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 By
Car from Bangkok (approximately 8 hours)
Route 1: Drive on Highway No.1 (Phahonyothin) and
turn left to Highway No.32 (Asian Highway) which passes
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, and Nakhon Sawan,
then take Highway No. 117 to Phitsanulok and Highway
No. 11 to Lampang, Lamphun and Chiang Mai. The total
distance is 695 kilometers.
Route 2: From Nakhon Sawan, take Highway No. 1 passing
Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Lampang, and Chiang Mai. Total
distance is 696 kilometers.
By
Bus
From Bangkok
There are ordinary, 2nd class and 1st class air-conditioned
buses leaving for Chiang Mai daily (8.00 a.m. to 09.00
p.m.) from the Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit
2 Bus Terminal). Call 02 936 3600, 02 936 2852, and
02 937 8055 for a more updated bus timetable. Private
buses, which can be conveniently booked in tourist-oriented
places in Bangkok, are also available. However, the
public buses from the Northern Bus Terminal are generally
more reliable. The journey takes approximately 10-12
hours, depending on traffic.
From Chiang Mai
If you travel to any districts in Chiang Mai, use
Chang Phuak Bus Terminal located on Chotana Road,
tel. 053 211 586. Destinations include those located
along the northern route (Highway No. 107) which passes
through Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Chiang Dao, Chaiprakan,
Fang and Mae Ai. Some buses continue to Tha Ton, the
northern-most province of Chiang Mai.
If you wish to travel outside the province, use Chiang
Mai Arcade Bus Station. Contact tel: 0 5324 2664 for
a more updated bus timetable. Destinations include
Golden Triangle, Mae Sai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai,
Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Lampang, Lamphun, Phitsanulok,
Sukhothai, Mae Hong Son (both old and new routes),
Mae Sot, Mae Sariang, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima
(Khorat), and Udon Thani.
By
Train
Express and rapid trains operated by the State Railways
of Thailand leave for Chiang Mai from Bangkoks Hua
Lamphong Station 6 times a day from 8.00 a.m.-10.00
p.m. The trip takes about 11-12 hours for express
trains. For more information, contact tel. 1690, or
02 223 7010, 02 223 7020. Chiang Mai Railway Station,
tel. (053) 24 2094, 244 795, .247 462 245 363-4
By
Air
Domestic airlines including Thai Airways, Bangkok
Airways, Air Asia, Nok Air, Orient Thai Airlines,
Air Andaman and Phuket Air operate several flights
daily between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Thai Airways also operates domestic flights from
Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai and Phuket.
International flights to and from Chitakong, Luang
Phrabang, Khunming, Yangon and Japan (Narita) are
also provided. Call 02 628 2000 (Bangkok), 053 211
044-7 (Chiang Mai), or visit www.thaiairways.com for
more information.
Bangkok Airways also offers several flights daily
on the Bangkok - Chiang Mai route, some with a stopover
at Sukhothai. International routes to and from Jinghong
and XiAn are also available. Call 02 265 5555, 265
5678 (Bangkok Office) or 053 27 6176 (Chiang Mai Office)
or visit www.bangkokair.com for more information.
Phuket Air offers 2 daily shuttle service flights
from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with YS-11 aircraft.
The journey takes only 40 minutes and the flight times
are at 07.30 a.m. and 6.00 p. m. For more information,
call Bangkok Office 66 2679-8999 or Chiang Mai Office
66 5392 2118-9 or visit www.phuketairlines.com.
For Nok Air call 1318 or visit www.nokair.co.th for
reservations. Apart from Bangkok-Chiang mai flight,
the airlines also operate flights between Chiang mai
and Udon Thani twice aweek.
For Orient Thai Airlines, call 02 267 2999 or visit
www.orient-thai.com for more information.
Foreign Airlines operating flights from Chiang Mai
to several destinations are:
Air Mandalay operates flights between Chiang Mai and
Yangon on Sundays and Thursdays. Contact 053 818 049
(Chiang Mai office), visit www.myanmars.net/airmandalay
or write to cnxrr6t@sita.gmsmail.com for more information.
Mandarin Airlines operates flights between Chiang
Mai and Taipei three times a week on Tuesday, Friday
and Saturday. For more information call, 053 201 268-9
(Chiang Mai office) or visit www.mandarinair.com
Lao Airlines operates flights on the Chiang Mai Luang
Phrabang route three times a week on Tuesday, Friday
and Sunday. Call 053 223 401 (Chiang Mai office),
visit www.laoairlines.com or write to qvcnx@loxinfo.co.th
for more information.
Silk Air operates flights between Chiang Mai Singapore
three times a week on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
Call 053 276 459 053 276 495 (Chiang Mai office) or
visit www.silkair.com for reservations.
Getting
around Chiang Mai
From Airport, Train and Bus Terminal to town
There is a licensed airport taxi service available
at the taxi kiosk outside the baggage-claim area.
Purchase a ticket and present it to the drivers waiting
by the arrivals exit area. The trip will cost approximately
100 bahts for a sedan car that seats 4-5 people (with
luggage).
From the airport, train station and bus terminal,
you can easily get a song taew (red mini-bus). To
charter a minibus or car, please check the correct
fare at the TAT counter first.
Normally, first-class hotels provide complimentary
transportation between the airport, railway station
or bus terminals and the hotel for guests who have
made advance reservations.
Short-distance travel
1. For relative short distances you can take a sam
lor or tuk-tuk (a tricycle). Fares must be bargained
in advance. Short rides within the city costs between
20 and 30 bahts. Longer rides may cost as much as
50 bahts.
2. Just new in town is the taxi-metre, the same as
those running around Bangkok. The minimum (starting)
fare is 35 bahts.
3. Song taew (red mini-bus) is the most common means
of transportation in town. Passengers can hop in and
out as they wish. Simply tell the driver the destination
and negotiate the price before boarding. Fares range
from 10-20 bahts depending on the distance.
4. Bicycles
Some travelers prefer to ride a bicycle around the
city as most of the roads and alleys are accessible
by bicycle. Bicycles can be rented from bicycle shops
and certain guesthouses.
5. Rental cars
All major car rental companies such as AVIS, Budget,
and Hertz, as well as Thai car rental companies are
ready to provide suggestions on travel itineraries.
The easiest way to locate a car rental company is
to ask at the airport or the hotel, as those are the
places where most companies are located.
Chiang Mai roads are in good condition with signs
posted in English. Why not take a car for a spin?
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