Chiang Mai city. Chiang Mai, Thailand: description, attractions and interesting facts. Cultural Center "Old Chiang Mai"

Chiang Mai ranks second in size. It is an ancient city with a long history and special traditions. This place attracts Russian tourists with an abundance of ancient monuments, a mild climate, cheap food and housing, and, of course, a visa-free regime.

Chiang Mai means "New Fortress" in Thai. This name clearly reflects the history of the ancient city, which was originally built as a defensive point that protected the inhabitants from numerous enemy raids.

Chiang Mai often plays the role of a kind of transit point in order to travel from the city to the jungle, as well as visit the settlements where hill tribes live on excursions.

The surroundings of Chiang Mai are inhabited by many tribes with a distinctive culture. Among the most interesting is the Karen tribe, famous for its non-standard views on female beauty.

Many come to Chiang Mai to improve their health. Medicine is very well developed here. Dentistry and services of maternity hospitals are especially famous.

The atmosphere of Chiang Mai is unique in that in the process of historical development and mixing of several currents, a new, unlike anything culture has formed. For a long time, two strong states fought each other for supremacy: Siam tried to subdue Chiang Mai. The enmity lasted for several centuries, until, as a result of negotiations in one of the districts of Chiang Mai, the two rulers did not come to an agreement. Thus, a new, unlike anything else in Thailand appeared, where colorful serenity reigns, entwined with flowers and greenery.

How to get there?

Russian tourists will have to get to Chiang Mai in several ways, since the local airport is designed for the arrival of only domestic flights.

Domestically, Chiang Mai is served by various modes of transport: trains, taxis, planes and buses running between major cities.

The easiest way is to fly to Bangkok (from which most domestic transfers start) by plane, at. Without leaving the airport, we transfer to the next flight to Chiang Mai and now, we are already there.

More than 30 flights leave from Bangkok to Chiang Mai daily, so you shouldn't have any difficulties with the flight, but still, if you want to save money, book tickets in advance. A timely "caught" ticket can cost less than 1,500 baht, while a ticket purchased on the spot can cost more than 2,000 baht.

Chiang Mai on the map:

Weather

Since the city of Chiang Mai is located in the northern part of the country, the climate here is completely different than on the coast. It is not so hot here and there is a special atmosphere. For example, in winter the weather in Chiang Mai is very similar to summer in central Russia. There is practically no rain during these months. On the flat part, the air warms up to +28 degrees, and in the mountains the temperature does not exceed +15 degrees.

It gets much hotter during the summer months. On some days the temperature can even reach +37 degrees. But rainfall is still rare. The first rains fall in May and last until October. Due to the abundance of precipitation, the temperature drops slightly and is about +30 degrees.

Unlike the rest of the state, where the temperature is almost the same, both during the day and at night, in Chiang Mai it becomes much cooler in the evening.

shopping

Those who like to spend money on souvenirs, clothes or electronics, Chiang Mai will seem like a heavenly place, because it is here that you can buy all this at record low prices, if, of course, you know how and like to bargain. By the way, bargaining here is not only possible, but necessary. Bargaining is one of the key mechanisms of the local market.

In addition to huge shopping centers like Pantip Plaza, Airport Plaza, Central and the ubiquitous Tesco Lotus, the most interesting things can be found in numerous markets and cramped malls: here merchants and artisans offer amazing souvenirs, handicrafts, and all kinds of crafts made right on your doorstep. eyes. Such things in Chiang Mai will cost you much less than in any other city in Thailand, because it is from here that gifts and souvenirs are sent all over the country, which are then sold in the same markets at double or even triple the price.

Where to stay?

Since Chiang Mai is the northern capital of the country, the hotels here are numerous and varied. The city is divided into two districts: old and new. The tourist center is located in the eastern part of the old district. The cost of living in budget hotels is from 500 rubles per night. There are also expensive 5 * hotels here, rooms in such a hotel will cost tourists more than 12,000 rubles per night.

The best hotels of high price category:

• The Grand Napad (from 3500 rubles/day);
• Tamarid Village (from 10,000 rubles per day);
• Makka Hotel (from 5200 rubles per day).

• CH Hotel (from 1300 rubles per day);
• Imm Hotel Thaphae Chiang Mai (from 1225 rubles/day);
• Furama Chiang Mai (from 2500 rubles per day).

Budget hotels:

Transport

Several modes of transport are available in the city itself. You can ride a cycle rickshaw, a three-wheeled tuk-tuk, or a special open pickup truck, which is a minibus. They are called songteos. You can navigate the routes by paying attention to the color of the car. They come in white, red, green or blue. A ride in such a taxi costs about 30 baht.

But the townspeople prefer to move around the city by tuk-tuks. The cost of a trip on it reaches 100 baht and depends on the duration of the route. It is best not to hail a taxi on the street, but to call.

If you prefer to move around the city on your own and in comfort, then rent a bicycle or motorcycle. You can also rent a car. It will cost up to 2000 baht per day.

Food

Since the province is surrounded by many fruit and vegetable plantations, here you will not feel the lack of fresh and natural food. Strawberries are the main product on the basis of which many dishes are prepared. Jam is made from it, ice cream, jams, jams and much more are made.

