Useful Chiang Mai travel advice

Posted by paul on December 23rd, 2007 filed in tourist tips, Living here

Ancient Chiang Mai is the capital of the province with the same name and Thailand’s second largest city. The city also ranks as one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. If you travel to Thailand than Chiang Mai should be on top of your must-see attractions list. Compared with Bangkok, this northern city radiates a much more laid-back and friendly atmosphere while its ideal location makes it an ideal base from which where to explore other interesting regions across Northern Thailand. Positioned at a large mountain’s foot, Chiang Mai enjoys one of Thailand’s most pleasant climates. The city is also remarkable due to its fascinating blend of ancient landmarks and modern comforts. An abundance of fabulous, tranquil Buddhist temples can be found throughout each part of the city.

Walking enthusiasts will be delighted as Chiang Mai’s main sights can easily be explored on foot. However, hiring a motorbike might even be a better way to see much more of what the city has to offer. From the bustling downtown area, it takes just a short drive to reach one of the many serene, beautiful nature boasting areas, which surround the city.

A hired bike in Chiang Mai provides the best way to explore the city’s surrounding area!

Chiang Mai’s famous and atmospheric night bazaar is one of the city’s star attractions. The popular market is positioned in the city’s eastern part. This shoppers’ paradise stretches about one and a half kilometre down a main street’s length. The area is crammed with tiny road-side stalls, malls, massage parlours, art shops and a wide range of both, Thai and international restaurants as well as several well-known fast-food eateries.

You should definitely not forget to bargain at the market as this is a very common Thai tradition. If you take time to learn some basic Thai bargaining phrases, than you will most likely even be more successful with purchasing goodies at the cheapest prices! It is also a must to sample some of the delicious Thai food, which is available at the numerous stalls along the road. Some of these cheaply priced food products include: spring rolls, sticky rice with mango, Northern Thai sausages, noodle soup, papaya salad and barbecued meat. Culinary dare-devils might even try some crispy fried grasshoppers! The Thais love it.

Crispy fried insects, the Thais love it.

If you want to purchase higher quality products, than the open-air shopping facilities, which are located off the street, is the place to go to. As you stroll towards the mall’s back, the offered products’ quality levels increase drastically. In this section you will find skilled artist not just hocking their creations, but also producing the pieces of art right in front of you. Silk lovers will soon notice that Chiang Mai is an ideal place to purchase this product in large quantities. You are recommended not to buy silk at the night bazaar. It is better to ask your hotel’s staff for the most lucrative wholesale shop. The prices are inexpensive, but that certainly doesn’t mean that the quality is low!

The available transportation tips, in the majority of the guidebooks, recommend visitors to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by the overnight rail service. However, this is not the most convenient option. Domestic flight services are relatively still pretty cheap. A one-way flight ticket from a budget carrier such as Nok Air will cost around 40 euro. Usually you don’t have to pre-book your ticket. Just head to the airline’s counter where you can buy a flight ticket on-the-spot. Spending more than 10 hours on a uncomfortable bunk in the overnight train is not really necessary!