1st time Visiting Chiang Mai

[Ungabunga]

Hi all, I'll be making a road trip to Chiang Mai over the holidays (arrive 28th) and will be staying for 7 days or so. I was hoping to get a few pointers on a few things from you guys!

Any recommended places to celebrate new year?

Any daytime activities or sightseeing days out for the family? Not just CM itself, can be neighbouring areas. The kids like fishing, so any places like that would be a bonus. I'm bringing a couple of our mountain bikes so thats an option too.

Pub/restaurants where I can get a decent steak, or perhaps some good quality local food.

Sorry to ask alot, but appreciate any local knowledge and kind help or suggestions many thanks.

[luwahn]

I visit CM, too, and it's definitely has a good people's 'atmosphere' to it and a city with lots to-do and places to go.

There is the infamous, 'Night Bazaar' and 'the' must visit, 'Doi Su Thep' - though you can better enjoy the latter after the New Year's crowds have left.

There is also a few tips at these links:

http://www.visitchiangmai.com.au/markets.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690240-parking-options-for-out-of-towner-appt-at-us-consulate/

You will need a light jacket for some of these chillier-than-normal evenings.

Enjoy your visit!

[Ungabunga]

Thankyou luwahn, I really appreciate your kind advice

[Chicog]

For New Year, Thae Pae gate is the best place. They convert the road from Thae Pae to Loi Kroh to a walking street, and it's buzzing. Lots of street food, drinks, etc.

And at midnight it's awash with fireworks, I'd recommend a full face crash helmet if you are faint of heart.

I took my teenager and he wanted to go fishing, he went to one of those lakes that are stocked with enormous and hungry catfish and was texting me all bloody day as he pulled one after the other, had a great time.

There are too many great places to eat to even make a recommendation, part of the fun is exploring, but personally I like The River Market for slightly more "westernised" Thai food; the same owners have Duke's, a passable Steak house.

There are some great open air seafood places at Anursarn market, which is very near the Night Bazaar but not as crowded and therefore pleasant for a stroll.

The Riverside is good for Thai food and if you book in advance and turn up before 7, for an extra Bt 100-150 you eat on a boat, and when you've finished dining you stock up on drinks and they'll take you for a nice 40 minute boat road up the river Ping.

Out of town, depending on your budget, I'd recommend zip lining at Flight of the Gibbon or one of its imitators.

And Chiang Mai Sky Adventure (microlighting) over Doi Saket.

For something more obscure there is the tiny Insect museum which apparently has one of, if not the biggest collections of mosquitoes in the world, although the owner will inspect you first before deciding whether or not you can come in!

A bit of rafting in Mae Rim is fun, you can get the long lazy ones, or for the kids the smaller ones on which you navigate smaller waterways and on which you are destined to get wet (you have to get off and carry them over little obstacles occasionally!).

Elephant shows: Up to you. I don't think it does much harm and they do seem to look after the animals but ask around for the ones that have the best reputation.

Tigers: **** them, they are bred for purpose, drugged and a rip off.

And finally a further trek than Doi Suthep is Doi Inthanon, the tallest mountain in Thailand (it's a couple of hours from Chiang Mai). I've never been, but I've had good reports. Echo what others say though, go a couple of days after New Year when a lot of Chiang Mai tourists will have moved on.

Whether you're in a hotel or just walking around, there are tourist kiosks galore listing a variety of trips, just shop around and make sure you get the best prices, and look on tripadvisor.com for reports before you go.

It's a great city with a great deal of charm and a pleasant buzz, so kick back and have a great time!

Do you know where you will be staying?

[skills32]

I visit CM, too, and it's definitely has a good people's 'atmosphere' to it and a city with lots to-do and places to go.

There is the infamous, 'Night Bazaar' and 'the' must visit, 'Doi Su Thep' - though you can better enjoy the latter after the New Year's crowds have left.

There is also a few tips at these links:

http://www.visitchiangmai.com.au/markets.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690240-parking-options-for-out-of-towner-appt-at-us-consulate/

You will need a light jacket for some of these chillier-than-normal evenings.

