Getting To Mae Salong From Chiang Rai

[martyjames]

Hi

I'll be in Chiang Rai next week and would like to visit Mae Salong. I have read i can take 2 busses to get there but does anyone know if i could hire a driver OR taxi to take me there??

Thanks

Marty

[Fiddlesticks]

Taxis here in CR take fares there frequently. You should have no problem finding any willing to take you. You may also consider renting a car and driving yourself. Not sure what the taxi fares are but here is a taxi phone number you can call just to get an idea of the rates, 0905583757. Enjoy your trip!

[martyjames]

Many thanks Fiddlesticks - much appeciated. Dooes that phone number (taxi call centre) have english speaking operators?

Silly me didnt bring an international drivers permit so i cant drive myself. Though, on that subject, is it silly to risk hiring a motorbike (im an experienced rider) without a thai licence? (i suspect it is!!)

thanks again

Marty

[SurichTan]

If you are travelling alone & would like to cost, you could take a bus heading to Mae Sai & tell the bus driver to stop at the main road junction to Mae Salong. Then get transport up the mountain.

[SurichTan]

i have thumb a lift 2 times before. once on a motorbike & another in a car driven by 2 nurses.

[sunholidaysun1]

i have thumb a lift 2 times before. once on a motorbike & another in a car driven by 2 nurses.

I would not recommend thumbing a lift or even picking someone up who IS thumbing a lift.

The reason for this is you do not know the driver of the car or the motorbike who is giving you a lift.

You as a driver may feel you are doing a good deed by picking up that lovely lady or whoever but you do not know what they are carrying.

There is only a slim chance I know BUT they maybe carrying drugs . If the police stop you in the car

and a search is done and it is found to have drugs on board or on them , you will be arrested as an accomplice , same applies if the rider

of the motorbike is carrying .

A friend of mine was in a car that had drugs in it , he was unaware of this and at a police checkpoint the car was searched , drugs found , both arrested.

As he was only the passenger and unaware of the drugs as he did not know the driver , it didnt make any difference . The driver was given 24 years in jail and my frind got 8 years .NO PAROLE .

So , if you feel like saving yourself the cost of the bus fare or taxi or driving yourself via a hired car or bike , then the risk is ALL yours.

[maidu]

i have thumb a lift 2 times before. once on a motorbike & another in a car driven by 2 nurses.

I would not recommend thumbing a lift or even picking someone up who IS thumbing a lift.

The reason for this is you do not know the driver of the car or the motorbike who is giving you a lift.

You as a driver may feel you are doing a good deed by picking up that lovely lady or whoever but you do not know what they are carrying.

There is only a slim chance I know BUT they maybe carrying drugs . If the police stop you in the car

and a search is done and it is found to have drugs on board or on them , you will be arrested as an accomplice , same applies if the rider

of the motorbike is carrying .

A friend of mine was in a car that had drugs in it , he was unaware of this and at a police checkpoint the car was searched , drugs found , both arrested.

As he was only the passenger and unaware of the drugs as he did not know the driver , it didnt make any difference . The driver was given 24 years in jail and my frind got 8 years .NO PAROLE .

So , if you feel like saving yourself the cost of the bus fare or taxi or driving yourself via a hired car or bike , then the risk is ALL yours.

Wow, that's heavy - 8 years in the slammer for getting a ride hitchhiking. that's flat out cruel. Was that in Thailand? Meanwhile, the son of an important politician or millionaire businessman, can literally get away with murder.

[harrry]

As the pollution has started up here I definitely would not advise you to hire a motorcycle for the trip. Share a taxi or van with some friends.

[sunholidaysun1]

i have thumb a lift 2 times before. once on a motorbike & another in a car driven by 2 nurses.

I would not recommend thumbing a lift or even picking someone up who IS thumbing a lift.

The reason for this is you do not know the driver of the car or the motorbike who is giving you a lift.

You as a driver may feel you are doing a good deed by picking up that lovely lady or whoever but you do not know what they are carrying.

There is only a slim chance I know BUT they maybe carrying drugs . If the police stop you in the car

and a search is done and it is found to have drugs on board or on them , you will be arrested as an accomplice , same applies if the rider

of the motorbike is carrying .

A friend of mine was in a car that had drugs in it , he was unaware of this and at a police checkpoint the car was searched , drugs found , both arrested.

As he was only the passenger and unaware of the drugs as he did not know the driver , it didnt make any difference . The driver was given 24 years in jail and my frind got 8 years .NO PAROLE .

So , if you feel like saving yourself the cost of the bus fare or taxi or driving yourself via a hired car or bike , then the risk is ALL yours.

Wow, that's heavy - 8 years in the slammer for getting a ride hitchhiking. that's flat out cruel. Was that in Thailand? Meanwhile, the son of an important politician or millionaire businessman, can literally get away with murder.

Yes it was Thailand - Chiang Rai , the 8 years was done in the Chiang Rai prison .

[Big Gary]

i have thumb a lift 2 times before. once on a motorbike & another in a car driven by 2 nurses.

I would not recommend thumbing a lift or even picking someone up who IS thumbing a lift.