Chiang Mai has a very active vegetarian movement, so you can find many restaurants here that do not have meat on their menus. Seafood in the north of Thailand also favors less than in the south. Of course, you will find a restaurant with fresh dishes from mussels, squid or fish, but you will not see much elegance in the preparation of such food by the locals.

Note to gastronomic tourists: Khao Soi Lam Yai is a traditional northern Thai dish that should be tried first. It contains pork, noodles, coconut milk and a lot of curry. Locals eat this dish along with cakes made of pork skin fried in oil - keb mu (in the manner of Russian cracklings).

Attractions

There are a lot of attractions in the city and its environs. You can start exploring them by visiting the botanical garden of Queen Sirikit. This place is simply created for a calm and quiet holiday. There are greenhouses in which plants are collected from all over Thailand, as well as from neighboring countries. They contain a variety of varieties of orchids, lotuses, cacti, carnivorous plants and many others.

Another interesting place is San Kamphaeng Hot Springs. In general, in the vicinity of the city there are several sources with healing hot water. These places attract many tourists, and locals come here too. Especially a lot of people gather here on weekends. Therefore, if you want to see everything, slowly and comfortably, then choose a day in the middle of the week.

Doi Suthep

The next point of the route is Mount Doi Suthep. It is the highest point in the city and is one of its main attractions. Here you can look at several more interesting buildings - the Temple of Doi Suthep, the residence of the royal family, the adjacent garden, observation platforms that offer stunning views of the surroundings. To see everything, one day will not be enough, but two is just right.

Just behind Doi Suthep is Mount Pui. It is here that people come in January to see how beautiful the cherry blossoms are. Another beautiful mountain in these places is called Doi Inthanon. Here you can spend the night in one of the villages, take a walk to the hot springs, admire the huge trees.

caves

Nature lovers are advised to visit the caves near the city. You can see the caves of Tham Phra Nawn and Tham Seua Dao on your own. The journey will be quite tiring as the caves are very low and you have to walk bent over.

Wat Chedi Luang

This complex contains many interesting statues, the ancient temples of Vora Viharn and two smaller temples, one of which contains the body of a monk.

Wat Chiang Mai is the oldest temple in the city. In it you can look at the statue of Buddha, about 1800 years old, which causes rain if you pray hard to it. And there is also an even older Buddha statue, which is already 2500 years old.

Lake Huay Tueng Tao

Not far from the city center is Huay Tueng Tao Lake. Here you can admire the magnificent nature, rice fields and the ideal road that circles the lake. Here, houses are built on rafts, where you can relax in a big company and try Thai cuisine.

Zoo

Many tourists are skeptical about entertainment of this kind: not everyone enjoys the contemplation of a tortured animal, closed in a cage. But the Chiang Mai Zoo is quite different from most other zoos in the world. The local animals do not get bored in cages, but live comfortably in spacious enclosures. Outwardly, it looks as if they were placed in their usual habitat, where they are absolutely free, but at the same time, they are healthy, well-groomed and well-fed.

The entrance ticket for an adult is 100 baht. An interesting definition of children's age at the entrance to the zoo: those children who have not yet overcome the growth threshold of 135 cm can go on a reduced ticket, the cost of which is 50 baht. This ticket does not give the right to visit all the pavilions of the zoo, but is only a pass to its territory. For example, those who wish to visit the pavilion with marine life will have to buy a separate ticket for 450 baht.

There are advantageous combined tickets (for example: zoo and aquarium), the price of which is lower.

Since the territory of the zoo is simply huge, you can move around it in various ways: on sightseeing trams or eco-buses. Don't try to get around the zoo on foot - it's almost impossible! It is not worth saving on vehicles, as it is better to spend 70 baht on a ticket and see all the interesting places in one day, than to spend much more on entry the next day without having time to see everything the previous time.

House of Nacha Artists

The Nacha House of Artists is not yet 10 years old: it was opened by a man named Voranun Pongyaroensakul in 2012. To this day, the man sponsors this place and is its spiritual patron, as he simply adores contemporary art in all its manifestations.

Today, both young talents who show interest in sculpture, painting or arts and crafts, as well as experienced old-timers gather here. The goal pursued by the creator of this place is the development of creativity in modern youth.

Many artists work and live in this house. Pupils come to them and adopt useful knowledge. On the basis of the house of artists, exhibition halls are organized, where everyone can absolutely free of charge enjoy the amazing works of both beginners and experienced masters of their craft.

Sri Suphan Temple

The handicraft district, where craftsmen of various industries traditionally lived, from the processing of precious metals to the manufacture of inconspicuous household items, adorns the amazing Sri Suphan silver temple. Unlike hundreds of its counterparts, this "precious" temple is indeed completely decorated with silver plates. Descendants of artisans who continue the traditions of their grandfathers today make good money selling handmade silver products to tourists.

The temple is open to visitors daily from 09:00 to 18:00. Its visit is free. Women should pay attention to the fact that they will not get into the temple itself. A severe sign placed at the entrance says that the representatives of the weaker sex are strictly forbidden to go inside. But in the surroundings you can walk absolutely freely.

