All about holidays in Chiang Mai. Goodbye, beloved Chiang Mai! And we fly south, then north! Chiang Mai life

The city and province of Chiang Mai, located in the north of Thailand, attracts many tourists. Very often the city itself is called cultural capital countries. And the interest of vacationers is due to the fact that in Chiang Mai (Thailand), there is an incredible number of various attractions.

Climate and weather

Like throughout the kingdom, Chiang Mai (Thailand) has three seasons:

1. Moderate lasts from November to the end of February. The heat gradually subsides at this time, but the nights are still warm. It is during this period that it is recommended to relax here.
2. The hot period lasts from March to the end of June. Stable heat sets in, the thermometer reaches forty degrees. Such weather contribute to fires in the jungle, why the city periodically appears surrounded by a smoke veil. You should not come to Chiang Mai during this period.
3. The rainy season lasts from the beginning of July to the end of October. Cold monsoons bring frequent showers and coolness from India. It is at this time that it is good to visit the sights of the cultural capital.

Despite the rather hot climate, nature in Chiang Mai (Thailand) delights with its beauty and greenery throughout the year. The city is located between mountain ranges and green hills, and the Ping River flows nearby.

A little about the city...

Chiang Mai - the capital of the northern city is about 170 thousand people. At the same time, Chiang Mai ranks fifth in the ranking of the most big cities countries. The city is three times older than Bangkok. It is not for nothing that it is also called the cultural capital of the country.

It is worth noting that Chiang Mai (Thailand), on the one hand, is of great interest to vacationers, and on the other, many tourists bypass it, since there are absolutely no beaches in the city. But here there is a jungle where exciting trips are organized.

Chiang Mai (Thailand): how to get there from Moscow?

Every tourist planning his vacation is concerned with the question of what transport to use to make the trip comfortable and least tiring. Since air connections with Thailand are quite well established, it will not be difficult to get to Chiang Mai (Thailand). How to get to the resort? Of course, the easiest way is by plane. And upon arrival at the airport you will need a taxi. You can use the services of cars belonging to the airport. The cost of their services is approximately 120 baht (1 baht = 1.8 rubles). Local taxi drivers have slightly higher prices.

If you decide to vacation in another city, you can get to the city of Chiang Mai (Thailand) by bus. This type of transport is considered the cheapest in the country. Experienced tourists recommend giving preference tourist buses, not a scheduled one. It is worth noting that all transport in Thailand is divided into three classes: 1, 2 and Vip. The level of travel comfort depends on the class of transport you choose.

Speaking about how to get to Chiang Mai (Thailand), it is worth mentioning the railway. To be fair, it is worth mentioning that railway transport in the country is very well developed. The only direct train to the city is via Bangkok. If you are traveling from any other city, you will have to change trains. As for the fare, it directly depends on the class of the carriage. average price fare can range from 270-1450 baht.

Local Attractions

For those who come to Chiang Mai (Thailand), sightseeing is the main purpose of visiting the city. It will be interesting to visit both beginners and experienced travelers. Here you can see natural attractions, ancient temples, wild tribes living in the jungle, and architectural structures. You can see all this by hiring a guide, but traveling on your own will allow you to learn a lot of new things.

Tourists are always eager to visit the ancient Doi Suthep Temple, built in 1383, during the era when the province was still part of the Lanna kingdom. The temple is located some distance from the city, but getting to it is not difficult. Doi Suthep is worthy of the attention of tourists; it is considered the hallmark of Chiang Mai.

A must-see for travelers is the National Museum, which is rightfully the main museum of the northern region. It contains all the cultural heritage of the country. After a major reconstruction of the institution in 1996, the museum’s exposition was enriched with the achievements of modern technologies.

Not only tourists, but also Thais themselves come to Chiang Mai to visit the zoo. Giant pandas live here and delight children with their offspring. The zoo is very young, it was founded only in 1995. In addition to animals, here you can see a large aquarium, built in the form of a tunnel, which is home to eight thousand freshwater and marine inhabitants.

Tourists should also visit the Chiang Man Temple, founded back in 1296. The complex is considered the oldest in the entire city. Relics are kept here: a statue of Buddha, which supposedly causes rain and ancient images of the Enlightened One.

With children, you should definitely visit the stunning museum of natural wonders and insects. The private museum was founded by an entomologist; its exhibition includes unusual natural objects, a collection of insects and minerals.

Vacationers who appreciate handmade items should definitely visit Sankampeng, a suburb of Chiang Mai. Here you can not only purchase any handicraft products, but also watch the craftsmen at work with your own eyes.

Night market

A holiday in Chiang Mai (Thailand) simply cannot be complete without visiting the night market, which is classified as a local attraction. It would be more correct to say that there is more than one similar night market in the city. But the only one of real interest is the one located by the river. It sells any goods, but vacationers are attracted by all kinds of products from local artisans. According to tourists, the night market is the best place in Thailand to buy souvenirs.

Where to live in the city?

If you decide to travel to Thailand, Chiang Mai is a fairly budget-friendly place to stay. It is quite possible to stay in the city for several days to get the opportunity to quietly see all the sights. The province offers very cheap housing. Moreover, it is worth noting that the choice of accommodation options is simply amazing. There are a large number of townhouses, houses, rooms and apartments for rent in the suburbs and in the city itself. And, of course, don’t forget about city hotels, the stay in which depends on their star rating.

For example, a budget room in a guesthouse can be rented for 250-500 baht per day. On average, rent for a month will cost about 5,000-7,000 baht. You can rent an apartment for 4000-7000 baht, but you will have to pay separately for water and electricity. Hotel rooms cost 5,000-25,000 baht per week, depending on the level of the hotel.

Here are some interesting facts about Chiang Mai:

1. Airplanes often fly over the city, this is due to the fact that the airport is located right in the city.
2. There are a lot of international couples hanging out here, especially young people.
3. Foreigners are allowed into almost all churches in the city for free. And just for the entrance to Wat Phra Singh you need to pay only 20 baht, this amount is purely symbolic. Entrance fees to Bangkok temples range from 50 to 500 baht, which is much more expensive.
4. The streets of the city are much cleaner than in Bangkok.
5. In Chiang Mai you will not find products with symbols of other cities on sale. Here they sell goods only with the logos of their hometown.
6. In Chiang Mai, there is a massage parlor at almost every corner. The cost of one session is 150 baht.
7. The city has bicycle paths, unlike other places in Thailand. For an Asian country, the presence of such tracks is very rare.
8. There are an incredible number of bike rental shops here. Rental cost is about 50 baht per day.
9. The weather in the province is cooler than in Phuket or Bangkok. In winter, in the mornings and evenings the temperature can drop to +15 degrees.
10. There are far fewer dogs on the streets in Chiang Mai than in other Thai cities.
11. There are very few Russian tourists in the city, so it is extremely rare to hear your native language.
12. There are absolutely no motorcycle taxis here.
13. The city has sidewalks for pedestrians, which is rare in Thailand.

For those planning a trip to Chiang Mai, experienced tourists give some recommendations:

1. If the trip falls in winter, then it is worth taking a thin sweater and a light jacket with you, since at this time it can be quite cool in the province.
2. When going to the zoo, take nuts and fruits with you, you will definitely need them there.
3. When renting a taxi, be sure to pay attention to whether it has a meter. If there is none, then look for another car, otherwise they will charge you money not for travel, but for time, even if you are stuck in traffic the whole time.
4. When going somewhere, always leave early, as local traffic jams may prevent you from getting to your destination on time.
5. When visiting temples, it is worth remembering that you cannot enter them with bare shoulders and legs.
6. Precious jewelry can only be purchased in large stores.
7. When shopping, be sure to bargain.
8. The sale of spirits in Thailand is limited in time.

Nutrition

Local cuisine differs from other regions of the country because it is very diverse. The proximity of Laos and China has an effect. There is less seafood in Chiang Mai, but there is more acceptable prices. The province is famous for its large plantations of small pineapples and strawberries, which are completely unheard of in the south. Local markets sell a lot of strawberry-based sweets and confitures.

The traditional dish of the north is well-seasoned curries and fried in coconut milk. Vegetarian cuisine is highly developed in Chiang Mai, so there are many establishments in the city with a wide range of such dishes. The budget food industry is well established here. In local buffets you can eat a hearty meal at minimal financial cost.

