Tips for backpacking Chiang Mai – ThailandI had heard about Chiang Mai, this land has long been the destination in list of many backpackers, it’s bring the peaceful, freshness and the most natural. No like the bustle full of noisely of Bangkok, Chiang Mai all quite the reverse. In this place, there a lot of motorbikes, of course not have the train. Simply just the rays of sun shone through the shady streets, on these sidewalk stalls or cafes. This really a great place to run aways from these noisy, stresses of the city’s life. On this place, I’m reminds to the peaceful places in Vietnam as Hoi An ancient town, Hue Imperial City. Yeah, I’m arriving Chiang Main to seek the simple things like it.

The time that I’m go backpacking Chiang Mai at the moment the Thai King just died. All entertainment activities, night clubs were limited or closed, while I just got over the long flu. Therefore, I think this trip should in slowly, living slow down, mainly experiences and recover the health. I decided to book a hostel which has good service a bit, much trees, there’s balcony, garden in order take a rest. However, when I’m come to here, the desire of wandering keep wake up, just want to go find out anywhere, any corners.

Best time to backpacking Chiang Mai

Have you ever seen images of launchs the sky lantern in Chiang Mai, that’s Loy Krathong festival. During the festival season, entire of city all in the new countenance, there a lot of lanterns, souvenirs, goods are sale everywhere. Hundred of sky lanterns were flying on the sky at full moon night. That’s a sight extremely splendid than anywhere! The festival held on November everyyear, but in order know correctly you should click here to see the specific schedule.

Beside, the best time to go backpacking Chiang Mai is on November to April next year. On this time, the weather is comfortable, there’re crowded tourists and price also increase than usual. You note that on August, September is the peak rain season in Northern Thailand, so easily meet the flood in some reagion nearby Chiang Mai.

Moving in Chiang Mai

Way to go from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Airplane: There a lot of Thais domestic airline fly on route of Bangkok – Chiang Mai as AirAsia, Nok Air, Lion Air… The cheapest price at 800 Bahts. I prefer Nok Air due to cheap price and get free 15 kg the checked baggage. When landed Chiang Mai airport, I’m going to centre city is quite easy because the distance so short, around 3km. Go by taxi cost about 150 Bahts if you registered right at the counter in the airport. However, if you go under group about 4 people and over and have a lot of baggage, you should choose Songthaew to contained more. Price of Songthaew about 75-100 Bahts / each person.

Go by bus: You should pre book through website https://12go.asia/en or http://www.busonlineticket.co.th/ and use credit card / paypal to make payment. Ticket price about 520-800 Baht, quality of buses are so good, there air conditioner, blanket, snacks and includes a main meal due to the time of moving is quite long (about 10h). You should go in the

night in order next morning arrived Chiang Mai, aim to save one night stays in hotels. In day, there a lot of buses run on this route.

In case you want to go from Bangkok to Chiang Mai: from Don Mueang airport you go by bus numbered A1 priced 30 at the gate of airport to arrive Mochit bus station. This bus station near Chatuchak market and not too far from the airport due to it located at the edge of city. The last trip goes to Chiang Mai on 21h40 daily. When arrived Chang Mai bus station, you catch songthaew (vehicles coloured red) go to hotel. Common price for songthaew from bus station to city centre about 60Baht / person

If you go from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, you catch tuk tuk/songthaew arrive Chiang Mai bus station. Tuk tuk here also like many places in Thailand, always charge high priced and seem they no need passenger. If you go backpacking under group, should bargain and choose go on the separate vehicle, but if you go on backpacking solo, should seek those who have the need aim to share the cost. Price for a group as 4 -5 person about 30-40Baht /each person depend on your destination.

Go by train: Going by train in Thailand also quite convenient, but it slower than go by bus. The Bangkok – Chiang Mai route if you go by train will take from 12-14h, you pre book ticket on 2 websites that I have mentioned above, or book directly through

http://www.thailandtrainticket.com, if you go in the peak festival season, should pre book ticket early, otherwise it would be sold outs.

