Chiang Mai Transport Travel Guide

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Several hundred kilometers northwest of Bangkok and serviced by air, road and rail, Chiang Mai is the gateway to the northern provinces of Thailand. Would-be explorers to the region are delighted with the prospects of visiting hill tribe villages and hunting for handicrafts among the vast selection on offer in Chiang Mai province. [more]

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Getting There by Air

Chiang Mai owns an international airport and there are direct flights from neighbouring Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kunming in China, Yangon in Myanmar, Taipei in Taiwan, Vientiane in Laos, and even Munich. Most major airlines fly to Bangkok, and from there it's just a hop, skip and short 50 minute flight away to Chiang Mai on a domestic flight. Bangkok Airways, Angel Air, Thai Air Asia, Nok Air, and Thai Airways are some popular local airlines. Once you've hit the airport you're just about 20 minutes and a 100 baht taxi ride away from your final destination.

Some folks have a lot of time on their hands and they take one of many cruises that bring them to Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket, and then make their way to Chiang Mai. If you're the kind that would go stir crazy if cooped up in a boat, however fancy, amid endless water and sea fowl, you have my empathies. Cruises are not for everyone.

Getting There by Rail

You can also take a train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. From the Don Muang station at the Bangkok International Airport, climb aboard an overnight train for a 700km ride in air-conditioned comfort-not a bad way to begin a vacation. A good night's shut eye and you wake up in sunny Chiang Mai. After a few panic stricken moments of not knowing where you are, you will soon be oriented enough to realize you're on vacation and the good times have begun.

From the Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok, trains depart for Chiang Mai at 6.40 a.m., 3.00 p.m., 6.00 p.m., 7.40 p.m., and 10.00 p.m. daily. These timings may vary and you'd better check and confirm closer to your date of travel. You can choose from three classes of travel with the first class, of course, being the best in terms of comfort. It would be wise to book your seats and sleepers well in advance, as it may be all booked out if it's a holiday season. Keep in mind that it is a 12 hour journey and you've just gotten off a long haul flight, and you most probably need that sleeper like a baby screams for a bottle.

Getting There by Road

If you happen to be visiting one of the neighbouring countries bordering Thailand you can easily enter the country by road, and then make your way to Chiang Mai. Although at certain times, Myanmar might be a problem due to various border issues. Make inquiries before you travel if you'd rather not find out the hard way. Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos have regular crossings by bus that really serve to introduce you in degrees to the Oriental landscape that sometimes verges on the primordial.

If you intend to make the 700km ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus you would need to be at the Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road in Bangkok. Here you can choose to go in air conditioned buses or not, and the prices vary accordingly almost to a 100 baht. To those willing to open their wallets a little bit more, there's the VIP class that leaves at 8 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. In addition to these, there are any number of private bus companies with varying levels of comfort on offer.

Public Transport

Taxis

When you say taxi in Chiang Mai be prepared to think outside the box. Here they come in all sizes, shapes and names. Ever heard of a tuk-tuk? It looks like a beetle- not the Volkswagen variety, but a real bug, a shiny, black, round-eyed bug. But instead of buzzing it makes a tuk-tuk noise from which it takes its name. This airy smoke-belcher is the common man's taxi in Chiang Mai. You don't see seat belts in it, so hang on for dear life for a thrill-a-minute ride.

Another wonder vehicle is the samlor-a bicycle with a covered seat attached. You sit under the canopy while the driver pedals you around. No annoying exhaust fumes, just an eco-friendly ride perfect for sightseeing. Of course, this is not something you'd grab if your flight is in an hour's time and you overslept.

Taxis as we know it, in the form of automobiles, are rare though they seem to be catching up in recent times. You are more likely to come across a few in the city centre. You can always hire a car from your hotel.

Local Transport

For short distances in the city you could resort to a wan, which is a van with air-conditioning and somewhat congested seating arrangements. You would do well to keep in mind that the average Asian physique is slightly smaller than the western happy meal counterpart. So try to seat yourself toward the front of the vehicle where it's slightly more spacious than the rear.

Then there are the minibuses or song thaews that come in red, yellow, blue, green, and white colours depending on their designated routes. There is a terminus at the Warorot market area, and another one at the Pratoo Chiang Mai market where you'll find them in large numbers. Please understand there's no such thing as a fixed rate. The standard procedure for boarding one is to tell the driver your destination, and then negotiating a price that doesn't leave you in a foul temper. However, if you were to march up to him and ask him how much, without divulging much more, he'll take it to mean you're chartering his services and hit you with the price of a rocket launcher. Prices usually stay within 10 to 20 baht, and this is merely indicative.

