Mae Hong Son Pro Province

  Daily flights into Mae Hong Son’s small airport bring growing numbers of tourists, attracted by the spectacular scenery, numerous hill tribe communities, and soft adventure opportunities.For those familiar with the name, Mae Hong Son conjures fantastic images of rugged, mist enshrouded mountains where isolated tribal villages await exploration. From the fascinating culture of the indigenous tribal communities to the spectacular natural beauty of the countryside, Mae Hong Son is certainly a dream-come-true destination for many visitors.Nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges, Mae Hong Son town has long been isolated from the outside world. Virtually covered with mist throughout the year, Mae Hong Son was once only accessible via harrowing, windy, narrow roads that took most of a day to traverse, an adventurous drive that made the town that much more alluring. The name of Mae Hong Son refers to the fact that its terrain is highly suitable for the training of elephants. In fact, former governors of Chiang Mai used to organize the rounding up of wild elephants which were then trained in Mae Hong Son before being sent to the capital for work. Elephants remain an important part of the local culture, and elephant trekking is a popular tourist activity, often combined with overnight hill tribe home stays and river rafting. Mae Hong Son is a fascinating province of Burmese and Lanna style temples, hot springs, hill tribe villages, trekking, rafting, national parks, and even an annual reggae festival. In addition to a charming capital in Mae Hong Son town, the town of Pai is also a traveler favorite; many people come to Mae Hong Son and Pai to experience the natural beauty of northern Thailand or witness one of the many festivals that are celebrated in Mae Hong Son, especially the annual novice ordination ceremony for young men declaring their intentions to become Buddhist monks.

Transport  From Bangkok

By Train One can travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by rail and then continue to Mae Hong Son by bus. For more information, call 1699, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th

By Car Mae Hong Son is located 924 kilometers from Bangkok. Drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and then choose the following routes from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son:

Route 108: 1864 curves along the route from Chiang Mai through Hot, Mae Sariang, and Khun Yuam to Mae Hong Son: a distance of 349 kilometers.

Route 1095: Chiang Mai - Mae Malai – Pai - Mae Hong Son: a somewhat straighter distance of 245 kilometers.

By Bus Muang Nuea Yan Yon Tour (Tel: (0 2936 3587-8) operates an air-conditioned bus which runs directly from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son every day. The bus departs from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) Bus Terminal at 6 p.m. The trip takes about 17 hours. 

By Air Thai Airways flies between Bangkok and Mae Hong Son daily. Reservation should be made in advance to guarantee a seat on the once daily flight as the flight connects in Chiang Mai where it picks up more passengers for the shorter, slightly less expensive leg of the trip. Contact Thai Airways at Tel: 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or call 1566 or visit www.thaiairways.com for current schedule.Getting Around Mae Hong SonAround Town: 

Mae Hong Song ‘city’ is a small town that can be explored on foot, though there are many tuk tuks for rides in and around the city. 

Getting Around

By Motorbike: 

Many of the guesthouses in provincial towns rent motorbikes for exploring the areas surrounding the towns, but visitors should be aware of the dangers of doing so. In addition to the occasional scam, foreigners are frequently involved in road accidents and Mae Hong Son features far more dangerous roads than it does first class medical facilities. If you must, ride carefully and wear both a helmet and closed-toed shoes. Motorbikes can be hired for 150-500 baht a day depending on size. 

By Bicycle:

Bicycles can be hired in the provincial capital and in Pai. Simple pushbikes are inexpensive; nicer mountain bikes are a bit more expensive, but better for tackling hills.

By Car:

A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for travel into the mountains, where not all roads are sealed. Drivers should exercise extreme caution and watch out for other drivers around blind corners as well as potholes and other adverse road conditions. It should also be noted that only Commercial First Class Insurance provides full coverage on rental cars (as opposed to limited personal or third party only insurance). Most international car rental agencies will offer this insurance (some only for those with a valid international driver’s license) while local companies may or may not. You may wish to request a copy of their insurance policy and ensure that it states "For Commercial Use". Regardless, inspect rental vehicles prior to rental and drive with caution, particularly as traffic in Thailand can be quite confusing, especially the habit of Thai motorcycles drivers to drive on the wrong side of the road.

By Foot:

If you wish to visit remote hill-tribe villages, the only way to get to many is on foot. It is best to hire the services of a knowledgeable guide who is familiar with the local weather, terrain, and language rather than try to set out into the wilderness on your own.

