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Many visitors stay in Chiang Mai longer than planned because of the high quality and low cost of accommodation, variety of cuisine and shopping, cool nights, international atmosphere and friendly people. With the increasing number of cultural and spiritual learning experiences available to visitors, Chiang Mai has become more than just a quick stop on the tourist trail.
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city, covering some 20,000 square kilometres. With a population of only 250,000 in the city, however, it does not even come close to the size of Bangkok.
It lies about 800 kilometres north of Bangkok on a mountainous plateau 310 metres above sea level. The city stands along the Ping River, a major tributary of Bangkok’s Chao Praya River. Chiang Mai City also serves as the capital of Chiang Mai Province, which is home to around 700,000 people. |
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Foreigners living in Chiang Mai will admit that the Thai people living in the less-populated areas are friendlier than those who experience the overpopulation.
Chiang Mai offers lovely residential areas with beautiful gardens, magnificent shopping centres, and an excellent road system giving access to the mountains and lakes of the glorious countryside.
The City is a centre of great antiquity with many beautiful historical temples and full of interesting history.
There are activities such as hill tribe trekking, elephant safaris, river rafting and so on. A wide choice of evening entertainments to suits every taste, like the Night
Bazaar and innumerable restaurants. |
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The climate of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand is different from the climate of central and southern Thailand. The cool season lasts from late October to the end of February. Average daytime temperature is 21°C and the nights cooler still. The coolest months are December and January. The hot season is from early March to end of May; with average daytime temperatures around 30°C. The hottest month is April. The rainy season usually begins early June and stretches through the end of October, with the heaviest rainfall in September. Average temperature during this season is 25°C. |
Month
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Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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May
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Jun
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Jul
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Aug
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Sep
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
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Max. Temp C
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28.9
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32.2
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34.9
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36.1
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34.1
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32.3
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31.7
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31.1
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31.4
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29.8
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28.3
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31.8
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Min. Temp C
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13.7
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14.8
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18.2
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21.8
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23.4
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23.7
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23.6
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23.4
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23.0
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21.8
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19.0
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15.1
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Humidity %
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71
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62
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56
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59
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71
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78
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78
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81
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81
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79
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77
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74
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Rainfall (mm)
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6.9
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4.6
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13.1
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50.0
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158
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131
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160
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236
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227
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121
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52.8
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19.8
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Rainy Days
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0.9
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0.9
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1.6
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6.2
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15.3
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16.9
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18.7
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21.2
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17.3
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11.1
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5.6
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1.8
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Cloud (1-10)
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2.7
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2.2
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2.3
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3.8
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6.6
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8.1
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8.5
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8.6
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7.7
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6.2
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4.8
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3.6
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 of Paradise - 008.jpg) |
Doi Suthep |
Borsang |
Hang Dong |
Mae Rim |
Samoeng |
Chom Thong |
Chiang Dao |
Maekampong |
Night Bazaar |
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Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 by King Mengrai as the capital of the first independent Thai state, Lanna Thai. It became the cultural and religious centre of the northern Tai, who had migrated from southern China to dwell in Thailand, and remained throughout the period of Burmese attacks. Chiang Mai was captured in 1556 until King Taksin retook the city in 1775, driving the Burmese back to near the present border. Burmese influence on religion, architecture, language, cuisine, and culture remains strong.
Princess Chao in nominal control of the city late 18th and early 19th century, though deferred to the King of Siam in Bangkok. In 1874 King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), sent a commission to Chiang Mai, which limited her power and brought the Lanna Kingdom under the control of the central government in Bangkok. In 1939, the city fully integrated into the Kingdom of Thailand. |
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A riverside area officially designated as the Golden Triangle, 12 kilometres north of Chiang Saen. The spot known locally as Sop Ruak, precisely marks the convergence of the Mae Sai and Mekong rivers which form the borders of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. This is a very nice day trip, with restaurants, souvenir shops as a destination and most exciting of all, boat trips along the river, which enable the traveler to view the coasts of three countries within one hour. |
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Chiang Mai is an authentic trekking central. Adventurous jungle treks, lasting from two to seven days, take visitors through forested mountains, rivers and hill tribe villages. There is a choice of; Trek on foot, elephant, bamboo raft... or all three. Trekking can be arranged at most hotels and tour companies. |
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There is an ongoing life of activities in Chiang Mai organized by foreign cultural associations. Massage is just one of the many ways you can relax your body and calm your mind.
Chiang Mai spas offer a diverse range of treatments; Jacuzzis, steam baths, saunas and yoga, meditation, aroma therapy to name a few.
Tennis and golf can be played at the Gymkhana club - one of Chiang Mai's sports and social venues. Other golf courses include Lanna, Mae Jo, Chiang Mai-Lamphun Golf and Green Valley. |
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Chiang Mai is home to five universities, Buddhist and Christian seminaries, technical colleges, four international English language schools and a German one, a large university and several private teaching hospitals, some with nursing schools.
Private language schools as well as the AUA, the British Council, Australian and New Zealand centres and the Alliance Francaise.
International schools are increasingly attracting Thai children and childern from other countries, whose parents want them to be educated in English.. |
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Thailand is a top-notch contender for the medical market. People benefit from the latest technology in dentistry, cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery as well as medical surgery. With the cost of surgeries and overall health services skyrocketing, western patients are looking for alternatives that will allow them to have medical treatment at a reasonable price. Chiang Mai’s hospitals are excellent, particularly the private ones. Dentistry is above average and very affordable. |
