Chiang mai Information

Chiang mai information

The north is the birthplace of Thailand’s earliest civilization. It is famous for its hospitable people, beautiful women, cultural sites and scenic mountains. The North is most popular because of its cool and comfortable weather. There are comfortable hotels and fascinating resorts in every budget , convenient transportation to historical temples, national parks, elephant camps, flower gardens, hilltribe villages, local markets, and handicraft centers. The North of Thailand is a holiday paradise.

Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the capital and the largest city of the north. It is located on the Ping river valley, about 700 km from Bangkok. Chiang Mai is northern cultural center, economic and a major transportation center of the north. Neighboring cities are Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Lampang,Tak and Shan State of Burma in the north. Visitors can easily fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai International Airport which takes just 1 hour, about 8 hours by bus and 12-14 hours by train.

Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is the northernmost province of Thailand, the gateway to Lao and Burma, about 825 km from Bangkok(2.5 hours by car from Chiang Mai ). It was built by King Mung Rai the Great to be the capital of Lanna kingdom in 1262. The province of Chiang Rai is rich in tourism attractions in terms of natural resources, ethnic Thai culture and the home of various hilltribes. Golden Triangle is a world wide well known spot at the meeting point of Thailand,Lao and Burma. Doitung Palace is the most popular flower garden built by King Pumipol’s Princess Mother and the White Temple Wat Rong Kun are samples of tourist attractions in Chiang Rai.

Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son is the most mountainous province in Thailand. It is located in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges bordered with Shan State of Burma, Chiang Mai and Tak in the south. Mae Hong Son has long been isolated from the outside world until the year 1987 “Thailand Tourist Year” promoted by government of Thailand. Then, Mae Hong Son – Pai become the dream destination for visitors from around the world. Go to Mae Hong Son, touch Burmese-Shan culture, learn lifestyle of hill tribes, enjoy mountain views and various tourist attractions.

Lampang
Lampang is a historical city in northern Thailand. “Keilangnakorn” is the old name for local Thais there.It is located on the Wung river valley, about 100 km south from Chiang Mai. Lampang is highly recommended to ones who are interested in ancient temples such as Wat Pratart Lampang Luang, Wat Chedi Sao etc. Jae Sorn National Park is a special place for nature walk to waterfalls and hotspring where you can take mineral bath in a clean room. Besides, Lampang has a world wide Elephant Conservation Center with Mahout training courses for tourist and elephant hospital where you can see hundreds of ill elephants from all over Thailand. The elephant’s shows and riding service into the forest are also available there.

Lamphun
Lamphun, actually Thais call Lam Poon, is a small province 37 km south from Chiang Mai.It is the oldest city in northern Thailand. The old name was Haripunchai. This prosperous city was finally seized by King Mung Rai of Chiang Rai in 1281 and made it part of his Lanna Kingdom. In the 16th century the invasion of Burmese, Lamphun had been ruled by Burmese for two centuries. In the 18th century, with the rise of Thonburi and Bangkok, Lampang’s local commanders agreed to be their allies. Lamphun was finally independent from the Burmese and ruled by Nan Tipchang or King Gawila of Chiang Mai who received vassal status from Bangkok. Lamphun is famous for its historical sites, many old temples, the land of cotton products and the biggest areas of Longgan fruit in Thailand.

Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand Numbering approximately 600,000. the hill tribes consist of six main groups, most of who have migrated into the area in the past 150 years, originating in Yunnan, Northern Burma and even Tibet. Primitive, poor and often marginalized by Thais, the hill tribes prefer to live in the uplands undisturbed and are noted for their distinctive costumes. Tourism Dollar, and efforts by His Majesty’ Royal Project to provide them with agricultural cooperatives, has brought prosperity and out side influence to some villages.
	Karen: Among the more sophisticated of the tribes, the Karen mostly occupy a strip along the Salween River in Mae Hong Son province, with many more in the Karenni state inside Burma. They farm lowlands, practice crop rotation and are noted for basket weaving. Distinguished by their red of white cotton tunics.
	Hmong: The second largest group, most commonly found in Chiang Mai province, the Hmong benefit from integration through cooperatives. Fiercely independent, they helped fight communists in Laos on behalf of the CIA in the 70s. Distinguished by heavily embroidered costumes (women) and smart baggy trousers (men).
	Akha: Perhaps the most down-trodden of the tribes, the Akha’s distinctive eyes hint at Tibetan origin. Mostly found in Chiang Rai province, Like the Karen, many are refugees from Burma. Noted for their oral ancestral history and Swing Festival. They can be found hawking at the night markets and are distinguished by their intricate headdress of coins, beads and shells.
	Lisu: Considered the prettiest of the hilltribe women, the Lisu roam at the markets in Pai and Mae Hong Son. Originating from Tibet, they keep livestock and cultivate vegetables, living above 1000m. Their bright, multicolored hats and accessories are commonly sold at markets. Distinguished by bright purple and peach frocks with elaborate headgear.
	Lahu: A small and impoverished hilltribe found along the Burmese border in the North, especially in Doi Angkhang. Known as Musor-“hunter” in Burmese – Lahu villages consist of bamboo huts with stilts on steep hillsides. Distinguished by black and red jackets (women) and bright green baggy pants (men).
	Yao: Also known as the Mien, the Yao are the shyest of the tribes confined to villages in Chiang Rai and limited trekking routes. They have deep Chinese influences, with a written language based on Chinese. Fine silversmiths and embroiderers, the practice polygamy and are distinguished by re and black embroidered costumes and unique red fur boas’ around their necks.