Insect Museum

A low rise building located in the old town. The exposition begins already from the foyer itself: having crossed the threshold, museum guests find themselves in a tropical jungle, decorated with bright flowers and greenery.

One of the museum's most notable exhibits is a large meteorite that bears a striking resemblance to a human eyeball.

The collection of the museum is a truly unusual and exciting sight. Here you can see unusual insects, giant butterflies, huge beehives with bees and much more. The philosophy of the museum is to clearly prove the relationship between mysticism and nature. To make the viewer admire and be perplexed, ask questions and be lost in conjectures.

The cost of the entrance ticket is 300 baht. Another 100 will have to be paid with photo and video fixation. There are many things to take pictures of here!

3D museum

Initially, the 3D museum was built for a narrow circle of lovers of beauty, especially for admirers of contemporary art. But advertising and positive reviews have done their job: a few years after the opening, this place has become one of the key points in the itinerary of every traveler who is not indifferent to the fine arts.

The museum is especially loved by those who cannot imagine their journey without original photographs. Crowds of tourists come here only to take an unusual shot for a page on the social network.

Here you can become a full participant in the picture plot by choosing the right angle. The paintings in the museum are placed in accordance with the rules of perspective to create the maximum effect of immersion in the story.

The museum's collection includes more than 130 paintings, divided by themes: Egypt, Venice, cinema, nature, waterfalls, etc.

Entrance fee: 300 baht, for children - 200 baht.

University

Chiang Mai University is a place for a pleasant, relaxing and inexpensive vacation. Despite the fact that you will have to overcome a special checkpoint to pass, tourists are very willing to visit the university campus.

On the vast territory owned by the university, you can find attractions such as a swimming pool (accessible, by the way, to anyone who wants to swim), a Buddha temple, where students spend time before exams in the hope that this will help them successfully overcome the test, a small market with a souvenir products, as well as many canteens, libraries and classrooms-studios.

If you are very lucky, you can attend one of the classes in art classrooms or even act as a sitter (one of the students will definitely give you their work).

You can eat on campus. The cost of lunch in student canteens is lower than in ordinary cafes and restaurants in the city. You can eat well by spending only 20 baht.

Everything on campus is designed to make students feel comfortable. For example, several free buses run through its territory. Everyone can get to the place he needs in just 10-15 minutes without any additional expenses.

State National Museum

The Chiang Mai State Museum has been in existence since 1973. Its main goal is to acquaint visitors and local residents with the history of the Lanna kingdom. The most important stages in the life of the kingdom are collected here, the path of its formation is shown.

All information is divided into 5 topics:

1. story;
2. trade and economy;
3. art;
4. old Chiang Mai;
5. Modern Chiang Mai.

The Lanna Kingdom existed during the Middle Ages and occupied almost the entire northern part of Thailand. Even then, Chiang Mai was considered its center - the capital. That is why here special attention is paid to the medieval period, since the Lanna are directly connected with Chiang Mai.

Museum displays are equipped with information boards in Thai and English. Every tourist who speaks English will be able to get acquainted with the history of the kingdom.

A visit to the museum will cost you only 30 baht. Before you go on a tour of its exhibition pavilions, make sure the museum is open.

The working days of the State Museum are from Wednesday to Sunday (09:00 - 12:00 and 13:00-16:00). Monday, Tuesday and holidays are days off.

Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is not exactly a landmark, but a very important point in the route of every tourist. This place is unique in that it is here that the borders between 3 states are erased: Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma).

The Golden Triangle is famous for its troublesome past. Previously, this place was an opium sanctuary. It was here that the opium gates of Thailand were located, through which huge quantities of illegal goods arrived, and it was here that the opium plantations were located.

At the end of the last millennium, the Thai authorities clearly decided to deal with this situation and the territory was completely cleared of illegal activities. Today, only two opium museums located on the banks of the Mekong River remind of the not very presentable past of this place.

You should come here for several reasons:

Phae Gate

Phae Gate is Chiang Mai's oldest landmark. Their story begins from the time when the rule of the country lay on the shoulders of King Mengrai.

Literally, the name of the gate is translated as "landing raft". In ancient times, the city was completely surrounded by a huge moat with water and it was possible to get into its territory only by passing these gates, swimming across the moat on a raft.

As a result of multiple raids and wars, the gate was gradually destroyed and for a long time was in disrepair until it was reconstructed from photographs of the 1870s in the early 90s. The bamboo drawbridge was replaced with a modern red brick and stone causeway.

Now crowds of travelers come here to look at the impressive red wall with a dam, which has witnessed many historical events. Among today's youth, this is a very popular location, since the gate is a passage to the central city square, where many entertainment events are held, markets and shopping pavilions work.

Farm of flowers and insects

On the outskirts of the city, there is another wonderful place - an orchid and butterfly farm. The whole territory is divided into three compartments:

• flower zone;
• aviary for butterflies;
• trading area.

Visitors can not only see enough of the well-groomed flowers of a plantation of orchids blooming in all colors of the rainbow, but also visit an aviary with incredible beauty butterflies. Of course, they are not as rare and impressive as on a butterfly farm in Phuket, but they also deserve attention.

