Chiang Mai
Rose of the North
The enchanting city of Chiang Mai is known as The Rose of the North and has become an increasingly modern metropolis attracting thousands of visitors yearly. It was founded in the late 13th century by King Mengrai and became the ancient Lanna capital of Thailand after Chiang Rai. This marvelous city is as energetic as it is delightfully diversified with up-to-date facilities and plenty of well preserved historic attractions to keep you both interested and entertained at all times. Why not take a leisurely drive through the country as the roads further north of Bangkok are not nearly as crowded. Not only will you find lots of rest areas along the route but you will also be able to see the beautiful countryside as you go. If you leave Bangkok in the early hours of the the morning, you should reach this northern city around lunch time. The distance is a total of 770 kilometers or 440 miles. Should you decide to fly, it would only take you just over an hour to get there but it won't be nearly as interesting or fun as a good road trip will be. You will notice that
Northern Thailand
is quite different from the rest of the country as this region gives way to rolling hills, teak forests and fertile valleys. You will get to see more working elephants than rice fields and water buffalo's. The area is only a short stretch from the northern borders of Burma and Laos.
View of the city from Doi Suthep
Chiang MaiBest time to VisitThe best time to visit Chiang Mai is during the months from mid November through to mid February when the air is cooler and the skies are clearer. It can get a little bit colder up here in the north during the evenings though, so don't forget to take a sweater with you. Between mid February through to mid June the climate tends to get a little hotter but the sun is out and the skies are still clear.Although the sun still shines during the months from mid June until mid November, the monsoon rains will fall sporadically. Nevertheless it can be very pleasant albeit under frequently overcast skies. Whatever the weather you can still have a great time here. The photo of myself was taken in September (monsoon season) and as you can see the sun is out (well it was out but not out if you follow my drift!) and here I am wearing shorts, sandals and a T-Shirt. The blue sunglasses are optional.
See the bottom of my page for today's weather forecast.
Outside the Umbrella Market
Chiang MaiGetting there from BangkokThai Air International and Bangkok Airways operate daily flights from the Don Muang Airport in Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Flying time from Bangkok is approximately 1 hour and fifteen minutes. There are flights from other domestic and international airports around the country including Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son. All the southern flights will stop over in Bangkok before heading north.Exploring Thailand by car can be a very pleasant experience indeed so if not, why not hire a car in Bangkok then drive to Chiang Mai. This could turn out to be a very rewarding trip as there are many historical places of interest along the way. If you have the time then you can stop over in Ayuttaya or Lop Buri or for that matter, any other town that takes your fancy. It will only add to the excitement. Should you decide to travel by road but don't want the hassle of driving yourself then an option would be to take one of the many tours operating out of Bangkok.
A City View
My Little Travel SecretA Private DriverI have a very good Thai friend and private driver who takes me all over Thailand so I rarely fly internally. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you require his services. Patrick is a Thai national who is both well mannered and pleasant with a good understanding of English. He will be more than willing to take you anywhere around the country. Patrick is a private taxi driver who operates out of Bangkok.Patrick's prices are exceptionally reasonable and the numerous benefits will without doubt outweigh the excellent service he provides. I refer many of my friends from around the world to take advantage of his services. Patrick will collect you from any airport and take you anywhere and everywhere hassle free. Well worth knowing in an unfamiliar country. Therefore I shan't give you any road directions from Bangkok as it would be easier for you to get a good map once there. If Patrick should be your driver, then you won't be needing any maps at all.
My good friend Patrick
Chiang MaiGetting there by Train from BangkokAny journey by train in Thailand can be an adventurous experience and this one is no exception, so if not by air or road, then this would be an excellent alternative.Train tickets can be purchased from the newly renovated Haulampong Station at Rama IV Road in Bangkok. Trains depart daily at 6:40 am and arrive in Chiang Mai around 7:40 pm. Although this 13 hour journey north can be quite enduring at times, the fun of travelling this way is far more rewarding than a quick flight. A wise choice would be to perhaps consider the overnight sleeper trains which are extremely safe and comfortable. It is advisable to book your tickets at least two days in advance to secure the better seats. I shouldn't have to tell you this but the first class seats would be your best bet. Trains with 1st class accommodation depart Bangkok at 6:00 pm arriving in Chiang Mai around 7:00 am with a second train departing at 8:25 pm and arriving at the same destination around 9:00 am.
Chiang Mai Station
The real beauty of travelling on the evening trains besides it being more fun and relaxing is that you can catch up with some sleep before your arrival on the other side. You will also have enough early daylight hours to enjoy the ride as you travel the 1 mile tunnel through the Khun Tan Hills and then on through beautiful rice fields and orchards until the train reaches the terminus. Remember that the train journey can sometimes be more thrilling than the arrival itself. During my numerous travels I have experienced this phenomena many a time. My ultimate dream though is to travel the Trans-Siberian Express from either St. Petersburg or Moscow in Russia through Mongolia and onto Beijing in China. I am busy negotiating this adventure with a few friends. Not an easy task as many of my friends don't consider these types of experiences. I will go some day soon.
Your weather forecast for Chiang Mai
For a more detailed weather report as well as acquiring temperatures in Centigrade you can view by clicking on Chiang Mai, Thailand in the upper left hand corner of the weather chart above.
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