Chiang Mai: Things to do

THanks for the recommendations. More please.

Can you also recommend some specific things to do and if possible day trips/agents you did them through. It is so easy to be ripped off today so personal recommendations are valued. (Elephant orphanage/rafting etc)Did anyone do the train trip to Chiang Mai and if so, which class did you take?

Thanks for your time and efforts to reply.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

I took an overnight sleeper a few years ago. The scenery is stunning. We took an express sleeper which was basic but ok.


There is a timetable on this website:

www.1stopchiangmai.com/getting_here/train/

Moved to travel

Just got back from Chiang Mai. We just booked the Elephant Camp/Bamboo Raft & Karen (Long Neck) Tribe day tour thru the agent in the hotel lobby... it cost B1500 Per person including lunch at the Mae Sa ele camp. You can get a driver to take you there privately for cheaper but we preferred the no hassle / reputable tour company. They speak better english and can tell you a bit more about the places you are visiting. They also included the Orchid farm which was a bit lame but a good 'loo' stop opportunity and also gave us the option to visit the monkey school and snake farm on the way back (B200 pp each)... both fairly average and the monkeys are kept in cages :( The Tuk Tuks are cheap - about B60 return to go to all the factories (the factories pay the Tuk Tuk driver as well so no need to pay him any more even tho he will be with you for hours). We also took a Tuk Tuk to Wat U Mong and Wat Pra Sing which was B200 return... they try to add extra trips on and will try and take you to their friends business or to businesses where they get extra $$$ so be wary. You need to agree on the price before the trip. There was also a White Water rafting + 4 Wheel motorbike tour which looked fun... about B2000 pp (B1500 for passenger on bike). Have fun!

Bakergirl, where did you stay in Chiang Mai. Any hotels/guest houses to recommend?