The farm is open to the public daily, seven days a week, from 9:00 to 17:30. At the same time, a trading zone operates on its territory, where for a small amount you can become a happy owner of orchids in pots, hand-painted silk scarves and other handicrafts with the symbols of the farm.

More about Chiang Mai - in the release of the program "Heads and Tails":

Chiang Mai is not the same Thailand, with unbridled entertainment and gentle sea, this is an opportunity to touch the culture of the country!

Chiang Mai is located in northern Thailand, close to the border with Laos and Burma. It is the second largest city in the country after Bangkok.

If in Russia St. Petersburg is called the cultural capital, then in Thailand Chiang Mai is such - this is evidenced not only by numerous royal temples, parks and residences, but also by constant festivals, exhibitions and similar cultural events and events.

There is no sea here, and therefore Chiang Mai is much less popular among tourists compared to other regions of Thailand. But for those for whom the presence of the sea is not a determining factor when choosing a place of residence, Chiang Mai does not leave indifferent. We came to Chiang Mai for the second time, and again only for 1 month, but if it were not for the well-thought-out further plans and purchased tickets, we would most likely have stayed here for 3-4 months. Why? Read on.

One of the most significant advantages of Chiang Mai for us is the climate, it is much milder here than in the southern part of Thailand. It may seem strange to those who are reading this article now, looking out the window at a snow blizzard, but the constant heat is very tiring. Here, now, the weather is just perfect, in our opinion - I don’t know exactly how many degrees, probably somewhere around 27-28 during the day, about 20 in the morning and evening, and 16-18 at night, breathing is just fine.

In general, we both love freshness - if possible, we open all the windows wide open, and if it's hot outside, we turn on the air conditioner. When we visited St. Petersburg last fall, our parents couldn’t get used to the heating, which makes the apartment very stuffy - it was easier for us to put on sweaters and open the windows so that there was a constant flow of fresh air. So in Chiang Mai now - what you need in this regard. We don’t even turn on the air conditioner during the day, although when we were looking for housing, this item would be mandatory for us.

And yet, Chiang Mai is located on a hill, among small mountains, and there is no such humidity as in coastal cities and, moreover, on the islands - calmer for equipment that, in conditions of high humidity, has the unpleasant property of becoming moldy.

2. People

In Chiang Mai there is a prestigious university, offices of many IT companies. European, Australian, American, and Russian expats who come here to live are focused more on working in comfortable conditions than idleness in the tropics. So here, there is much less of this rastaman public that smokes weed and plays drums on the beach all day long.

Of course, you meet different people, IT people also have their own specifics, but in general, we can say that the intelligentsia lives here to a greater extent, in the good sense of the word

3. Infrastructure

Chiang Mai is not the capital, so there is no hustle and bustle here, as in Bangkok. We have already spoken out more than once about our dislike for the Thai capital.

With all our tolerance and striving to find pluses in everything, somehow Bangkok does not cling to us, no matter how hard we try to love it. It’s not that there was some kind of disgust for him, no, just, for example, it’s not a city, but a dream, and it’s just a great city, and Ho Chi Minh City is not bad, but for some reason I don’t like Bangkok, we don’t understand why so many people love it.

The shops

So, in Chiang Mai there are no shortcomings of the capital, but at the same time it is a large city, and, accordingly, the infrastructure is well developed here. There are shops and hypermarkets for every taste (including Makro with cheese and chocolate), shopping centers with cinemas,.

There are also specialized stores, including those with photographic equipment. Prices, however, are a little higher than in Bangkok, as it seemed to me, and now is not the best time for buying equipment, but nonetheless. When I needed to change the polarizer (filter), I could not buy it.

Cafes and restaurants

The city has a huge number of cafes, restaurants and coffee houses, and for any budget, from Thai small-town eateries to pretentious and themed restaurants

Coffee houses, by the way, are especially popular here. We now live 4 kilometers from the center, there are, in principle, not so many foreigners here, and there are at least 5 coffee shops in the area, and Thais constantly hang out there. Well, the prices cannot but rejoice - a good cappuccino from 40-50 baht ($ 1.3-1.5).

Medicine

There are several excellent European-level hospitals in Chiang Mai, as well as good Thai hospitals (we wrote a little about this in an article about).

Although, by the way, everything is fine with this in Thailand, there are large hospitals almost everywhere, even on the islands (Phuket,), with the exception of, perhaps, very small islands, like, Koh Chang, etc.

Distant work

Co-working spaces are also popular in Chiang Mai. We work from home, so this doesn’t really concern us, but for one reason or another, it’s more convenient for many to work in specially equipped places where there are desktops, good Internet, a snack bar, coffee, etc.

True, working in such a place may not always be safe - in the summer, one of these coworking spaces was raided by representatives of the immigration office, due to suspicion of illegal work. Then, however, they kind of let everyone go, they didn’t think something there, they took this place for some kind of hangout, but the sediment, as they say, remained.

By the way, the issue of remote work in Thailand is not fully understood. On the one hand, it is forbidden to work here without a work visa. On the other hand, for an employer who is located in another country, it seems to be not a violation - and just directly Chiang Mai immigration made an official explanation confirming this hypothesis. But at the same time, this explanation is not the ultimate truth, so this moment can be interpreted in different ways.