The train station which go to Chiang Mai named Hualamphong, you go by Skytrain to Hualamphong would see the train station near the Skytrain stop. The train ticket is expensive than ticket bus, about 600-1100Baht. However, go by train will get more comfortable than bus because space is not narrowed, easy moving in each carriage.

Moving in centre of city

Centre of Chiang Mai, also as known as Old Town, if you see on the map, it is a square. You can easily go around city by taxi, tuk tuk or songthaew, motorbike. The cost go by taxi is expensive the most, next is tuk-tuk  and songthaew. Songthaew had been locals considered as as bus, you can catch in everywhere and go with the price almost fixed in each route. Besides, you can hire bicyle and ride around city, but the most convenient that you should hire a motorbike, self poured petrol and go wander everywhere.

The requirements to hire vehicles in many places that you need owns the driving license, can deposit money or leave passport. Price of hire motorbike in Chiang Mai is 200-300Baht / day depend each type of vehicle, if you hire within few days can deal to get better price. Just leaving the passport, the service owner will keep it safety.

Ride vehicle in Thailand must go on the left side therefore you should pay attention this. It’s important that when ride motorbike in Thailand, you should pay attention the police. I have met police up to 2 times. On the first due to use mobiles while riding on road, and second time that they requested stopping and check the driving license suddenly. Those who not have international driving license are all fined, seem the common level fine here around 400Baht \ times. Of course you must go to police station to pay a fine, not onsite.

My flight landed to Chiang Mai at 2h on afternoon. This airport is quite small so I quickly go out the lobby and come to parking zone of taxi and songthaew in order go to centre city. Looking around, I see one Lebanese tourist and a Chinese couple tourists are looking the way to catch taxi. So I quickly join in group to share taxi cost. The taxi drivers in Thailand look so tricky, and seem they often bully new tourists. A taxi driver guy offering price of 150B for 2 people, 3 people is 200B and 4 people is 250B. He not accep price for separate vehicle in 150B which can contain more person, and this taxi only stops at one  sole destination. After discuss awhile, we must approve the price that taxi driver guy offer. A seven-seater vehicle and going to the hotel of Chinese couple.

We arriving the hotel of these two Chinese backpackers, I was be shocked because it too far away my hostel. I’m ask a taxi drive guy at there, he offered the price of 200B, it’s really terrible! Seeing some songthaew are running on the road, I ask the price, wow only 40B. I bid farewells the Lebanese tourist, step in this vehicle. As such, total amount cost from airport to hotel is 100B. I suggested hotel staff call to company which for rent motorbike. They will ride motorbike to hotel to hand over me vehicle. The requirement is leave of passport and priced 250B/day. Seem a bit high compared the general price of many countries in South East Asian but

I must accept in temporary. About petrol, they had poures full before handed me, when I’m give back the motobike, it must be fulled of petrol too.

Hotel, hostel in Chiang Mai

In Chiang Mai, the most popular place still is the Old Town. Almost the whole the hotel, hostel are all concentrate there. Full of basic services, restaurants, bars and amusement places. This place also like the old town at Hanoi, also bustling and concentrating many sightseeing points. You recognize it very easy because it located within the square which outstanding at the city centre. In middle of the eastern wall has Thapae Gate, this also as another name of Old Town zone. Price of living cost in this old town among the highest in Chiang Mai, priced of single bed in the hostel  about 250-400Baht. Price of separate room in average about 600Baht and over.

Beside, you should refer other zones as:

Nimman Haemin:This is a neighborhood which located in west northern of city. There a lot of buildings and large commercial centres, also has a lot of appartments for rent. If you want to stay in long period from 1 month and over would get better price.

Riverside area: The Ping river runs along in North – South like the backbone of city, create the sight on the riverside so beautiful. This zone mainly the hotels or resorts quite luxurious. Sometime, you could find some resorts in this form with good price

Area nears the Night Bazaar night market: this zone located between Ping river and Old Town zone, price here are cheaper than Old Town a bit and also convenient for moving. At here, you can go into Old Town zone or go on the walking street and come to the night market within 10 minutes.