If your itinerary only allocates a couple of days to get acquainted with the culture and nature of Thailand, spend them in Chiang Mai. In addition to the pleasant atmosphere, the city offers its guests a lot of exciting experiences, from visiting Buddhist temples and national parks to shopping at the largest night market in the North of Thailand.

why go

Don't miss it in Chiang Mai

• Wander around the streets of the old city in the morning, explore the main city temples, have a snack on Thai tom yum soup in one of the tiny restaurants in the old city, and in the late afternoon visit the most famous temple in Thailand, which is located on a high mountain near Chiang Mai.
• Take a day to travel to national park, admire picturesque waterfalls, enchanting mountain-top stupas and incredible views.
• Try yourself as an elephant mahout by spending a day at one of the elephant camps around Thailand.
• Find out what it is and pamper your body and soul at the local SPA.
• Bargain to your heart's content at the world's largest night market and enjoy local cuisine.
• Learn to cook thai dishes by taking local cooking classes.

Temples of Chiang Mai

Charming Buddhist temples and stupas are the hallmark of Chiang Mai. The city's main temples, Wat Chiang Man, are within walking distance of each other in the old town. Allow at least half a day to explore the main temples. Take off your shoes when entering temples.

Located on the top of a mountain at an altitude of 1676 meters, 15 kilometers from Chiang Mai. You can get to it by tuk-tuk or songthaew (small pickup truck with passenger seats located on the sides) from the old part of the city. A round trip will cost about 150 baht per person. Entrance to the temple complex for tourists costs about 30 baht. You can get to the temple on foot, climbing 309 steps, or by cable car (20 baht). When entering the holy part of the temple complex, you must remove your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees.

Museums in Chiang Mai

Museum lovers should pay attention to the so-called museum quarter, located in the heart of the old city. Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Centre, museum cultural heritage The Lanna Heritage Center and the Chiang Mai Historical Center are located very close to each other. In each of the museums you can buy 1 ticket for three museums, valid for a week.

Museums of Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo adventurocity, Flickr

National parks

Chiang Mai is perhaps one of the best places to get to know nature in a “compressed form”. many natural attractions are located near the city. Mae Sa Valley, National Parks and Doi Suthep Pui are the pride of Chiang Mai province. You can either buy a day tour from Chiang Mai to each of the parks or go on your own by renting a motorbike or car.

Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo CamelKW, Flickr

Chiang Mai Province. Thailand. Photo credit: Neysa Budzinski, Flickr

Elephant camps

Chiang Mai is one of the few places in Thailand where you can get a unique experience - try yourself as an elephant mahout. There are quite a number of large elephant camps and small private nurseries around the city that offer one-, two-, and three-day training programs that include riding elephants without seats, bathing and feeding elephants.

In fact, such an experience can be either extremely beautiful or extremely sad. Unfortunately, some camps use animals only to please tourists, without particularly caring about them, so choose camps and nurseries in advance and read latest reviews in the Internet.

Elephant Camps, Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo credit: Darren Kumasawa, Flickr

Elephant nursery. Photo credit: katiekroger Davis, tripadvisor

Massages and SPA

In Chiang Mai you can find both large fashionable SPA and simple massage rooms; the quality of traditional Thai massage here is at a very high level. When choosing a massage parlor, be guided by your taste - go inside, see in what conditions the massage is performed, listen not only to the recommendations, but also to your inner voice)

Massages and SPA, Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo credit: panwiman, Flickr

Massages and SPA, Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo credit: CamelKW, Flickr

Night market

At the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar you can buy local handicrafts made from silk, textiles, silver and precious metals. In addition, in the night market area there are the best restaurants in the city, where you can taste national cuisine and admire traditional performances of Chiang Mai dancers. A culinary highlight of the Thai night market is the famous Thai rice in pineapple.

Night Bazaar Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo credit: quejaytee, Flickr

In-person Bazaar Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo credit: Marc Liberts, Flickr

Cooking courses

In fact, if you are a lover of delicious cooking and eating, then Chiang Mai is your city. In addition to many excellent restaurants and excellent quality street food, the city has dozens of culinary schools and courses where you can learn how to cook basic Thai dishes in pleasant company and a relaxed atmosphere. Often day programs begin with trips to the market. They always end up devouring what they’ve cooked :)

Zip hop flights over the jungle, Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo credit: gtravel press, Flickr

Rafting, Chiang Mai. Thailand. Photo credit: AdventureCenter, Flickr

Chiang Mai is located in the northwestern part of Thailand and is one of the most fragrant cities in the world. Locals call it the Thai flower capital. “Multicolor” can be seen in the design of the streets, Buddhist sculptures, as well as in the clothes of ordinary passers-by. Around the city there are flower fields of all possible shades. It's no surprise that Chiang Mai is a significant contributor to Thai flower exports.

The name of the city translates as “new fortress”. Chiang Mai province is home to 1.6 million people and the population speaks Thai. The basis of the province's industry is logging enterprises based on valuable teak forests; tobacco production is also developed.

More than 700 years ago, a state existed peacefully in the north of the country Lanna Thai, ruled by the wise King Mengrai. " Endless rice fields"is a literal translation of the name of the country and the way of life of the population. It was Mengrai who founded the “new fortress” (Chiang Mai) at the foot of Doi Suthep Mountains. At the same time, warlike Ancient Siam (Ayutthaya) was located in the southern part of Thailand. For six hundred years, Siam tried to subjugate Chiang Mai, but achieved its goal only after 1900. Only by mutual agreement was Bangkok able to send a government representative to the Chiang Rai region of Chiang Mai. As a result of such a long confrontation and the struggle for independence from Siam, it was possible to preserve the unusual “Lanna Thai” culture. Therefore, Chiang Mai is rightly called northern capital th Thailand. Families usually come here for excursion purposes.

Region	Northern Thailand
Population	There are 965,000 people in the agglomeration. (in the central part - about 150,000 people)
Population density	333 people per 1 km²
	Thai baht = 100 satang
Timezone
Postal code
International dialing code

Climate and weather

The maximum average monthly temperature is observed in April (+36 ˚С). Nights from April to June are the warmest (average monthly temperature 22...24˚С). The coolest months in Chiang Mai are in December and January: around +27 ˚С during the day. Largest quantity atmospheric precipitation occurs in the month of September (up to 260 mm), February is unproductive in terms of precipitation (up to 5 mm).

It must be taken into account that the north of Thailand is located in the mountains, so in closed lowlands the temperature can drop to +8 °C degrees, and the amount of precipitation will be minimal. The best time for vacation is from March to August.

Nature

Chiang Mai is located on a mountain plateau Korat at an altitude of over 300 meters. Be sure to visit the national park Doi Inthananon, where you can admire the scenery from the highest peak in Thailand (2565 m).

An hour's drive from the northern capital (70 km) stretches a unique chain of caves Chiang Dao. Only two caves are accessible for independent exploration ( Tham Phra Nawn And Tham Seua Dao). The total length of the passages is about 12 km, the passages themselves are very low and narrow, so the path is quite tiring. It is recommended to take a flashlight with you so as not to get confused in the numerous passages. Entrance to the caves will cost $0.3, if you want to take a guide, it will cost $3. At the entrance to the caves there is a large ancient temple and a lake with clear water. In the caves, sinter formations in the form of crystals on the walls have been preserved, so without a powerful flashlight you will not be able to see it all.

There is a small lake 10 kilometers from Chiang Mai Huay Tueng Tao. Along coastline straw pavilions have been built where vacationers can place their belongings. Renting a gazebo will cost $10 at the nearest cafe. There are many cafes around the lake with inexpensive and tasty food, so there will be no problems with food.

In Chiang Mai itself there is an overgrown lake that is visited only by monks. A natural reservoir is located behind the monastery Wat Chang Thai.

Fishing resorts are especially popular Dream Lake Fishing resort(habitat of arapaima), Queen Sirikit dam(snakehead), Mae Ngat reservoir(tilapia and mud carp).

