If you are planning to travel to beautiful Thailand this year, remember to keep Chiang Mai in your itinerary of must-see places, which offers the perfect mix of modern convenience and traditional culture. This city is the cultural capital of Northern Thailand and has been a popular destination for backpackers. It is now ready to welcome luxury travelers by opening extravagant spas and luxury resorts. Here are a few local attractions that you can enjoy and tips about travel and stay to make your trip to this enchanting place truly memorable.
Chiang Mai Destination Guide
Chiang Mai was built in 1296 as a protected city and is surrounded by a moat, which stands to this day. The city has both domestic flights coming in from locations like Bangkok and other large Malaysian cities and international flights from Asia, Europe, and Australia. This 700-year-old town has historical buildings, temples, botanical gardens, museums, and nature parks offering day and night safaris.
Top Chiang Mai Temples and Sacred Sites
Wat Prathat Doi Suthep is Located atop a hill and constructed in 1386, the temple has a winding path that passes picturesque waterfalls and provides breath-taking view of the city.
Wat Chedi Luang This ancient pagoda relic was built in 1441 and stood at 91 meters till it was reduced to half its size during an earthquake. It has beautiful sculpture of Ubosots on the compound wall from the original structure.
Wat Phra Singh This fifteenth-century temple has the famous Phra Sihing Buddha and Holy Scriptures of Hoi Tra. The mural paintings on its walls depict scenes of Suwannahong and Sang Thong literature.
Wat Jed Yod this seven-spire Chedi was built in 1477 to host the World Buddhist Council. The beautiful monument has the ashes of King Tilokarat and a large Viharn with stunning murals.
Chiang Mai National Parks and Adventure Activities
Besides these, the city has the beautiful Mae Takhrai National Park. It sits 50 meters above ground. This park is a must-see for adventure tourists. and also features the Chiang Mai Night Safari. It houses Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium.
Don’t miss Doi Inthanon National Park. It has Thailand’s highest peak and stunning waterfalls. Visit ethical elephant sanctuaries too. Here, visitors interact with rescued elephants. These experiences support conservation efforts.
Chiang Mai Hotels and Accommodation Guide
Visitors can enjoy cuisine from across the world at Chiang Mai’s restaurants or try out local cuisine at street food outlets. You can choose from budget hotels to five star luxury hotels and also boutique hotels that give you a taste of local culture. You can have your choice of resort hotels like Oriental Siam, Sireeampan Boutique Resort, Siripanna Villa Resort and Spa, Shewe Wana Boutique Resort and Spa, along with another 50 odd comfortable hotels.
Chiang Mai Transportation and Bus Guide
Has two prominent bus stations which one for long-distance travel to destinations across Malaysia and another for travel within the city to places of tourist interest and other locations.
Arcade Bus Station – Long Distance Chiang Mai Travel
Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2 and Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3, also known as Arcade Bus Station, handle long-distance buses to Bangkok and other destinations. Both government-owned transport companies and private operators serve these terminals. Additionally, they follow strict arrival and departure schedules.
Furthermore, bus services run daily from 6 AM to 10 PM. Moreover, journeys typically take 11 or more hours to reach major destinations. Meanwhile, visitors can easily reach this city by taking buses from Bangkok and other locations.
- Bangkok Busline
- Budsarakam
- Greenbus
- Nakhonchai Air
- Sombat Tour
- Sri Tawong Tour
- Siam First
- Transport Co Ltd (999)
- Viriyayanyont Tour
Chang Phuak Bus Station – Local Transport
Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 1 or Chang Phuak Bus Station Located near Chang Phuak Gate near the old city, this bus station provides bus trips to local towns and tickets can be purchased on the spot. To visit places around City, you can take the city bus services in the same Bus Station
Red Songthaews – Getting Around City
Once you arrive, you can use the red songthaew service to get around the city. These iconic red pickup trucks with covered seating areas are the most popular and affordable way to travel within town. Red songthaews operate on shared routes throughout the city and to popular tourist destinations, making them an essential part of the local transportation network for visitors exploring the area.
