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Car
a) From Bangkok drive on Highway No.1 (Phahonyothin) to Highway No.32 passing the provinces of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, and Nakhon Sawan, then take Highway No. 117 to Phitsanulok and drive on to Highway No. 11 to Lampang, Lamphun and Chiang Mai. The route is 695 kilometres.
b) From Bangkok drive to Nakhon Sawan and then take Highway No. 1 passing Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Lampang, and Chiang Mai. The route is 696 kilometres.
Bus
The 10-hour journey from Bangkok can be made on air-conditioned buses originating from the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2), contact tel. 936 2852 for more information. Buses leave for Chiang Mai several times a day from 8.00 to 21.00 hrs. In Chiang Mai contact Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station, tel: (053) 242664.
There are services from Chiang Mai’s Chang Phuak Bus Terminal to various districts in Chiang Mai. Buses ply along the northern route (Highway No. 107) passing through Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Chiang Dao, Chaiprakan, Fang and Mae Ai. Some buses continue to Tha Ton. Local city buses ply between Chiang Mai and Lamphun on Highway No. 106. Chang Phuak Bus Station tel: (053) 211586.
Train
The State Railways of Thailand operates daily services from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong). Trains leave for Chiang Mai 6 times a day from 8.00-22.00 hrs. For more information, contact tel. 1690, 223 7010, 223 7020. Chiang Mai Railway Station, tel. (053) 242 094.
Air
Bangkok Airways has 2 daily flights connecting Chiang Mai with Bangkok. In addition, they have daily flights servicing the Chiang Mai-Sukhothai route. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0 2229 3456–63.
Thai Airways has numerous daily flights servicing the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route. In addition, they have daily flights connecting Chiang Mai with Phuket. A Business Class domestic ticket is only a little bit more expensive that a economy ticket, and you get all the advantages of Business class. Better seat, better food, Business lounge, easier booking, collect more miles, 30 kg. baggage allowance. Bangkok office at tel. 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000, Chiang Mai office at tel. 0 5321 1044-7, or view their website at www.thaiairways.com.
Getting Around
For relative short distance you can take a tricycle (Sam Lor). Short rides within the city cost between 20 and 30 baht. Longer rides may cost as much as 50 baht.
Tuk-Tuks (three-wheeled motorised taxis) are also popular for short and quick journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance. Minimum fares are approximately 30-40 baht.
The most common means of transport is a “See Lor” (literally “four wheel”) or “Song Theao”. They all are red-coloured and look like pick-up trucks but with a roof over the back. They pick up as many passengers as they can and drop them off as the drivers reach their destinations. To go by “See Lor”, simply tell the driver your destination. Fares range from 10-20 baht according to the distance. Other color “See Lor”'s go to destinations outside Chiang Mai.