To improve your health, it is recommended to visit hot springs San Kampheng(36 km from Chiang Mai). Entrance will cost only $1.5, since the source belongs to the state. You can swim in separate men's and women's mineral baths, and there is a common mineral pool. Twenty minutes of such pleasure will cost $2. It is possible to stay at the hotel at San Kampheng. There is a similar private one nearby thermal resort Roong Arun where you can make mud masks.

Attractions

In the vicinity of the northern capital there are five large national parks:

• Huai Nam Dang with geysers;
• Op Khan with granite mountain ranges;
• Pui with waterfalls;
• Doi Inthanon with evergreen forests and Vachirathan waterfall;
• Op Luang with a canyon system.

The average cost of entry to the national park is from $0.5.

The botanical garden is worth visiting Mae Fah Luang, covering an area of ​​10 acres. The garden was created for the Thai people so that the local population could admire exotic plants. Previously, there was a village located here, remote from the benefits of civilization, which served as a transit point for opium traders. Now the village has been preserved, but the lifestyle and occupation of the residents have changed. Flower lovers will be able to see the rarest species of orchids in Mae Fah Luang.

Famous, but more secluded gardensDokmai can be seen at Moo 10, Namprae, Hang Dong.

You can get up close and personal with the main Thai symbol (the elephant) at the farm Patara. The program includes a ride through the jungle on an elephant without a saddle, which, by the way, is quite painful entertainment if you are not used to it. Elephant Nature Park (209/2 Sridom Chai Road) offers you to spend the whole day with the elephant family, feeding them, watching them wash and play.

There are several elephant training centers near Chiang Mai, where the animals carry logs and help with housework in every possible way. One of them is located in the village Ta-Yaak. Ma Ping Elephant Village invites you to a performance where elephants paint and even give massages.

You can see and feed other animals in the Night Safari park: giraffes, deer, rhinoceroses and hippos - such diversity delights even an adult. In the evenings there is a laser show program. We also recommend visiting the Chiang Mai Zoo (entrance $3), but you will have to pay extra for individual attractions (bird house, oceanarium, panda house).

The townspeople spend free time in the park Suan Buak Hat is a kind of oasis of calm and privacy in the city center. In artificial reservoirs you can feed the fish (food costs from $0.3), and in the cafe you can rent a mat for $0.1 and stretch out on the grass.

There are many religious buildings in Chiang Mai, each of which has its own distinctive feature:

• Wat Suan Dok Monastery is the burial place of the royal family.
• Wat Ched Yod is famous for its green spaces: saplings of the tree under which Buddha became enlightened.
• At the entrance to the Wat Lok Molee temple, symbolic trees are displayed: gold and silver. All visitors consider it their duty to see them.
• Also of interest to tourists is the wooden temple Wat Phan Tao with a lattice roof and a stupa decorated with gold, located in Phra Pok Klao.

The most visited temple in Chiang Mai is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This temple rises above the city, and to get to it you need to climb a mountain road. The main shrine of the temple is considered to be the relics of Buddha. Legend has it that the relics were brought in by a white sacred elephant in the 14th century and left on the hill where the golden temple was later founded. Inside you will see emerald buddha and unusual decorative elements: a golden umbrella, a dragon’s head. WITH observation deck The temple, planted with fruit trees, offers magnificent views of Chiang Mai.

The oldest temple in Chiang Mai is Wat Chiang Mai. This grandiose structure was founded by King Mengrai in the 13th century.

Wat Chedi Luang was founded on the site where the king was killed by lightning.

The palace is a place of amazing beauty Bhubing- winter royal residence. The palace can be visited until 5 pm, except winter months(entrance 1.5 $).

Nutrition

The cuisine of Northern Thailand is more diverse than the cuisine of other regions of the country: influence from China and Laos is felt. In the north, seafood is slightly less represented, but the prices are much lower. However, Chiang Mai province has other advantages. The northern capital is known for its extensive plantations of strawberries and small pineapples, which are not grown in the south. Strawberry-based jams and confitures are sold in the city's markets.

One of the traditional dishes of the north - khao soi lam yai. The composition includes noodles and pork, richly seasoned with curry and fried with the addition of coke milk. The local population uses it as a snack. cab moo(fried pork skin) - an analogue of Slavic “cracklings”.

Vegetarian culture is developed in Chiang Mai; if you are a supporter of it, then visit establishments with the widest range: Pun Pun, Café Pandau, Blue Diamond. Walking in an expensive area Nimmanhamin, look into Salad Concept: here you can make your own salad (a plate with 5 free add-ons will cost $2) and generally assemble any dish (soup, side dish).

The city has a developed budget food network. Thanks to the buffets even with minimum amount You can have a hearty lunch in your pocket. The buffet is considered the most inexpensive Khun Churn(open until 14:00). There are also popular establishments with “restaurant” prices (for example, Imperial Mae Ping).

Accommodation

Chiang Mai is a fairly compact city, so no matter where you live in the city, getting to the right place will not be difficult. An overnight stay in an eight-bed mixed room will cost $3 ( Sume Sume Guest House, Mojito Garden Hotel, Green Oasis). Surprisingly, cheap bedrooms always have a shared shower or bath, a fan, and the Internet.

The cost of a private room for two starts from $6. A room in one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, for example in Khum Phaya Resort Chiang Mai, will cost you from $70 per night.

Entertainment and relaxation

There are many museums in this city. Those who are attracted to Hinduism will be interested in private museum of god Ganesh(in the village Doi Lo), consisting of three halls: in the first two - statues and paintings of the deity, in the last - a place of worship.

Similar to each other MuseumMon Fai(museum of textiles of the peoples of northern Thailand) and Sbun Nga(Textile Museum, entry from $3).

We recommend visiting Ethnological Museum of Mountain Tribes with models of homes, realistic mannequins of people, real dishes. Or Chiang Mai National Museum, which is open every day except Monday and Tuesday until 4 pm (entry - $0.7). Its exhibition consists of the most valuable objects of religion, culture and everyday life of Lanna times.

Those interested can visit the museum dedicated to the history of the royal family - Dara Pirom Palace.

Stamp lovers will love the Philately Museum (15 Praisanee Rd.), while coin collectors will love the Numismatics Museum (52 ​​Ratchadamnoen Rd.).

There will be those who will be interested Aviation Museum on the base military base close to Chiang Mai airport.

By the way, in Chiang Mai, like in Bangkok, there is a doll museum, but instead of miniature beauties, they produce creepy freaks.

There is a lot to see in Chiang Mai besides the usual museums. For example, one of the most unusual workshops in Thailand is the sun umbrella workshop (111/2 Bosang Sankkamphaeng). Here you will be shown the entire technical process from start to finish and will be offered to place an order from a catalog of umbrellas, and for a nominal fee local craftsmen will paint your items (T-shirts, covers, caps).

You can plunge headlong into outlandish microworlds at the Insect Museum-Zoo ( Siam Insect Zoo) in the very center of Chiang Mai at Srimankalajarn Road Soi, 13. Collections of beetles and butterflies from all over the world are collected here, and regular master classes and interactive games for children are held.

In the Hang Dong district of Chiang Mai, a piece of the African continent appeared in 2006 - a park Night Safari. Predators and ungulates were transported by air from the savannah zone in Kenya to Southeast Asia. The park has three activity zones: “savannah”, “predators”, “jaguar path”. Throughout the entire route you can feed the animals directly from your hands, and even play with some of them. A night laser program has been implemented. The first two zones are open from 6 to 11 pm, and the “path of the jaguar” from 11 am. The cost of a ticket only to the “path of the jaguar” zone is $3, the cost of a subscription (three zones, laser show, fountains) is $15.

If you want to see a traditional Thai village, then take a look at the settlement Karenov(one of the hill tribes of northern Thailand). The women of this tribe have incredibly long necks. This disproportionality is achieved by constantly wearing special rings.

Purchases

Shopping can be done immediately upon arrival at Chiang Mai airport. Next to it is the Central Airport Plaza shopping center with a unique department decorated in the style of a “traditional Thai village”. Handicrafts from the mountain tribes of the north are sold here: costumes, bags, jewelry. A little further is the Thai art hall, where antiques are exhibited. There are many boutiques with clothes, perfumes, and electronics in the Central Airport Plaza.

No less famous is the five-story Kad Suan Kaew center with a convenient multi-story parking lot and a Tops supermarket inside.