I stayed in @Box Hostel (booked through  Booking or Agoda), service are so good. This is a hostel that I had referred quite carefully, price also good. It in proximity to the centre but space is wide and very airy. Here has a small pool, many trees, therefore the air very pure as well as the way decorating of resting room, office, kitchen full of style. Staffs of Box Hostel very friendly, supports 24/24 and always willing to help you. If you want to hire motorbike, songthaew in order you want to arrive the airport or train station, just suggest, they’re would to help.

If you’re completely don’t worry about money, you definitely must come to The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai hotel. It’s the most luxurious hotel and under Thais style characterizedly. This hotel quite far away the centre however this is not the reason which you skiped it. The design style is a mixture of modern and classical, the campus is wide and a lot of services being available always ready to serves you.

Beside, for those loves the strange style, full of unique, should arrive Kaomai Lanna Resort . It was designed in style of closer to nature with the wooden houses full of rusticly and covered surround by creepers. The whole resort is a fresh green garden, the air so pure as the characteristics of Chiang Mai highland.

In order booking, you just visit websites as Booking or Agoda. If those go backpacking under group or families, can book through Agoda. There a lot of apartments are beautiful and comfortable. How to booking free on Agoda, please refer this post.

Eating in Chiang Mai

The most famous dish which you cannot miss while go backpacking Chiang Mai is Khao Soi. The most famous restaurant specialize in this dish is Khao Soi Khun Yai located near Old Town in the north. I come to this restaurant in a beautiful morning. It’s quite rustic and simple, only one chef and one waitress girl. This restaurant opens from 9h in morning to early afternoon.

Price of one portion here about 40-60Baht depends on accompanied dishes. In my opinion, this dish is easy to eat, not too good, like as Pho Kho (dried noodle) in Vietnam, you can choose eaten with chicken or beef. If you eating in some luxurious restaurants, you will have more options about accompanied dishes. You can refer some restaurants which serves Khao Soi such as Khao Soi Mae Sai, Kao Soy Nimman.

Foods in Chiang Mai also similar to Bangkok, there are Pad Thai, Tom Yum, some kind of noodles. You can visit some night markets as Night Bazaar or outside @Box Hostel which I

stayed. There also has a culinary zone in the night serves a lot of Thai foods quite bustly. Image below is a plate of fried seafood vermicelli. In common, the taste of Thai food quite tasty, spicy and sweet. I had eaten in the culinary zone nearby hotel. A plate of roasted duck noodle below, I eaten in the Chinese restaurant. This area within Old Town, includes a row of restaurants serves breakfast dishes.

Beside culinary, Chiang Mai also famous with the sidewalk cafes located on some street corners. Gently, peacefully, the great places for you enjoy the slow down life space. Let imagine you reads a book and sipping a coffee cup within a small cafe under the shady trees. Outside is the beautiful sky and slight sunny, it’s great, right? If you’re a photographer, it’s the perfect subjects! There no place for you enjoy the peaceful space than this place. The road before Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan pagoda there a lot of cafes or smoothies are quite good. Right at the gate of this pagoda also a stall serve mango sticky rice which very delicious.

Where to go, what to do in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is has a lot of options for you depend on the plan, times, and the desire of each person. Outside of Old Town, there many pagodas, eateries and sightseeing places. Chiang Mai also as a great place for you enjoying the pure air, visit the national park with the opulent vegetation. I would list some places for you refer:

Centre zone

The pagodas within Old Town such as Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phantao, Wat Chiang Man and Wat Phra Singh.

Night Bazaar night market and the walking street from here to Old Town

Living slowly down with cafes, art locations such as studio, pottery village, museum…

Suburb zone

Wat Doi Suthep and the long neck village Doi Inthanon national park, Grand Canyon.

Chiang Mai Zoo, Botanic Garden Chiang Mai

Nearby zone

The Pai town is freshly and peacefully Chiang Rai, White Pagoda and Golden Triangle zone

The Giant Chiangmai: cafe on the tree very unique

A lot of places to explore, so you should spend at least 5 days if planned go backpacking Chiang Mai. 3 days to explore around city, one day arrived Pai and one day in the tour of Chiang Rai. The good plan and most convenient is within 7 days and over in order to enjoy, explore much more.

