Chiang Mai - Page 2

Accommodation

Hotels and guest houses are available to suit every pocket from single rooms with a fan to luxury suites. Several of the larger hotels are located on Huay Kaew road which leads to Doi Suthep.

Duangtawan Hotel

Located in the heart of Chiang Mai, it boasts excellent accomodation and a rare combination of hospitality and service, that is hard to find elsewhere.
132 Loy Kroh Road, Chang Klan, Chiang Mai 50100
Tel +66 5390 5000
Fax +66 5327 5429

Lai-Thai Guest House

120 Northern Thai-style fan or A/C rooms each with private hot/cold shower, notable for high level of service and excellent location. Amenties include a swimming pool, an international cuisine restuarant, 24-hours phone and fax service, trekking and sight-seeing tour, safe deposit box, laundry service, free pick-up, etc.
111/4-5 Kotchasarn Road, Chiang Mai 50100
Tel: 66 53 271725 Fax: 66 53 272724
Email: laithai@loxinfo.co.th

Huay Nam Lom
Huay Nam Lom is not your conventional Hotel, Motel, or Guest House. In its unique and beautiful natural surroundings you can forget the madness of the work world, which you are trying to escape from, and enjoy your vacation. Three styles of homes are available: A-Frame (2-3 people), Two-Storey+Dining (2-4 people), Two-Storey+Two Bedrooms (2-10 people).
53/7 Moo 7, Ban Bong, A. Haung Don, Jung Wat, Chiang Mai 50230
Tel: 01-950-3283

Royal Princess, Chiangmai
Royal Princess situated on Chang Klan Road right by the night bazaar & street stalls. 200 aircon. rooms with fridge/mini-bar, radio/music,TV, in-house movies, tea/coffee maker, phone, hairdryer, room safe, laundry service & room service. 3 restaurants, 2 bars, night club, live music, pool, fitness centre & games room.
112 Chang klan Road, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 50100
Tel: 66 53 281033 Fax: 66 53 281044
Email: rpc@dusit.com or pibulporn@dusit.com

Sheraton, Chiangmai
318/1 Chiang Mai - Lamphun Road, Chiang Mai 50000
Tel: +66 53 275300 Fax: +66 53 275299

Food and Drink

There are numerous food stalls serving noodles, curries, seafood and speciality dishes located with the old city walls. Just west of Chiang Mai Gate is a large night market where you can wile away an evening eating and drinking. International and Thai food buffets are available at the larger hotels.

Night Life

First class and tourist class hotels usually have a disco, and all have bars, several of which feature live music. Charoenrat Road on the east side of the Ping river also has plenty of night time entertainment.

Shopping

First port of call for bargain hunters has to be the night bazaar which is located mid way between the old city and the Ping river. The market has an extensive selection of Thai and northern Thai goods are low prices, but you will have to bargain.

Shops selling hill tribe crafts, silk, silverware, lacquer ware, carvings and beautiful paper umbrellas can be found all over the city. Chiang Mai is a good place to buy furniture, and there are several workshops which will arrange for shipping to your home country.

Chiang Mai Craft

Chiang Mai Craft is based in the northern city of Chiang Mai in Thailand. We supply and export traditional handcrafts and gifts to all areas of the world.
192/357 Koolpunt Ville 6, Moo 4, Tambon Maehia,
Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai, 50100
Tel: 053 838414
Fax: 053 838414
Email :enquiries@chiangmaicraft.com

Siam Royal Orchid Co., Ltd.

Costume Jewelry and Decorative Gift Products made from real orchids, roses, flowers, leaves... partially or fully gold plated and/or copper plated with patina highlights. Each is handcrafted. No two are exactly alike.
94-120 Charoen Muang Rd., A. Muang
Chiangmai
Tel: 6653-245598; 249803 Fax: 6653-246711
Email: siamroy@e-commerce.net.th

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Sight Seeing

Balloon flights in Chang Mai are a "once in a lifetime" experience and a through highlight to any vacation in Thailand.

Photographers can get fine aerial views of Chiang Mai from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep which is located near the summit of Mount Doi Suthep. A staircase in the shape of a dragon-headed serpent leads up to the Wat from the mountain road.

The daily "elephants at work" show, about one hour by bus from Chiang Mai, is strictly for tourists but still worth a visit.

More adventurous souls might prefer one of the many trekking tours. These can be arranged through most hotels and travel agents.

Wat Prahat Doi Suthep

Close by is Wat Prahat Doi Suthep. The temple contains a highly venerated relic of Lord Buddha, which was brought to Chiang Mai and presented to King Kuenna, in the fourteenth century. The story goes that the King sent out an elephant with the relics on its back, and it climbed the mountain steadily. Then, quite suddenly, it died of a heart attack, so that spot was chosen for the temple.

The temple is located about 16 kilometres from the city and can be reached by road. The final ascent to the temple is via a highly decorative Naga staircase. For those who cannot manage the steps a cable car has been installed.

In the outer courtyard anyone can wander and there is splendid collection the bronze bells. From that level there is a beautiful view down onto the city way below.

To enter the inner courtyard of the temple all must be properly dressed, which means no short trousers or bare tops. There are paintings of historical and mythical scenes all round the inner courtyard between the 4 chapels that surround the central golden stuppa.