The city has a branch of the French supermarket chain Carrefour. Two branches of the English hypermarket Tesko are also represented.

Products from Thai manufacturers can be purchased at a discount in the Thai supermarket Big C. Here, customers note a good assortment of seafood, fruits and vegetables.

From Chiang Mai it is worth bringing items made from mulberry paper (for example, a sun umbrella), silver jewelry, Burmese boxes, celadon ceramics, medicinal herbs and tea. Electronics are especially worth noting: prices are almost the same and affordable everywhere.

A wide selection of souvenirs is presented at the Wararot market, where you can also find items made from Thai silk.

Transport

There are almost no city buses in Chiang Mai, so residents have to make do with tuk-tuks or “sam lor”. “Sam lor” are modern rickshaws, rather strong, sinewy guys, the phrase translates as “three wheels”, these are the ones these sporty Thais use to move everyone. The average cost of such a trip is from $1.5, additional payment for luggage is possible. There are much fewer taxi cars in Chiang Mai than in Bangkok. Those that exist are equipped with taximeters, the average cost of a trip around the city is from 2 to 6 $.

Also, multi-colored songthaews (pickup trucks) regularly ply around the city, which can take you anywhere in the city. The color of the songthaew indicates a specific route.

A tourist in Chiang Mai can also rent a car or motorcycle from $25 per day.

The transport system in the city is built on internal and external multidirectional rings connected by passages. On some city streets you can only park on the left side. The coloring of the curb indicates acceptable stopping places (red color prohibits). For driving without a helmet, a fine of $15 is charged; for not wearing a seat belt, a fine of $20 is imposed and your license may be taken away.

Connection

To call the city of Chiang Mai from a landline phone, you need to dial 8-10-66-53, the number of the called subscriber. Three major mobile operators (1-2-Call/AIS, Happy/DTAC, True) offer favorable tariff plans for calling home. You can purchase a SIM card at Seven Eleven and Family Mart supermarkets.

The city has a developed network of Internet cafes and many free access points to the global web. Relatively cheap Internet is only possible on a prepaid basis with per-minute connection charges. Of all the operators, only DTAC conducts regular promotions for voice calls and Internet use.

Safety

Traffic on the road is almost unregulated. When crossing the road, you need to look to the right, not to the left.

When shopping, do not trust tempting prices for jewelry made from precious stones; most likely, they are offering you ordinary glass. The same situation is with silver and gold. Original products can only be purchased at factories.

Don't trust Indians who offer to make suits for little money. The “scam” is trivial: you leave an advance payment, but never receive the suit, although they promise to deliver it directly to the airport by the time the plane takes off. There are known episodes when “bar girls” drugged sleeping pills and took money from an unlucky tourist. Keep in mind that these “bar workers” may drink just as much as you, but their beer is non-alcoholic, so they don’t really get drunk.

If you bring a girl to your room, be sure to check your ID card (analogous to a local passport). Very often minors are engaged in providing sexual services. Such relationships in Thailand will inevitably lead to imprisonment. In Thai prisons, it is mainly tourists who have lost their vigilance who are serving their sentences.

Business climate

Any foreigner who has chosen Chiang Mai as an investment destination should think about forced cooperation with the Thai side. The enterprise must be a joint venture, and the majority of the employees are of Thai origin.

There are a number of reasons why foreigners invest their money in the Thai economy: obtaining a long-term visa, justifying their residence, and others. In this case, the authorized capital of an artificially created joint-stock company must be at least $30 thousand. 51% of the shares are assigned to Thai partners, the number of shareholders is set at 7 people. But it is possible to circumvent these conditions without breaking the law: if you use the support and support of local lawyers, you will even be provided with Thais who will subsequently sign over their shares in your favor. Additional costs for registering a joint stock company and processing documents will amount to about $50 thousand.

Real estate

Rental prices in the northern capital of Thailand are very affordable. A month's rent for a two-story house on the outskirts of the city will cost $200. At the same time, 24-hour security will be provided, the cottage will have several bedrooms, a large living room, furniture, air conditioning, hot water, European cuisine. If you choose a house with a garden, a veranda and a swimming pool, the rental price will increase by $100. Rent a cottage in historical center(for example, near the university) costs about $600 per month.

Cost of small houses in cottage village on the outskirts of Chiang Mai is 55 thousand $ for 52 square meters (a little more than a thousand per square). Usually purchased at home larger area(from 107 squares). The price increases in proportion to the area, according to this proposal from 90 thousand.

But here is a villa-house (800 square meters) with a land plot of 3000 square meters. meters as part of the Four Seasons resort is estimated at $4 million.

Under the Thai property purchase scheme, a foreigner can own all buildings except the land on which they are located. The only way out: invest money for five years in the Investment Department. Then, when the amount reaches at least $1.2 million, permission will be issued to register 1,600 sq. m. as your own property. meters of land.

Chiang Mai is considered the starting point for trekking in northern Thailand. Such “forays” are far from traditional excursion programs and require some preparation. You need to take hiking shoes, warm and waterproof clothing, and mosquito repellent with you.

When visiting villages, never give money to local beggars. If you are invited to enter a home, do not forget to take off your shoes. It is prohibited to enter the house without permission. You can chat with locals and take pictures (after asking permission first), but it is not recommended to get drunk. The village can be quite dirty, but this is not a reason for you to litter too.

There is a magical city in the North of Thailand - Chiang Mai - it is also called the cultural capital of Thailand. This city is different from anything I’ve ever been to: temples shining in the sun, colorful markets, amazing nature and a lot of cozy coffee shops where you can try delicious coffee grown in the north of Thailand. Many believe that the real Thailand opens up here.
Not only in the city, but also in the surrounding area there are interesting places to go and things to see. I’ll tell you about the most amazing sights in Chiang Mai that you should definitely visit. I will also recommend the best hotels in Chiang Mai and good restaurants where you can eat tasty and inexpensive food.

Many people don't know where Chiang Mai is. This is Northern Thailand, and this area is also called Lanna - a place of unique beauty.

Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Ching Mai, Chiang Mai, Chang Mai - which is correct? The word is foreign, but it is still correct to pronounce the name of the city - Chiang Mai (translated as “New Fortress”).

Perhaps I will slightly upset those who are looking for Chiang Mai beaches in these places - there are none here, because... the city is located far from the sea. But there are mountains and an indescribable atmosphere of friendliness and relaxation. However, who wants to swim, there are many hotels with a swimming pool in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai Airport regularly receives many international and domestic flights. The most popular routes: Bangkok - Chiang Mai, Phuket - Chiang Mai, Kuala Lumpur - Chiang Mai. It is easy to get from the airport to the city by taxi.

How to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok or Phuket on your own

You can get to Chiang Mai by bus, train or plane. The most convenient one is, of course, an airplane. Moreover, if you buy air tickets in advance, the cost will not be more expensive than a bus ticket - for example, a couple of months before the trip you can buy a round-trip ticket for $50, for example, with an airline. I recommend flying to Chiang Mai for at least a couple of days and giving yourself an unforgettable independent excursion - even if you came on a package trip to Phuket. After all, the flight from Phuket is only 2 hours, and from Bangkok – 1 hour.

In the photo: bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

If you missed the sales, you can travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus for $15-20 one way - the cheapest option is from (follow this link to see where it is and how to buy tickets). In addition, many buses to Chiang Mai from Bangkok travel from the northern terminal Mo Chit.

By the way, from Chiang Mai you can directly get to the sea.

Rainy season in Chiang Mai and weather: when is the best time to go

The rainiest weather is September and October, which is generally not surprising. In March, rice fields around the city are burned and there is constant smog over the city, so March is the worst month to visit.
April is a hot month, but very beautiful, everything is in bloom. Chiang Mai is turning into a garden city. In addition, in April, the very fun Songkran festival - Thai New Year - takes place here.

In the photo: view of Doi Suthep mountain, Chiang Mai

May is less hot, but just as beautiful as April, and the sky over Chiang Mai in this month is the most picturesque and voluminous.
From November to the end of February, the weather in Chiang Mai is smooth and warm. In November and December there are short rains, and January and February are a dry season, only in the evenings it is noticeably cool.