If you want an eco-friendly option, go for the public bus system with air conditioning. They operate from 6.00 a.m. to 10 p.m., take you almost anywhere in the city, and are clean, comfortable, and reliable to a large extent. They run on a bio-diesel combo fuel that uses recycled vegetable oil that is supposed to be less polluting than conventional fuel. So do your bit; ride a bus. To travel within the province, go to the Chang Phuak Bus Terminal on Chotana Road, and for destinations in the neighbouring provinces, you need to head for the Arcade Bus Station. By now you're probably programmed to negotiate prices everywhere, but please refrain from doing so with the bus driver; the prices are pre-determined.

Motorcycle taxis

Now I can't say if the tut-tuts qualify as motorcycle taxi, but they do come close. They sound like a cross between a toy bike and a steam boat, but have three wheels which might throw you off a bit, and I really don't mean that literally. Once again be prepared to negotiate like a diplomat amid rumours of war.

Limousines

Whether you represent Bill Gates or have a private bride hunting agenda, you can't do better than hire a limousine to take you around and announce you've arrived. The only other royal thing to ride is an elephant, but a limousine beats riding the gigantic backbone of a pachyderm any day. So if you're decided on that, hire one at the airport or there's a limited number available for hire online. You have a dream range of Benz-all classes, BMW-most series, and a few others.

Driving in the City

So you've decided to do your own driving. Your bravery is impressive, but it remains to be seen whether it matches your driving skills. I don't mean to put down your driving skills. You may be an F1 champ where you come from, but Chiang Mai may reduce you to QJ-quivering jelly. You have to understand that rules and traffic laws are open to individual interpretation and urgency. So don't expect to ride safe on the back of these so-called traffic laws. You will find folks steering with their knees, while trying to answer an apparently important text message, brows furrowed in concentration on the latter. But don't let all that deter you, just keep your wits about you, as well as your national or an international driving license.

You drive on the left side of the road, and everything else is spontaneous reflex. Seriously though, it gets better once you get the hang of it. There's not much congestion in the real sense of the word once you take the chaos out of the equation. Outside city limits you're practically king of the road and you can start to relax and let your knuckles get back to a healthier shade. Road signs are posted in both English and Thai, and the scenery is awesome. Fuel stations are not so hard to come by, and in any case it's a good idea to tank up whenever you get the chance.

Car Hire

You won't have any problem finding a car hire agency in Chiang Mai. They are everywhere and you can even hire one with a driver, if you so desire. Your hotel may probably have one on premises. Hertz Rent A Car is on 90 Sridornchai Rd, Chiang Inn Hotel. The ubiquitous Avis folks are at the International airport and in the city at the Royal Princess Hotel, if you want to go by a familiar name. If you don't care about that sort of thing, your choices are almost endless. Areas such as Chaiyaphum, Loi Kroh, Ratwithi, Moonmuang, and Kotchasam have quite a number of car rentals you can choose from. Most of them can be booked on line in advance and this would ensure you get what you have in mind.

When you've found your car, make sure you take a walk around and give it a thorough look-see to check out dents and funny bumpers. If anything should come up on inspection, make sure they are noted by all concerned, not just by you and your partner. Also verify their policies on insurance and fuel. Some require you to leave your passport with them while you drive around. The wise thing to do would be to have a photocopy handy, in case this comes up. Don't let friendly smiles and non-stop chatter deter you from making certain you understand proceedings and are, in turn, understood by them. Accent problems can very quickly deteriorate from amusing to annoying when you've totally misunderstood instructions.

In case of an accident you need to call 1193, and motor theft-1192. Tourist Police can be contacted at 1155.

Bicycle Hire

Most car rentals have motorbikes and bicycles for hire as well. You'll find bicycle rentals on the Chaiyaphum Road and the Thapae Gate area. You could rent one for a day at about 25 baht, and that's a great bargain when you take into account the enormous health benefits that come with the deal. For those that hate to pedal, there's the 100 cc bike category, and even more powerful ones if that's what you want. If it's your lucky day, you might spy a Harley in the line-up. Your license or an international license is mandatory, and please ensure you absolutely understand terms and conditions. And yes, you have to be over 21 years of age. You can bargain for a reduced rate if you intend to keep the bike longer, and this works for all vehicle hires.