Services

The service sector in the city is excellently developed in every sense - there is a huge selection of hairdressers, beauty salons and massage parlors with a variety of types of massage at reasonable prices.

There are even a couple of centers where blind people massage (they are famous for their skill) - this is the kind of activity that allows them to earn a living, despite their illness.

We were on such a massage - it's a gesture, friends. In ordinary salons, we always ask you to do it harder, because the masseuses very often hack and do it halfway, but here we almost died!

Those. they do everything right and very well, it’s clear that it’s useful, but still, it hurts a lot, so we don’t dare to go again)) But it’s definitely worth trying at least once, we recommend.

Housing

Chiang Mai has a very good selection of housing options, from simple rooms for $150 per month to multi-room houses for $1000-2000 per month and more. Studios and 1-2 apartments in condominiums are very popular, including those with a swimming pool and fitness on site.

Moreover, you can live in a city - in a busy or quiet area, in the center or on the outskirts, in a 20 or 3-storey building, or even in a detached house with its own green area or on the territory of a guarded village, also with all amenities.

We now live in a 19-story condominium, in a studio apartment on the 17th floor, with this view from the window

Balloons, of course, do not fly constantly, but only a few days a year, but the view is still not bad. True, there is a large road under the windows, and because of this, in the apartment, even though it is located so high, it is still quite noisy.

But the building has its own swimming pool, so we go swimming almost every day - it's very convenient, it's a pity the fitness center is under repair.

For an apartment with an area of ​​46 sq.m, "full furnitured", i.e. with furniture and a fully equipped kitchen (there is a microwave, and 2 multicookers, and an electric stove, with all sorts of fancy features), we pay 8,500 baht + internet (350 baht / month) + water and electricity.

In principle, this is a pretty good option, and if not for the noise, it would be ideal in general. We were offered an apartment with windows on the other side, it is most likely much quieter there. But it already costs 14,000 (although there is also newer furniture). Previously, we probably would have chosen it, but now, paying almost 30,000 rubles for an apartment somehow didn’t raise a hand =)

4. Transport connection

Despite the fact that Chiang Mai is far from the central part of Thailand, intercity transport links are well developed here - there are bus terminals and a railway station and an international airport.

For example, we're flying right out of here. Well, more precisely, we fly from here, and besides this, there are many direct flights to Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Macau, not to mention domestic flights to (Bangkok, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Phuket).

So, the sea is not so far from here - only $70 and two hours of flight 🙂 By the way, you can find a good flight here.

The only thing that is significantly worse developed here than in Bangkok is public transport. Its role here is played by songteos (covered pickups), which, in principle, travel along certain routes, but the drivers do not always speak English, and periodically strive to offer the farangs (us, that is), their services as a personal taxi.

You can probably get used to this if you live longer, but we generally don’t use public transport, we usually ride a motorbike everywhere.

5. Leisure

With the organization of leisure in Chiang Mai, everything is also fine. The center, also known as the old city, the so-called "square", surrounded by a canal and the remains of a fortress wall, is quite compact, 2x2 km, you can walk around the whole if you wish.

Inside - the old city with temples and palaces,

restaurants, hotels and guesthouses for tourists with any income - from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels.

Behind the square there are many green areas, parks with lakes, flowers, fountains. Also very picturesque surroundings - national parks, waterfalls, mountains.

For example, I like the temple of Doi Suthep, it is very close to the city, at the foot there is a national park with waterfalls, but from the temple itself, from the observation deck, there is an excellent view of the city if there is no fog and haze))

Also, some people go to Chiang Mai for enlightenment, both spiritually and materially. There are yoga training centers here, meditation can be learned in the same Doi Suthep,

or go to the Dharma center and walk (the center is an hour's drive from Chiang Mai) - we just took the course there for the second time.

You can also learn different massage techniques, there are a dozen massage schools here, each with its own concept, but in general, the technique from northern Thailand is highly valued among massage therapists.

There is a place to turn around and sports fans. There are several stadiums in Chiang Mai, on the territory of one of them there is an excellent 50-meter open-air swimming pool. Just the other day, annual running competitions were held - you could run a marathon, half marathon or 10 km.

And, of course, there is entertainment for every taste - culinary master classes, walks along the river, excursions on segways, in one of the shopping malls there is even an ice skating rink))

Chiang Mai is also famous for its huge zoo - we walked around it for a couple of hours, and then we managed to see only a third, probably 🙂 Some animals can be fed, and some just watch

Pandas are of the greatest interest to everyone - these funny little animals are far from being in every zoo, so many people look here just for their sake.

There are also enough entertainments in the vicinity of the city - elephant riding and bathing, rafting, kayaking, eco-tourism, extreme parks in the jungle, etc.

And if we are just going to go to the cinema and the skating rink, then we have already managed to spend a day in the extreme park in the jungle. Read about how we rode all kinds of zipping and met wild gibbons in the forest in the next article 🙂

Also, Chiang Mai is the starting point to the charming village of Pai and the city of Chiang Rai, with its famous White Temple. We were both there and there, someday we will tell, so stay with us!

In all of Thailand, two places we love the most are Koh Phangan and Chiang Mai. What are your favorite places in Thailand?

