My folks are visiting next month so we're taking them to Chiang Mai for a week. I'd like to let them see Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Sonso could anybody please let me know the approx drving times to these places from Chiang Mai city at a steady cruising speed.

Cheers

You would want to allow a day to get to Mae Hong Son, the road is not fast and there is a lot see on the way. Like this place www.cavelodge.com

So MHS couldn't be done there and back in a day gary? That's a shame. How about Chiang Rai? Is the road ok?

you should be able to drive to Chiang Rai in around 3 hours if you drive steadily, Its a perfectly good quality road, but a bit up-hill and down-dale. you can get stuck behind heavy lorries, but there are plenty of passing places and some stretches of 4 lane highway.

Mae hong son is up to 6 hours drive, some of it on fairly poor quality roads. Unless you want to spend a very long day in a car, you wouldn't want to do it in a day

Many thanks millwall_fan. Very helpful

btw You're only 14 points behind us with a game in hand!

COME ON YOU YELLOWS!

I can see us making a late surge!!!!

BTW its possible to return from Chiang Rai by going down route 1 to just south of Phayao, then turning right across the mountains (twisty road, but excellent condition mcuh of it 3 lane) you hit the main Chiang Mai road at a village called Mae Ka Chan. Its about 80Kms further, but takes about the same time due to the better road quality. Its also a scenic route with a great viewpoint at the top of the mountain. Might be an idea to vary your route!

Great stuff. Cheers.

You may want to consider this idea,. Chiang Rai is only 3 hours up the road (excellent going), then Mae Sai is only 1 hour more and the Golden Triangle about 45 minutes from Mae Sai. I have done this tour many of time from Chiang Mai in one day with site seeing lunch and dinner.

It sounds like you want to get as many kilometres in in one as you possibly can, driving to Chang Rai and back in one day is really rushing it, you really need to allow some more time to make it worthwhile

Thanks all. It sound like a night in CR is on the cards. Now I'll be a really lazy bastard without doping any research myself and ask what are some natural must sees in CR.

A overnight stay would be the best bet. You could do it in a day but you and your folks will be will be Knackerd. Plus you will not have much time to sight see.

Yeah I reckon thats best. Thanks

ive done CM to CR in roughly 2 hours, wasnt driving recklessly or at high speed, (sept 09)

it used to be 3 hours but the roads have improved, wider, passing lanes

stop in for some cheesecake and tea @ Charin

Tour the White Temple CR, do the market jig at Mae Sai, go over to the golden triangle and take the boat out to the island on the Lao side (no water now). Tour the Opium Museum. Had lunch and back in town,CM for dinner.

Look at the very informative website www.elephantnaturefoundation.org for info about the threatened asian elephant. You can book dayvisits or overnight at this sanctuary for elephants. Walk with them, feed them and learn about them. The Elephant Naure Foundation is situated between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai so it should suit you well.

Tour the White Temple CR, do the market jig at Mae Sai, go over to the golden triangle and take the boat out to the island on the Lao side (no water now). Tour the Opium Museum. Had lunch and back in town,CM for dinner.

Sorry to be pedantic, but, if there's no water how does he go about taking a boat?

Some great ideas. Thanks a lot for your input everybody. Should be a great time had by all.

Tour the White Temple CR, do the market jig at Mae Sai, go over to the golden triangle and take the boat out to the island on the Lao side (no water now). Tour the Opium Museum. Had lunch and back in town,CM for dinner.

Sorry to be pedantic, but, if there's no water how does he go about taking a boat?

How did you walk on water? I knew where the rocks were.

So MHS couldn't be done there and back in a day gary? That's a shame. How about Chiang Rai? Is the road ok?

I regularly make the journey from CM to CR to CM and have done so by air, bus and private car.

My preferred method now is the VIP service from The Green Bus Company (263 baht one way). This gives a very comfortable and bookable seat on a newish coach and drivers are good. The new bus station at Chiang Rai is a little out of town centre, but transport links are easy.

The road has been greatly improved in parts over the last few years. Journey time (yesterday) CR to CM was 2 hours 45 minutes.

Rgds