By Bus, Songtaew, and Motorbike Taxi:

Once in Mae Hong Son there are local busses, songtaews, and motorbike taxis for trips between provincial towns and to attractions outside of those towns. If you wish to check out a nearby hot spring or waterfall, a local bus or songtaew going in that direction won’t charge more than 10 or 20 baht per passenger to get you there, while motorbikes, which are the only method of getting to many attractions, will charge you several hundred baht for the convenience of guaranteeing you a ride back.

Lamphun Province

  An ancient city with a hospitable population famed for its beautiful women, Lamphun retains its old-world charm and draws visitors to its natural beauty.Lamphun, a small northern province sandwiched between Chiang Mai and Lampang has a long and storied history. Lamphun was founded as the city of Haripunjaya, a Mon kingdom-city, arguably part of the Dvaravati civilization, established in the ninth (perhaps seventh) century by former Buddhist monks from Lopburi. Haripunjaya was first ruled by Queen Camadevi, daughter of the king of Lopburi, who established a legacy for the province’s reputation for beautiful women. The kingdom she ruled over thrived for several centuries, exerting wide influence across the region, before King Meng Rai used subterfuge to conquer the town in late 12th century and integrate it into the Lan Na Kingdom based in nearby Chiang Mai.Today, Lamphun still retains the enchanting ambience of a small but old community, where life moves at a leisurely pace and remnants of the city’s fortifications remind visitors of the city’s proud history. Lamphun is some 670 kilometers from Bangkok and only 26 kilometers from Chiang Mai. Located on the banks of the Kuang River, Lamphun features a skyline made of temple spires and attractions across the province include ancient sites as well as forests, mountains, and lakes. Nearly a thousand years after subjugation by the Lanna Kingdom from Chiang Rai, Lamphun remains a fairly sleepy province, particularly in contrast to its more popular and populous neighbor, Chiang Mai. This is in fact Lamphun’s allure. The charming provincial capital retains its fortified, moat-enclosed old city where the local population lives a relatively slow-paced lifestyle. Visitors will enjoy visiting exquisite temples via bicycle or samlor, bicycle powered cabs, and exploring a lush countryside where various hill tribe communities live and a number of natural attractions, including as Doi Khun Than National Park, feature many exotic plants and wildlife.

Transport  From Bangkok

By Train  Trains leave Bangkok’s Hua Lumphong Railway Station every day for Chiang Mai, all of which make stops in Lamphun, 30 to 45 minutes away from Chiang Mai. Call 1690 for more information.


By CarFrom Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 to Nakhon Sawan via Sing Buri and Chai Nat, then turn into Highway No. 11 and proceed to Lamphun, a total distance of 670 kilometers.

From Chiang Mai simply drive south on either Highway No.11 or No.106 to Lamphun.

By Bus  Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned busses depart daily from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to Lamphun. Traveling time is about 9 hours. Call 0 2936 0852-66 or visit www.transport.co.th for more information. Indra Tour, a private bus company, also operates air-conditioned busses to Lamphun. Call 0 2208 0840 for information.


By AirVisitors can fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and then take a Chiang Mai-Lamphun bus that leaves Chiang Mai’s Chang Phueak Bus Station every 15 minutes. Traveling time from Chiang Mai to Lamphun is 45 minutes.



Getting Around 

Getting Around Lamphun As in most rural Thai provinces there are typically songtaews that follow established routes around the provincial capital and local busses and songtaews for trips between towns within the province. Songtaews, motorbike taxis, and samlors (three wheeled pedal powered cabs) are usually available for private charter as well. 
To Mae Ping National Park:


By Car:
From Lamphun take road number 1087 (Li-Ko) along which the park headquarters is located between kilometers 20 and 21. 

