This restaurant offers a diverse menu of regional flavours accented by classical dishes and grilled delights. The imported steaks and lamb are delicious, as is the local seafood. These can only be followed by one or more of the sumptuous desserts... Dinner can be nicely wrapped up with a drink at the Moorish lounge bar outside.Address:
199 Moon Muang Rd
Le Coq d'Or
Set nostalgically in a colonial house near the Ping River, Le Coq d'Or is both distinguished and ambient, and offers tremendous service. With imported beef, lamb and local fish prepared in French and Belgian styles on the menu, diners won't leave unsatisfied. The foie gras or salmon tartare are popular as a starter, while the chateaubriand and the Norwegian salmon come highly recommended for mains. There is a good selection of wines to accompany the meal.Address:
11 Soi 2 Koh Klang Rd
La Gondola
In Chiang Mai, La Gondola overlooks the tranquil Ping River and is known for its vast glass aviary collection and romantic balcony seating. In true Italian fashion, this restaurant is very lively and serves rather large portions of food. There is a broad menu offering Northern Italian cuisine, including an assortment of delicious pastas and mouth-watering steaks, as well as various specials.Address:
201/6 Charoenrat Rd
