Chiang Mai - Getting There

Air

Update: Quatar Airways will fly direct from Doha to Chiang Mai from later in 2017. A further step in Chiang Mai becoming a regional hub: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/1211973/qatar-to-fly-to-chiang-mai

Chiang Mai can be reached by air, road or train. Most foreign visitors will arrive by air. After landing in Bangkok, there is another seventy minute flight to Chiang Mai. Be sure to allow at least 2 1/2 to 3 hours between scheduled arrival in BKK and the flight to CNX to account for immigration queues, delays and navigation of the airport. Suvarnabhumi is not easy to master, especially when tired from an intercontinental flight.

There are now direct flights from and to many cities, such as Hong Kong, Taipeh, Seoul, Kunming, Shanghai and other places. These days it's neigh impossible to keep track of the carriers and routes serving Chiang Mai, especially since the Chiang Mai tourism boom. An imcomplete list of connections to and from Chiang Mai is on the bottom of this page. To get an overview of flights and destinations see the CNX Airport page.

On the most important route to and from Bangkok there are now several operators among them Thai Airways, Air Asia, Nok Air and Bangkok Airways. State airline Thai Airways is the most pleasant experience. The airline tries to stay competitive by offering low special fares at almost all times.

Air Asia is the greatest success story in budget air travel in Asia, and Chiang Mai is somewhat of a hub for this airline. Prices are low but the service can't compare with Thai. The luggage allowance of 15 kg may be ok for backpackers and excess of this limit will cost dearly. Also, there are no child discounts on this carrier so when travelling with kids, it's usually cheaper to fly on Thai Airways.

Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Silkair, SGA Aero, China Airlines, Air Mandalay, Air Asia, Nokair, Lao Airlines currently fly to and from Chiang Mai (CNX), a list that changes frequently.

Airport

Chiang Mai has an international Airport that can be reached in about 15 minutes by taxi from the tourist areas. It's still a relatively quiet airport without long queues and generally friendly staff. This is a real relief from the ill-designed, taxi-mafia-infested and tout-ridden Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok where most international travellers arrive.

The airport has two terminals, international and domestic. The former is much larger and white, and is passed first when coming by taxi. Most taxi drivers will confirm whether you go to the international terminal. If you get to the wrong one, there's an easy walkway between the two.

CNX has live flight schedules.

Rail

Rail travel in Thailand was once a great experience at very low cost. The SRT (State Railway of Thailand) had a reputation for professionalism and punctuality that most European railroads can only dream of. Unfortunately, the SRT has been largely abandoned by the state in recent years. Much of the rolling stock is now outdated and the tracks are not maintained properly for lack of funds. This has lead to many derailments and delays, several people have been injured.

The SRT is also a very conservative organization, it's quite inflexible and keeps the same schedule and capacity over many years, instead of increasing schedule frequency or rolling stock inspite of skyrocketing tourist numbers in Chiang Mai and Thailand.

There is hope though that one day Chiang Mai will have a high-speed rail link to Bangkok. The trip to Bangkok will then finally be done in an easy and safe daytime trip where much of Thailand flies by your window, from the mountainous north to the rice-growing central plains.

Trains and Classes

First class sleepers are available at very low cost in Thailand.

The trip from Chiang Mai to Bangkok or reverse costs around 1500 Baht per person (eary 2015) in a two-bed privat cabin on Korean-made trains that were made approximately in the 1990s.

The service is pretty good and reasonably tasting and priced food is available on the train. After a prominent rape case alcohol may or may not be available on the trains. It may be advisable to bring your own booze onto the trains.

At around 10 p.m. beds will be prepared with fresh linen. Not quite the Orient Express but one of the cheapest first class experiences anywhere in the world.

Third class travel is a real treat in Thailand as well. The trip to Bangkok is a mere 12 bucks or so and one gets to really meet Thai people on these trips.

Food (for example sticky rice, fried chicken, curries and papaya salad) are sold by vendors getting on the trains at certain stops. Overnight trips are met with apprehension by everyone, but the visitor can witness how situations like this are negotiated by the Thais, with smiles, stamina and nobody losing their tempers.

In the coming years, the Thai rail system will be greatly modernized and even high-speed rail is on the cards. Prices will surely rise somewhat but here's hoping that Thai rail travel can get back some of its magic.

There are currently five connections each to and from Bangkok. Here are direct links to the SRT pages listing connections between Bangkok and Chiang Mai: Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai to Bangkok Chiang Mai Railway Station Panorama Chiang Mai Railway Station Platform Panorama

Bus

Overland bus travel is a mainstay in Thailand. Not necessarily cheaper but more convenient than rail, as busses will stop at passengers request along the route. However, bus travel is far more dangerous than air or rail travel (even considering the recent derailments).

Busses run mostly at night, they travel at high speeds on mountainous roads and fall into ravine or crash into oncoming traffic on open roads. Hundreds of people die every year in bus accidents in Thailand.

Advice

Budget airlines have made air travel the best choice trips between Chiang Mai and Bangkok as well as other destinations in Thailand. Long-distance busses should be avoided for security reasons if at all possible. Train travel is romantic but currently (early 2015) there are certain security issues as well.