chiang mai

[rayban]

need some help here , my family going to chiangmai and they want to go to the border or laos and myanmmar , which i see on map the best way to do that is to go to chiang rai and use that as the start off point. any pointers for me?

 

[ApeTruelove]

You mean you wan go see golden triangle？ yes u have to go to chiang rai

 

[Delsamor]

Just join a tour if you are not driving lor...they have some itinerary that will stop at those places and more. Sort of like a culture tour, just check out the internet for more info.

 

[rayban]

You mean you wan go see golden triangle？ yes u have to go to chiang rai

worth going? cause it be a 6 day 5 nights for them. and chiang mai and chiang rai now cold season with flower season.

 

[beanstalk6]

Better join a local tour. Quite a hassle if you are to go to the border crossings by yourself. Crossing to Myanmar at Mae Sai requires a visa or a permit. The Laotian border at Huay Xai is straightforward, but I am not sure what is there to see over there. Avoid those tours which include a visit to the long-necked people- you are just rewarding the human trafficking agents who enslave the people in captive conditions. The real animals are those "show" organisers.

 

[ApeTruelove]

worth going? cause it be a 6 day 5 nights for them. and chiang mai and chiang rai now cold season with flower season.

Hi i had PM u

 

[Din0saurus]

Anyone has recommendations for accoms in Chiang Mai?

 

[ApeTruelove]

Anyone has recommendations for accoms in Chiang Mai?

Hi i used to stay in Hotel M Chiang mai which is directly opp phae gate old town. weekend market is few mins walk and not too expensive.

 

[rayban]

Hi i used to stay in Hotel M Chiang mai which is directly opp phae gate old town. weekend market is few mins walk and not too expensive.

not too expensive? is like 100 and below?

 

[Din0saurus]

Hi i used to stay in Hotel M Chiang mai which is directly opp phae gate old town. weekend market is few mins walk and not too expensive.

Fully booked too! Looks like Chiang Mai will be swarming with foreigners that week.

 

[ApeTruelove]

Fully booked too! Looks like Chiang Mai will be swarming with foreigners that week.

Is it loy krathong or songkran

 

[Din0saurus]

Is it loy krathong or songkran

Yup! Gonna be Loy Krathong.

 

[ApeTruelove]

not too expensive? is like 100 and below?

yes is less then SGD100 if book early. Maybe there is better hotel elsewhere but for me this hotel is quite good due to the location is a plus plus and most of the time i wont be in hotel so doesnt matter to me. Also only about 15mins away from airport. But if during loy krathong might have very bad jam because there is a parade like chingay at night. Food wise no need to worry and alot of massage parlor also.

 

[ApeTruelove]

Yup! Gonna be Loy Krathong.

Is nice i like alot been going for the past few years and this year i booked the ticket already but now study cant go =(

 

[Din0saurus]

Is nice i like alot been going for the past few years and this year i booked the ticket already but now study cant go =(

pity. but this year they cancelled the free mass release it seems. only got the one for foreigners at an exorbitant price. you wouldn't be missing much i guess.

 

[nephilim]

Better join a local tour. Quite a hassle if you are to go to the border crossings by yourself. Crossing to Myanmar at Mae Sai requires a visa or a permit. The Laotian border at Huay Xai is straightforward, but I am not sure what is there to see over there. Avoid those tours which include a visit to the long-necked people- you are just rewarding the human trafficking agents who enslave the people in captive conditions. The real animals are those "show" organisers.

The regulations keep changing but I believe for Singaporeans with passports not showing back-to-back stamped evidence of visa runs, the Mae Sai-Tachileik crossing should be pretty straightforward: just pay 500Baht at the Myanmar side and you're through.

Those with families should love the Tachileik border market. The "little" Shwedagon Pagoda is very nice too

Just remember head in early and come back before the border closes at 6pm (it's not 24-hours)

 

[nephilim]

worth going? cause it be a 6 day 5 nights for them. and chiang mai and chiang rai now cold season with flower season.

Actually the main Chiang Mai flower season with cherry blossom sakura is around Jan-Feb.

Now (November) is the sunflower season at Thung Bua Tong where (if you hit the right week), the hills there totally turn yellow by the sunflowers (google for the pics).

Problem is it's a little far from Chiang Mai along the Mae Hong Son loop, which in itself is a wonderful trip - you can visit many famous places like Pai, Doi Inthanon along the way.

 

[beanstalk6]

The regulations keep changing but I believe for Singaporeans with passports not showing back-to-back stamped evidence of visa runs, the Mae Sai-Tachileik crossing should be pretty straightforward: just pay 500Baht at the Myanmar side and you're through.

Those with families should love the Tachileik border market. The "little" Shwedagon Pagoda is very nice too

Just remember head in early and come back before the border closes at 6pm (it's not 24-hours)

Yes, regulations always change and there are no advantages for ASEAN visitors yet. Years ago when I crossed at Mae Sot I had to pay a "charge" on top of the fee for the border pass. My passport was held at the Myawaddy border post and I was given a receipt to reclaim my passport when I left Myanmar. Ensure that you return before the border closes! Before leaving Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai for the border, also check that the border is open for the day! Not sure about the day-to-day situation nowadays. Back then the border would close if the 2 governments were in some dispute or if there was military action in the region.

 

[rayban]

Actually the main Chiang Mai flower season with cherry blossom sakura is around Jan-Feb.

Now (November) is the sunflower season at Thung Bua Tong where (if you hit the right week), the hills there totally turn yellow by the sunflowers (google for the pics).

Problem is it's a little far from Chiang Mai along the Mae Hong Son loop, which in itself is a wonderful trip - you can visit many famous places like Pai, Doi Inthanon along the way.

is there any day trip or local tour for that?

 

[nephilim]

is there any day trip or local tour for that?

I always self-drive so am not too familiar with tours. Day-trips to Doi Inthanon should be easily available from Chiang Mai but I think the sunflower fields are a little too far for a comfortable day trip.

Another possibility (if you don't self drive) could be to hire a local driver to bring you and your family to the spots. The Mae Hon Song loop will typically take at least 4-5 days depending on your pace and where you wish to stop.