How to get around in Chiang Mai

It is easy to rent a car, motorbike or bicycle in the city. An international driver's license is required (the police often check). Please also keep in mind that traffic in Thailand is on the right!

If you don’t want to rent, then you need to take into account that public transport in Chiang Mai, inside the Old City, is absent in the usual sense: there are no stops, ticket offices and travel tickets. The role of public transport is performed by songthaews - see the red cars. Like these ones:

Red Songthaews on the streets of Chiang Mai

Songthaews are more like taxis: they drive without a specific route or stops, so you need to agree with the driver whether he will go where you want or not. The price inside the old city is 30 baht, but drivers often ask tourists for 100. We smile, say “30”, if he doesn’t agree, we catch the next one. It’s better not to discuss the price at all - we agreed where to go, we sit down without discussing the price, and at the exit we pay 30 baht per person. Drivers don’t speak English, they only know numbers, so it’s better to learn the names of streets or certain places where you need to go. For example, in a hotel or cafe, take a business card with the name in Thai.

However, not everything is so bad and public transport in Chiang Mai is becoming more civilized. In March 2018, city buses RTC City Bus finally appeared - with stops and a fixed fare (20 baht) - I hope this lasts for a long time :) True, inside the Old City you will still have to catch a songthaew, but at least you can ride outside bus.

The most popular route is R3, the red line, it goes in a circle, on it you can get there from Chiang Mai airport to Nimman and the center of the Old Town, even covering the right northern corner of the Old Town. The bus runs on route R3 from 6-00 to 23-30.

Here is a diagram of all routes and bus stops in Chiang Mai:

All buses can be checked in real time using the CM Transit by RTC app.

Chiang Mai and its attractions

Some tourists buy tours to Chiang Mai - this is a big mistake! Apart from boring sights, you won't see anything. To fall in love with Chiang Mai, you need to come here on your own and find “your” points - those interesting places and attractions that are not shown to tourists. I had the opportunity to live in this city for several years, so I will show not only typical attractions, but also places where tourists do not go.

There are more Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai than anywhere else in all of Thailand. Many believe that it is for this reason that the term “cultural capital of Thailand” arose.

In the photo: it will take more than one day to explore all the temples of Chiang Mai

Every year, both practicing Buddhists and all those who want to join Buddhism for a short time, take a break from the hustle and bustle of Western civilization, or just take photographs, come to Chiang Mai.

If you are going to arrange a retreat for yourself, you don’t have to go to India for this; the same results can be achieved in some monastery in the vicinity of Chiang Mai.

In the photo: Wat Buppharam - one of the temples in Chiang Mai

Are you planning a cool photo shoot? The colorful temples of Chiang Mai are perfect for this.

All the temples in Chiang Mai are amazing, it’s difficult to recommend just one. You can just walk around the city and go to all the temples you like.

In the photo: Doi Suthep Temple - the main attraction of Chiang Mai

Doi Suthep Temple– a unique Buddhist temple on the top of the mountain (on the map). It offers stunning views of Chiang Mai. At night, this temple is well lit and seems to float above the city. Of course, this is the main attraction and symbol of the city. You can't come to Chiang Mai without visiting Doi Suthep. Allow at least an hour for this place.

How to get to Doi Suthep Temple. You can take a taxi to see Doi Suthep Temple. It takes about 20 minutes to drive. Or you can take an inexpensive songthaew ride from Chang Phuek Market- impossible to miss, you will see red cars with the inscription Doi Suthep, waiting for tourists and barkers who run along the road and shout “Doi Suthep!” The cars move as tourists arrive. Price – 60 baht one way.

You can get not only to Doi Suthep, but also higher - to the village of the Meo tribe - Meo Hill Tribe Village (in the price list it is listed as “Meo Hittiribe Village”). The village itself is pretty, like a small park. The locals are happy to wear national clothes; they say they always do so. But, in my opinion, only for tourists. It's still hot :)

Next most popular - Chedi Luang Temple. It's easy to find because... is located in the city center, on the map it is . .

Chedi Luang Temple is the oldest Buddhist site in Chiang Mai

Wat Chedi Luang- the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. If you have time, come to this temple during the day and then late in the evening, you will get a much better experience.

One of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai - Wat Phra Singh(Lion Buddha Temple) - considered the most beautiful temple in Chiang Mai.

In the photo: the white stupa of the Phra Singh Temple in Chiang Mai

This temple complex has many Buddha statues and a large golden stupa.

When planning to visit temples, do not forget to dress properly - knees and shoulders should be covered.

Silver Temple in Chiang Mai(Wat Sri Suphan) - a beautiful temple is located outside the “square”, in the lower part, in the quarter where they sell silver items. Located . Entrance fee - 50 baht.

Wat Sri Suphan – Silver Temple in Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Women are not allowed inside, but you can walk around the temple. However, there is nothing special inside. The temple looks more beautiful from the outside. It is interesting to look at the frescoes on the walls of the temple. By the way, women are not allowed in only because 500 years ago sacred amulets with spells were buried under the temple and it is believed that they could harm either the women or the Temple. It seems that no one remembers what exactly the essence is, but we will assume that they are protecting women from evil spells! :) Otherwise it will work out. Thais still believe in various spells, curses, etc. like children.

Advice: We went, we know.
Right behind the Silver Temple there is a woman who practices a very rare type of ancient massage that you will not find in other places. It's called Tok Sen and is rumored to be 2,500 years old. This massage is done by tapping with a small hammer and a wooden chisel made from tamarind wood, charged with light energy and blessed in the temple. The massage is inexpensive and lasts only 15 minutes, try it.

Temples of Chiang Mai on the city map. All the temples of Chiang Mai you can easily find it on Google– this is a link to a map with a detailed description and location on the map.

By the way, Chiang Mai’s temples are loved not for their historical value, but rather for their unique Thai style and the preservation of culture and traditions. This style in the north of Thailand is preserved even in modern buildings. Here you can experience for yourself what it is like to live in a Thai palace. For example, The Dhara Dhevi hotel is built in traditional Thai style and resembles a royal palace, and the inside is even more luxurious than the outside. However, the prices here are also royal :)

The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai – hotel in Chiang Mai

2. Old Town

The old part of Chiang Mai is located inside the remains of an ancient fortress wall and a surrounding water canal. The shape of this channel is a regular square.

Most tourists, talking about the old city, talk about the “square”: “I settled in the Square”, etc. In old Chiang Mai there is a lot of greenery and not at all tall buildings. However, it’s even better - Old city looks authentic, rustic, cozy and positive.

In the photo: walking through the streets of old Chiang Mai

Canal and remains of the ancient fortress wall:

In the photo: view from the fortress wall to the northeast corner of the Square, Chiang Mai

Streets of the old city in Chiang Mai:

In the photo: tourists in old Chiang Mai

Currently, most of the entire tourist infrastructure of Chiang Mai is concentrated in the Square: hotels and hostels, restaurants and shops, tours. agencies and rental offices, various schools, massage parlors, museums, exhibitions and markets - everything is concentrated here, as well as in the blocks east of the square, behind the canal.

Do you want to find something for your trip to the North of Thailand - excursions, motorbike or car rental, tickets for intercity bus, – look for everything you need in the Square.

In the photo: schoolchildren in the old town

3. Karen Long Neck Village – village of long-necked women

A trip to the village of Longnecks is an obligatory part of any route in Northern Thailand. All the tourist kiosks in old Chiang Mai will offer excursions to these exotic villages where the ancient Karen tribe live.

In the 70s of the last century, the Karen people fled from unrest in neighboring Burma. The Thai government allowed them to live in the northern province and maintain their culture, customs and language. Therefore, only in the north of Thailand can you see real Karen settlements. Women who wear rings are called padaungs.

Where did the rings on women's necks come from? Even the Karen themselves can no longer answer this question unambiguously; there are many legends and versions. The most beautiful legend tells about the Wind, who fell in love with the Dragon and curled around her neck with happiness when she became pregnant - this is how the first padaung was born.

Nowadays, women wear rings only because it allows them to make money from tourists - entrance to the Village of Long-Necked Women is paid. Not all modern Karen women have long necks, but those who maintain this tradition have a privileged position in the tribe. Women “giraffes” do not have to work in the fields, but only earn money from tourists, presenting themselves as living exhibits and selling handicrafts.

