Chiang Mai Travel Forum

Hi there,

We're going back to Thailand for our honeymoon and have three full days in Chiang Mai.
We've done a bit of research and there seems to be so much to do there.

Can anyone recommend to us what we should concentrate on while we are there in terms of sightseeing.
Also we're staying in the Holiday Inn (formerly Sheraton) and wondered how far away our hotel is from these attractions.

Is Chiang Mai like the rest of Thailand i.e. you can hop on a sky train or bus or tuk tuk to get where you need to be???

Cheers

Rach and Liam : )

I will be in Chiang Mai in May for a day or so on my way to Laos. I understand that there is a bus that goes from the Bus Terminal to the border. It takes about 7 hours. Is that correct? Has anyone done this? I really wanted to take an overnight bus and arrive at the border early morning so that I can take the slow boat to Luang Prabang. Any feedback is appreciated.

I'm arriving by train on Sunday at 6am into Chiang Mai. Can anyone tell me if there's a bus that goes past the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel on Huay Kaew Road? How much would it cost and how regularly does it run?

If not, how much should I pay for a Songtaew and which one to get?

If anyone is available Sunday to show me around Chiang Mai that would be great. I'd be happy to trade the opportunity to practice English for a free tour guide!

Leave me a number and I'll call you when (if) I get to my hotel!

Would like to know if there are any interesting dates in the first 8 months of the year that will be make a trip to Chiang Mai extra special. Or if there is a webiste i could go to for such info? It is quite urgent.

Wesak Day is quite important isn't it as Buddhists celebrate it? Is it a good time to go? Thank you.

Myself and a couple of friends will be travelling to chaing mai for a cpl of days towards the end of March this year and the various jungle treks have been recommended to me.
How long do they tend to be and how much are they? Also has anyone got any recommendations on which one to take?

Greetings!
We are planning to have a re-union in Chiang Mai from December 18-21, 2008 in Chiang Mai. Roughly 30 rooms for 50 people. Looking for clean, airy, cheerful hotel. Price range $75-125/night.

People are in the 50-60 years of age.

Would appreciate some recommendations.
Regards,
SKG

Hello,

We are travelling to Chiang Mai in February for 4 days.
I'm not interested in the typical touristic tours, spending the whole day in a bus & being taking to places to buy souvenirs.

I've read some great reviews on "Pai" the "Mae Kam Pong Village".
What is the best way to travel to these places, note that we wish to return to Chiang Mai in the evening. If worthwile we would consider to spend one night at one of these small villages. But first we need to get there :-))
Any ideas,I think that travelling by motorbike would be a bit dangerous as we plan to spend 2 more weeks in Thailand.

Recommendations for any other place to visit, far away from the touristic areas are also very welcome.....

Looking forward hearing from you soon.
Many thanks in advance.

Coming to Chiang Mai in March! Are there any good river cruises? I'm bringing my daughter and she loves boats! Maybe with lunch or drinks? Length of cruise? Thanks again-Darla

I'll be in Chiang Mai on the 26th Jan and want to make my way overland to Phomn Pehn to arrive there on the 30th. I'm wondering how easy it is to do this by train and what the best sights to see are on the way. I really like to see the local life and major sights - not so into the temples.

Any recommendations of where to stay will also be welcome - or even a travelling companion!

Hi all,

I'll be in CM from Jan 7-10th and am figuring out what to do... I have a few q's that I'd love some help with:

1. What's the best way to travle from CM to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep? (rent a car? moped? taxi?) How much time should I allot?

2) I'd like to learn a little about meditation. Where would you suggest I do this?

3) Should I go rafting here? or down south? I'll be down south from the 11-17th.

THANKS!
Lana

Hello:

does anyone know a good operator who organizes 3-4 day trips to the parks around Chiang Mai? In particular trips more directed to walking through forest and seing nature rather than riding elephants.

Thank you.

Hi all. Will be taking a trip to chiang mai with my mum and sis in january and this being our first time there, we have absolutely no idea where to stay. We're looking for a guest house that is clean, quiet, affordable (around 1000-1500 baht or less for 3 ppl a night), equipped with hot showers and a/c and within walking distance to the night bazaar as well as other attractions. We have these few in mind after reading some reviews online:

1) Lai Thai Guest house
2) Sri Pat
3) CM Blue House
4) Na Inn
5) All in 1 Guest House

Could anyone help us in making a decision or perhaps recommend someplace better? Thanks in advance!

Hi Vters,

My wife and I will visit Chiang Mai from Dec 27 to Dec 30th and hope to see the Karen hill tribe and Wat Rong Khun (white temple)in the Chiang Rai area. We hope to rent a car and driver or even a driver/guide. Can anyone recommend a tour company for this and tell me the approximate cost for 2 people for a day trip for the above?

Thanx in advance,

GA

Hi all,
My name Alfonso from Italy I'm looking for more friend to join a photography tour in Chiang Mai on This Friday. I will stay at Photo Gallery Homstay close by Chaingmai Gate around Nantaram road. I am a photography mania as I booked the trip with the Photo gallery home stay for private which cost me 3000 baht for all day to Doi Intanond includes lunch and fee. If joining tour will cost only 1,500 Baht. Please let me know if you like to join the trip and we can change idea of photograpy. I may delay my trip to next week if nobody join as my guide will help finding in other hand. Please reply!