By Ship: 

As the Ping River flows through the park, visitors can take a boat from Doi Tao Reservoir, Chiang Mai province to Bhumipol Dam in Tak Province and then onto Doi Tao Reservoir

Phrae Province

The former center of Thailand’s teak industry, Phrae features many old teak mansions as well as protected forests ideal for hiking and spotting exotic wildlife.An old and important community of Northern Thailand, Phrae was founded after Chiang Mai had been established as the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom. Phrae contains one of the largest reserves of teak forests in the country and is located on the banks of the Yom River, 555 kilometers north of Bangkok Like Chiang Mai, Phrae retained its fortified old city, while the new city grew around it. While the new city is charming enough, the old one contains sleepy alleyway lined with teak houses that are outstanding examples of traditional Thai architecture and a number of beautiful temples. Many of these immense teak mansions were constructed by European traders who were engaged in the teak trade back in the 19th century. In the surrounding province, there are several national parks, some remote hill tribe villages, and a number of stands of teak, which are now widely protected from loggers.Phrae is a province steeped in legend and that’s no surprise as the city was founded around the same time as the Lanna and Sukhothai Kingdoms nearly 800 years ago. Renowned for its vast teak forests, Phrae features a number of colonial style teak homes and mountainous forests including three national parks. There are a number of hill tribe communities in the countryside as well as villages where traditional handicrafts are produced. Those looking to expand their knowledge of the local culture can even spend some time at the local folklore museum or explore the quiet alleyways of the city’s old town, where many old and beautiful temples and teak mansions can be found.

Transport  From Bangkok

By Car From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 11 to Phrae via Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Phitsanulok and Uttaradit.

By BusThe Transport Co. Ltd. operates regular busses to Phrae at 10 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. The busses leave Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) everyday. For more information, call 0 2936 2852-66 or visit www.transport.co.th. Private bus companies also servicing Phrae include Choet Chai Tour (Tel: 0 2936 0199), Phrae Tour (Tel: 0 2936 3720), and Sombat Tour (Tel: 0 2936 2496).

By AirNok Air International operate seasonal flight between Bangkok and Phrae. The trip takes 40-45 minutes. For more information, contact Call Center 1318 International Call +662-900-9955 or visit www.nokair.com




Getting Around 


Phrae As in most rural Thai provinces there are typically songtaews that follow established routes around the provincial capital and local busses and songtaews for trips between towns within the province. Songtaews, motorbike taxis, and samlors (three wheeled pedal powered cabs) are usually available for private charter as well.

Lampang Province

The charming city of horse drawn carriages and province with the king’s stable of white elephants at the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center.Most visitors simply visit Lampang to see the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center, bypassing Lampang town on their way to Chiang Mai and provinces farther north. However, while the elephant center is certainly a must-see attraction, those willing to spend some time in the provincial capital are generally surprised by the charming and somewhat unusual town and province of Lampang.Famous for its horse-drawn carriages and sporting a rooster on its provincial emblem (the bird also honored with a large statue in the center of town), Lampang boasts a long history of human settlements within the Wang River basin, some of which date back more than 1,000 years. Lampang is rich in archaeological evidence from the kingdoms of Hariphunchai, Lanna, and Burma. The horse and carriage, a mode of local transportation that has survived the introduction of automobiles to Lampang, is a fun way to explore the surprisingly large town, which features a number of beautiful old temples. The rooster statue, which you are likely to pass along the way, is a much older symbol of Lampang, dating back to the city’s former name, Kukutthanakorn, or City of Roosters, a name that was derived from a local legend about a white rooster that was sent by the Brahmin God Indra to wake the local inhabitants so they could give alms to the Lord Buddha, who was purportedly visiting the town. On the road from Lampang to Chiang Mai is the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center, the oldest and only government sponsored elephant center in Thailand, where the King’s white elephants are housed, visitors can learn about elephants, and elephant demonstrations are regularly performed.Lampang city is the capital of the province of the same name, a city that features horse drawn carriages, relaxing riverside bars and restaurants, a number of spectacular Buddhist temples, and a friendly, laid-back local population. Just outside of the city, on the road to Chiang Mai, the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center is one of the premier venues for visitors to learn about elephants and watch elephant demonstrations.

Transport  From Bangkok

By Train 
Regular trains depart from Bangkok's Hua Lumphong Railway Station to Lampang daily. Call 1690 or visit www.railway.co.th for more information.

From Chiang Mai, all trains heading south stop in Lampang, a 2 to 2 ½ hour ride depending on the class of train.

To get to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center is quite easy from Lampang town or Chiang Mai as it is located along Highway No.11 between the two cities. For detailed information from either location visit the FAQ page at the TECC: http://www.changthai.com/knowledge/article/how-to-get-to-thai-elephant-conservation-center

By Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 32 to Nakhon Sawan via Sing Buri and Chai Nat, and then turn into Highway No. 1 again to go to Lampang via Kamphaeng Phet and Tak, a total distance of 599 kilometers.