4. Zoo in Chiang Mai

In the photo: animals at the Chiang Mai Zoo

Life hack We went - we know:
To get a 15% discount on visiting the zoo and water park, order a day ticket through the KLOOK system.

And this is also the only one a zoo in Thailand with pandas– it’s worth coming to Chiang Mai just for them!

Panda at Chiang Mai Zoo

5. Flower Festival in Chiang Mai and other holidays

In the photo: flower festival in Chiang Mai

People go to Chiang Mai to take part in Thai festivals - Loy Krathong (November, on the night of the twelfth full moon, lanterns are launched into the sky), Songran (Thai New Year, April 13-15, everyone waters each other in honor of the end of the dry season) and incredibly beautiful (first weekend of February). The holiday parties in Chiang Mai are perhaps the most impressive in all of Thailand.

6. Chiang Mai Markets

In the photo: evening crowd at the Sunday market in Chiang Mai

The first thing that all newly arrived tourists in Chiang Mai are advised to do is wait until evening and go to the Night Bazaar (Night Market). Well, if you arrive in Chiang Mai on Sunday, then the first thing you will do is go to the (Sunday Market). Here you can buy local souvenirs, ethnic clothes, and also try different foods.

For those who like a more complete immersion in local market relations, we can recommend a trip to the Chinese market Warorot Market. It will be noisy, exotic and educational:) I recommend that girls visit the Win Cosmetics cosmetics store at this market - they have everything: from Thai cosmetics to popular world brands. Prices are lower than in supermarkets and there is more choice.

In the photo: clothing store “71 Export” on Huay Kaew Street in Chiang Mai

For those who are looking for inexpensive clothes in normal European sizes - the Export 71 store. The clothes are great and the store itself is very stylish :)

7. SanKampaeng Hot Springs ( San Kamphaeng Hot Springs) – relaxing holiday in Chiang Mai

In the photo: a tourist takes pictures of hot springs

One of the amazing features of Chiang Mai is the natural hot springs at San Kampaeng. Both locals and tourists enjoy visiting this place for relaxation and recreation. Hot spring water is rich in sulfur and other salts. Set aside a few hours for a massage and hot spring bath. To achieve complete relaxation and silence, go there on weekdays. Located .

8. Nimmanhemin (Nimman Road) – art street in Chiang Mai

This is not just a street, but an entire art district with many co-working cafes, art galleries and boutique shops. There is also a modern Maya shopping center with rooftop bars.

View of the Maya shopping center at the beginning of Nimman Street, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Anyone can climb to the roof of the Maya shopping center with a view of the city and Doi Suthep - during the day it is free. On holidays, festivals and concerts are held on the roof.

It is interesting not only to walk along the main street of Nimmanhemin, but also to look into the jays (alleys), drink a cup of excellent coffee at Ristr8to or buy local hand-made souvenirs in one of the designer shops.
Some also stay in hotels here. It should be noted that the hotels on Nimman are also designer. Sometimes I enjoy staying at the At Nimman Hotel - it’s so unusual to walk into a quiet courtyard from a noisy street and find yourself in a mansion.

Nimman is a very colorful and atmospheric place in Chiang Mai.

Think Park in Chiang Mai, Nimman

Think Park with the famous tree, almost like in “Avatar” :), also attracts with evening lights, music and bright trinkets. A black cat with a mustache and a Chanel handbag - another iconic landmark of Chiang Mai - is located right there on Nimman.

Popular attractions we visited. Next we move on to the most interesting part.

Interesting places in Chiang Mai that are not shown to tourists

They don't show it because they hide it. It’s just that many people come to Chiang Mai for a couple of days and don’t have time to get to most of these places. The best option is to see all the places listed below in Chiang Mai - and have a good ride for a few days.

Here, what to see in and around Chiang Mai, if there is enough time:

9. Parks of Chiang Mai

To visit Royal Flower Park Ratchaphruek, you either need to go by motorbike, or by taxi or Uber. Don’t expect to explore everything in half an hour – the park is quite large. It’s better to set aside at least half a day, in the morning, so as not to walk in the heat. However, for those in a hurry, they provide bicycles. Located .

In the photo: temple in Ratchapruek Park, near Chiang Mai

In Ratchaphruek Park there is a central alley with hundreds of bells - take a walk from the beginning to the temple itself, listen to the wonderful chime, feel the atmosphere of peace and relaxation.

Small corner park Nong Buak– a pleasant place in the southwestern corner of the old city. Here you can always play sports, lie on the grass, or feed the pigeons and fish in the pond.

In the photo: tourists train at Nong Buak Park in Chiang Mai

Other good parks outside the city are Tweechol Botanic Garden and Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden.

10. Huay Kaew Falls

Natural places what to see in Chiang Mai: Huay Kaew waterfall, in the vicinity of Chiang Mai

A small but picturesque waterfall at the foot of Mount Doi Suthep. During the dry season, the waterfall noticeably decreases. There are several rather difficult trekking routes around the waterfall. But you can just come here and relax and sunbathe.
Located .

11. Coffee shops in Chiang Mai

In my opinion, Chiang Mai is the world champion in the number of interesting coffee shops. Almost everywhere you can find excellent Thai coffee and delicious pastries. And the coffee shops themselves are pleasantly and creatively decorated. The most stylish cafes are on.

Did you know that coffee is grown in northern Thailand? Yes, the coffee here is local and very tasty!

Sometimes you order a cup of coffee, and they bring you a whole set with cookies and even... tea:

Once, upon arrival in Russia, I went to a coffee shop, they brought me a cup of coffee and... that’s it! Out of habit, I asked for a glass of water - it turned out that it was for a fee. You relax in Thailand :)

Maybe that’s why it’s so pleasant to walk in Chiang Mai because there are cozy coffee shops everywhere where you can drop in at any time to cool off and drink something tasty and invigorating.

In the photo: tourists in a coffee shop in the old town of Chiang Mai

Prices in coffee shops vary greatly. To quickly determine the price category, you don’t have to scroll through the menu; be guided by the price of coffee: if the prices are normal, then a cup of Americano will cost up to 60 baht, high prices – from 100 baht. At the same time, the best desserts, in my experience, are where coffee prices are 45-70 baht. The worst coffee is from Starbucks.

Prices in cafes in Chiang Mai

Coffee is served in a variety of forms, hot and cold - I have never seen such a variety anywhere in the world.

Akha Ama Coffee shop and coffee shop

Remember the main local coffee places in Chiang Mai: “Ristr8to”, “Akha Ama Coffee” (coffee is delivered directly from the plantation, you can buy it), “Coffee Lovers”, “Wawee Coffee”, “Morning Glory Cafe”, “Same Same But Different” .

In the photo: a glass of orange juice at the Coffee Lovers cafe in old Chiang Mai

However, it is not clear where it is better to spend time - in coffee shops or in... bars. It’s not for nothing that Chiang Mai is called the cultural capital - the drinking culture in this city is really at its best :)

Pictured: popular bar “John’s Place” on Mun Muang Street, Chiang Mai

12. Around Chiang Mai on Segways

If you have never tried to pilot a Segway, now is the time to practice. There is a special office for this in Chiang Mai, where they teach and rent out equipment. Read about Segway excursions in Chiang Mai

13. Incredible Haunted House in Chiang Mai

Jangmuarinnakorn House (House of the White Lion, House of Success) is not a museum, but a real House where ghosts live. In fact, these are even two houses, and between them there is a swimming pool and a garden. Locals say that once upon a time a rich real estate tycoon came to the city and wanted to build a house for his family. But he chose a place for the house with extremely bad feng shui. He was dissuaded from building on this site, but he did not listen to anyone and still built the most luxurious house in the city. Soon he went crazy and killed his entire family with an ax. The ghosts of the dead walked around the house... In general, a classic of the genre: everyone died, and now ghosts walk at night. And all this happened because of bad feng shui. But that's not the end of the story!

After the accident, the house was put up for sale, but for more than 20 years no one wanted to buy the house. Mediums and other alternatively gifted people came here - everyone claimed that the house was definitely haunted. Ask any local resident, everyone will confirm. Even the homeless did not want to live in this house. Only curious people came from all over the world to take photographs:

Abandoned White Lion House - haunted house

And not so long ago, the house was finally bought, restored and turned into the most luxurious hotel in Chiang Mai. Since 2017, you can stay in this house and, if you're lucky, take a selfie with the ghosts.

