Getting Around

Getting Around

Northern Thailand appears to be a very remote area of Asia, nearly 700 km (420 mi) from the country's capital, Bangkok, and far from other major centers. In fact, this region—-bounded on the north, east, and west by Myanmar (Burma) and Laos—is easily accessible. Chiang Mai is Northern Thailand's hub.

By Air. Main cities and towns are linked to Bangkok by frequent and reliable air services. There are several flights a day from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and regular flights from the capital to Lampang, Mae Hong Son, and Nan.

By Bus & Car. An excellent regional bus service links town and villages, however remote, via a network of highways. The country's main north-south artery, Highway 1, bypasses Chiang Mai but connects Bangkok with Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle. Highway 11 branches off for Chiang Mai at Lampang, itself a major transport hub with a long-distance bus terminal, railroad station, and airport. From Chiang Mai you can reach the entire region on well-paved roads, with travel times not exceeding eight hours or so. The journey on serpentine mountain roads to Mae Hong Son, however, can be very tiring, requiring a stopover in either the popular resort town of Pai or quieter Mae Sariang. Chiang Rai is a convenient stopover on the road north to the Golden Triangle.

Lampang is less than two hours' drive south from Chiang Mai, and is also a convenient and comfortable center from which to explore the nearby national parks and lakes. Nan sits in a remote valley with few routes in and out—if you're traveling there from Bangkok, it's advisable to do one leg of the journey by air.

Driving in Thailand is not for the faint of heart; hiring a car and driver is usually a better option. Between Christmas and New Year's the highway between Chiang Mai, Pai, and Mae Hong Son may be packed with bumper-to-bumper traffic.

By Motorcycle. Motorcycles are a cheap and popular option for getting around cities and towns. Rental agencies are numerous, and most small hotels have their own.