The centre city zone

Old Town zone and those pagodas in Chiang Mai

Although I have goes backpacking Bangkok several times, visited a lot of pagodas. However, when arrived Chiang Mai, I was completely dazzled more by the dense density the pagodas here. There numberless pagodas in Chiang Mai, just go in a few steps, you will see a pagoda. Not a surprise much, we are standing on a Buddhist country at all. However, in a short trip, you just refer some pagodas such as:

1. Wat Chedi Luang:

This pagoda is very wide, a group includes many different small pagodas. Beside the golden pagoda, on the centre there a large tower, look like Maya Tower a bit or Shwe San Daw pagoda in Bagan.

Outside the gate of Wat Chedi Luang pagoda, there are quite a lot of nice cafes. You can come here on the noon or early the afternoon to avoid the burning sun. In additional, right at the gate of pagoda, there a stall sell mango sticky rice very delicious.

2. Wat Phantao:

Wat Pan Tao is a pagoda was built completely in wooden, located beside Wat Chedi Luang pagoda. The Pan Tao pagoda is smaller, but very unique, more tranquil a bit.

3. Wat Chiang Man:

As the antique pagoda which most famous in Chiang Mai, was built on 1292. Wat Chiang Man is the typical example of Lanna architectural style. The golden Chedi  tower was carved 15 elephants around. It’s image which attracted a lot of tourist visit. Beside, there also has the dome were decorated exquisitely and the patterns were carved inside. This is a pagoda very impressive.

4. Wat Phra Singh

This pagoda is extremely prominent with the patterns which designed exquisitely. Many pagodas within the campus was built extremely elaborately. All covered a layer of gleamed  golden, feels look like everything within it still new.

These pagodas are all located in Old Town so it quite near each other, you can easily move by the different vehicle types or even can walk. Beside visiting the pagodas, you can wander around Old Town zone, integrating into the life daily of locals here.

Take part in Loy Krathong festival:

This festival was held annually on December in the lunar calendar, i.e on November. The festival often lasting within 3 days and ended on the full moon, this is the large festival after only Songkran festival on New Year

Thais hold the festival to thank the Goddess of the Water. They use both the water lantern and the sky lantern too (Loy Krathong means water lantern in Thais language). There thousands of sky lanterns were launching from an area which concentrated a lot of people. Mainly it’s located on the grounds, the fields because this activity very easily caused the fire. It’s so impressive scene when you looking on the whole sky which twinkling by lights within the dark. People here call activity of launching the lantern in the seperate name is Yi Peng Lantern Ceremony.

The main area for you to take part in the festival is Mae Jo University. You should wear long clothes correctly. If you’re photographer and want to take the most beautiful images of festival, you should buy ticket at photographer precinct, priced ticket about 2000 baht or 100$. You should be arrived early in order have good position to watch the sky lantern. On 3h pm, here getting more crowded. Snacks and other services are all available there.

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Chiang Mai night market and walking road

Going backpacking Thailand, of course you should not to skip those local markets, where you can see clearly the living and cultural feature of locals. In Chiang Mai also too, there quite a lot of small markets within city, most famous among them as Night Bazaar – the night market located on the eastern the Old Town and near the Mae Ping river. This market includes 2 zones: indoor and outdoor which sale everything from clothes, souvenirs, electronic products.

The closer it gets to the night, the more bustle market gets. Around there a lot of restaurants, bars with many natives and tourists. This city has many walking roads connects the Old Town and night market. You would just keep wandering without feels boring because on both sides of the road there a lot of cafes, bars. Wander and watch everything also quite interesting.

InClay Studio

This is a pottery workshop located on Suthep street at Chiang Mai. Of course, at that place there was nothing but the pottery and hand-made art works. All had created a subject is highly artistic for the photos also as your experiences, right?

The suburb

Grand Canyon

This is a place which you must be arrived when backpacking Chiang Mai. It was discovered in few years ago. The sight extremely spectacular and wildly attract a lot of tourists. They arrived here to taking photo, swim and watch the sunset.