The house has become even more luxurious:

There is even a swimming pool and a very beautiful garden with fountains and sculptures.

In the photo: a haunted house hotel in Chiang Mai

By the way, because Only the bravest people risk staying in this house; there are few guests, so so far the prices for accommodation are low. See more photos of the house, where it is located and prices.

14. Shooting clubs

In Thailand, tourists are always open to new opportunities for entertainment - for example, how do you like the idea of ​​shooting with real weapons? Chiang Mai has several places for shooting enthusiasts to improve their skills. Read how you can shoot at shooting ranges in Chiang Mai.

To better understand the atmosphere of the city, watch this video:

What else is interesting to see in Chiang Mai: day routes around the city

15. White Temple(Wat Ron Khun) is located 170 kilometers from Chiang Mai, closer to the city of Chiang Rai.

In the photo: The White Temple is a great place for a self-guided tour

It is quite possible to visit the White Temple on your own in a day by renting a car. You can read more about the trip to the White Temple.

Do you know that there is also a Black Temple in the North of Thailand? To have time to see everything, contact us and you will be taken by car on an exciting trip, where you will not only see the temples, but also the royal residence and tea plantations. Yes, in the north of Thailand they grow very tasty tea.

16. Doi Intanon Park(Doi Inthanon) - the highest point in Thailand - a stunning place for lovers of eco-tourism.

In my opinion, this is the most wonderful place in all of Northern Thailand. In one day you will see mountains, waterfalls, a botanical garden, amazing Royal Towers and feel that even in Thailand you can get a little cold :)

In the photo: the pearl of Northern Thailand - Doi Intanon Park

Near this park there are rice terraces(Location: Chang Khoeng Subdistrict, Chiang Mai 50270):

Read how to go to Doi Inthanon.

17. Around Mount Doi Suthep by car.

The most beautiful thing in the North of Thailand - mountains and coffee shops

A day trip through the mountains will show you all the splendor of the local nature, and mountain roads. The best thing for such a trip, of course. Along the way, you will come across cafes with beautiful views, where you can rest and eat.

In January, cherry blossoms bloom beautifully in these places. To find cherry blossoms, you need to drive above Doi Suthep Temple to the village of Ban Khun Chang Khian.

What else to see in Chiang Mai? Here are the interesting places: cave and temple complex Chiang Dao Cave, spa complex Oasis Spa(massage and spa treatments), Wat Pha Lat temple.

Next time I’ll tell you about another unusual place, like this:

Temple near Chiang Mai

And 10 more reasons why tourists love Chiang Mai

1. Chiang Mai has an excellent climate: not cold, not hot.
   The weather here is excellent from November to March. Moderately hot dry days, cool evenings.
2. Many locals speak or understand English well.
3. Chiang Mai is a city of creative youth. This is a university city and you can feel it everywhere, from street art to modern architecture.
   

   “Design” and “creativity” are not empty words for the residents of Chiang Mai.

4. The locals are unobtrusive, welcoming and friendly.
5. Sex tourism is poorly developed in Chiang Mai. Everyone in need seems to have left for Pattaya a long time ago and the most important thing is that everyone is happy with it :)
6. Chiang Mai is the city of flowers. There is a lot of greenery here and the yellow and pink trees in bloom are phenomenal, especially in April.
   Pictured: flaming yellow and orange trees in Chiang Mai
7. Chiang Mai - a large city, but with a rural rhythm of life
   In the photo: Chiang Mai has a special atmosphere. The north of Thailand is calmer
8. Chiang Mai is a city of advanced tourists.
   Nomads, vegetarians, motorcyclists, yogis, mountain bikers, etc. come to Chiang Mai. And there is a place and appropriate infrastructure for everyone. Chiang Mai has learned to accept tourists at any level.
9. Delicious strawberries grow in these places. You can buy it in markets, but the cheapest way is in kiosks along the road. It’s so nice to overeat with fresh strawberries every day in winter!
10. Chiang Mai has inexpensive but very atmospheric boutique hotels.

Chiang Mai hotels and where to stay inexpensively

All newcomers to Chiang Mai should definitely live “inside the Square” - in the old part of the city. Believe me, this is a must have for those who are going to truly experience Chiang Mai from their first trip. In this part of the city you will not find large branded hotels, there will mainly be small boutique hotels, family pensions and designer hostels - and this is the main charm of Chiang Mai!

Here are the 5 best budget hotels in Chiang Mai:

1. “BB Mantra Boutique and Budget” – an inexpensive hotel in Chiang Mai with a swimming pool.

In the photo: in the evening by the pool of the BB Mantra hotel

An excellent hotel in the north-eastern sector of the Square. Convenient location relative to the main attractions, helpful staff and a good swimming pool - which is important if you come to Chiang Mai during the hot season.

2. Budget mini-hotel “Tawan Bed Club”

In the photo: budget but pleasant guesthouse “Tawan Bed Club” in Chiang Mai

Cheap, but very pleasant guesthouse, located within walking distance from the Night Bazaar and the river. A European-style hotel next to Ratchamanka Street in the old city. Here you feel like a person from the royal family. By the way, here guests are given free coffee and toast.

At the Velvet Orchid Hotel in Chiang Mai

And now I will surprise you! Think about how much a room in a similar hotel in Europe would cost. Now look at the prices for this hotel

4. Hotel “My Chiangmai Boutique Lodge”

Hotel “My Chiangmai Boutique lodge”

Inexpensive hotel with excellent rooms and a nice pool. View prices

5. Guesthouse “18 In Town Homestay”

Cozy boutique hotel “18 In Town Homestay”

In the best traditions of Chiang Mai style, there is a cozy mini-hotel “18 In Town Homestay”. It’s places like these that people love Chiang Mai for, it’s like living with relatives in the provinces :) See prices

Where to eat deliciously in Chiang Mai

There are so many restaurants and cafes in the city that there should be no problems with food. Here you can try not only Northern Thai cuisine, but also Korean, Mexican, Italian, French and others - and the restaurants are run by expats, so in one city you can try the best cuisines of the world “first hand”. I love Chiang Mai for this!

Pad Thai - fried noodles with shrimp. The Coffee Club, opposite Tha Phae Gate

It’s difficult to recommend where to eat in Chiang Mai because everyone’s tastes are different. For my taste, the best Thai food is street food or in food courts. In general, Thai food is simple, so I don’t understand when expensive restaurants charge 300 baht for a plate of rice or noodles. I tried it several times - it’s no different from the street food (for 30-50 baht), only in decorations. Before you start getting acquainted with the local cuisine, I recommend reading about.

In Thailand, quality does not depend on price! This applies not only to Thai food, but also to all services and most local goods. More often it’s even the other way around: the more expensive it is, the worse it is.
For example, in expensive cafes, due to high prices, food sometimes gets stale, so it’s quite possible to get the day before yesterday’s dessert or “tasty” food. Therefore, if expensive Thai restaurants have no customers at all during peak hours, then it is better not to go there.

However, street food is easy to find, but sometimes you want not only to eat, but also to sit pleasantly in beautiful place, with air conditioning and music, so I try different cafes and restaurants.
I will share the places that I like in Chiang Mai:

Lemongrass Thai Restaurant – Thai cuisine

Lemongrass Thai Restaurant – Thai cuisine restaurant

Pad Thai, Khao Soi and many other Thai dishes are prepared quite well here.
Located .

Nice Kitchen - inexpensive and healthy food

Breakfast at Nice Kitchen is not entirely healthy, but delicious:)

Nice Kitchen is located in the city center, inside the square, on the popular soi 6. There are natural juices, fruits, salads, and a vegetarian menu. I like breakfast the most. The choice of breakfasts is large: from classic to vegetarian.
Located .

If it is better to choose inexpensive cafes with Thai cuisine, then in good cafes run by foreigners there are no low prices. Therefore, if you see a sign “Italian cuisine”, but the prices are low, it means that Italians have nothing to do with this cafe - the food will bear little resemblance to Italian. The same applies to Japanese, French, etc.