Or maybe not in Thailand, but in other countries 🙂 Share in the comments!

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

Chiang Mai was founded by the king of Lanna 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 - Thapae Gate - remain. Inside this fortress wall - a square - the old city is located.

Although Chiang Mai has no access to the sea, hundreds of tourists from all over the world come here every goal, because there is something to see in Chiang Mai and the surrounding area. There are about 300 Buddhist temples in the city and its environs, the winter residence of the Royal Family, and 100 km from Chiang Mai is the highest mountain in Thailand - 2565 m above sea level.

The climate in Chiang Mai differs significantly from the climate in Bangkok and southern Thailand. In winter (November - February) in Chiang Mai, the weather is dry, it is 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 summer (from May to August) in the North of Thailand, the rainy season . Rains can go on for several days and flood the roads so that it becomes impossible to travel on the roads in many cities.

How to get to Chiang Mai

1. By plane. Low-cost airlines fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai - AirAsia, NokAir. Flights depart from the old airport of Bangkok - Dong Muang. The cost of a plane ticket is about 2,000 baht ($ 70), but if you take a ticket in advance for a promotion, you can buy a ticket for 600-900 baht ($ 20-30).

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

You can also get to Chiang Mai directly from - the flight is operated by Bangkok Airways, one flight per day, the ticket price is from 4000 baht ($ 130).

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

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

3. By bus. Chiang Mai can be reached by bus from Bangkok's northern bus station MoChit. (Mo Chit). The ticket price depends on the bus class - 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. From urban transport, songtreos (minibuses) are popular here, the fare is 20-50 baht.

You can travel by taxi (taxi by meter, as in Bangkok, there is no 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). 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 the peak season. To find and book a hotel in Chiang Mai, I advise you to use the booking.com website 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 do not recommend living in the square itself if you are by car. The roads there are narrow, it is difficult to drive, and even more so to park a car.

The ideal location of the hotel in my opinion is between the old town square and the night market. 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 with tourists. The second time we failed to stop there.

What to see in Chiang Mai? Attractions Chiang Mai

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

Wat Phra Singh Temple

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. The temple was later destroyed.

To the detriment of our visit to Chedi Luang, there was a performance near it - Thai dances 😎

On the territory of Chedi Luang there is a club for communication with monks! Everyone can come and talk to the monks in English, ask them about life, ask any question of interest. We did not go to the monks, although Lesha really wanted to talk to them.

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

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

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

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

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 firefighter who saves a girl

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

Speaking of the sights of Ching Mai, it is impossible not to mention the markets of Chiang Mai. It is very popular with tourists, and with local residents and weekend markets: Sunday and Saturday market.

You can visit the winter residence of the king - 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 reached our destination 😥

One of the attractions of Chiang Mai is Royal flora Ratchaphruek- a magnificent garden of flowers. But we didn't get to go there.

If we talk about the sights around Chiang Mai, then there are a lot of them! In any travel agency of the city, and even in the hotel, you will be offered excursions around Chiang Mai for every taste: trips to waterfalls, to the village to the northern tribes, elephant riding, rafting and many other interesting tours.

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

In Mae Rome is located tiger nursery where you can touch a tiger cub and take a picture 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(villages of umbrellas). 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 did not look at the production of umbrellas.

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

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

Chiang Mai is also famous for its Thai massage. There are many salons in the city, where for 150-200 baht you will get a Thai massage or foot massage. But we were not lucky - 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 didn’t impress us 😥 At the San Kampaeng hot springs, the massage was much better.

If you are still thinking about going 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 another, less touristy Thailand.

It is considered the spiritual and religious center of the country.

It is immediately worth noting that there is no sea in Chiang Mai. But it is here that you can get acquainted with the customs and traditions.

Chiang Mai was founded as a walled city, the name of the city itself translates as "new city". The center and tourist gathering place is the so-called "square" - an area isolated by a dilapidated stone wall. Numerous temples located inside the "square" will help tourists understand Buddhist traditions. The infrastructure of Chiang Mai is well developed - it is a large city that has all the benefits of civilization.

In addition to cultural and historical monuments, Chiang Mai, like any other city in Northern Thailand, will be remembered for its unusually beautiful mountainous area. Here, as well as possible, you can feel the hospitality of the locals.

Tours in Chiang Mai

Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow

Daytime +31 °C

Weather

The weather of the northern regions of Thailand differs from the hot climate of the south of the country. During the winter months, from November to February, temperatures in Chiang Mai drop to 15°C and rain is rare during this time. From March to June, the air temperature is around 30° - 40°C, it becomes very humid, although there is not much precipitation at this time. From July to October, as a rule, it rains constantly.

It is always cold in the mountains of the northern cities, the temperature at any time of the year can be only 5 degrees above zero. When going to the mountains, do not forget to take warm clothes with you. Unfortunately, the city experiences high levels of smoke, especially from January to March. At this time, rice fields are burned, so the whole of Northern Thailand smells of burning.

Hotels

The cluster of hotels is located inside and next to the "square" - the center of Chiang Mai. City center hotels, as a rule, are located close to each other, so the view from the room window may be on a neighboring building, and not on the picturesque mountains. In general, accommodation in Chiang Mai can be described as modest and at low prices. Although here you can find comfortable hotels with large rooms and all amenities.