Enjoy your visit!

If current conditions keep up make that a heavy jacket.

[Ungabunga]

Wow that's great info, thanks very much chicog for taking time to add so much info, it really is so much appreciated indeed..thankyou!!

Warm jacket and hip flask is packed and ready

Merry Christmas

[alco]

Hi. First time visitor too to CM. Planning to go with my wife to Doi Inthanon and other attractions on motorbike 29-30 December. A friend told me that during the long new year holiday CM is notorious for heavy traffic, packed with tourist and it is not advisable to go there at this time of the year. My question is how bad could it be? Is it true that large crowd and heavy traffic will spoil our trip?

[luwahn]

Hi. First time visitor too to CM. Planning to go with my wife to Doi Inthanon and other attractions on motorbike 29-30 December. A friend told me that during the long new year holiday CM is notorious for heavy traffic, packed with tourist and it is not advisable to go there at this time of the year. My question is how bad could it be? Is it true that large crowd and heavy traffic will spoil our trip?

I know that attractions such as Doi Su Thep ban tourist vehicles and motorbikes for a 5 - 7 day period until a day or so after New Years day. It may be advisable to check on the holiday status of Doi Inthanon and other attractions.

[LawrenceN]

I visit CM, too, and it's definitely has a good people's 'atmosphere' to it and a city with lots to-do and places to go.

There is the infamous, 'Night Bazaar' and 'the' must visit, 'Doi Su Thep' - though you can better enjoy the latter after the New Year's crowds have left.

While you're up on Doi Suthep, go to the Phu Ping Palace, especially if you like gardens. Get there early; I believe they stop admitting visitors at 3pm. There is a rose garden, and a fern garden with tree ferns up a hillside. There's a landscaped reservoir near the top. All of this is set among the residences that royalty use occasionally.

[CMBob]

A lot of good suggestions but I'll add two comments. The old night market along Chang Klan just ain't what it used to be. I'd think the kids would be bored within a matter of minutes. A better choice would be the Sunday night market along Ratchdamnern (the street heading west from Thapae Gate) or the Saturday market on Wua Lai (a road heading southwest from near the Chiang Mai Gate on the south side of the old city).

As for New Years, I've gone for years to Thaphae Gate and have always enjoyed it; however, last year the crowd was immense and actually dangerously crowded so perhaps, depending on their ages, it might not be wise to get the kids right in the middle of that (but go, be careful, and hang out on the edges of the big crowd - the kids will likely like the music and the fireworks at midnight).

[peterpop]

I live in CM and find new places all the time but check these out

Restaurants in town -Peppermint off the walking street soi 5.

Kow Moa Kow Fang Restaurant out of town on Hang Dong Road, amazing and cheap.

Forget Doi Suthep, go to Wat Prathat Doi Kam behind the Royal Gardens at Ratchapruk. Also Night Safari in same area bring your Thai driving licence for cheap local entry charge. Same area again find the Valley Cafe in the Wat Suan Prik village for waterfalls and mountain walks all within 15 minutes of CM Town centre but the tourists dont know.

On the Samoeng Road visit the formal Swiss inspired gardens at Kissada Doi, about 26 mins out of town.

Otherwise the Night Bazaar, Taphae Gate at night and for music lovers the North Gate Jazz co operative, Boy Blues Bar in Night Bazaar and the Inter Bar for Hard Rock in Taphae Road all great authentic talent.

Amazing new Art Gallery featuring Trompe D'Oeulle art in Chang Klang road. Fantastic 3D effects called Art Paradise.

I could go on.

Enjoy

[nomad127]

There is a restaurant guide that is published and can be found many places in town for free, but The Dukes would most likely be the steak reccy. Daytime ideas; rafting, elephant park, Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, Hill Tribe visit, the zoo and or night safari, etc. For New Years, I just stay at home.

[F4UCorsair]

You've already received plenty of good advice, so don't need more, but I've been going to CM for 30+ years now, and still enjoy the place.

I ALWAYS include a motorcycle trip up to Doi Suthep, and on to the Hill Tribe village, very touristy, but still well worth doing.