Chiang Mai

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Elephant Riding in Thailand

A February 1999 trip to Chiang Mai by Kathy

This was quite a market one of the best More Photos

Chiang Mai is much more interesting than Bangkok. This is Thailand's 2nd biggest city. In 1292 King Mengrai chose to replace Chiang Rai as the capitol of his Lanna Kingdom. Today people are drawn to Chiang Mai not only for its beautiful temples, but also for its excellent shopping and trekking facilities and upscale hotels and restaurants. City of splendid WATS (Temples)... Chiang Mai boasts almost as many temples as the capital. Most were built from the 13th to the mid 16th centuries-when it was a major religious center. The features of many of the temples are the elaborate wood carvings on temple pillars and doors.

  • 6 reviews
  • 9 photos

Elephant Riding in ThailandBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Night Market and riding elephants. We met a driver at the airport and he set up our day tour the next day for the elephant riding and tour of elephant camp. He tried to talk us into taking us around the 1st day but it was just as easy to take a tuk-tuk from the hotel.

Quick Tips:

Don't let the drivers talk you into anything you aren't interested in. They always have a cousin who sells jewelry or something. Also this is the place to bargain - if something costs 800 baht offer 400 or lower and go from there. I didn't have as much fun bargaining here as in Hong Kong, they didn't haggle as much in Thailand.

Best Way To Get Around:

Tuk tuks and taxis. We didn't want to take a tuk-tuk in Bangkok because of the bad traffic but it was easier here and Phuket. The Westin had a comp shuttle into the night market every nite.

WestinBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

It's hot
Call the 800 line for Westin and ask for the Asian Value rate. This was a beautiful hotel with a very nice pool and nice buffet breakfast. They had a comp shuttle to the night bazaar also.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 4, 2000

Westin
Riverside Plaza Chiang Mai, Thailand
(66-53) 276-300

Antique HouseBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This was reccommended in Fodors. We ate outside and the atmosphere was very nice. The food is Northern Thai (not sure exactly what than means) but it was very good and price was reasonable. We took a taxi or (tuk-tuk) there and the driver had no problem finding it.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 5, 2000

Antique House
71 Charoen Prathet Road Chiang Mai, Thailand 50100
+66 53 276 810

Temple Visiting & Market ShoppingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Temples"

One of the many temples
Be sure to bring a guide book with you. Either Fodors or I like Eyewitness. They are more expensive but have much better street maps.

There are a lot of temples.. some are big..and some you will find as you are just walking around and they sometimes are the most interesing. Pick 3 or 4 from your book and then any you may see on the way. Main ones are Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Suan Dok.

Also regarding the Elephant camps if you don't have a pesky taxi driver, just check at the hotel they can advise you of the best tours.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on January 20, 2001

Temple Visiting & Market Shopping
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai, Thailand

Saesa Elephant ParkBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Hey Momma it;s my turn..
There are a lot of elephant camps. We picked this one only because the driver that picked us up at the airport had a brochure and could take us around. The elephant camp was an all day thing. You get to see the babies also and feed them bananas. I had an elephant lift me up in her trunk. The show consists of about 6 or 8 elephants walking around trunk in trunk and doing tricks. Then we went on a 1 hour elephant ride. Then to a flower farm (that was lame) he took us to a local market, we felt we had to buy something. All in all it was a great adventure.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 4, 2000

Saesa Elephant Park
Saesa Elephant Park Chiang Mai, Thailand

Night BazaarBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Debi and I looking at one of the shops
This is the mother of all markets!! Just streets and stalls of clothing, jewelry t-shirts. I got some pretty very large scarfs to use as table covers. Also surong type wraps for over your bathing suits. Nice silk robes. They will bargain here also if you offer a lower price. The Westin had a free shuttle. But a cab or tuk tuk was inexpensive.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 4, 2000

Night Bazaar
104-1 Chang Klan Road Chiang Mai, Thailand 50100
+66 53 235 575

About the Writer

Kathy
Kathy
Northern Va Suburbs of DC, Virginia

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