The reason for this is you do not know the driver of the car or the motorbike who is giving you a lift.

You as a driver may feel you are doing a good deed by picking up that lovely lady or whoever but you do not know what they are carrying.

There is only a slim chance I know BUT they maybe carrying drugs . If the police stop you in the car

and a search is done and it is found to have drugs on board or on them , you will be arrested as an accomplice , same applies if the rider

of the motorbike is carrying .

A friend of mine was in a car that had drugs in it , he was unaware of this and at a police checkpoint the car was searched , drugs found , both arrested.

As he was only the passenger and unaware of the drugs as he did not know the driver , it didnt make any difference . The driver was given 24 years in jail and my frind got 8 years .NO PAROLE .

So , if you feel like saving yourself the cost of the bus fare or taxi or driving yourself via a hired car or bike , then the risk is ALL yours.

Many years ago when we arrived back from Aussie at Chiangrai Airport we always got the same taxi driver to take us home and back to the airport. We did this probably a dozen times and on one return trip he wasnt around at the airport. My wife asked other drivers where he was. We were told he was arrested for drug trafficing and he used to stash the drugs under his taxi seats. Bloody lucky we werent caught in the cab when he was busted. He did 8 years and got a Royal Pardon and now has a successful buisness in our village.

[sunholidaysun1]

i have thumb a lift 2 times before. once on a motorbike & another in a car driven by 2 nurses.

I would not recommend thumbing a lift or even picking someone up who IS thumbing a lift.

The reason for this is you do not know the driver of the car or the motorbike who is giving you a lift.

You as a driver may feel you are doing a good deed by picking up that lovely lady or whoever but you do not know what they are carrying.

There is only a slim chance I know BUT they maybe carrying drugs . If the police stop you in the car

and a search is done and it is found to have drugs on board or on them , you will be arrested as an accomplice , same applies if the rider

of the motorbike is carrying .

A friend of mine was in a car that had drugs in it , he was unaware of this and at a police checkpoint the car was searched , drugs found , both arrested.

As he was only the passenger and unaware of the drugs as he did not know the driver , it didnt make any difference . The driver was given 24 years in jail and my frind got 8 years .NO PAROLE .

So , if you feel like saving yourself the cost of the bus fare or taxi or driving yourself via a hired car or bike , then the risk is ALL yours.

Many years ago when we arrived back from Aussie at Chiangrai Airport we always got the same taxi driver to take us home and back to the airport. We did this probably a dozen times and on one return trip he wasnt around at the airport. My wife asked other drivers where he was. We were told he was arrested for drug trafficing and he used to stash the drugs under his taxi seats. Bloody lucky we werent caught in the cab when he was busted. He did 8 years and got a Royal Pardon and now has a successful buisness in our village.

I wonder what the taxi drivers original sentence was if he completed 8 years time done before getting the pardon ?

[Big Gary]

i have thumb a lift 2 times before. once on a motorbike & another in a car driven by 2 nurses.

I would not recommend thumbing a lift or even picking someone up who IS thumbing a lift.

The reason for this is you do not know the driver of the car or the motorbike who is giving you a lift.

You as a driver may feel you are doing a good deed by picking up that lovely lady or whoever but you do not know what they are carrying.

There is only a slim chance I know BUT they maybe carrying drugs . If the police stop you in the car

and a search is done and it is found to have drugs on board or on them , you will be arrested as an accomplice , same applies if the rider

of the motorbike is carrying .

A friend of mine was in a car that had drugs in it , he was unaware of this and at a police checkpoint the car was searched , drugs found , both arrested.

As he was only the passenger and unaware of the drugs as he did not know the driver , it didnt make any difference . The driver was given 24 years in jail and my frind got 8 years .NO PAROLE .

So , if you feel like saving yourself the cost of the bus fare or taxi or driving yourself via a hired car or bike , then the risk is ALL yours.

Many years ago when we arrived back from Aussie at Chiangrai Airport we always got the same taxi driver to take us home and back to the airport. We did this probably a dozen times and on one return trip he wasnt around at the airport. My wife asked other drivers where he was. We were told he was arrested for drug trafficing and he used to stash the drugs under his taxi seats. Bloody lucky we werent caught in the cab when he was busted. He did 8 years and got a Royal Pardon and now has a successful buisness in our village.

I wonder what the taxi drivers original sentence was if he completed 8 years time done before getting the pardon ?

15 years.

[onthedarkside]

We seem to be getting way off the track with driver stories. The topic was about getting from Mae Salong from Chiang Rai. Please stay on that subject, thank you.

[smokie36]

I would hire a vehicle with driver. Got one from the place opposite the Wiang Inn for the day at just over 2000 Baht I think plus fuel....shared between five of us the cost was OK I reckon.

That way you can see all you want to without worrying about maps and driving.

Edit: If you want to get an idea of places to visit you should check out the Trip Reports thread on this forum.

Edited March 23, 2013 by smokie36

[villagefarang]

So Marty, how was Mae Salong and how did you get there and back? While you are at it we would love a trip report and have a special thread just for that purpose.

Trip Reports, Visiting Chiang Rai.