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Getting to Chiang Mai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chiang Mai is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination and its international airport caters well to visitors, receiving 130 flights a week from Bangkok as well as Singapore, China, Taiwan, Myanmar and Laos. The airport is seldom crowded and has a full range of facilities on offer.

Located less than 10 minutes by taxi from the city centre, Chiang Mai International Airport has a single terminal to deal with both domestic and international flights. All check-in counters are located in the middle of the ground floor, while departures are upstairs on the mezzanine level. All arrivals exit into the lower level at the northern end of the building.

There is a travel agent at the airport and customer service desks for Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Bangkok Airways and a number of small airlines. The check-in area is seldom crowded. At least one exchange bureau is found in the terminal, offering reasonable rates, with an ATM on hand as well.

Chiang Mai Airport has several food outlets, including two coffee shops, a deli and a fast food outlet. There are also a number of small shops selling silk, handicrafts, fresh produce and souvenirs. On the mezzanine level, you will find a bookshop selling English language books and magazines.

Within the departure lounge there are additional food and merchandise shops, and a large screen television.

Getting from Chiang Mai Airport to the city is painless, there are plenty of tuk tuk and songtaew minibuses outside, charging 100 baht for a journey to most places in central Chiang Mai, although the journey back to the airport is only 50 baht.

There is ample, safe parking outside Chiang Mai Airport, costing 10 baht per hour. Hire cars can also be arranged from the airport.

Travelling by train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, or in reverse, is a popular budget means of getting between the cities. Slightly more expensive than the bus, and taking longer, the train is a much more comfortable means of travel, especially if you take an overnight sleeper. Recently, the emergence of budget flights for 1000 baht or less one-way between Chiang Mai and Bangkok has taken the edge off train travel, but many prefer to see the country from the ground.

Invariably the train arrives in its own 'Thai time', which is usually up to an hour late. Food and drinks are freely available on board, served to your own seat, at a reasonable price (a meal and drink is less than 100 baht). However, there's no harm in picking up snacks beforehand on the station concourse.

There is adequate luggage storage and safety on the trains is, on the whole, pretty good. You are advised, however, to keep your valuables close at hand while sleeping. If your train isn't air-conditioned, it will at least have fans, but can nonetheless be quite warm. There are no individual compartments (except in first class); the bunks are lined length-ways along the carriage.

The beds are big and comfortable and if you take a bottom bunk, you can awake to the pretty mountain scenery as the train enters the highlands and traverses Doi Kuntan National Park and mountains between Lampang and Lamphun. The top bunk can be a challenge for the claustrophobic and difficult to climb into if you are slightly immobile. It can also be difficult to sleep due to nearby ceiling florescent lights, which remain on throughout the night. Beds are made up between 9 and 10pm and broken down about an hour before reaching your destination.

First class trains do have individual cabins, however the 1,200 baht prices makes htem poor value agains the emergence of cheap air travel. None-the-less they are comfortable and private, can be locked and provide you with your own table, sink and free drinking water. If oyu are travelling alone however there is no guarantee who you will be sharing with, luckily people in Thailand are polite and friendly. You needn't worry about safety among fellow passengers.

During the busy season (November to February), or on weekends, tickets should be booked a couple of days in advance; otherwise we suggest you arrive at least an hour earlier than the second-last train, to avoid disappointment. There is a safe luggage storage facility at both stations, charging a minimal fee. With 24 hours notice a travel agent can arrange a ticket for you, saving you a trip to the station.

Although Chiang Mai train station has limited facilities, there are toilets, a comfortable concourse and food vendors. Bangkok train station has far more to offer with plenty of waiting seats, a newsagent, supermarket, restaurants, bars, plenty of food vendors and even a KFC. Taxis or tuk-tuks are freely available at both; parking is short at Bangkok station.

 

Hualampong railway station
Cnr Phra Ram IV road and Kung Kasem road
Tel: 0-2223-3762, 0-2223-7788 Ext. 4201-3

Train	Departure	Arrival
Rapid Train	06.00	20.55
Sprinter	08.30	19.45
Rapid Train	14.30	05.35
Special Express	18.00	06.50
Sprinter	19.25	07.20
Special Express	19.40	08.55
Express	21.30	12.05

Chiang Mai railway station
Charoen Muang road, east of the city, across the river.
Tel: 0-5324-4795, 0-5324-5363

Train	Departure	Arrival
Rapid Train	06.55	21.20
Sprinter	08.30	20.20
Express	16.00	06.05
Special Express	16.45	06.25
Special Express	17.50	07.00
Sprinter	20.30	08.25
Rapid Train	21.50	12.30

Fares and facilities
Rapid Train:	181 - 341 baht seated only
Special Express:	201 - 441 baht seated, 491/561 sleep (top/bottom), 671/741 with a/c
Sprinter:	511 baht, seated only
Express:	181 - 341 baht seated, 441/491 sleep (top/bottom)

Food and drinks are served on all trains.
Weekend surcharge on all tickets: 20 baht.

Central & Eastern Thailand

Ang Thong | Ayutthaya | Bangkok | Chachoengsatml | Chainat | Chantaburi | Pattaya | Kanchanaburi | Lopburi | Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon Pathom | Nonthaburi | Pathumthani | Phetchaburi | Prachinburi | Prachuap Khiri Khan | Hua Hin | Cha Am | Rachaburi | Rayong | Sakaeo | Samut Prakan | Samut Sakhon | Samut Songkhram | Saraburi | Singburi | Suphanburi | Trat | Koh Chang

North Eastern Thailand

Buriram | Chaiyaphum | Kalasin | Khon Khaen | Loei | Maha Sarakham | Mukdahan | Nakhon Phanom | Nakhon Ratchasima | Nong Khai | Roi-Et | Sakhon Nakhon | Si Sa Ket | Surin | Ubon Ratchathani | Udon Thani | Yasothon

Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | Kamphaeng Phet | Lampang | Lamphun | Mae Hong Son | Nakhon Sawan | Nan | Phayao | Phrae | Phetchabun | Phichit |   Phitsanulok | Sukhothai | Tak | Uthai Thani | Uttaradit

Southern Thailand

Chumpon | Krabi | Phi Phi | Koh Lanta | Nakorn Si Thammarat | Narathiwat | Pattani | Phangnga | Khao Lak | Phattalung | Phuket | Ranong | Satun | Songkhla | Surat Thani | Koh Samui | Koh Phangan | Koh Tao | Trang | Yala

Chiang Mai Hotel Advice - Getting to Chiang Mai
Comprehensive guide to Getting to Chiang Mai. Learn all you need to know about Chiang Mai Travel.