From Chiang Mai, Lampang is a short drive, about 1 ½ hours southeast along Highway No. 11.

By Bus
The Transport Co. Ltd. operates both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned busses to Lampang. Buses leave Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) daily. 

Several private busses also provide bus service, including Wiriya Tour,

Tel: 0 2936 2827 and New Wiriya Tour Tel: 0 2936 2205-6.

By Air
Bangkok Airway has flights from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Lampang. For schedule or bookings contact 0 2270 6699 www.bangkokair.com - Solar Air contact 02-535-2455-6 www.solarair.co.th

Getting Around

Getting Around LampangHorse drawn carriages are available by the hour for sightseeing journeys around Lampang Town. As in most rural Thai provinces there are typically songtaews, tuk tuks, and motorbike taxis available for getting around.

Chang Rai Province

The quieter neighbor of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is a land of outstanding natural beauty, where visitors looking to avoid the hordes can visit remote hill tribes, spot exotic wildlife, and check out the golden triangle, the former center of the world’s opium trade. Chiang Rai has been inhabited since the 7th century, but it was not until 1262 that King Meng Rai established it as the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom. The capital was later relocated to Chiang Mai and since that time Chiang Rai has lived in the shadow of its neighboring province, though for tourists this is a good thing.Today, Chiang Rai is a traveler’s paradise, endowed with abundant natural attractions and antiquities. Attractions range from ruins of ancient settlements and Buddhist shrines to magnificent mountain scenery and hill tribe villages. For those interested in the natural side of Chiang Rai, jungle trekking is a magical experience; explore the mountains of the north along various hiking trails, many of which access the villages of diverse hill tribes groups, many of whom maintain their traditional lifestyles. Chiang Rai town, which tends to be a little more ‘laid back’ than its more popular neighbor, now competes with Chiang Mai as a tourist attraction and is fast becoming a popular escape for tourists wanting to leave their troubles behind.Chiang Rai, the former capital of the great Lanna Kingdom, is a fascinating province filled with cultural and natural wonders, including the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos, and Burma come together; an area that was once the hub of opium production, a trade that had much influence on cultural practices and lifestyles. Chiang Rai had stayed off the tourist radar for many years, its people enjoying very leisurely development and mostly traditional, rural lifestyles. Until this day, entire clans live together in bamboo houses and each village has its own individual character. Recently tourism has boomed in Chiang Rai, where visitors have come to explore the pristine natural beauty of the countryside and immerse themselves in the indigenous culture, including those of a variety of different hill tribe communities. Fortunately for tourists, Chiang Rai is also a center for community development projects, helping rural villagers develop their attractions without adversely affecting their natural and cultural assets.

Chiang Rai has replaced Chiang Mai to some degree as a chill-out place. The two cities are almost the same age, but Chiang Rai's history is not as evident as Chiang Mai's. Still, there are several interesting places in the area, making Chiang Rai an excellent base for exploring the "golden triangle."


Mai Sai
The northern-most town in Thailand, right on the Burmese border. A small stream separates the two countries at this point. As one of the few official crossing points, the town is a good place to browse for Burmese goods such as jade, lacquerware, etc.


Chiang Saen
About 20 miles from Chiang Rai on the banks of the Maekong, this fourteenth century town still has some ruins of interest. There's a national museum here as well.

Transport  From Bangkok

By Train
There is no direct train to Chiang Rai. Visitors must take a train to Lampang (9 hrs. from Bangkok) or Chiang Mai (11 hrs.) and then take a bus to Chiang Rai. (2 hrs. from Lampang and 1.30 hrs. from Chiang Mai) For more details, call the State Railway of Thailand, 1690 (hotline), 0 2223 7010, or 0 2223 7020.

By Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin Road), to Highway No. 32 passing Ayutthaya, Angthong, and Singburi Provinces. Change over to Highway No. 11 passing Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, and Phrae Provinces then turn left to Highway No. 103, driving through to Ngao District where a right turn back onto Highway No. 1 will lead through Phayao to Chiang Rai Province. The total distance is 785 km. 

From Chiang Mai it’s a three hour drive to Chiang Rai if you follow the fastest route and avoid stopping at attractions along the way. Otherwise there are several routes one can take between the two cities, the most straightforward of which are: 

1.Take Highway No.107 north to Route No.109 and then Highway No.1 to Chiang Rai. 