The Duke's restaurant chain

For those who want more familiar food, I recommend going to one of The Duke’s restaurants, opened in Chiang Mai in 2005 by American David Anichowski.
I've never been a fan of American cuisine, but they know how to cook delicious food here and everything is always fresh. If the prices seem high at first glance, try a medium-sized pizza for two. You don't have to take drinks, water is poured for free. In the receipt, a 7% tax will be added to the price of the pizza.
What to try: Portuguese soup, tuna salad and pizza. Delicious freshly baked bread will be served with salad or soup.

Food court at Nimman

When you don’t want to spend a long time looking for “the most best restaurant”, but you need to eat quickly and inexpensively - go to the One Nimman food court on Nimman. This food court not only has a large selection of different food, but also a very stylish design - it’s nice to sit down for dinner. Located

Chiang Mai - the capital of Northern Thailand. The city is located about 700 km north of Bangkok, among fertile valleys, green meadows and forested mountains.

The city of Chiang Mai was founded by the king of the Lanna kingdom in 1291. The king built a wall around the city to protect against Burma. Now this wall is dilapidated, only some fragments of the walls and the central gate remain - Thapae Gate. Inside this fortress wall - a square - is the old city.

The fortress wall and the central gate - Thapae Gate - the entrance to the old city Near the entrance to the old city there are shopping arcades

Although Chiang Mai is landlocked, hundreds of tourists from all over the world come here every year, because there is so much to see in Chiang Mai and the surrounding area. In the city and its surroundings there are about 300 Buddhist temples, the winter residence of the Royal Family, and 100 km from Chiang Mai is the highest mountain in Thailand, whose height is 2565 m above sea level.

The climate in Chiang Mai is significantly different from the climate in Bangkok and southern Thailand. In winter (November - February) the weather in Chiang Mai is dry, quite warm during the day, but at night the temperature can drop to 15 degrees, and a little further, in the mountains, to 0. In the summer (from May to August) it is the rainy season in the North of Thailand . It can rain for several days and flood the roads so that driving to many cities becomes impossible.

How to get to Chiang Mai

1. By plane. Low-cost airlines fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai - AirAsia, NokAir. Flights depart from Bangkok's old airport, Dong Muang. The cost of a plane ticket is about 2000 baht ($70), but if you buy a ticket in advance for a promotion, you can buy a ticket for 600-900 baht ($20-30).

Also, planes from Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai; they depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport. The cost of a ticket Bangkok - Chiang Mai is about 3000 - 4000 baht ($100-130). Tickets for these airlines can be purchased on the website aviasales.ru

You can also get to Chiang Mai directly from - the flight is operated by Bangkok Airways, one flight per day, ticket price from 4,000 baht ($130).

You can fly to Chiang Mai from Phuket, Krabi, as well as from Kuala Lumpur, some cities in China, and Australia on AirAsia flights. See AirAsia.com for prices and schedules.

2. By train. You can get to Chiang Mai by train from Bangkok. Trains depart from the central railway station, you can also buy tickets there. The schedule and cost can be found on the Thailand Railways website. There are currently five trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Travel time is about 12 hours. The cost of a ticket depends on the class of the carriage; in addition, the lower bunk is slightly more expensive than the upper one. We bought tickets for the Bangkok – Chiang Mai train on Samui; the cost of a ticket for a second class carriage with air conditioning was 800-900 baht ($27-30).

3. By bus. You can get to Chiang Mai by bus from Bangkok's northern bus station, Mo Chit. (MoChit). The ticket price depends on the class of the bus - 600-1000 baht ($20-33), travel time is about 10 hours.

How to get around Chiang Mai. Transport in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a big city, you can’t get around it on foot. Songtreo (minibuses) are popular among public transport here; the fare is 20-50 baht.

You can get around by taxi (metered taxis, like in Bangkok, there are no taxis in Chiang Mai)

It's best to rent a bike. There are many rental offices in Chiang Mai, the cost of renting a bike 150-200 baht per day ($5-7). The roads in the city are good and wide enough

Accommodation in Chiang Mai: hotels and guesthouses

There are many hotels and guesthouses in Chiang Mai, but it is still better to book a hotel in advance during peak season. To find and book a hotel in Chiang Mai, I advise you to use the website booking.com or book a hotel using the form below. Just enter the dates you need and choose a hotel.

It is best to live near the square of the old city. I don’t recommend living in the square itself if you have a car. The roads there are narrow, it’s difficult to drive through, let alone park a car.

The ideal location of the hotel in my opinion is between the square of the old city and the night bazaar. We lived there. I can safely recommend the Chiang Mai Thai House, Thapae hotel for accommodation, but you need to book it in advance, it is very popular among tourists. The second time we were unable to stay there.

What to see in Chiang Mai? Sights of Chiang Mai

There are many Buddhist temples in the city, we visited some of them.

Temple Wat Phra Singh

Wat Chedi Luang is the most famous temple in Chiang Mai. Once its height was 82 meters, it was the tallest building in the city. Later the temple was destroyed.

To the detriment of our visit to Chedi Luang, a Thai dance performance took place near it 😎

On the territory of Chedi Luang there is a club for communicating with monks! Anyone can come and chat with the monks in English, ask them about life, and ask any question they have. We didn’t go to the monks, although Lesha really wanted to talk to them.

Just behind Chedi Luang is another interesting temple - Chiang Mai's wooden temple: Wat Phan Tao.

And another temple, to be honest, there are so many temples in Chiang Mai that we got confused in them while we were walking 😎 Maybe we went to the same one several times, but from different directions 😎

And even near the temple there is a market! 🙂

We visited the library and museum of Buddhism next to one of the temples

But unfortunately we did not have time to visit one of the most famous temples - Wat Doi Suthep, located on a high mountain, which offers a magnificent view of the city.

There are a couple of interesting monuments in Chiang Mai. Here is the monument to the three kings, which was built in 1984. The monument depicts the king of the Lanna kingdom and his two sons

And here is a monument to a fireman saving a girl

One of the attractions of Chiang Mai is the Chiang Mai Zoo, a huge zoo where pandas live. We really liked the zoo! I recommend!

Speaking about the attractions of Ching Mai, it is impossible not to mention the markets of Chiang Mai. Weekend markets are very popular among tourists, as well as among local residents: Sunday and Saturday market.

You can visit the king's winter residence - Bhubing Palace. We did not find this palace, although we had the coordinates of this place. The navigator led us through mountains, fields, meadows, but we never got to our destination 😥

One of the attractions of Chiang Mai is Royal flora Ratchaphruek– a magnificent flower garden. But we didn’t have time to go there.

If we talk about the attractions around Chiang Mai, there are a great many of them! Any travel agency in the city, or even a hotel, will offer you excursions around Chiang Mai for every taste: trips to waterfalls, to a village with northern tribes, elephant riding, rafting and many other interesting tours.

Or you can rent a car or bike and travel to all the interesting places yourself

Rome is located in May tiger nursery , where you can touch a tiger cub and take a photo with a tiger!

Be sure to visit the hot springs, located 36 km from the city.

And on the way to the springs, make a stop at Bo Sang Umbrella Village(umbrella villages). We stopped at the umbrella village on the way to Chiang Mai from the hot springs, but it was already late, everything was closed and we didn’t look at the production of umbrellas.

Every year more and more tourists visit Chiang Mai. After all, there are so many interesting things in the area!

The city of Chiang Mai is becoming more and more popular among Russian winterers. After all, the city has all the conditions for a comfortable life, and prices are cheaper than in the same place. The city has many shops, Tesco Lotus, Big C. You can rent a room in a condo for 6-10 thousand baht (200 – 330 $) per month. But mostly rooms and houses are rented out for a long period, from 6 months.

Chiang Mai is also famous for its Thai massage. There are many salons in the city where you can get a Thai massage or foot massage for 150-200 baht. But we were unlucky - in all the good salons recommended on the forums there was a queue for a massage, then we went to the first salon we came across, but the massage there did not impress us 😥 At the San Kampaeng hot springs, the massage was much better.

If you are still thinking about whether to go to Chiang Mai or not, because there is no sea here, which is a priority for many, feel free to cast aside all doubts and go to Chiang Mai to see a different, less touristy Thailand.