Attractions and entertainment

Chiang Mai is the center of excursion tourism. Dozens of mountain tribes live in its vicinity, including the famous Karen, who decorate the necks of women with rings.

You can take a trip to a tribal village, go on a mountain hike or just explore the temples, of which there are more than 300 in Chiang Mai. Inside the ancient city walls of Chiang Mai are beautiful temples and stupas. The famous temple of Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is striking in its beauty. According to legend, the place for the construction of the temple was chosen by an elephant loaded with sacred relics - the animal stopped and trumpeted, announcing the "decision". There are over 300 steps to get to the temple, but the view is worth it.

In addition to the temples, you can explore the gardens of the royal palace of Bhuping, and on the way look into the hill tribe village. There is a market near the village where you can buy authentic crafts or try a national dish. An excursion to the orchid farm or the elephant village will be interesting.

The most memorable national park near Chiang Mai is perhaps the Doi Inthanon National Park. Here you can visit the highest mountain in Thailand, the mark of which is 2565 meters above sea level.

The area around Chiang Mai is known for several natural hot springs. Thermal springs are located, as a rule, on the territory of the national park. Here you can take a walk, relax or get medical treatment by swimming in geysers with mineral water.

Animal lovers will be delighted with visiting the Night Safari. Here you can drive through a huge green area inhabited by zebras, giraffes, hippos, ostriches, monkeys, lions, tigers and many other animals. Most of all, it is the feeding of the inhabitants from the hands that will be remembered. The territory of the huge Chiang Mai Zoo is difficult to pass in a day. A huge number of animals, birds and insects live here in comfortable conditions. Near the enclosure where pandas live, you can stand watching such cute animals for more than an hour. Also here you can see a huge number of monkeys, tigers and lions, koalas, penguins, giraffes, roe deer and other inhabitants.

Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate rafting on the Me Teng River and rock climbing on Mount Crazy Horse (a huge monolith 60 m high). There are more than 130 routes.

In Chiang Mai, you can learn how to cook Thai dishes by visiting a culinary school. In a few hours, the masters of local cuisine will teach you how to cook Tom Kha, Tom Yam, Pad Thai or other Thai delicacy.

Chiang Mai is also called the "Rose of the North" for the Flower Festival, which takes place on the first weekend of February. The streets of the city are filled with flowers, festive processions, folk festivals take place, the atmosphere of general fun reigns.

The second interesting festival, Loi Krathong, takes place in November - among the events are the lowering of flower wreaths, festive processions, a parade of platforms and a real belly festival. At night, thousands of paper lanterns fly into the sky.

From Chiang Mai it is convenient to get to other cities in northern Thailand. You can use public transport services or go on your own journey in a rented car. Do not forget to be as careful as possible - in addition to the mass of impressions from visiting fabulously beautiful places, the difficulties of moving through mountainous areas await you. From Chiang Mai you can get to the city of Pai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai and other equally interesting places in Thailand.

Kitchen

Inside the city there are many cafes offering Thai, Chinese, Indian cuisine. Finding restaurants with European cuisine is more difficult, but there are still a lot of such establishments in Chiang Mai. Restaurant menus are usually in Thai and English. The low cost of breakfast, lunch or dinner will pleasantly surprise you.

Transport

You can get to Chiang Mai by plane, train or bus. The airport, located in the city center, is the second largest after Suvarnabhumi, receiving flights to Bangkok. Inside the city, and especially in the center, unfortunately, traffic jams are almost always observed.

It is most convenient to move inside Chiang Mai on a songteo (a truck equipped for transporting passengers), which can be seen literally at every turn. The route of the songteo is determined by the driver, depending on the stops required by the passengers. In Chiang Mai, you can ride a tricycle or even use the services of a rickshaw. Other transportation options are sedan taxis or motorbike taxis. Also in Chiang Mai you can rent a car, motorbike or bicycle.

shopping

Chiang Mai is famous for its night market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Here, at low prices, you can buy various souvenirs and decor items created by local residents. Northern Thailand and especially Chiang Mai are famous for their interesting handicrafts: clothes and shoes, souvenirs, toys, umbrellas, etc. If you can't get to the night market, don't despair. You can see and buy interesting and unique handmade souvenirs in small shops located in Chiang Mai literally at every step. Interestingly, here you can watch the process of creating masterpieces of local residents.

We have prepared a super list for you, which includes the sights of Chiang Mai and its surroundings, the best places and activities worth visiting. Most of them are free or not that expensive. Follow the links for more detailed information.

Chiang Mai Attractions and Interesting Events

1. Trip/hike to Doi Suthep mountain. Thousands of people flock to the mountain during the pilgrimage in May to walk from the university gate to the temple. You can go with them or make your own way. However, you can climb the mountain on a rented bike or songteo and explore deeper.

Sunrise at Doi Suthep National Park - Pui

2. Sign up for a meditation course at the temple. It is located on the outskirts of the city near the university. You can stay for as many days as you want - food and shelter will be provided free of charge. True, you need to make a donation at the end of the course.

