Getting There

The quickest and easiest way to reach Chiang Mai is by air and a short taxi drive. it is about 2 hours 10 mins from Bangkok by plane with 2 flights daily.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a city built on the roots of a traditional heritage that dig deep into the soil of time. It's a city with a beautiful cultural personality of its own. In addition, it's been blessed with much majestic beauty in nature.

The people themselves are an unforgettable part of Chiang Mai. Handicrafts of silk, silver and wood are timeless souvenirs for visitors from all over the globe. Along with all this, a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment all help to make Chiang Mai one of Thailand 's prime tourist attractions.

A large part (69.31%) of Chiang Mai's land is covered by mountains and forests. These generally run in a north-south pattern through the province and give birth to several streams and tributaries (such as the Mae Jam, Mae Ngud, and Mae Klang) which in turn feed important rivers and irrigation canals (such as the Muang and Faay) which provide the water necessary to Chiang Mai's agriculture.

Chiang Mai's largest and most important river is the Ping , which originates in the mountains of Chiang Dao and flows southward for 540 kilometers (337.5 miles). It is along the banks of this river that Chiang Mai's flat, fertile valley area lies.

Chiang Mai is also home to Inthanon Mountain , which stands 2,575 meters (8,448 feet) above sea level and is Thailand 's highest mountain

Staying in Chiang Mai

Hotels provide the highest service and luxury available when it comes to accommodations. There are about 100 hotels in Chiang Mai with an approximate 10,000 rooms available. Rooms are fully furnished and provide the many fittings that you would expect to find in your home country. Room service, laundry service, Coffee shops, and tourist information and services are also normally available for your convenience and enjoyment. Most first-class hotels also house souvenir shops, swimming pools , saunas , health-fitness centers , discotheques , and vehicles for rent . The price for a standard hotel room (double) in Chiang Mai ranges between 250-4,000 baht. With such a wide price range, the basic thing to remember is that the more the services and luxuries available, the higher the class and the cost of the hotel.

Citylife is a one stop source of information on Chiangmai and the north of Thailand.