Chiang Mai Zoo

At the foot of Doi Suthep is the Chiang Mai zoo, which is well worth a visit. The grounds are extensive and vehicles are allowed in. In fact that is the best way to get around as the individual enclosures are well spaced and often hidden from each other in a jungle type setting.

The penguin enclosure was pleasantly cool, and quite popular with the Thais for the same reason. It was a shame they do not clean the glass to give a better view of the birds.

A new building houses the Pandas that arrived from China in 2003

San Khampaeng

Crafts Following the old road to San Khampaeng leads through the craft area of Chiang Mai where factories co-exist with the shops. This gives visitors the chance to see how the items are made, before making their purchases. Products include teak and bamboo furniture; the distinctive pottery of Thai Celadon, silverware, parasols and hand held fans, to mention a few.

Moon On Caves

About 30 kilometres beyond the village of San Khampaeng, are the San Khampaeng Hot Springs. However just before the springs it is worth taking the turning to the left to visit the Moon On caves. At the foot of the hill is an attractive Chinese Temple. The road then climbs much higher up the hill to the caves.

A visit to the Moon On caves is only for the fit. Firstly there is a long climb up a Naga staircase from the car park, before reaching the entrance to the caves. The caves are well lit and there are young guides available to point out the major sites, which are also Buddhist shrines. However to reach the famous stalagmite it is necessary to climb down a long concrete staircase, which means it is along climb back up to exit the caves.

Hot Springs

Over the last few years the hot springs have been developed and are now surrounded by a very attractive and mature garden. The water comes bubbling out of the ground at a temperature of
89°C. Packs of eggs are on sale in convenient wicker baskets, and there are instructions about how long to leave the eggs in the water to cook them correctly, 11 minutes gives hard-boiled. Hooks are conveniently provided around the water tank to hang the egg baskets.

There are also two geysers spouting a continuous flow of hot water into the air.

Bath houses are available for rent by the hour, for individuals or family groups to enjoy the waters or if you prefer there is also a swimming pool that is fed with the warm water. TOP

Chiang-Mai Scorpion Tours

Private tours from Chiang-Mai around the North of Thailand. Tours " a la carte ". Tours by Jeep 4x4, 3 to 10 days. Chiang-Mai. Pai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang-Rai. Special adventure tour "off road" (3 day to Pai and Mae Hong Son). Reasonable price (including : travel by Jeep 4x4, gasoline, professional English speaking Thai-guide, accommodation (hotel + resort), food and drinking water). Please contact us for more information.
Nous parlons Francais. Wir sprechen Deutsch.
141/31 Thanthip Villa, Soi 6, E.Sankamphaeng
Chiang-Mai 50130
Tel : +66 (0)53 338864
Email: scorpiontours@gmail.com

Contact Travel Co., Ltd

Adventure and sport travel operator specialist for North Thailand. Rafting, Mountain-Biking, trekking...
420/3 Chiangmailand road, Changklan
Chiangmai
Tel: +66 53 277-178 Fax: +66 53 204-104
biking@loxinfo.co.th

Track of the Tiger Co.Ltd.

The soft adventure tour specialists - providing flights, hotels, tours, and special interest courses throughout Thailand and the region.
P.O.Box 3, Mae Ai.
Chiang Mai
Tel: +66 53-459328 Fax: +66 53-459329
Email: tiger@loxinfo.co.th

Chiangmai JFS Tour &Amp; Travel

Tours and travel in and around Chiang Mai.
P.O.Box 87
Chiangmai
Email: jufusakul@hotmail.com

Cult Car Tours

Tour Northern Thailand at the wheel of a high performance Subaru Impreza STi, Mitsubishi EVO or Nissan GTR. 5 days of amazing sights and exitement
U21 Chiang Mai Pavillion 145 Changklan Rd
Chiang Mai
Tel: (053) 818552 Fax:
info@cultcartours.com

Sports

Larger hotels have swimming pools, tennis courts and gymnasiums.

Miscellaneous

Siam Kitchen
Professionally managed full day Thai cooking courses in a Thai country style kitchen tucked in a little tropical garden , smack in the centre of Chiang Mai city. 3 mins walk from Thapae gate and most guesthouses and hotels. Located within the confines of the city moat and walls. Run by ex-hotel G.M. (Holiday Inn etc.) and his F&B director plus one Chef. Excellent English spoken. Course includes visit to local fresh market, full recipe book, lunch, welcome drink, certificate of achievement etc. Course cost is THB 700.= net. Open daily. Different menu each day with at least 6-7 dishes to be cooked. This is hands-on course, so we only demonstrate, and then it is up to you to cook it. Lunch is taken in the garden. Contact us for more information.
8/1, Moonmuang, Soi 5, Rajvithi, A.Muang
Chiang Mai
Tel: 053- 213 415 Fax: 053- 213 415
Email: siam-kitchen@bangkok.com

Spring Term in Thailand
International Studies Program hosted at Chiang Mai University. Students take 4 courses (Thai, Thai Culture and Society, Study/Service Internship, Hilltribes of Northern Thailand) from Jan 4 - May 1 each year.
503 East Fremont
Northfield, MN
Tel: 507-645-6237 Fax: 507-646-3933
Email: leming@stolaf.edu

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Getting to and Around Chiang Mai