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| This is a very basic guidebook. |
| The information in it was compiled from various reliable sources to serve as a quick reference for your journey. |
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| What's inside? |
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Looking forward to an affordable and enjoyable getaway to Chiang Mai? Let us help you with the plans. Our guidebook and its well-drawn maps will help you find the best places to visit, stay, eat and shop. It'll also give you tips on transport, tours, culture, festivals and the local language.
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| Help Save the Asian Elephant! |
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| Fund collecting in progress... |
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| The Asian or Asiatic elephant, is the largest living land animal in Asia. The species is found primarily in parts of South and Southeast Asia. A widely domesticated animal, Asian elephants are typically employed in forestry, harvests, traditional ceremonies and tourism. In the wild, they live in herds and follow well-defined seasonal migration routes that follow the monsoon seasons. Due to deforestation for agriculture, there is increasing conflict between Asian elephants and humans. This often results in elephants being killed because they have caused damage to crops and villages. Other than habitat loss and conflict with humans, the species is also threatened by poaching for the ivory trade. |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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| How can I pay for a guidebook? |
| We accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express (USA only) and Discover (USA only) via PayPal. Your transaction will appear as 'PAYPAL*A4TRIP' on your credit card statement. |
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| Help! Why can't I download the guidebook? |
| Don't worry, just get in touch with us and we'll deliver the guidebook right to your inbox. |
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| Just how often do you update your guidebooks? |
| We try to update our guidebooks at least once a month. |
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| Have more questions about a4trip? |
| Just Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you. |
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Chiang Mai, known as the 'Rose of the Nort', is the largest city in northern Thailand. Founded in the 13th century by King Mengrai on the banks of the Ping River, it has become a thriving modern city. Visitors typically arrive in the city via Chiang Mai International Airport. Once there, buses, trains, taxis, tuk tuks, cyclos (motorcycle taxis) and covered pick-up trucks called songthaew or seelor will take you where you need to go. Visitors also have the option of exploring the city by bicycle or on foot.
As a significant tourism hub, Chiang Mai boasts a great number of natural and man-made attractions. With some of the highest mountains in the country, its varied local terrain offers a range of outdoor activities that include: hiking, biking, jungle trekking, river rafting and kayaking. More placid pursuits can be found at the Elephant Nature Park, situated approximately 60 km from the city. It is home to about 30 rescued elephants and offers elephant rides, as well as opportunities for volunteers.
Chiang Mai also has over 300 Buddhist wats or temples, many of which date back to the 13th to 15th centuries. The most famous include: Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang. As a major cultural centre, the city has a number of notable museums, including: the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre, the Chiang Mai National Museum, the Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders, the Hilltribe Research Institute Museum and the Chiang Mai University Art Museum.
This historical city also plays host to several important Thai festivals. Loi Kratong, for example, is celebrated in honour of the Goddess of Water. Thais typically mark the occasion by releasing thousands of floral baskets into the river. In Chiang Mai, however, they go a step further by launching hundreds of hot air balloons into the night. Also celebrated annually are Songkran, the Thai New Year (celebrated in mid-April) and the Chiang Mai Flower Festival, held during the first weekend of February. The festivities often include an abundance of food, flowers, parades, cultural performances and even beauty contests.
A veritable shopper's haven, Chiang Mai has a Night Bazaar that sprawls along the sidewalks of Chang Khlan Road, Tha Phae Road, Si Donchai Road and beyond. Also highly popular are the Saturday Market at Wualai Road and Sunday Market along Rajdumnern Road, which offer excellent handmade items including: jewellery, silk textiles and woodcarvings, as well as Northern Thai food and snacks. If you do 'shop till you drop', make a beeline for a traditional Thai massage parlour, often located along the city's main thoroughfares. All types of lodging are available in Chiang Mai, from inexpensive guest-houses with little or no service, to high rise hotels and elaborate garden resorts.
Food lovers and aspiring cooks alike can truly 'savour' Chiang Mai, as it is a major focal point of Thai cuisine. Not only does it have a great number of restaurants and food stalls offering the best of authentic Thai food, but it is also home to over a dozen cooking schools, like: the Chiang Mai Kitchen Cooking School, Gap's School Of Thai Culinary Art and the Smart Cook Thai Cookery School.
Visas to Chiang Mai can be obtained at Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates at a cost of about USD25 for a single-entry tourist Visa (valid for 3 or 6 months). Tourist Visas will allow you to stay in Thailand for up to 30 or 60 days, which can be extended for an additional 30 days at an immigration office. Americans and nationals of some 40 other countries need not apply for a tourist visa for stays not exceeding 30 days.
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