We are considering both hotels for Feb. Travelling with elderly mother so I would like a place with gardens. Does anyone out there have opinions on which is better? Both look very nice. Thanks in advance. I appreciate all the replies to my posts.

My partner and I will be going on a 3D2N trip to Chiang Mai and staying at Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel in the city during mid Jan.

I would love to visit the Karen Village but I would like to know how long it would take to travel from the city to the village area. I read that they are located at Chiang Rai area, may I know it's true?

I couldn't enquire the hotel's email service as they kept bouncing back, so I can't check if they have tour packages. Can someone suggest how I go about planning itinerary? As I don't have much experience and would love to have a fruitful culture trip in Chiang Mai.

Thank you very much.

Love,
Vonz

Dear VTers,

My wife and I are interested in visiting a hill tribe near Chiang Mai, but because of my wife's physical condition, we can't do a major trek. Any suggestions?

Thanx in advance,

GA

I am considering going to Chiang Mai and doing a Hill Tribe Trek when I go to Thailand. But my concerns are that many are overly touristed and that the people wear western clothing and just try and sell souviners. Can anyone give me their thoughts on this?

How would we go about arranging volunteer work with hill tribe villages in chang mai? Through the tour operators?

Hi Vters,

I understand there is a new Wat named Rhong Khun in Chiang Rai province but about an hour from Chiang Mai. Has anyone been there and can you verify the amount of time it takes to get there?

On a related note, is there a bus to go there or how much does it cost to hire a driver w/car and a guide for the day?

Thanx in advance,

GA

When in Chiang Mai for 2-4 days,is it better to stay in the city centre or outside of it?Anyone tell me top 5 must do things in Chiang Mai?I do not know much about this place,but from what I have heard its full of history and culture.....

Thanks

Hello,

Can you let me know what is the best way to book these tracking tours and water rafting? How much do they ruffly cost? Is it OK to book everything in Chang Mai when we get there? Is 3 days enough or would you recommend longer?
I appreciate your help. Thanks Martina

I am heading up to Chiang Mai tomorrow Mon 15th for a week in which time I would like to do a do the 3 day trek.
Is anyone doing the same thing and know of a reputable guide company to book with?

Can anyone tell me how to get a flight from C.M. to Bangkok? Details as what flight should i take? Time of flight? The distance and the fare. Thanks much.

Hi all,

I'm looking for a nice place (as long as it's not too expensive) for a couple (my wife and I )to get a massage together (us on separate tables, that are side by side) in Chiang Mai. Anyone have any suggestions?

Hi people. Hope someone can really help me out ;)

I'm planning a trip for 50 relatives of mine to Chiang Mai during 2008 Chinese New Year. Travel date is from 5/2 till 10/2.

And, currently, there's a 4-star hotel called Central Duang is in our mind now. I would like to get feedback from anyone if you've ever stayed in this hotel :) Anyone can help me pls?

Also, I'd like to ask about the Long Neck Village in Chiang Rai. I searched through the internet, and I found out the transportation to get to the Long Neck Village is to take a bamboo raft? I find it inconvenient for the babies who are going. Is there any other transports to get into the Long Neck Village?

Besides, any recommendation where to go for SPA? Price should be reasonable :) Don't need those EXTREMELY luxury ones..

Your advice/help is much appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi,

We will be in Chiang Mai from Friday noon to Tuesday morning and this is the itinerary that we are planning:

1) CM city - Fri and Sat
2) Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep National Parks - Sunday
3) Mae Hong Son & Hill Tribes & Mae Surin National Park - Monday

For the 2 day trips, we have a driver who can take us around the whole day, not sure if it's doable though.

a) How much are the admission fees for these places?
b) Any days they are closed?
c) We would like to do bamboo rafting and elephant riding too but not sure how we can incorporate that into the itinerary.

Would appreciate if you could give me some input or if I should shift the itinerary somehow eg to spend Fri and Sun in CM city instead. I hope you can help. Thanks.

Hi,

We are urgently looking for a reliable driver who can drive us out of CM for daytrips. If you know of a driver that you used that's good and not too expensive, please let me know! Thanks.

Hi, We will be in CM for 7 nights Feb 2008, we had 5 nights Feb 2006 when we saw much of CM. I would like to break the week by having 2 night stay north of CM or over the border. Any suggestions,not limited to a budget, any chance of getting into Laos or Myanmar and if so what is a good tourist destination.

How long would it take to get to Chiang Rai, Is it best to take a local tour or taxi for a 2 night stay?

Mike

Hello, we have about 4 days in Chiangmai and hope to see some things outside of the city. Is one day enough to cover the city's sights?

We have hotel bookings for the duration and would like to go on day trips. Do you have any recommendations for what to see eg hilltribes, waterfalls etc? Which is an inexpensive tour agency to go with and what is considered an ok price?

Thanks!