Chiang Mai is the cultural capital of Thailand. The visitors will be delighted with the local cuisines, the handicrafts, Thai massages that Chiang Mai has to offer. This land of mesmerizing rolling hills and misty mountains will be a playground for travellers. Chiang Mai merges well, both modern lifestyle and traditional footsteps of Thailand. You will enjoy the nightlife here but still able to enjoy the wonderful mesh of modern building and the historic temples that sit side by side.

Airport in Chiang Mai

1. Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is a major gateway to Northern Thailand. It was located less than 10 minutes’ drive to the city center. It is the fourth busiest airport in Thailand as it serves both international and domestic flights. CNX has two terminals; one is for the domestic flight and the other one is for international passengers. CNX has prepared various facilities to accommodate the passengers’ needs. It has eateries, café and gift shops. To go in and out of the airport is easy because CNX offers taxis, vans, car rental, tuk-tuks, and even limousine. You can book a taxi, vans and executive cars online on its website.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Chiang Mai?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Chiang Mai.All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Chiang Mai.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Chiang Mai?

The off-peak season is around June to October because of the rainy seasons. Peak season in Chiang Mai is from October through April due to its pleasant weather. If you plan your trip well, you can save your money because the price for hotels and flights during the peak season will cost you a lot of money. The best time to visit Chiang Mai is in between November to February because Chiang Mai will have cooling weather that is suitable for any outdoor activities.

Chiang Mai has a tropical rainforest climate which has rainy seasons, dry season and cool season. From May through October is the cool season, while in August and September are the rainy season. Be prepared with raincoat or umbrella if you would like to visit Chiang Mai at this time. The dry season starts from March through May. The temperature is relatively warm with less air humidity. The average temperature ranges from 24 °C to 34 °C. Make sure you do not layer up your clothing during this period.

In Chiang Mai, you may enjoy many festivals that are exclusive only for Thailand which is rich with Buddhist cultures. In April, you may join in a celebration called Songkran which is a name for the Buddhist New Year Festival. The locals celebrate the day by pouring and splashing water to one another to showcase the friendly and warm welcoming atmosphere of the new year. In November, Chiang Mai will celebrate Yee Ping Festival which is the lantern festival. This is when the locals believe that the rivers are filled to the fullest and moon shines at its brightest, that is perfect for you to make a wish for good fortune by lighting up a lantern or set the Krathong off on the Ping River. Yee Ping is a small celebration for this upcoming Festival of Light or also known as Loy Krathong. For this festival, the locals will decorate their Krathongs – small raft – with candles, flowers, leaves and incense sticks. The act of setting off the Krathong is symbolizing letting go of the worries, problems, grudges, anger so that one can start open a new leaf of his book of life. So, if you are in Chiang Mai, you should not miss the festivals.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai is one of the most visited cities in Thailand. Many attractions can be found in Chiang Mai.

1. Elephant Nature Park – This park is different from the one that abuses the elephant as this park is a rehab center for the rescued elephants. You can help around the sanctuary to treat and to protect the elephants. However, you are not allowed to ride on the elephants.

2. Massage at Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution – The massages and spa facilities are not costly. Great for loosening up the tense on your muscles that you had after a long day walk in Chiang Mai. The interesting thing about the place is all masseurs here are minor offenses that are serving short sentences at the Institution.

3. Meditate at Wat Doi Suthep – You can take a short meditation course at Doi Suthep Vipassana Meditation Center. Take this opportunity to go for a journey of healing by learning how to meditate. Located at the top of Suthep Mountain, the monks here are more than welcome to provide a longer course that ranges three to 28 days.