In March 2018 we visited Chiang Mai. The first thing I noticed was the smell of burned wood when we arrived in Chiang Mai.
The burning season is between februar and april. Because of this it can have a lot of smoke in the air.
The city is really beautifull and you will find accomodations in every price level. There are also hundrets of tempels and many markets you can
visite. Information about the city you will find plenty. We wanna give some information about things you can do around Chiang Mai city.
Around Chiang Mai
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (full name: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratcha Woraviharn)
Buddhist temple above Chiang Mai (view over Chiang Mai) - Lychee trip: national park Doi Suthep with scooter or motorbike (1-2days)
- Doi Inthanon
The highest mountain of thailand (2.565 meter above sealevel) - Round trip: Chiang Mai - Doi Inthanon - Mae Hong Son - Pais - Chiang Mai (5days at least)
Visa Run
We made a visa run to Laos and went in Chiang Khong over the border. I read you have to provide about 200USDollar in cash for the
visa to Laos. But all together it didn't cost me 200Bath. I think each bus ride was about 25Bath and the visa to immigrate to Laos was less than 100Bath.
You have to take the bus to go over the border there. We arrived late (about 6:00pm) and were lucky to catch the last bus back to thailand.
Police
The police make a lot of controls in Chiang Mai and its really recomendet to bring an international driving license even for a scooter.
Wear a helmet in the city. They are mostly standing in the centre of Chiang Mai by square and in front of the zoo before you go to Doi Suthep.
And they like tourists...
Once we got stopped and because i didn't had an international driving licence they wanted 1000Bath. After Paew asked him for his name
he dropped the price to 500Bath. At the end we payed 300Bath. Sow the hight of the fees are negotiable.
10minutes later we got stopped again but they let us go because we said we just paid 1000Bath.
On an other day they sold me an international driving license for 500Bath 3 days valid...
Take sideroads they standing mostly on the big roads!
But at least they do it with a smile!