I ride motorbike arrive here at the middle of afternoon, there’s sunny but climate quite cooly. From the highway, I turn to a small road lead to Grand Canyon, the entrance ticket at here is 50 Baht. Almost tourists come here mainly to cliff jumping (jumped from of the walls surround the lake) and swimming in the lake. On the image, look it seemed small, however, in the fact it quite wide, and there one cafe within the precinct.

Baan Kang Wat

This place can be considered a village was highly artistic in Thailand. I heard about this place via one post from a blogger, after visiting Grand Canyon, on the way, I arrived here. There quite a lot of tourists, backpackers arriving here to seesightseeing, or sit in a cafe corner with the book to enjoy the free time, or self take part in a Yoga class, freely creativity on the paintings…

Visit Wat Doi Suthep pagoda and Long Neck Village

It is often said that if you’re not visit Doi Suthep pagoda, means that you not visit Chiang Mai yet. Legend has it that position of this pagoda is place that once upon a time when Thai King arrived here, the white elephant of the king suddenly stoped and shouting 3 times, resolved not to keep moving. The pagoda located on the top of the hill, when stand here, you can see the whole town, it’s distant Chiang Mai about 15km. Here you can see a lot of beautiful sight, the most prominent as the main temple, Bhubing palace, Botanical garden, and walking on 306 steps to approach the pagoda.

You can also visit the Long Neck Village located nearby. This is a village of people who have the long necked originated from Myanmar adjacent northern Thailand. You should sightsee and shooting natives here, it is a great experiences too.

Visit Doi Inthanon national park.

This is a large national park and quite far away Chiang Mai. This place as a living, concentrate place of many kinds of animals and plants and also the highest point in Thailand. Visit the national park, you can arrived some tourist atraction as Royal Chedis which built to honour the 60th birthday of the king and queen of Thailand.

This is a wideness area includes a lot of sightsee places as Wachiratharn Waterfall, Siritharn Waterfall, climbing to the highest point to watch the sunset is very great too. In order convenient and save the time, you should book the whole day tour to visit Doi Inthanon.

The Giant Chiang Mai cafe

This is a unique cafe in Chiang Mai, however, it’s quite far away the centre city. Ride in motorbike from Old Town to here it takes 80km and the road extremely hard to go, if you’re go backpacking under group, should hire vehicle. This cafe located a giant tree, there’s suspension bridge on the tree to sightsee and take part in the adventure game as Spelunking. Price of food, drink here quite expensive, beside the cafe service, here also has renting room.

Pai town

This is a small town located on Mae Hong Son region, on the northern west Thailand near Myanmar. This town is famous for the beauty from the peaceful, simply, everything’s all close. Every day, there quite many bus routes run between Pai and Chiang Mai, you can book through website or buy directly at bus station. The distance of 120km is quite far away, therefore the moving time about 3,5 – 4h. You can ride on the motorbike but I’m suggesting to you should take by bus because riding motor bike on the road is so far away and many bends. You should spend at least from 1-2 days to explore Pai.

Chiang Rai and Golden Triangle area

Chiang Rai is quite far to Chiang Mai, so if you want to explore Chiang Rai and the white pagoda, you should book the whole day tour. Bus will catch you right at the hotel and go to visit all places in Chiang Rai.

White pagoda – Wat Rong Khun is the pagoda very famous in Chiang Rai, the whole pagoda is mainly coloured the white and reflecting in the lake like as fairy tale. You should also visit the long neck village, a tribe which natives have the long necked due to wearing many golden bracelets.

The nightlife and bars

Going backpacking Thailand, whether from Bangkok, Krabi, Phukhet to Chiang Mai, you should also not missed the nightlife which full of bustle. In Chiang Mai, there many bars were designed under many different styles, they even use truck or van vehicle as a bar full of stylish.

There some bars which a lot of backpackers often arrived as backpackers’ Freedom Bar, some small pubs located in the edge on eastern of Old Town and Rooftop THC Bar. Let taken a beer and have a conversation with anyone you want, all people are all fun and open in the exciting air.

In general, in order feeling the peaceful in the life in Chiang Mai, sightseeing and explore the tourist places, you need at least one week. If you stayed longer, can refer the renting apartments or guesthouse for rent by the months, price will better. If you no have much time, a trip about 3-4 days is also fine.

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