2.Travel South to Lampang on Highway No.11 and then follow Highway No.1 North to Chiang Rai.

By Bus
From Bangkok, there are both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned bus services from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) on Kamphaengphet 2 Road. The journey may take from 9 to 11 hours, though there are overnight sleeper busses available that may make the time seem to pass more quickly. 

From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, air conditioned busses leave 12 times daily from Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal for the three hour, 182 kilometer ride. Some busses continue on to Mae Sai and Chiang Saen. 


By Air
Thai Airways and Thai AirAsia have daily flights connecting Bangkok with Chiang Rai. For more information, visit www.thaiairways.com or www.airasia.com 

From Chiang Mai, both Thai Airways and Nok Air have service to Chiang Mai, though Nok offers flights only a few day each week. www.thaiairways.com & www.nokair.com

Getting Around Chiang Rai

Getting around Chiang Rai town can be done on foot and by tuk-tuk or songthaew, although there are a few taxis if you need some air-conditioning or it happens to be raining.

To get into the countryside there are local busses and songtaews between rural towns, though exploring is likely more convenient in a rental car or motorbike. There are car rental agencies such as Budget and Avis in Chiang Rai as well as some more reasonably priced local agencies, including Northern Wheels. Be aware that only Commercial First Class Insurance provides full coverage on rental cars (as opposed to limited personal or third party only insurance). Most international car rental agencies will offer this insurance (some only for those with a valid international driver’s license) while local companies may or may not. You may wish to request a copy of their insurance policy and ensure that it states "For Commercial Use". Regardless, inspect rental vehicles prior to rental and drive with caution, particularly as traffic in Thailand can be quite confusing, especially the habit of Thai motorcycles drivers to drive on the wrong side of the road. If you are concerned, hire a car with a driver for a reasonably priced extra fee. 

For around 200 to 300 baht per day you can also hire your own motorbike, which will typically require you to leave your passport as a deposit. Be sure to inspect bikes prior to rental and drive with extreme caution as rental motorbikes are not normally insured and accidents are frequent. Helmets are required by Thai law.

Chang Mai Province

Chiang Mai, which in fact means "New City," celebrated its 700^th anniversary just a few years ago, in 1996. The city was founded as the capital of the kingdom of Lanna ("A Million Rice Fields") in 1296. Under King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai, Lanna unified several small kingdoms in the north, at about the same time that Sukhothai was established further south. King Mengrai founded many of the temples within the old city that are still important today.

The dynasty founded by King Mengrai lasted more than 250 years, until the Burmese captured the city in 1556. Burma held on to Chiang Mai for nearly 200 years, and to this day you can still see signs in Burmese as well as many other indications of Burmese influence. Towards the end of the 18^th century, King Taksin, who regrouped the Thais in the south after the sacking of Ayutthaya, finally forced the Burmese out with the help of King Kawila of Lampang.

Chiang Mai was governed by a succession of princes who ruled the north under the protection of the Siamese king based in Bangkok. Late in the 19^th century, Rama V appointed a high commissioner in Chiang Mai, but it wasn't until 1939 that Chiang Mai finally came under the direct control of the central government in Bangkok, at about the same time that the country was renamed Thailand.

Presently

Chiang Mai, the capital and transport centre of the north, is a great place just to hang out or prepare for a journey into the hills.and  mixture of old and new While the city is busy and filled with buildings, rural tranquility.

Transport  From Bangkok

By Air  
Domestic airlines, including Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, and Nok Air, operate several flights daily between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Depending on where you are flying from, one of these airlines can also fly you directly to Chiang Mai from Mae Hong Son, Pai, Chiang Rai, and Koh Samui. 

From international destinations, visitors can fly directly to Chiang Mai on a number of domestic and international air carriers. While these routes are subject to their economic viability for individual airlines, it is usually possible to fly directly to Chiang Mai from Kuala Lumpur, Luang Prabang, Singapore, Vientiane, and Yangon. International airlines servicing Chiang Mai from those destinations include Silk Air, Lao Airlines, and Mandalay Air.


By Car
Driving from Bangkok takes approximately 8 hours and is best by one of the following routes:

Route 1: Drive on Highway No.1 (Phahonyothin Road) and turn left to Highway No.32 (Asian Highway) which passes Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, and Nakhon Sawan; then take Highway No. 117 to Phitsanulok and Highway No. 11 through Lampang and Lamphun to Chiang Mai. The total distance is 695 kilometers. 

