Chiang Mai help
Oct 3rd, 2004, 06:13 PM
#1
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Chiang Mai help
My husband and I will be in Chiang Mai for 3 and 1/2 days. I would like to visit some of the surrounding areas (Lamphang, Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, etc) but am not sure what the best way is to do this. Does anyone have any tour companies to recommend to get us to these places? Is it easy enough to get to them on our own? thanks!
Oct 3rd, 2004, 06:56 PM
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A visit to Doi Suthep will occupy half a day; Doi Inthanon requires a full day, as does Lampang, unless you are only interested in the Elephant Centre, which can be done in a half day.
You have three choices for visiting these places:
You can hire a car and drive yourself. There are international firms here such as Avis here, but the local firms tend to be cheaper, North Wheels is one, WWW.NORTHWHEELS.COM. Others include S. Raid Carrent, B.B. Travel Service and Car Rent, Bomb Car Rent ([email protected]), NPT Rent a Car, the Vhiangping Group (www.vhiangpingcarrent.com) and Theraphon Tour and Car Rent. Expect to pay about 1,000 Baht a day plus petrol.
You could hire a car and a driver, Mr J. offers a good service at about 1,500 Baht a day plus petrol, Mr Mike offers a taxi service at 1,200 Baht a day including petrol, but apparently only within Chiangmai. Bomb Car Rent will supply a driver. Journey Co., Ltd (www.journeycnx.com) is another possibility.
Finally, there are dozens of companies offering tour services. As these charge on a per head basis they could work out as more expensive than hiring a car and driver. Some companies are Northern Express Tours, Journey Co. also offer a tour service, P.S.S Tours can be contacted at [email protected], Green Lotus Tour at www.greenlotustour.com , Mayping Riverside Tours are at www.riversidetours.com and Chiangmai Cattleya Tour and Travel Services are at www.chiangmaitour.com.
I?m sorry I cannot recommend any of these, as I have never used one. However, they all advertise regularly and have the necessary permits.
Of course, your hotel will be happy to make arrangements for you, but expect to pay more.
You have three choices for visiting these places:
You can hire a car and drive yourself. There are international firms here such as Avis here, but the local firms tend to be cheaper, North Wheels is one, WWW.NORTHWHEELS.COM. Others include S. Raid Carrent, B.B. Travel Service and Car Rent, Bomb Car Rent ([email protected]), NPT Rent a Car, the Vhiangping Group (www.vhiangpingcarrent.com) and Theraphon Tour and Car Rent. Expect to pay about 1,000 Baht a day plus petrol.
You could hire a car and a driver, Mr J. offers a good service at about 1,500 Baht a day plus petrol, Mr Mike offers a taxi service at 1,200 Baht a day including petrol, but apparently only within Chiangmai. Bomb Car Rent will supply a driver. Journey Co., Ltd (www.journeycnx.com) is another possibility.
Finally, there are dozens of companies offering tour services. As these charge on a per head basis they could work out as more expensive than hiring a car and driver. Some companies are Northern Express Tours, Journey Co. also offer a tour service, P.S.S Tours can be contacted at [email protected], Green Lotus Tour at www.greenlotustour.com , Mayping Riverside Tours are at www.riversidetours.com and Chiangmai Cattleya Tour and Travel Services are at www.chiangmaitour.com.
I?m sorry I cannot recommend any of these, as I have never used one. However, they all advertise regularly and have the necessary permits.
Of course, your hotel will be happy to make arrangements for you, but expect to pay more.
Oct 4th, 2004, 05:26 AM
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We had a great experience with Sergeant Kai and his company, see http://www.chiangmaitours.com/
Oct 4th, 2004, 05:51 PM
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Tangata and others, we plan to spend at least half a day at the Thai elephant conservation center near Lamphang. Is it worthwhile to spend additional time in Lamphang? Any particular sites you would recommend? Somewhere I read about blue and white ceramics in the area. Do you have any recommendations? Also, what about Lamphun? Worthwhile sites, atmosphere? It's hard to tell from the various guidebooks & web postings. As for Doi Inthanon, will waterfalls be flowing in January or will it be too dry?
Oct 4th, 2004, 08:12 PM
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Lampang is a pleasant town that dates back some 1,400 years, making it marginally older than Chiangmai. Many of the Wats are of the Burmese style, a reminder of the Burmese timber workers who once lived there. Ban Sao Nak is worth a visit, both for the building itself and for the museum it houses. The oldest Wat is Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao, which houses a Buddha in the Mandalay style. For several years, it housed the Emerald Buddha. Wat Si Chum is built in the Burmese style and features some excellent examples of teak carving.
The area is well known for ceramics and there are a number of places producing the distinctive blue and white pieces.
Lamphun is also older than Chiangmai, but I feel that it lacks the charm of Lampang and Chiangmai. If time permits and you can persuade your driver, it is possible to return to Chiangmai from Lampang via Lamphun. Coming into Chiangmai you follow the course of the Ping River. It is a longer but more interesting drive that the direct route through the hills, that passes the Elephant Centre.
The waterfalls will certainly be flowing in January, though not as heavily as they are flowing now. Although you are here for our ?winter?, Doi Inthanon will give offer a pleasant relief from the heat.
The area is well known for ceramics and there are a number of places producing the distinctive blue and white pieces.
Lamphun is also older than Chiangmai, but I feel that it lacks the charm of Lampang and Chiangmai. If time permits and you can persuade your driver, it is possible to return to Chiangmai from Lampang via Lamphun. Coming into Chiangmai you follow the course of the Ping River. It is a longer but more interesting drive that the direct route through the hills, that passes the Elephant Centre.
The waterfalls will certainly be flowing in January, though not as heavily as they are flowing now. Although you are here for our ?winter?, Doi Inthanon will give offer a pleasant relief from the heat.
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