3. Chiang Mai temple tour. There are many temples in the old city square, and you can arrange a tour of them for the whole day! .

One of the temples of Chiang Mai

4. Visit the waterfalls, which are many in the vicinity of Chiang Mai. For example, the Huay Kaew Waterfall next to the zoo.

5. Take a walk on the lake on a bike or bike. This is a favorite vacation spot for locals at the foot of the mountains with cafes near the water. Only 20 baht for entry.

6. Listen to live music. In the Northgate Jazz cafe, which is at the north gate of the old city, cool musicians often play, all the time different and different music, not just jazz. People even stand on the road and on the opposite lawn - the place is popular!

7. Take a short meditation course. They are held at Wat Sri Gerd in the center every Monday at 3:00 am for a couple of hours.

8. Eat at a Hindu temple. Every Tuesday at 6 pm, a special ceremony is held at the Devi Mandir temple, after which there is free food))

9. Go to the market for groceries. You can come to the largest food market, where all restaurants buy provisions and buy mangoes for 20 baht per kilogram! Large selection of fruits, vegetables, seafood, spices and everything. .

Muang Mai Market

10. Wander around the university. There are several universities in the city, but the largest and most famous is Chiang Mai Univercity, located in a vast area with a park and a lake.

11. Relax in the park at the southwest corner of the square. Here in the mornings people do gymnastics and yoga, and someone runs. You can work out on the outdoor fitness equipment.

12. Sing on the Open Mic. Sangdee Gallery Srimankalgarn Soi 5 hosts an open mic for everyone to sing on Thursdays starting at 8pm.

13. Attend a Buddhist holiday. They are celebrated according to the lunar calendar, so every year on different dates. The main celebrations take place in the central temples of Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang.

14. Freeze in Thai Switzerland. In Doi in winter, the temperature drops to zero, but what mountains and views! Visit the botanical garden there and spend the night in a house overlooking the mountains.

Road to Doi Ang Khang

Tham Lod Cave

20. Dance. Come to one of the parties at Zoe in yellow club. There are also free salsa classes starting at 8:30 pm every Tuesday and Thursday.

21. Look at the monks in the morning. Around 6 am they start to walk around the city and collect alms and food.

22. Visit the Saturday and Sunday walking streets. A lot of people, a lot of goods for every taste and color, including handicrafts and souvenirs.

23. Be scared of the explosions of firecrackers at the festival and Yi Peng. They take place at the end of November and are celebrated on a grand scale: cratong boats are launched along the river, hundreds of sky lanterns soar into the sky, music, parades, fireworks and explosions of firecrackers are everywhere. And this goes on for 3-4 days!

Yi Peng Festival

24. Eat street food. After dark, whole food markets appear on the streets. For example, at the northern gate of the old city or on Saturday or Sunday street.

25. Look at the work of artisans in the village of Baan Tawai. You may even want to buy yourself something from wood carvings or other folk art products.

26. Volunteering. Try yourself as a volunteer at one of the farms around Chiang Mai.

27. Try Thai tea. People from China live in and grow tea and coffee. There you can see and taste))

Small tea factory in Mae Salong

28. Stumble upon the ruins. Chiang Mai is an ancient city, and you can literally find the ruins of an ancient fortress in the middle of a residential area.

29. Hang at the Thapae Gate. In the evenings, a lot of people gather here, street musicians play, and other events are held. In addition, the gate is the center of the city and one of the attractions of Chiang Mai.

30. Learn more about local tribes. There are several villages of local tribes in the province, and the museum will help you get to know them better. Address: Ratchamangkla Chotana Road (Hwy 197)

31. Look with your own eyes at the famous. It is located near Chiang Rai, and although the entrance is paid, you will remember the spectacle!

White Temple

32. Meet the sunset with a view of the city. In Doi Suthep - Pui Park, you can spend the night in a tent, meeting the sunset and sunrise, and it's literally 25 km from Chiang Mai.

33. Go to . There are pandas here, as well as other exotic animals, even penguins (in the tropics!). Children will be happy!

Chiang Mai Zoo

34. Dotattoo. This is not just a tattoo, but a kind of blessing from a monk, better known as the magical Sak Yant tattoo. You can try to make it in the monastery in the village of Doi Saket. Ask in any salon about it.

35. Walk around and shop at the JJ market antiques. Here you can find anything - from furniture to photographs and interior items.

36. Float down the river from Thaton to Chiang Rai by boat downstream.

37. Get wet to the skin at Songkran. In the Thai New Year (in April), it is customary to pour yourself on the streets. Water madness!

38. . Travel to places where opium used to be grown and smuggled into neighboring countries. Located at the junction of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

39. Talk to the monks. In some temples (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Umong) there is an opportunity to talk with the monks and ask questions of interest. And they are not averse to practicing their English.

In one of the temples of Chiang Mai

40. Live like a local and relax. The whole atmosphere of this city relaxes and sets you in a leisurely mood. Contemplate sitting in the temple and breathing in the aroma of incense!

Here is the list! In fact, you can come up with as many more :-) What other sights of Chiang Mai do you know? Maybe there are some other interesting places and events worth seeing in the city and its environs?