Route 2: Follow route 1 to Nakhon Sawan and then take Highway No. 1 through Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, and Lampang until you arrive in Chiang Mai. The total distance is 696 kilometers.


By Bus
From Bangkok there are ordinary, 2nd class, and 1st class air-conditioned busses leaving throughout the day from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) for Chiang Mai (8.00 a.m. to 09.00 p.m.) Call 02 936 3600, 02 936 2852, and 02 937 8055 for an updated bus timetable. 

Private buses, which can be conveniently booked in tourist centers in Bangkok, are also available. However, the public busses from the Northern Bus Terminal are generally more reliable. The journey takes approximately 10-12 hours, depending on traffic. 


From other provinces, including Mae Sai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Lampang, Lamphun, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sot, Mae Sariang, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), and Udon Thani, there are direct busses that service the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station. Contact tel: 0 5324 2664 for an updated bus timetable.

Getting Around Chiang Mai To/From the Airport: 

There is a licensed airport taxi service available at the taxi kiosk outside the baggage-claim area. Purchase a ticket and present it to the drivers waiting by the arrivals exit area (on your left as you leave baggage claim). The trip will cost approximately 100 baht for a sedan car that seats 4-5 people (with luggage). 

From the airport, train station and bus terminal, you can easily get a ride in share songtaew (red mini-bus). To charter a minibus or car, please check the correct fare at the TAT counter first. 
Normally, first-class hotels provide complimentary transportation between the airport, railway station, or bus terminals and the hotel for guests who have made advance reservations. 

Around Town: 

By Samlor or Tuk-Tuk: 
For relative short distances you can take a samlor or tuk-tuk, three-wheel cabs that are respectively pedal or motor powered. Fares must be bargained in advance. Short rides within the city cost between 20 and 30 baht. Longer rides may cost as much as 50 baht. 

By Taxi:
Meter taxis, nearly identical to those running around Bangkok, are now available in Chiang Mai, where fares likewise begin at 35 baht. 

By Songtaew:
Songtaews (red pickup trucks with benches in the covered flatbed portion of the truck) are the most common means of transportation in Chiang Mai. Passengers can hop in and out as they wish. Simply tell the driver the destination and negotiate the price before boarding. Fares range from 10-20 baht depending on the distance, considerably more for long rides up to Doi Suthep, where the songtaew will wait for you to explore and then return you to town, stopping at various sights, such as the zoo, along the way if you wish.

By Bicycle:
Some travelers prefer to ride bicycles around the city as most of the roads and alleys are accessible by bicycle. Bicycles can be rented from bicycle shops and certain guesthouses. 

Around the Province: 

By Bus:
If you travel to any districts in Chiang Mai, use the Chang Phuak Bus Terminal located on Chotana Road, tel. 053 211 586. Destinations include those located along the northern route (Highway No. 107) which passes through Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Chiang Dao, Chaiprakan, Fang and Mae Ai. Some buses continue to Tha Ton, the northern-most district of Chiang Mai. 

By Rental Car:
All major international car rental companies, such as AVIS, Budget, and Hertz, as well as Thai car rental companies, have various vehicles for rent and are ready to provide suggestions on travel itineraries. The easiest way to locate a car rental company is to ask at the airport or a major hotel, as those are the places where most rental agency offices are located. 

While most Chiang Mai roads are in good condition with signs posted in English, be aware that only Commercial First Class Insurance provides full coverage on rental cars (as opposed to limited personal or third party only insurance). Most international car rental agencies will offer this insurance (some only for those with a valid international driver’s license) while local companies may or may not. You may wish to request a copy of their insurance policy and ensure that it states "For Commercial Use". Regardless, inspect rental vehicles prior to rental and drive with caution, particularly as traffic in Thailand can be quite confusing, especially the habit of Thai motorcycles drivers to drive on the wrong side of the road. 

By Motorbike:

For anywhere from 150 to 1,000 baht per day you can hire your own motorbike, which will typically require you to leave your passport as a deposit. Be sure to inspect bikes prior to rental and drive with extreme caution as rental motorbikes are not normally insured and accidents are frequent. Helmets are required by Thai law and foreign visitors unfamiliar with either driving motorbikes or driving in Thailand should drive carefully and obey all local traffic rules (there are numerous one way streets in Chiang Mai city).