Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, the capital of Thailand’s northern region translates as ‘new city’. It has also been called the country’s second city. Besides being blessed with plenty of attractions, Chiang Mai also makes for an excellent take off point for further travel into Bangkok. The city is an amazingly beautiful blend of modern sophistication and old world charm. The pace of life is much relaxed than that of Bangkok. The city also serves as a major transport centre and a cross border trade hub with Myanmar and Laos.
Top Tourist Spots in Chiang Mai
Although, Chiang Mai is full of captivating attractions, it is the numerous temples that mainly lure tourists. Listed below are Chiang Mai’s biggest charms.
- Wat Phra Singh
- Wat Chedi Luang
- Wat Chiang Man
- Chiang Mai National Museum
- The Tribal Museum and Ratchamangkla Park
- Chiang Mai Zoo Wat Umong
Shopping Attractions in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is one gem of a place to pick up cheap local handicrafts with excellent workmanship. In fact, there is a stretch of road measuring about 13 kms, which is known as ‘Handicraft Highway’. Similarly, there is another place called night bazaar. It is spread across the Thanon Loi Khro and Thanon Chang Klan junction. Here one can shop from multi storied arcades as well as indoor markets. Further shopping hot spots include:
- Warorot Market
- Shinawatra
- Pa Ker Yaw
- Nova Collection
- Sipsang Panna
- Hill Tribe Products Foundation
- Thai Tribal Crafts
Eating out in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is obsessed with food. Every nook and corner of the city seems to have some or the other eatery. As quite a few foreigners find fiery Thai food difficult to handle, there are many restaurants that serve toned down versions of such foods. Besides, there are many international cuisines available as well. Refer to the list below for finding some of the most popular restaurants in Chiang Mai.
- Art Café
- Heuan Suntharee
- House
- Rachamankha
- Ratana’s Kitchen
Hotels in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, being a red hot holiday destination has seen scores of hotels cropping up over the year. Here is a list of some of the hotels:
- Dhara Devi
- Gap’s House
- Sirilanna Chiang Mai Hotel
- Na Thapae Hotel
- Charcoa House & Cozy Hotel
- Grand Heritage Hotel
- The Royal Shilton Resort
- Studio 99 Serviced Apartments
- Ban Sabai Village Resort & Spa
- Four Seasons Resort
- Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel
- The Chedi Chiang Mai Hotel
- Veranda Chiang Mai the High Resort
Cheap Flights to Chiang Mai
Find the latest airfares and discounted offers on flights to Chiang Mai operating from UK.
Preferred Airlines to Chiang Mai from UK
Thai Airways | Air India | Oman Air | Cathay Pacific | Etihad Airways | Jet Airways | Qatar Airways | Gulf Air | Singapore Airlines | Kuwait Airways
Airports in Chiang Mai
The Chiang Mai International airport has a single building for both the domestic and international terminals. The airport is less than a 10 minute drive from the city centre. A number of airlines and travel companies operate desks at the airport.
Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai can be visited throughout the year. There are three main seasons, namely cool, rainy, and hot. The cool season is from November to February and temperatures range from 10 to 25°C. The hot season lasts from March to June and roughly temperatures stay between 25 to 40°C. During the raining season from July to Octobers, temperatures tend to stay over 30°C and there are occasional bursts of violent downpours. This season is highly unpredictable.
Transport in Chiang Mai
There are many kinds of transport in Chiang Mai. They are:
- Tuk Tuks Three wheeled scooters
- Songtaews Truck type minibuses
- Rickshaws Big tricycles
- Taxis
- Bus
- Self driven motorbike and car hire