Some do's and don'ts for Thailand

DO:

- always be respectful about Buddhism. Dress correctly in Temples (wear sleeves, do not wear short pants etc.). Don't sit on Buddha images if you want to be photographed. Sit before the image then. That is perfectly all right. You will insult Thai people deeply if you offend Buddhism in these ways.

- always speak respectfully about HM The King and HM The Queen. They are respected deeply by the Thai people and not without reason! The King is the initiator of many programs to replace opium culture by vegetable culture and you find "Royal Projects" all over the Country (especially in the North) where you can see the results of this work.

- always be respectful to the elderly, in every situation. If you are bargaining at the market with a seller who is obviously older than you are, or if you are bargaining with a tuk-tuk driver who is older than you, do this in a polite way, with a smile on your face and don't be rude. (Apart from being considered to be a polite person, as a bonus you will see the result in the price!)

- take your shoes off before entering a Thai house, if you are invited to visit somebody in his/her home. Do the same at other places where the Thai people do so too (for instance before entering beauty salons, hair dressers etc.). It is very common to see something like shown on the picture below when you enter a Thai house.

- have some patience when you have to do business in an bank or in a post office. Sometimes you will have to wait for a long time, but the Thais are accustomed to that and will find your behavior quite badly if you become impatient. Just relax and wait for your turn! The picture below was taken in a Post Office. If you just have to buy some stamps, you may have to wait like the people on the photograph!

DON'T:

- point at people or things with your feet. This is considered as highly impolite, as the feet are considered as the most inferior parts of the human body. And do not sit on the floor of a Temple with your feet pointing at the Buddha Image!

- touch the heads of children, even if you may see this as a form of caressing. The head is considered as the most superior part of the body, and touching this part is not a privilege for foreigners!

- be too familiar in public, even if you are married. So don't kiss in public, don't walk with your arms around each other. These things are considered very impolite in Thailand.

- shout in public (to anybody). If you want to argue with your wife or with your children, do this in the privacy of your hotel room and not in public! You will loose much of your respect if you do things like this in public. You will -for the same reason- loose much of your respect if you find you should punish your children in public.

- think that Thai women are "easily available". Though around 1% of the female population is working in the sex industry, this also means that 99% is not working there! You can get yourself in big trouble if you offend a woman in this way. Her husband may find he should take revenge, which could be very unpleasant for you.

- take any packages through Thai customs for anybody! If you are caught carrying drugs, you risk the death penalty or life in prison. And prisons in Thailand are not exactly like the Hilton. Apart from that, you can hardly expect a milder punishment than life in prison. So be warned!

- buy any precious stones on the streets. If you are familiar with prices you can buy them in (large) shops. That will normally be safe, but -again- be sure you don't pay too much. If you buy precious stones in the street against this advice and regret it afterwards (which will be the case in 99% of the cases), go to the Tourist Police! They know how to handle this and they do it well. (Or call 1155 for the Tourist Police)

- accept any offers from strangers to assist you in finding the right places to do your shopping. They will get a commission from the shops they take you to and you will be the person who pays for that commission (in the price you pay).

- accept any introduction to participate in any form of gambling. Gambling is against the law in Thailand and penalties are severe!

- get involved in prostitution in Thailand. You do not only put your health at serious risk, but the chance of getting robbed is very real. And apart from these dangers for yourself, give it a thought that having "budget" sex in a developing country like Thailand is very unfair towards the people involved.

- buy bus, tickets from anyone, except from an official at a bus terminal. The bus you buy your ticket for elsewhere might never be leaving or in the best case you will pay too much. If you use a Travel Agency for tickets (or other services), make sure they are licensed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Of course the Travel Agencies in hotels can be trusted and are licensed.

- call a waiter or waitress with the fingers of your hand pointing upward. This is considered to be very impolite. (It will make a similar impression as if you put your middle finger up to somebody at home). Put your hand up, but with your fingers pointing downward (or make a fist, if you prefer that or if you don't understand what I mean here).

- finish the dishes when you are having dinner with Thai friends in a restaurant. Your Thai friends will keep ordering more, until you leave something on your dish, so that they can clearly see that you have had enough!

Chiangmai to travel we offer Chiang mai Half day tour : Chiang mai Full day tour : Chiang mai Package tour :Chiang mai Elephant tour :Chiang mai trekking tours: :Chiang mai White Water Rafting tours :Chiang mai 4 WD Off road Adventure tour :Chiang mai Spa :Chiang rai tour :Chiang mai Boutique hotel : Chiang mai Private tour : Chiang mai golf courses : Chiang mai Patara elephant farm : Flight of the gibbon

Personal Infomation

Name *

Email *

Re-type Email *

Home telephone or mobile *

Country *

Tour Reservation

Tour programe *

Date of tour *

Hotel / Guesthouse (if know)

Hotel Address (If available)

Total number of adults *

Total number of child *

Your queries *

Security code *