Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Rick Graham - 25 Mar 2006 23:47 GMT

How long of stay do these two cities warrant? My wife and I were planning
four days for each but it is difficult to judge what city has the most to
offer for the visitor. We have previously visited Bangkok, Phuket, Udorn,
and Ubon but never the northwest. We plan to visit during December. Thanks
in advance.

rg

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Wendy - 26 Mar 2006 00:48 GMT

chaing rai is smaller and more for your seasoned hiker - so if you plan to
do serious hilltribe walking- you'd be better to base yourself there......
Chaing mai- is bigger and if like me all you wanted was a few days trips ...
a better base.

> How long of stay do these two cities warrant? My wife and I were planning
> four days for each but it is difficult to judge what city has the most to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> rg

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Viviane - 26 Mar 2006 06:08 GMT

A couple of days in Chiang Rai should be plenty if you're not going hiking.
You can see the border region, golden triangle, hill tribes etc. We were
there in late Nov a few years ago and it can get quite cool at that time of
year, particularly if you go high up. It's very pretty and worth a visit.

Chiang Mai is completely different - I've heard it described as 20 years
behind Bangkok. There's lots to see and do - particularly great shopping.

Enjoy.

> How long of stay do these two cities warrant? My wife and I were planning
> four days for each but it is difficult to judge what city has the most to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> rg

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Mister Max - 27 Mar 2006 00:01 GMT

"Rick Graham" <graham2514@charter.net> posted:

> How long of stay do these two cities warrant? My wife and I were
> planning four days for each but it is difficult to judge what city has
> the most to offer for the visitor. We have previously visited
> Bangkok, Phuket, Udorn, and Ubon but never the northwest. We plan to
> visit during December. Thanks in advance.

We were in both cities in December '04 to Jan '05: 5 nights in Chiang Rai,
4 in Chiang Mai. In Chiang Rai it was jacket-chilly at night and
breakfast, but t-shirt-hot during the day. We had a driver to the country
in CR for 2 days and 1 day to the suburbs in CM, where it was warmer. No
hiking. That much time was about right. If you're a shopper, you could
spend several days in the markets in CM.
Many photos at http://buten.net/max/index.html#THAI_04_05

- Max

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Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / March 2006

Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, Thailand