We will be going to Thailand and Bali in Aug. (first trip to both). Our current itinerary includes 3 days in Bangkok and 3 days in Chiang Mai. We are debating whether we should cut one day from Chiang Mai and move it Bangkok. We primarily want to shop in Chiang Mai, but planned to use one day there to do some sightseeing out of town (maybe Doi Suthep?). I am wondering, since we are going to spend 5 nights in the Ubud area of Bali, if the landscape is really beautiful in Chiang Mai and worth seeing, or if it will be similar to Ubud? (We are not particularly interested in elephant trekking or tribal village visits for Chiang Mai.) If we should keep the extra day in Chiang Mai, any suggestions for what to do would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Bali and Chiang Mai are completely different but if you aren't interested in the hill tribes or the elephants and are more interested in shopping, I would definitely reduce your time in Chiang Mai and add it to Bangkok.

I would definitely keep it to two days in Chiang Mai - would even consider adding an extra day to Bali instead of Bangkok if you are interested specifically in the landscape (scenery).

I agree with others, remember Chiang Mai is Thailand's 2nd largest city, the area is not like Ubud at all, although there are some wonderful areas of scenary in Thailand, up around Mae Hong Son and Buri Ram / Issan has some lovely places. I think a couple of days woukld be enough. is the shopping prime importance? Otherwise perhaps Mae Hong Son or Chiang Rai might suit if you are looking for scenic areas.

Thanks, everyone! This is very helpful. So it sounds like Mae Hong Son or Buri Ram could not be done in a daytrip from Chiang Mai?

Thanks, everyone. This is very helpful. So it sounds like Mae Hong Son or Buri Ram cannot be done in a daytrip from Chiang Mai?

No, certainly not Buri Ram as totaly different area, Mae Hong Son alhtough feasable taking and early flight from Chiang Mai and last back.
You should enjoy Chiang Mai as long as you appreciate it is a major city and not a 'rurual area', Chiang Rai and Golden Triangle more rural ( frequent non stops from BKK ) but doesn't have such vibrant shopping as Chiang Mai.

i agree with the others...the more you have in bkk the better...there is hardly anything available in CM that is not available in bkk....CM can be a bit cheaper than bkk on some items but not many...

highly suggest that you visit the nite market in bkk...geared to tourists, especially those with not much time for shopping...

doi sutup is a must for your visit to CM...if you do only one thing do this..

bali is totally different, it is trully beautiful and unique...the area around CM is ok but nothing special...as many know i do not find anything special about CM...

if it were my choice i would reconfigure my trip to only bkk and bali...no CM

I've been to Chiangmai and Ubud and it's like comparing apples and oranges. They are both very nice, but totally different.With your time restraints, I would cut one day from Chiangmai and add it to Bangkok. As far as Wat Doi Suthep, that only takes about 2 and a half hours total if that. A Thai friend and I drove there from downtown Chiangmai in about 30 minutes if I remember correctly. Then there were the 320+ stairs to climb to get to the temple...I hear there's an elevator or something...We climbed the stairs. People sell water along the way up the stairs. I would personally cut one night from Ubud and put it in Bangkok...so 2 in Chiangmai/5 in Bangkok/4 in Ubud. Happy Travels!

bob; you hiked up the 320 steps?

guenmai; do you recommend that i rent a car, and drive to wat doi suthep? do they have day tours available? or is the sargent guy a better choice.

plan to be in cm in late nov. was there about 6 years ago, but don't remember much.

Bob-- on night markets we seem to disagree. I thought the night market in CM was far superior to the one in Bangkok. Thought the one in Bangkok was a waste of time. Seemed even more touristy than the one in CM with much less interesting products. I actually am not a big night market shopper in either city but for fun and variety I much prefer CM's.

Kuranosuke...If I were you, I would rent a car unless you can find a VERY safe driver. The road is a very steep mountain road. I'm used to mountains having lived around them nearly my whole life, but I'm glad I didn't hire one of those guys who speeds like a maniac. They were passing us up. And as for the steps....yes, I climbed all 320+ of them and felt rejuvenated when I reached the top! Happy Travels!

As far as Thai markets go, I'd have to disagree with both of you and cast my vote for the weekend market at Chatuchak. Both the BKK and CM night markets wouldn't exist without tourists. Chatuchak has all that the night markets have plus acres more, and at much lower prices.

I also suggest you hire a driver to take you to Doi Suthep. It is NOT a road you will want to drive yourself. You will be nervous enough with a safe driver who has done this often.

I also climbed the stairs -- the first time I was there I didn't have an option. I was also a lot younger. Now I happily take the tram but I must admit I'm glad (sort of) that I did it once.

aha! the tram. so thats how bob did it. .

thats all for the good info on doi suthep. never thought of going there if it wasn't for this great site.

thats=thanks

of course i went up on the tram, althouhg i thought we might be killed...easy to do in a rental car...

i did look at the steps and our friend climbed them and it nearly killed her...K you can not attempt it!!

gloria...my comments on the nite market were primarily for those who do not have much shopping time...all the tourist stuff is there in one place...and we thought that the selection was quite nice...

weekend market...too hot, too confusing, too muchhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Bob-- I'm with you about the weekend market!

Actually, with your itinerary I would skip Chiang Mai altogether. I personally am one of the posters on this forum who LIKES Chiang Mai but with your trip I would add the day to Bangkok and Bali and do half and half. In Bali I would split the time between Ubud and the beach. Shopping in Bangkok is quite good and if you plan and pace yourself well you can cover a lot of ground. Bear in mind also that Bangkok in Aug is hot and muggy and generally draining so you may not be able to pack your days as much as you think you will. Jatujak i.e. the weekend market is a fabulos place to shop. I always advise people to go on Friday when it is least crowded. Much of the stuff you get in CM is available in Jatujak and pretty much as reasonable.

I disagree with Hobbes because gothere has said he/she is interested in crafts and Chiang Mai is a wonderful place to see craftsmen at work -- something you can not see in Bangkok. You can see people making paper, wood products (although that you can see in Bali), silver and other jewelry, pottery, celadon and many other things. There are also stores that have fabulous modern crafts. So if crafts are your interest you should definitely spend a few days in Chiang Mai- you won't be sorry. If your major interest was scenery or temples I'd agree with Hobbes.